V. rules of firearms safety – Traditions Buckstalker User Manual
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V. RULES OF FIREARMS SAFETY
1. Read completely, fully understand and be willing to follow all instructions and
warranty limitations in this booklet before attempting to shoot your firearm.
2. Point the muzzle in a safe direction at all times. A “safe direction” is one in
which, if the firearm were to discharge, there would be no injury to anyone.
never point a gun (Whether you think it is loaded or unloaded) directly at
another person or at yourself. A bullet can penetrate walls, ceilings, floors,
doors, windows, and many other materials and kill or injure someone on the
opposite side.
3. Always check to make sure your firearm is in good working order before use.
Test the hammer, trigger, and breeching lever carefully prior to loading. Check
the barrel for any obstructions, as any obstruction can cause the barrel to
burst causing severe injury or death. keep your finger off the trigger and
outside the trigger guard until you are aimed at a proper target and have
decided to fire. If your finger is inside the trigger guard, you could fire your
gun without intending to, for instance, if you were startled, or if you slipped or
lost your balance.
4. Always treat any firearm as if it is loaded.
5. Always wear proper eye and ear protection when loading or firing any firearm.
6. Be sure of your target, and what is around and beyond it. The projectile fired
from your firearm can travel several hundred yards, and has the potential to
kill or seriously injure someone at that distance! Once you pull the trigger,
you cannot call the projectiles back, so you must positively identify your target
before you fire. Fire only with a safe backstop behind your target - something
that will stop and contain the projectiles you fire, even if you miss the target or
your projectile passes through it.
7. Do not point your firearms at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be sure that
all bystanders are safely positioned behind you and that they are aware that
you are about to shoot. Be mindful that this firearm has a range in excess of a
half a mile.
8. Whenever you handle a firearm that, even momentarily, has been out of your
direct control, start by checking its condition to determine whether or not it is
loaded. A firearm in your hands is a lethal weapon which is YOuR responsibil-
ity, so YOu must check it yourself, nOW, not later. Do not rely on someone
else to check it.
9. never take drugs and/or drink alcoholic beverages before and during shooting.
10. never use any firearm unless you completely understand how it operates and
how its safety features work. If you are not already an experienced firearms
user, you should obtain training in the safe and proper use of firearms by
attending one of the many firearms safety and shooting courses offered in all
parts of the country by the national Rifle Association (telephone 703-267-
1000), gun clubs and ranges, gun shops, shooting schools and other qualified
sources of instruction.
11. no projectiles other than those specifically recommended by Traditions may
be used in your firearm.
12. Before firing any firearm, be sure it is in good working order and that the
barrel is clear of dirt, grease, water, excess oil, rust, corrosion or any
other obstruction.
13. Always be mindful of where the safety is set and routinely verify its setting.
never solely rely on any rifle’s safety. It is prudent to always treat every gun as
if it were loaded and ready to fire. A firearm’s safety is a mechanical device
which can fail.
14. never give a firearm to anyone, or take a firearm from anyone, unless it is
unloaded and the action is open. If someone tries to hand you a firearm with
the action closed, politely ask them to open it before you take it from them.
15. Always unload your firearm when immediate shooting is not planned.
16. never leave a loaded firearm unattended.
17. never climb, jump or move abruptly while carrying any loaded firearm.
18. never transport a loaded firearm nor shoot one from within a vehicle.
19. Always store the ammunition and rifle in separate locked places. Always
keep all firearms and ammunition components secured and separate away
from children. never store a loaded gun.
20. In the event of a misfire, assume the gun could fire at any moment. keep gun
pointed down range with the action closed. Wait at least one minute before
unloading.
21. never load a firearm indoors. Only load your firearm in a location where it is
safe to shoot.
22. Be certain that anyone firing this firearm understands and is willing to follow
the instructions and precautions in this manual and the fundamentals of safe
firearm handling.
23. never shoot at a hard, flat surface or the surface of water.
24. When shooting, be alert to be sure no one comes into the line of fire. Check
the backstop and target area carefully to be sure it is free of people each time
before you begin to fire. When firing with a group of people, put a responsible
person in charge to maintain safety, discipline and control to reduce the
chance of accidents. On a firing range, be alert to the commands of the range
officer, and follow them precisely and immediately. never fire your gun near
an animal, unless it is trained to accept the noise of gunfire. An animal’s
startled reaction to the sound of gunfire could injure it or could cause an
accident.
25. If the firearm is dropped or struck a hard blow, open action and unload the
firearm. Check the bore for obstructions. verify that the hammer and trigger
function properly and that there are no broken or damaged parts. Take the
firearm to a qualified gunsmith for inspection and repair if any problems
are found.
26. Refer to Section xIx for cleaning and maintenance instructions.
Take time now to acquaint yourself with your Traditions Firearm. If you have any
questions regarding your firearm after reviewing this information, please contact
the Traditions Customer Service Department for assistance.
MAKE SURE THAT THE FIREARM IS UNLOADED BEFORE PROCEEDING.
Make sure firearm is pointed in a safe direction at all times and your finger
is outside the trigger guard.
Verify firearm is unloaded by using action release button in a rearward direc-
tion to open action and visually verify that there are no live or spent primers in
the breech plug. If there are spent or live primers remove them immediately.
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