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Owning a gun is not the same thing as owning a set of furniture. Buying a gun is not of the same weight as purchasing a car. Using a gun has many risks because of the dangers or the effects it can cause for both the user and the one they will fire. Only the right and urgent situations should require you to pull out your gun, load it, and pull the trigger. If you are one of those who agree on legalizing the use of firearms, you must be aware of its burden and know the responsibilities of keeping it. Here are some of the things you need to know:
Store your guns properly
If you have kids in your home, storing your gun can be challenging. The kids’ curiosity can be dangerous when they see a real gun. On top of the kids, you also need to worry about burglars. Consider where to store your firearms if they break in. With this, you can hide your guns in the most hidden parts of your home. You can hide them in the loose tile of your
bathroom or a secret compartment in your bookcase. You can also be less subtle and hide it in a safe. Make sure you put it inside a gun case so it does not get any scratches. Lots of gun cases also offer a variety of gun storage ideas.
When storing your guns, choose a cool, dry area. Make sure that this area is clean, too. Moisture is not the best for firearms. Avoid storing them in scabbards or closed cases. Always position your gun horizontally. Make sure the muzzle is pointing down. Gravity can pull the oil in your gun downward and damage the action of your firearm. We also know how cool guns can look, but it is not advisable to store them in glass enclosures.
Put your ammunition away
Store your ammunition away from your gun as much as possible, especially if you have kids in your house. Doing this will lessen the risk of kids or others playing with your firearms and putting the ammunition in them.
Apply trigger locks
Be responsible when owning a gun. Applying trigger locks is one of those steps. Ensuring your gun’s trigger locks is one of the most basic practices of gun care or safety. A trigger lock guards the trigger to prevent the user from firing the gun accidentally. You will see the trigger lock over your gun’s trigger. Usually, trigger locks are two-piece locks. You will slide a small bar through the trigger’s guard.
Always think that your gun is loaded
Handle your gun with the utmost care as if it is always loaded. This treatment can be said as one of the cardinal rules when handling a gun. Treating your firearms as if it is loaded even when it is not will ensure the utmost safety for you and the people around you. Just as you make sure to keep the safety on, you should still treat your gun as if you can fire it accidentally anytime.
When you clean your gun, practice safety precautions and never point your gun on anyone, even on yourself. Always point your gun downwards.
Clean regularly using the right products
Since we already talked about using the best cleaning materials for your gun, the next question is how often? Regularly cleaning your firearms is also one of the basic principles of maintaining a gun even if you do not use it much. Debris still collects in your gun which causes corrosion. Your gun collects the most dust, especially if you do not carry it around everywhere or do not use it that much. You can check out your gun once a week. If you use it daily, inspect it once a day.
Cleaning and inspecting your gun regularly are necessary when you use it all of a sudden. This makes sure that your gun is always ready to protect you.
Schedule a routine for general cleaning. Do deep cleaning as well, depending on how frequently you use your gun.
Clean regularly
Since we already talked about using the best cleaning materials for your gun, the next question is how often? Regularly cleaning your firearms is also one of the basic principles of maintaining a gun even if you do not use it much. Debris still collects in your gun and causes corrosion. Your gun collects the most dust, especially if you do not carry it around everywhere or do not use it that much. You can check out your gun once a week. If you use it daily, inspect it once a day.
Cleaning and inspecting your gun regularly are necessary when you use it all of a sudden. This makes sure that your gun is always ready to protect you.
Schedule a routine for general cleaning. Do deep cleaning as well depending on how frequently you use your gun.
Always unload your gun
Load your gun when you are going to use it only—when you use it in the shooting area, in the field, or at the target range. Once you finish, unload your firearms immediately. If you need to hand your gun to someone, open its action immediately and thoroughly check the gun’s chamber, magazine, and receiver. Always check if you have unloaded it. Action stars look charming but avoid doing awkward actions like climbing a tree or crossing a fence when you have a loaded gun.
Be responsible
Here are some of the things you need to know when handling your gun. Given the care you need to exhibit when handling it, it is normal to feel scared or paranoid, but always remember to keep your cool, too. Be relaxed, yet alert and smart. Carrying a gun is not a joke. It is a big responsibility that carriers need to remember. Carrying a gun does not mean that you are above others—it just means that you have the most burden of responsibility to keep everyone safe.
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