Recently, I posted a consumer safety bulletin on a popular sidearm, the Ruger-57 pistol. As part of the notification, the release said “Ruger is asking owners of Ruger-57 pistols to perform a routine function check of the safety lever to ensure its proper operation …”
I had an interesting conversation with a Ruger executive who noted that it might be helpful to explain to folks how to do a safety and function check of a firearm. That’s true and it begins with some notions that should be obvious.
Even with mechanical safety devices and ‘no ammo,’ a safe direction – like the berm behind this “fiddle table” is handy.
First, mechanical safety features of guns – and other machinery – do not obviate the need for caution and good sense. A recall of THE RULES never hurts and it applies when running diagnostics on small arms.
All guns are always loaded. In the Ruger-57 example, the recommendation was “magazine out, lock the slide open – look inside then feel for an unextracted round.” If you didn’t find anything, take a breath, lock the gun open and check again. Having loaded ammo around that fits the gun under examination at this point is not required. In fact, it’s a bad idea. You don’t have to unload the Ruger LCR in your pocket, but the ammo for it won’t fit the Ruger-57 anyway.
This pistol bag has an armor insert — and an aiming point at which to direct the muzzle — making it a “portable safe direction.”
When checking the gun for ammunition, do not allow the muzzle to cover anything you don’t want to destroy. You aren’t at the range where we have the neat “NO ammo!” safety table and convenient backstop? There are portable “Safe Directions” to be had, plus you may have a bookshelf full of books – use the length of the bookshelf to direct the muzzle; don’t aim in at one book on its spine. You may be in a basement surrounded by concrete walls or have a convenient fireplace. Read more
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