Rule #1 of gun safety
Table of contents
It’s always tough to hear news of someone getting injured or worse yet loss of life due to the improper handling of firearms. Whether you are a target shooter, hunter, or just handling your gun to clean it or show a friend, muzzle control is a critical part of firearm safety. It is an aspect of gun safety that should be used regardless of the situation and literally every time you handle your gun.
On the most basic level, muzzle control practices help avoid injuries from guns that accidentally discharge. The fact is that there are accidental discharges of firearms, and if it happens to you and if your firearm is pointed in a safe direction, there is a high probability it wouldn’t result in injury. From how you handle a pistol at the firing range to the way you carry a shotgun in the woods, it’s important to always be aware of the direction your gun is pointing.
Good muzzle discipline is not only important to your own well-being, but also to those around you. To help you ensure safe gun practices in 2023, SSP Firearms wanted to walk you through this deep dive into muzzle control.
What is Muzzle Control?
Muzzle control is the practice of keeping gun barrels pointed in safe directions (even when you believe they are not loaded). Whether it be a pistol, rifle, or shotgun, the goal is to always be conscious of how you’re holding your firearm and where the muzzle is pointed. You should also pay attention to your gun when you aren’t shooting – it’s just as easy to make a dangerous mistake when loading your weapon or putting it into a case.
Since guns are used in so many different capacities and environments, exact muzzle control practices change in different scenarios. For example, in a firing range, you should always keep the barrel pointed down the range and toward the targets. Similarly, muzzle control for hunters in the field boils down to specific carrying techniques. Keep your gun secure in different scenarios but ultimately remember “you never want to point your firearm in a direction where someone could be injured if it fired“.
Why is Muzzle Control Important?
No matter how careful people are with firearms, accidents happen. In the end, losing concentration and making mistakes is simply part of being human, so purposefully implementing muzzle control will help you ultimately become consistently safe with your firearm.
The most dangerous situations with firearms generally come about when people mistakenly believe that a gun isn’t loaded. Muzzle control is really the only way to really protect yourself and other people when such dangerous oversights occur. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, over 33% percent of hunting accidents are due to “self-inflicted” gunshot injuries. In other words, people accidentally shoot themselves because they aren’t paying proper attention to their firearms. Such issues can get even more serious in shooting ranges when there are many people around handling guns.
Muzzle Control for Different Guns
Since the sizes and shapes of guns can vary so greatly, different types of guns pose unique challenges for muzzle control. You handle pistols much differently than rifles and shotguns. Nonetheless, the absolute simplest thing to remember is “always keep your guns barrel pointed in a safe direction“.
Dangerous Situations with Pistols
Since pistols are small and can be held in a single hand, it’s extremely easy to forget you are even holding one. As such, it’s critical to practice muzzle control with pistols until safe handling is a well-engrained habit.
A common mistake seen with pistols is to point them sideways when you rack the slide. When you point a pistol sideways at a firing range, you put your neighbors at risk. Another dangerous situation with pistols is getting excited when you hit a target or when your gun jams and forgetting where your barrel is pointing. Accidents often happen in such moments of forgetfulness.
Bad Habits with Rifles and Shotguns
Because rifles and shotguns are long and slender, it can be easy to lose track of exactly where your barrel is pointing.
A major problem with rifles and shotguns is leaning a firearm against an insecure object like a chair or vehicle. When the gun slips and hits the ground, there is a chance it could discharge. As seen in the firing range, getting excited when hunting can also create dangerous situations. When a hunter sees an animal after waiting days or weeks, they can be tempted to move their firearm hastily without considering their surroundings.
Gun Safety for Target Shooters
Due to the drastically different environments where they operate. Both hunters and target shooters face their own obstacles when it comes to muzzle control. When target shooting in an outdoor range environment it is best to understand the range rules completely. Until you are comfortable be slow and deliberate when handling your gun.
Muzzle Control in the Field
Since hunters must navigate the mountains and forest while carrying guns. They have their own set of challenges with muzzle control. Hunting can get more dangerous when you are attempting to stalk prey low to the ground while crawling through brush. With so much happening at once, it can be very easy to forget where your muzzle is pointing.
To promote good muzzle control practices, hunter safety courses teach the following gun-carrying techniques for the field:
- Two-handed carry
- Cradle carry
- Sling carry
- Shoulder carry
- Trail carry
- Elbow carry
No matter if you are in a treestand or stalking your prey, you should always treat your firearm as loaded.
Muzzle Control for the Range
Because there are many people with guns at firing ranges, muzzle control is all the more important. This notion is only heightened with smaller firearms like pistols that are easier to lose track of in your hand.
To prevent accidents at the firing range, you should consider the following muzzle control practices:
- Keep guns in cases when not at the firing line
- Only remove guns from cases at the firing line
- Only load and unload at the firing line
- Leave firearm actions open until you are ready to shoot
- Store firearms on benches with actions open while at the firing line
- Always have your firearm pointed down range
This list of muzzle control practices is by no means exhaustive. Always be sure to check with your local firing range to ensure you are following their rules and protocols.
Muzzle Control Questions
No matter what your interest in shooting, firearm safety should always be at the forefront of your mind. If applied correctly, good muzzle control practices can help avoid accidents and save lives.
If you have additional questions about muzzle control and firearms safety, please post questions below.!
