What do you consider the most important rule in gun safety?

[Jammer Six]

Impossible to do in a multistory apartment house. That's why the other rules exist. Sometimes there just isn't a safe direction, there are only directions that are somewhat safer than others.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Definitly point in a safe direction..

I have experience with this

 

[perry42]

The first rule is only about muzzle discipline in the NRA curriculum. In the Cooper/Gunsite curriculum, the first rule is "treat all guns as if they were loaded at all times." (That rule is frequently bastardized down to "all guns are always loaded." That is not correct, for at least two reasons.)

Since there is more than one set of rules, there is, by definition, no standard set of rules. It varies with the range you're shooting at. Don't tell a range that their rules are wrong.

So for the most important rule, you have to decide which set of rules you want to discuss.

Since you were rude enough to bring politics into a non-political thread, now you get to read my opinion.

There is no chance I will vote for Trump, he's a racist, misogynistic, homophobic fascist. I am not a single issue voter, and Secretary Clinton conforms to what I believe far more than Trump does. Of course, Trump changes day to day, but if he did happen to align with my views perfectly, twenty minutes later he would have changed again.

 

[perry42]

So sorry you will vote for Hillery. Liar, Anti-gun, Liberal, Etc.

perry42

 

[mike a]

I believe lots of dry firing and snapping the trigger after clearing creates a sort of muscle memory problem. i can't really explain it but my accident happened the day after I spent a lot of time dry firing. Edit. Just saying, after spending an extended period of time pulling the trigger on a gun you know is clear it's easer to pull the trigger on one that's not clear. Don't know if that makes any sense.

 

[22BRGUY]

Impossible to do in a multistory apartment house. That's why the other rules exist. Sometimes there just isn't a safe direction, there are only directions that are somewhat safer than others.

Do you keep a loaded gun for protection then in that environment?

 

[dickn52]

If you want to insure an accidental discharge, buy a glock. Clearing drill is 1. drop mag 2. rack slide 3. point in safe direction and PULL TRIGGER. I can't tell you how many times step 1 was ignored leading to a booming sound in the cleaning room.

 

[hpshooter]

Used to suggest to my students to have a 5 gallon bucket full of sand at a convenient location in the dwelling. Point the firearm into the top of the bucket while loading and clearing the firearm.

I guess that concept is too simple for complex minds to grasp or arrive at by objective problem solving.

An yes, I have had 1 AD in 62 years of firearms handling and, thanks to following the #1 rule of muzzle control, it was only an embarrassing moment which required a repair to the wood floor in a one story dwelling. Happened 30 years ago so it wasn't an old fart screw up.

 

[/VH]

Have it when you need it!

 

[Steve Ladino]

Absolutely correct. KEEP THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. Following this ONE rule means everything else that happens if you do this, will merely be a somewhat interesting harmless story.

Yep 100%..had an unexpected discharge last week... safe muzzle direction always first.

 

[justpassinthru]

My father told me a long time ago, "treat every gun as if it was loaded with the safety off."

 

[dcali]

I have a strong suspicion that many ND's occur because the chamber wasn't checked upon immediately handling the firearm. It falls under "treat all guns as if they were loaded", but it's an important detail. Always check first thing when handed a firearm, or when picking it up.

 

[JarheadAZ]

My most important rule is to know the rules, whatever list you choose; and to understand that no rule is any less important than any other.

I just acquired a new Ruger American Pistol, and it occurred to me that it functions, by and large, just like a Glock.

Then I reread the owner manual and noticed that they have a version with a thumb safety. My Wife has some arthritis issues with her hands and wrists, and I decided that when we buy her Ruger American Pistol, I would prefer she gets the one with the thumb safety.

Greg