Question about safe handling

[drbob]

Since your finger is never inside the trigger guard unless shooting, is it acceptable to allow the muzzle of your rifle to point in the air when not firing?

For example, to me it feels very comfortable to balance a pistol-gripped long gun sky-ways sort of like how you see people hold AKs on the evening news.

Is this a no-no?

[Nanook]

I think the sky is fine, as long as you are observing all other safe handling rules. IMO, the ground is better, but as long as it isn't pointed towards me...

[Manong0369]

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.
2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Keep your weapon on safe until you are ready to fire.
4. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you intend to fire.

Weapons safety rule (wording may very). Just as long as you don't "flag" other shooters is should be fine. I agree with Nanook about muzzle to the ground.

[Two Shots]

The ground is the best option as Nanook had said, skyward could be a problem as to where it could lands.

http://www.bobtuley.com/shooting_straight_up.htm

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

[Noobert]

what happens if it ND's into grass? I heard somewhere that it can ricochet, or destroy some underground pipes or something like that? best thing is to not have a round in the pipe at all

[operationblackwater]

The ground is the best option as Nanook had said, skyward could be a problem as to where it could lands.

http://www.bobtuley.com/shooting_straight_up.htm

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

DITTO!

[Manong0369]

what happens if it ND's into grass? I heard somewhere that it can ricochet, or destroy some underground pipes or something like that? best thing is to not have a round in the pipe at all

I had a trainee (okay, recruit) do that. Luckily everyone was behind the firing line and he had it pointed down range. Of course, we politely corrected him. Keep you finger straight and off the trigger until your ready to fire. Another safety rule that you should know by heart. Right, robert91396

[Tillers_Rule]

The military marches with the muzzle in the air, so I think it's a safe option.

[JDay]

what happens if it ND's into grass? I heard somewhere that it can ricochet, or destroy some underground pipes or something like that? best thing is to not have a round in the pipe at all

It could ricochet if you shoot into rocks, I doubt you can fire deep enough into the ground to hit a pipe though.

[ZRX61]

It could ricochet if you shoot into rocks, I doubt you can fire deep enough into the ground to hit a pipe though.

I wouldn't bet on it. The water pipe between the street & my house is only 4in below grade in places...

[Two Shots]

The military marches with the muzzle in the air, so I think it's a safe option.

The don't have a chambered round in it if they are marching, if on patrol thier loaded and locked.