Air Gun Safety
Understanding basic safety rules is a critical part of gun ownership, and this is no different when operating air rifles or air pistols. Air guns are not toys, and misuse or carelessness can result in serious injury or death. This article includes some air gun safety rules to be aware of.
General Air Gun Safety
If you own a firearm, you should already know “the rules” of gun safety. When you are using an air gun, many of the guidelines you need to follow are the same as what you have already learned for firearms. This is important in part so these habits become second-nature, whether you are using a firearm or an air gun. It's also essential to keep in mind that although air guns may not seem as dangerous as firearms at first, they must be treated with respect and care.
Some basic rules of air gun safety are:
- Always assume the gun is loaded and treat it as such, even if you are fairly sure there is no ammunition in the gun.
- Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Never look down the barrel or point it at another person, even in fun. If you need to check the barrel, always do it from the end near the action, not the muzzle.
- Load and cock your gun only when you are ready to shoot.
- Keep your finger out of the trigger guard, on the frame of the air gun, until you have your target sighted and are prepared to fire.
- Always wear eye protection. Although noise levels are far lower than with firearms, ear protection may also be necessary depending on the air gun and pellets you are using. If you are shooting inside, hearing protection is usually beneficial as a precaution.
- Never leave your gun loaded.
- Store your gun(s) in a safe place, away from its power source and ammunition. This will ensure that it cannot be used by anyone unauthorized to shoot it. Some of the most successful lawsuits against gun owners involve incidents where someone other than the owner has accessed and misused the gun. This can apply to air guns as well as firearms.
- You should know your air gun and understand how to safely operate it. Thoroughly read the owner’s manual before handling any air gun and keep it for future reference. Every make and model has specific instructions that are important in helping you operate and maintain your air gun properly. It is important that you read these for each model of gun you are firing, paying particular attention to all warnings and cautions.
- Never attempt to pull the trigger on a break-barrel rifle with the barrel broken over. This may cause the barrel to fly and could lead to a bent barrel and serious injury to the shooter.
- Use the correct ammunition and never reuse ammunition. Use the correct caliber and type of ammunition that is designed to be used for your specific air gun model. If you attempt to use fired, deformed, or otherwise damaged pellets or BBs, they may lodge in the barrel.
- In addition to following safety rules for using the air gun itself, make sure to safely handle any CO2 or compressed air that your model uses.
Air Gun Shooting Practice
These tips are beneficial for shooting practice with your air gun:
- Transport your air gun in a gun case. This protects it from damage and in many areas you must have your air gun in a case to legally transport it.
- Do not use your gun during or after alcohol use.
- Shooting should only be practiced by adults or with adult supervision.
- Fire your air gun in a safe location. It is your duty to know and obey all laws governing the use and ownership of air guns in your city, town, state, and/or country. You should never shoot near highways and you must have the permission of the landowner.
- Do not brandish or display your air gun in public. Even with an orange plug, air guns cannot be distinguished from real guns easily, especially at a distance.
- Watch out for ricochets. Use a proper backdrop and do not shoot at hard surfaces or the surface of water. Use a safe backstop to help reduce the chance of your pellet ricocheting in any direction. If your backdrop causes the projectile to rebound or ricochet, discontinue use.
- Place your backdrop within safe boundaries. Knowing what your target is and what is beyond it is crucial to keeping yourself and others safe. Should the backdrop fail, or you miss, it is important that you know what may be hit by the pellet or BB.
High-Quality Air Guns from Armory
Armory offers a wide range of high-quality air guns, ranging from affordable starter models to advanced pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles. Whether you are interested in hunting, backyard plinking, or target shooting, we have what you are looking for.
