NZGAC Hunter Education. Enabling better education and safer hunting practices.
NZ Hunter Education Course:
Module 3: FIREARMS
(Part 5) Safeties
A safety is a mechanical device used to block the firing pin or trigger so that the firearm cannot be fired. (see Image 1)
Because the trigger on a gun can be activated with only a slight touch from a finger or an object such as a small branch or clothing, it is essential that you keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
The manually operated firearm safety, like the trigger guard, is designed to prevent an unintended discharge of the gun if the trigger is touched by mistake. The design and location of a manually operated firearm safety varies by firearm manufacturer and type of gun.
Safeties can be located in the following places:
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Behind the trigger guard (see Image 2)
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In front of the trigger guard (see Image 3)
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Beside the rear of the action (see Image 4)
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On the rear of the bolt (see Image 5)
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Behind the bolt on the very rear of the action (see Image 6)
Always check.
Some safeties come on automatically when you open the gun, as with some over & under shotguns etc, while most have to be manually operated.
Always check to see how a safety operates. Never assume anything!
Some break open guns have no safety, relying on the half cock safety mechanism of the action where the hammer springs back to a safety position and is held in place.
Other break open guns have no safety at all – they rely on you pulling the hammer back immediately before you fire.
In order to determining ‘safe’ and ‘fire’ positions you need to check with each firearm to make certain that you are familiar with the operation of the firearm and its safety.
A word of caution:
Because safeties are mechanical devices they can fail. For that reason always observe safety rules, in particular:
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Treat every firearm as loaded
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Always point a firearm in a safe direction.
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NEVER TRUST SAFETIES – always use a safety as a last resort.