Settle this...

[cmichini]

If you were doing the safe handling demo with an employee of a gun store you can easily tell if you're doing it wrong or right.

If they think you did it right, you did it wrong.

If they think you did it wrong, you did it right.

I think that should be a good rule of thumb.

[Gowking]

DOJ does not have a set of rules on how it should be run. It's up to each individual test administrator to judge how "SAFE" you were.

Actually they do:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/forms/pdf/hscman.pdf

See Appendix 1 (pg 17) for the steps used for various pistol types.

It is the responsibility of a qualified store employee to demonstrate the safe handling techniques to the purchaser, as outlined in the manual . Then the purchaser needs to demonstrate those same steps while the administrator observes that they are done in the correct order and that the purchaser demonstrates things such as trigger and muzzle awareness.

The purpose of racking a round into battery before dropping the magazine is to make the purchaser aware that simply removing the magazine does not always make the weapon clear.

-G

[Ultimate]

The only thing I would have done different would be to lock the slide back then check the chamber for a round.

Seems like an extra step to me to check the chamber, then lock the slide back then check the chamber again.

[MoeSizslak]

When i do them for single action revolvers I like to check the revolver cylinders by rolling it across my arm.

haha!!!

[tacticalcity]

There is no set procedure for examining a firearm at a gun store other than making sure to always keep it pointed in a safe direction. The clerk is supposed to clear it for you and lock the slide to the rear before handing it to you just to cover their own liability and to make you feel more comfortable.

I will do a chamber check, mag check, chamber check to confirm it is empty because that is how I was trained. The clerk has already confirmed it is empty. I just do it because that is what I do every single time I touch a firearm that I am either taking custody of, or have temporarily lost custody of. If it is coming from anywhere but my holster, I confirm and set the condition to where I want it to be.

I have a laundry list of quick inspection drills I do to make sure I like the trigger pull, trigger reset, sights, ergonomics, and on and on. You definately could not squeeze them down into a 10 step checklist. They vary depending on the firearms action.

The one thing I will NEVER do, incase any gun store owners out there are listening, is buy a gun from a store that does not allow dry firing on centerfire firearms. I can understand that policy on rimfire firearms...but only a complete NOOB pays $400-$4000 for firearm without confirming the action and trigger will fit his needs. That is the most important aspect of a firearm, especially if it is meant for self defense. If you can't compare the trigger pull, action, and trigger reset...you have no way of knowing how it stacks upto your other options. You can't know that without pulling the trigger a bunch of times.

So if I am comparing two or three firearms, I going to need to inspect and dry fire them one after the other, often referrencing one of them to be sure what I think I am "feeling" in the trigger is actually what is happening. The one with the best trigger, and shortest reset, and most consistant trigger pull wins.

To date I have yet to find something I prefer over a Glock or 1911. It is just that there is a pretty wide variety of 1911s, so when comparing them I want to be certain the one I get has the best trigger...and then I start looking at other things. When it comes to the Glocks, I've been shooting them for so long the only time I need to test one is to use it as a baseline for which to compare somethin else to it. I'm perfectly fine ordering a Glock online rather from a store, because I know what I am going to get. Just about all other handguns I want some dry fire time on them in the store first.

Basically I am a pain in the *** customer for about 30 minutes. However, I don't put the clerk through this unless I am 100% certain I am going to walk out of the store with something. If for some reason it is not one of the guns, it is at least $100 or more of something else. I don't want them to feel I wasted their time. I want to be welcome to test guns out in the future.

[ZirconJohn]

What's with gun store employees... they just wayyy too tense!

They've forgotten to just be cool...

and they have forgotten that they get to sell guns...!

How much fun is THAT...!

[jeep7081]

Always remove the magazine first, then lock the slide back to clear the weapon, prevents you from loading a round in the chamber unwillingly. I love that video, the difference between a "Professional" and an "Armature" is; the Pro gets paid.

Well put!

[MoeSizslak]

There is no set procedure for examining a firearm at a gun store other than making sure to always keep it pointed in a safe direction. The clerk is supposed to clear it for you and lock the slide to the rear before handing it to you just to cover their own liability and to make you feel more comfortable.

I will do a chamber check, mag check, chamber check to confirm it is empty because that is how I was trained. The clerk has already confirmed it is empty. I just do it because that is what I do every single time I touch a firearm that I am either taking custody of, or have temporarily lost custody of. If it is coming from anywhere but my holster, I confirm and set the condition to where I want it to be.

I have a laundry list of quick inspection drills I do to make sure I like the trigger pull, trigger reset, sights, ergonomics, and on and on. You definately could not squeeze them down into a 10 step checklist. They vary depending on the firearms action.

The one thing I will NEVER do, incase any gun store owners out there are listening, is buy a gun from a store that does not allow dry firing on centerfire firearms. I can understand that policy on rimfire firearms...but only a complete NOOB pays $400-$4000 for firearm without confirming the action and trigger will fit his needs. That is the most important aspect of a firearm, especially if it is meant for self defense. If you can't compare the trigger pull, action, and trigger reset...you have no way of knowing how it stacks upto your other options. You can't know that without pulling the trigger a bunch of times.

So if I am comparing two or three firearms, I going to need to inspect and dry fire them one after the other, often referrencing one of them to be sure what I think I am "feeling" in the trigger is actually what is happening. The one with the best trigger, and shortest reset, and most consistant trigger pull wins.

To date I have yet to find something I prefer over a Glock or 1911. It is just that there is a pretty wide variety of 1911s, so when comparing them I want to be certain the one I get has the best trigger...and then I start looking at other things. When it comes to the Glocks, I've been shooting them for so long the only time I need to test one is to use it as a baseline for which to compare somethin else to it. I'm perfectly fine ordering a Glock online rather from a store, because I know what I am going to get. Just about all other handguns I want some dry fire time on them in the store first.

Basically I am a pain in the *** customer for about 30 minutes. However, I don't put the clerk through this unless I am 100% certain I am going to walk out of the store with something. If for some reason it is not one of the guns, it is at least $100 or more of something else. I don't want them to feel I wasted their time. I want to be welcome to test guns out in the future.

Great advice, TC. Thx!

[Markus]

What's with gun store employees... they just wayyy too tense!

They've forgotten to just be cool...

and they have forgotten that they get to sell guns...!

How much fun is THAT...!

As one of the employees at a local range/gunshop put it to me....

The job is just not that fun when people are pointing loaded guns at you.

I still would rather work there than where I work. Namely because they get to work with guns all day and probably get paid more than I do working at a video rental store.

[Merc1138]

At targetmasters I had to spend forever giving an extremely slow step by step demonstration, with exaggerated movements, and man it was lame.

At any other shop, after they've handed me the firearm, I drop the mag, check the chamber, and keep it pointed in a safe direction that tends to be an automatic pass.