Basic Pistol Safety

Like any powerful tool, the pistol can be used negligently when one does not have the right training and knowledge of gun safety.  The precautions and admonitions summarized below may “go without saying” for many readers, and are considered “common sense,” like most safety advice.  Before one picks up a gun, you should be prepared and be aware.

Is that thing loaded?

Many people who have little experience with firearms are very concerned about an accidental discharge of a weapon that would injure or kill an innocent bystander.  There are three simple rules when dealing with a pistol that help prevent accidental discharges that could hurt someone around you:

1. Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.  This is the most important safety rule.  In TV and movies, guns fire blanks, so missed shots appear to do no harm.  Real bullets can go through walls and doors and will stay in flight until they hit something hard enough to stop them (brick, concrete, or the ground).  In the real world, anyone handling a gun must choose the safest direction available.  The best choice is always to point the gun toward something that is known to be able to stop a bullet.  This rule applies at all times whether the gun is loaded or not.

2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.  “Ready to shoot” means that you have a specific target selected, the gun is aimed at that target, and you intend to shoot that target within the next few seconds.  In all other situations (handling, loading, cleaning) there is no reason to be touching the trigger.  Failure to keep the finger off the trigger is the #1 error untrained and undisciplined gun owners make, and it is the #1 cause of gun accidents.

3. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.  If you leave a loaded gun lying around where a child can get access to it, and someone is shot by the child, the gun owner will face criminal charges.  Leaving unsecured, loaded guns in your car or in your house makes them accessible to criminals.  The best approach to gun storage is to put all guns not in immediate use for self-defense in a locked gun safe, unloaded.  Any gun that is "in use" for self defense should be under your direct control at all times.

Be aware of the “chambered round” in semi-automatic pistols. The top cause of gun accidents that occur with semi-automatic pistols is failure to remove the chambered round.  There are several steps to unloading a semi-automatic pistol.  After pointing the pistol in a safe direction, finger off the trigger, the magazine must be removed.  The last and most important step is to check the pistol's chamber and remove the round of ammunition from the chamber, if one is loaded.  If you do not understand how your gun operates, a training course is strongly recommended.

Practice makes perfect aim

Shooting accurately requires a lot of practice.  Local shooting instructor Karl Rehn cites a study where Los Angeles police (LAPD) hit 80% of their targets (moving and stationary) while New York police (NYPD) officers only hit 20% of their targets.  Mr. Rehn asserts that L.A. officers were much better aims because they were required to fire 50 rounds of target practice each month, while NYPD officers only had to fire 50 rounds per year.  Regular practice is essential if you're going to be comfortable enough to be able to aim correctly to hit an intruder or assailant during a high-pressure self-defense situation when timing is of the essence.

When aiming through the sights, one established method is to use your “dominant eye,” and squint your other eye or turn your head so that you are getting your target aligned in the sights with only this “dominant eye.”

“Gun fit” also has a big effect on accuracy.  It’s important to choose a self-defense instrument that is the right size for your hands -- if the pistol is too big, you may not be able to get your hand around the handle.  The “trigger pull” (the weight or pressure that must be exerted to pull the trigger) also must be the right fit, or you may have trouble even pulling the trigger to get a shot off.

Gun weight is another factor that affects shooting performance.  Lightweight guns are more comfortable to carry, but have more recoil.  Heavy guns can be more difficult for some shooters to hold on target.

Recoil (where the gun flies up and back with each shot) is one factor that definitely throws off your aim and you will learn to deal with it through practice.  For a beginner, the recoil will always be more than you expect.  Hand strength and good aiming technique will help you overcome recoil and still hit your target.

Once you are ready to practice firing, protective eyewear is recommended since brass shells will be flying. And when you fire the gun, it will make a very loud “bang,” so it is best to wear earplugs or ear muffs. 

Permanent hearing damage occurs every time someone fires a gun without hearing protection.  The only time it is appropriate to fire a gun without hearing protection is in a self-defense situation where the immediate risk of injury or death outweighs the risk of hearing damage.  For hunters, electronic hearing protectors are available that amplify quiet sounds and block loud noises, allowing normal (or better than normal) hearing except when shots are being fired.  Like heavy metal music, the sound of a few gunshots won’t necessarily make you go deaf, but in the long-term, repeated target practice without ear protection can lead to hearing loss.

Maintenance assures long-term safety

Tom Givens of Range Master in Memphis, Tenn., offered some basic tips that can help assure that your pistol works correctly in the long-term: