Page 11 - FAT 105 4.17 MOODLE

and rewarding to shoot with their instant feed- or custom handloaded ammunition from a li-
back, but they pose a real danger if not set up censed manufacturer ensures that it will be safe
properly. A majority of these targets require that to fire in your gun. Factories want to keep selling
you are a certain distance away from the tar- you ammunition, so they take great precautions
get or the target is set at an angle to deflect the to avoid repercussions from damaging your fire-
ricocheting projectiles or fragments. Follow all arm or worse: you. You should also be conscious
of the manufacturer’s rules when shooting steel about that “hot” ammunition you picked up at
targets to ensure your safety and the safety of a gun show from a person you may never see
others around you. again and also be sure that your specific gun can
handle higher pressure ammunition.
5. Know how to safely operate your firearm
There are also guns that can fire multiple car-
and how all of its safeties work.
tridges. Revolvers chambered in 454 Casull, 45
It is important to know how to safely handle Long Colt and .410 shotshell can safely shoot
and operate EVERY firearm that you own or everything from bullets to birdshot, but only be-
use. If you buy new or used, obtain a copy of cause they are chambered that way. It is very easy
the factory owner’s manual. If you can’t find a to slip 16-gauge shells into a 12-gauge shotgun
manual, ask a dealer or a gunsmith or use the or load a magazine of 9mm into a .40, fire a
internet. There are many different types, ac- round, and possibly damage the gun or worse.
tions, calibers, configurations, and conversions Pay attention to what you are doing and keep
out there and too many ways to do something yourself out of a dangerous situation by separat-
wrong. You don’t want to face an attacker and ing different caliber guns, magazines, and ammo
not know how to deactivate your safety and in- while you are shooting.
stead release your magazine, or forget you have
to manually cycle a bolt-action for a follow-up
7. Use appropriate eye and ear protection.
shot on an animal you missed with your first.
Negligent or accidental discharges are not the
It’s pretty hard to do anything if you can’t see
fault of the gun; the operator is at fault 99.9%
or hear. The same applies to shooting. With be-
of the time whether it be from inexperience or
tween 15,000 and 70,000 peak psi inside of a
ignorance. Learning how to activate and de-
firearm chamber and bore during the burning of
activate safeties, how to use controls, load and
propellants, or deflagration, there are many haz-
unload, clear malfunctions, and even how to
ards for your eyes. The released gases, unburned
properly clean and maintain your firearms are
powder, and bullet and target fragments are all
all essential skills that you must possess and uti-
dangers to your eyes. There is also great danger
lize when you handle any firearm.
to your ears from the noise associated with the
pressure release. The average noise level for fire-
6. Always use caliber-correct factory
arms is between 155 and 160 decibels. To put
ammunition.
that in perspective, the average conversation is
First of all, reloaders, don’t cast your stones...this about 60 decibels, a motorcycle is around 115
is geared toward the rest of us. Reloading is a decibels, the pain threshold is around 130 deci-
skill and should not be taken lightly as it re- bels, and instantaneous injury or sudden hearing
quires specialized equipment and knowledge of loss comes in at 140 decibels. This all means that
all of the different dies, cases, bullets, powders, when firing even one round unprotected, you
primers, and the right recipe. For the rest of us, run the risk of injuring your eyes and ears. Even
make sure you know the specific caliber/s of ev- with eye and ear protection, there are some large
ery firearm you shoot and of every box of am- caliber rifles that produce such highly concus-
munition you obtain. Using factory ammunition sive sound waves (which are conducted by the

7