Southern Region

Level I

A point blank guide for those new to firearms.

By Charles Ulysses Farley

Introduction

First off let me say that in over 35 years of handling firearms the most important aspect I have observed is safety.

Safety as addressed in this paper falls into three categories.

First is Physical safety . This means you being safe with the firearm ,and the firearm itself being placed on safe. There exist many types of safeties on firearms some like the Colt 1911A1 incorporate more than one in the design.

Second is Safety as a mindset. You have to be in the proper mindset in order to think clearly and methodically. For you are interacting with a piece of machinery that once the physical safety is disengaged is quite capable of killing you or others in a horrifying accident.

Third is safety as related to your environment. Clean your firearms only in well lit, and well ventilated areas where food is not prepared. And in low traffic areas. With a minimal of people around. As I get more into depth you will soon see why.

Organization of your cleaning area is essential to you and your firearms. We have all had small parts drop on the floor. If this happens you are in a dilemma if you cannot find it!!

Some parts can be readily replaced as true drop in parts. But if it is not such a part; then you and your firearm will be taking a trip to a local Gunsmith for repairs. If you disassemble further than what the operators manual suggests then you will be seeing the Gunsmith again.

PHYSICAL SAFETY

RTFM!!! Read the Fine Manual FIRST!

Be familiar with your firearm learn all of its features and functions before you even begin to think about using it. Failure to follow this advice can get you hurt, killed, or sued by some you accidently hurt, or by the family of someone you killed thru an accidental discharge. Read the short vignettes below for a better understanding.

VIGNETTE 1

I have seen this happen at Fort Riley in 2005/6 just before a brigade rotated downrange to Iraq. Two individuals whose mind was not on safety. Whose firearm had not been cleared off of the range! They proceeded to sight in the CCO M-68 Optics on a Colt M4. They did not pay attention to what was going on in front of them; the firearm discharged and killed a PFC age 20. The NCO was tried and sentenced to three years at Fort Leavenworth; and the other a lower enlisted man was discharged from the Army. And It could have been prevented.

VIGNETTE 2

Three months later a like Incident happened with a Browning Machinegun Model M2HB. The weapon was taken off the range . But a critical step of checking the chamber for a stripped round was not done. When it was being unloaded from a Vehicle; someone bumped the butterfly trigger and the weapon discharged, striking a soldier in the leg and that soldier perished. All involved were negligent. As the M2 Browning was not designed with a safety; it is a combat weapon whose sole function is delivering accurate fire downrange. A safety was designed for it but Mr. Browning decided that it could malfunction and place more lives in danger, the parties involved were tired , cold and in a hurry. These things do not mix with safety.

Most accidents happen either during, Initial handling, Improper handling, Improper reassembly after cleaning . And all can be prevented as long as you commit to muscle memory and mental discipline the steps needed to properly handle properly care for, and properly select the right ammunition for your firearms.

And all can be prevented if you will simply read the fine manual (RTFM)!

SAFETY AS A MINDSET

I do not think that I need any more proof of proper mindset than the Vignette offered above. Not having the proper mindset will at some point in time become fatal.

Be alert

Be aware of your surroundings

Be focused on what you are doing and why you are doing it

Practice safety procedures on the big four

1. Initial handling

2.Loading

3. Firing

4. Malfunction steps

Practice the above not only till you get them right. But until you can’t do them wrong!!

ENVIRONMENTAL SURROUNDINGS

CHEMISTRY SIDEBAR

Some gunpowder’s consist of more than 25% Nitro-glycerin in their composition. When you use a bore brush the unburned powder, and the primer composition as well flies all over the place as the brush exits the bore. For grownups this may not make us too sick. But to a newborn this could be fatal. for Nitroglycerin is absorbed into the skin. if it lands on; or in food stuffs, or cleaned dishes this is bad, real bad.

So no cleaning firearms in or near the kitchen. And no reloading ammunition either. No coffee/Tea/Beverages near what you are doing either.

Pick a quite place with minimal distractions.

1. Sit down review the manual. I don’t care if you’ve already read it read it again!

2. Ensure weapon is on safe

3. Ensure the Magazine/Clip is out

4. On revolvers ensure cylinder is empty

5. On bolt action rifles open the bolt. If cartridges are present

a. See if your firearm has a floor plate. If it does open it and dump the rounds out.

b. If it does not then remove the bolt and either by using your pinky or a small plastic rod slide the cartridges forward until they disengage from the well of the rifle.

Racking the bolt forward and cycling the rounds out is not acceptable as a safe procedure. This quick method can be disastrous!

WITH FIREARMS THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS!!!

6. Ensure chamber is clear by looking from the rear of the firearm into the chamber, not from the front!

7. Have a system of what goes where

For example:

Cleaning solutions and brushes / patches/rods/are on the left side of my work bench

Tools are top center with manuals

Firearm is dead center of my bench

On the right of my bench there is a drip pad. and a small container for the dirty dunnage to go.

This never changes. Not only is static but no matter where I go I always do this. It is part of my mindset.

8. Refer to the manual for proper disassembly.

9. Never go past what the manufacturer states in the manual.

10. Clean in accordance with the manuals instructions.

11. Ensure adequate lighting and ventilation are present.

12.Reassemble in accordance with the manuals instructions

13.Perform a function check on the firearm.

14. Work the safety back and forth.I.E the On and OFF Positions

15. Insert a dummy cartridge into a magazine/clip or into the well of a bolt action or cylinder of revolver and see if it feeds. If it does then with the firearm pointed in a safe direction. Place firearm on fire, then back on safe and pull the trigger. Nothing should happen. If it does refer to the manual anddouble check your reassembly steps. Ensure reassembly was completed in accordance with manual. Repeat firing process. If nothing happens good. If it functions with the safety on then you should take it to a Gunsmith.

16. If nothing happened in step 15 cycle the firearm and congrats you are done. Store weapon in a safe place with the safety ON !!

In the next installment I will present a more advanced Paper on the Art of Firearms cleaning(Level II).

Levels III and IV will be later papers that explain what a Gunsmith does; and how this pertains to you and your obligatory maintenance procedures for responsible ownership and safety.

In Continued Service

Charles Ulysses Farley