If you choose to skip the firing line that Flint is on you will miss a GREAT learning experience. I have not yet met Tx Rancher but I suspect the same statement may be in order there.txaggie wrote:I guess if you guys are ready to trust someone else's judgement of "loaded or not", then ok by me, but I won't be on the same firing line as you.
I assure you there is no safer or more firearms courteous shooter than Flintknapper.
Cooper gave that rule to apply to when you pick up the arm. Check for yourself every gun you handle. When someone offers me a weapon, clears it themselves to verify empty & hands it to me, the first thing I do is clear it. That is the established habbit. When I lay one down in training session & pick it up again I clear it as a habit.
The incident at the range is why I teach gun safety & then I emphasize the fact that I teach firearms courtesy. It may not be dangerous to drop a magazine, rack the slide, drop the hammer, & sweep someone as it is put in a rug. BUT it is not courteous.
The gentleman at the range was very discourteous & could show some unsafe behavior. I would certainly hate to see him decide to load it pointing down the firing line.
One of the things I do not like about the divided shooting lanes at indoor ranges is the fact that the unsafe loading practices of many new shooters cannot be seen. They will insert a mag w/o blading their body or consiously keeping muzzle down range. This is often especially true when loading a revolver.
We never see these incidents.
Bottom line.
Clear every gun you touch even though you have seen someone do it.
When it is clear & safe, be courteous still.
Have a great day.LT