Muzzle UP or muzzle DOWN?

[Rand B. Wilson]

Today at Lytle Creek the RSO yelled at me for walking back to my car with my handgun muzzle down ( as i was taught) saying i should carry it muzzle up..

Which is more dangerous? the risk of ricochet or stone shrapnel or the risk of some guy over the hill getting hit?

[Peashooter]

I was taught to keep it down.

[223556]

I say down also.

[odysseus]

How exactly did he want you to keep it pointed muzzle up while you walked around? Over your head?

[SouperMan]

Safest direction possible. Down or up.

[SuperSet]

Either is a safe direction, depending on the range rules and context.

[frankDmole]

I always keep it down.

[BonnieB]

Were you carrying it around with mag slammed in, chamber closed in your hand?

I was taught to point in whatever direction is safest, which calls for judgement on your part.

Up is not usually safe. Indoors there could be people up stairs. Outdoors, if there's an accidental discharge, what goes up must come down, maybe on a person.

Down is not always safe, because concrete or stone or other hard floors will ricochet.

On a range, down range is usually a good choice. To move around, open chamber, with flag, pointing to the dirt would be my choice.

On the range, generally the RSO is king. If you want to shoot there, do what he asks unless it is obviously stupid, or he will make your life miserable.

We've heard stories about RSOs sweeping the shooters, including a child. Begs the question of why the RSP was shooting when active fire is going on...

When I'm going to and from my car, I'm a fan of open chamber, cable lock in the chamber, safety on, in the case, in my range bag. But " I'm a safety girl"

[Mesa Tactical]

Most folks were taught one way or the other, and basically both are correct. Like so many things it depends on how you were trained. And anyone in a position of authority is bound to enforce the technique he was first acquainted with.

Because I am nearly six and a half feet tall, and shoot around a lot of shorter people, I ask that muzzles stay pointed down. Otherwise there are a lot of situations where someone is pointing a firearm right at my head. And that's just rude.

Some guys freak the hell out of muzzle down because of the (negligible) risk of a ricochet off the ground in the event of an AD. Well, if your finger is away from the trigger, there shouldn't be any risk of an AD.

In general, just do as the range where you are shooting prefers.

[chillincody]

My grandpa always taught me to keep it pointed down too ,

[Rand B. Wilson]

was walking over dirt/gravel, slide locked open, and because they dont allow cases at the tables, empty mags in my other hand..
i'll just do what RSO says, but i'm sure next time i go there will be a different RSO with his own set of whims.

[CSACANNONEER]

Safe direction. However, all ranges have their own rules so, you gotta follow their rules in their house.

[redcliff]

Apparently the RSO is a fan of the "Sabrina ready" carry position.

[SNCaliber]

yup point it downwards, finger off the trigger, good to go

[AAShooter]

Try to carry a break action gun with the action open muzzle up.