Kidding or Not?

[SlowDrifter]

It seems this is the place to post all sorts of gun-related questions, and recent threads got me wondering if he was kidding or not?

I bought a used P229 with both ,40 S&W and .357 Sig barrels. I had no doubt the gun was solid, but "Trust but verify." So before I got too far away I pulled into a range I'd never been to before.

I carried the pistol in and explained to the counter guys what I was doing. I specifically asked if I was allowed to swap barrels at the firing line. They said sure, just let the RSO know when you walk in that you'd be doing a barrel swap on the line.

Being a first timer at that range I check in with the RSO and listen to his short but very effective safety lecture and proceed to my assigned lane. (edited to add: I did telll him after his safety brief that I would be doing a barrel swap.)

I put four magazines of .40 through it without a pickup, and break in down for the swap to the .357 barrel. At the firing line. I performed a proper right face so the weapon was pointed downrange during take-down. I do a left face and lay the components on the bench.

The frame was on the table to my right, the slide was in my hand, the naked .40 barrel was lying on the table pointing East and West. During the few seconds it took to install the .357 barrel an arm reaches in and rotates the .40 barrel to North and South, and the RSO said, "When we say downrange, we mean always downrange."

Was that some sort of joke that went over my head or was he serious about a naked barrel going off? I'd like to think it was just some joke I didn't get. He wasn't laughing, or even smiling, though.

Happy Holidays!

SSTG,

sd

[racinjason233]

They deal with ALOT of knuckleheads. Do as they want while at their range and laugh to yourself when they do something silly to you but that training to someone else who is inexperienced may prevent serious injuries or death years later.

[MJB]

He's serious.....I have the same rule when I'm the rso

[Skip_Dog]

Most likely not joking. Keep it down range when on the line no matter what. Barrel swap, uncasing and what not. A rule that may just save a life. If someone sees it they may take it as "well mine will not fire I do not have a "clip" inserted". Yes I used "clip" in "" for just such people who... well you know...

[Usmc0844spare]

It seems this is the place to post all sorts of gun-related questions, and recent threads got me wondering if he was kidding or not?

I bought a used P229 with both ,40 S&W and .357 Sig barrels. I had no doubt the gun was solid, but "Trust but verify." So before I got too far away I pulled into a range I'd never been to before.

I carried the pistol in and explained to the counter guys what I was doing. I specifically asked if I was allowed to swap barrels at the firing line. They said sure, just let the RSO know when you walk in that you'd be doing a barrel swap on the line.

Being a first timer at that range I check in with the RSO and listen to his short but very effective safety lecture and proceed to my assigned lane. (edited to add: I did telll him after his safety brief that I would be doing a barrel swap.)

I put four magazines of .40 through it without a pickup, and break in down for the swap to the .357 barrel. At the firing line. I performed a proper right face so the weapon was pointed downrange during take-down. I do a left face and lay the components on the bench.

The frame was on the table to my right, the slide was in my hand, the naked .40 barrel was lying on the table pointing East and West. During the few seconds it took to install the .357 barrel an arm reaches in and rotates the .40 barrel to North and South, and the RSO said, "When we say downrange, we mean always downrange."

Was that some sort of joke that went over my head or was he serious about a naked barrel going off? I'd like to think it was just some joke I didn't get. He wasn't laughing, or even smiling, though.

Happy Holidays!

SSTG,

sd

He was serious. Keep the bang hole pointed at the targets always. I would do the same if I were an RSO.

Is it scientifically silly? Yes. Could your bbl have let loose a round? No.

But realistically when you are working the line and responsible for idiots NOT shooting themselves or others, this sort of silliness becomes secondary to the basic number one rule for not shooting someone accidentally... keep the gul-darn muzzle pointed in a safe direction. This is a simple basic thing that brokers no qualification or caveat. When you start inviting exceptions to the rule, things get confused and accidents happen.

If anything I would do the same as the RSO only to exceptionally reinforce the muzzle downrange rule.

[SlowDrifter]

Oh yeah! I hadn't thought of that the law of escalation/lowest common denominator. Very good point and makes sense now. I still find it kind of silly, but not my range, right?

ETA: And yep, the end of the barrel is the muzzle, regardless if it's in a gun or not. Very good point. Thank you!

Happy Chanukah to all my Jewish friends out there!

SSTG,

SD

[71MUSTY]

If the rule is keep the muzzle pointed down range it really doesn't matter that this particular muzzle is non functional. Not making exceptions to the rule keeps the rule solid.

Just like you don't relax trigger discipline because the gun isn't loaded.

[fawndog]

Imagine you had a hangfire and that round was still in there. I can see the logic.

Additionally anything pointing sideways will send a RO into a mini fit, with good reason.

[jarhead714]

Anything with a chamber flag in it should (in theory) be able to be pointed almost anywhere. I go to Field Time and my rifles are laying on the back table that runs the length of the range. I always point them to the right so whoever is to the right of me, should they choose to look to their left, would in fact be looking at the muzzle of my weapons from a less than desirable position.

On the actual shooting line table/bench, yeah pointed down range at all times but indoors more than one firearm at the line isn’t really allowed, is it? Chamber flags are a big thing that I like to see enforced.

[Jeepergeo]

99.999% of the time, the muzzle needs to be pointed down range.

The RSO does not have time to dissect every potential 0.001% situation, thus you were in the wrong and broke range rules. The RSO must have been in an extra good mood that day to not kick you out without a refund.

Your "ask" is the equivalent of asking if it's OK to point an unloaded, action open gun anywhere other than down range. Sounds like someone needs to take a safe shooting class.

[SlowDrifter]

99.999% of the time, the muzzle needs to be pointed down range.

The RSO does not have time to dissect every potential 0.001% situation, thus you were in the wrong and broke range rules. The RSO must have been in an extra good mood that day to not kick you out without a refund.

Your "ask" is the equivalent of asking if it's OK to point an unloaded, action open gun anywhere other than down range. Sounds like someone needs to take a safe shooting class.

Seriously? It was a barrel. A barrel. Not attached to anything else. A barrel. Lying on the table.

ETA: Maybe that was sarcasm? I don't know. If it wasn't it's a bit overblown.

[9Cal_OC]

If the rule is keep the muzzle pointed down range it really doesn't matter that this particular muzzle is non functional. Not making exceptions to the rule keeps the rule solid.

Just like you don't relax trigger discipline because the gun isn't loaded.

This!

[SlowDrifter]

A barrel is not a gun. I've never seen such a bunch of soy boys. Holy crap. I tried to be nice to you people and support your cause and I get this? I told all my internet friends to lay off magazine orders during "Freedom Week." Wow.....Wallow in your own filth. I'm outta' here.

[200Apples]

I see it like this: It's a muzzle, and it wasn't pointed downrange.

Happy Holidays!

[Spyder]

Wonder if they have any barrels in their store that aren't pointed down range.

I'd likely get kicked out for being childish and pointing out all the "safety violations" on the showroom floor.

There is being perfectly safe and reasonable, and there is being that guy.