Firearm Safe Handling And Examination: Part 2

Question 1

What are Basic Firearm Safety Rules?

Answer 1

• Treat all firearms as if they are loaded
• Keep muzzle pointing in a safe direction at all times
• Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to fire
• Know your target, its surroundings, and beyond
• Always prove the firearm when picking it up, receiving or handing it over

Question 2

How to make a firearm safe?

Answer 2

• Point the firearm in a safe direction
• Remove the source of supply of ammunition
• Open the breach to remove any cartridge that may be in the chamber
• prove the chamber to be clear of ammunition by visual and tactical inspection.
• Close the breach of the firearm BEFORE inserting the magazine or a cartridge may be loaded into the chamber!

Question 3

Pre-Firing Firearm Safety Considerations

Answer 3

• Are there any signs of cracks or weaknesses in major parts of the firearm such as the frame, cylinder, slide or barrel?
• Does the firearm function or dry fire as expected (chamber alignment potential to firing out of battery, hammer, trigger firing pin mechanics?
• Are there any signs that the firearm has been dangerously modified or is capable of full-automatic fire?

Question 4

Pre-Firing Ammunition Safety Considerations

Answer 4

• Are there signs of reloading?
• Are there splits in the cartridge case neck or other signs of damage?
• Are there signs of degradation on the ammunition?

Question 5

What is a trigger pull?

Answer 5

It is defined as the amount of force that must be a applied to the trigger for the firearm to cause the sear to release.

Question 6

What information can the trigger pull provide?

Answer 6

The trigger pull can provide important information about the mechanical operating condition of a firearm.

Question 7

How can you get information from trigger pull?

Answer 7

It can be obtained using a spring/digital force gauge or standard trigger weights, which make contact with the trigger at a point where the would normally rest.

Question 8

Single Action Trigger Pull

Answer 8

• Ensure that the firearm is unloaded
• Cock the firearm
• Hold the firearm with the bore parallel to the spring gauge/digital force gauge
• Ensure that the gauge is “zeroed”
• Rest the trigger hook of the gauge on the trigger where the average finger would normally rest, making sure it is not touching any other part of the firearm and the gauge is parallel to the bore of the firearm
• Apply pressure to the gauge until the sear releases. Repeat at least once to confirm consistency of value.
• Record lightest force necessary to release sear.

Question 9

What is the Double Action Trigger Pull?

Answer 9

Without cocking the firearm, proceed with steps stated in previous slide for single action trigger pull measurement.

Question 10

How do you find the Barrel Length for Revolvers

Answer 10

Measure the distance from the end of the muzzle to the breech end of the barrel, including the threaded portion within the frame and excluding the cylinder.

Question 11

Where can measurements be taken from barrel length for revolvers?

Answer 11

This measurement can be taken directly from
the firearm or by inserting a non-marring item in the barrel, marking off the distance as described above and measuring the distance on the
item once removed.

Question 12

How doe you measure the barrel length for a firearm that aren’t revolvers?

Answer 12

Measure the distance from the muzzle to the face of the closed
breechblock or bolt. This measurement can be taken directly from
the firearm or by inserting a non-marring item in the barrel, marking off the distance as described above and measuring the distance on the
item once removed.

Question 13

What should an examiner do if an item must be placed in the barrel in order to measure?

Answer 13

If placing an item within the barrel for measuring purposes, cock the firearm to ensure the item is flush against the breech end and not resting on a projecting firing pin.

Question 14

How to measure the overall length for all firearms?

Answer 14

Measure the firearm parallel to the axis of the bore, using the distance between the muzzle and the butt of the firearm.

Question 15

What must you do if the firearm has an affixed folding?

Answer 15

If the firearm possesses an affixed folding or extendable stock,
measure the longest and/or shortest configuration.

Question 16

What do you examine for physical check (Condition as Received) ?

Answer 16

• Cocked/uncocked
• Safety position
• Loaded/unloaded
• Cartridge position
• Stuck cartridge/discharged cartridge case
• Presence and location of flares

Question 17

What are Visual Abnormalities/Damage

Answer 17

• Barrel (loose, blocked, etc.)
• Receiver (condition)
• Slide (condition)
• Parts broken or missing, especially the firing pin, ejector, extractor, and
• safety(ies)
• Screws (loose or missing)
• Alterations or adaptations
• Sights (loose, missing, bent, etc.)
• Non-factory modifications or attachments

Question 18

what are some of the key factors that should be considered when inspecting the external action of a firearm?

Answer 18

• Relationships of the action parts
• Correct assembly
• The proper locking of the action on closing (in battery)
• Cylinder rotation (securely locks)
• Hand relationship to the ratchet (worn).
• Trigger (not returning, sticks, broken spring, etc.)
• Trigger pull (single action, double action)
• Hammer or striker movement/action
• Signs of semiautomatic to fully automatic conversion

Question 19

What are some of the key factors that should be considered when inspecting the internal action of a firearm?

Answer 19

• Hammer notch(s) (worn, burrs, dirt, debris, etc.)
• Sear (worn, broken, burrs, etc.)
• Safeties (relationships and general parts relationship)
• Springs (weak or broken, altered, missing, etc.)
• Signs of any tampering or faulty assembly
• Signs of semiautomatic to fully automatic conversion

Question 20

What are safeties in a firearm?

Answer 20

• Trigger safety
• Firing pin safety
• Grip safety
• Thumb safety
• Drop safety

Question 21

What are some health and safety precautions one must take when test firing?

Answer 21

1. Safety glasses and ear defenders shall be worn. . The sound produced from
   the firing of a gun can cause serious hearing damage; debris and hot
   gases can be emitted causing eye injury.
2. The bore of the firearm should also be
   inspected for any obstruction.

Question 22

Where should a test firing be performed?

Answer 22

Test-firing or any examination that uses ammunition or an ammunition component will only be performed in designated firing areas or in an area designated for this type of examination.

Question 23

What should the firing area be inspected for?

Answer 23

The firing area should be inspected for any fired cartridge cases or
bullets to prevent and mix up during the recovery stage

Question 24

Why should the recovery stage be checked?

Answer 24

The recovery system to be used should also be checked to also ensure
that no projectiles are present or that no projectiles are unaccounted for from previous usage.

Question 25

When should ammunition be put into the firearm?

Answer 25

The ammunition should not be loaded into the firearm until you are ready to fire the weapon.

Question 26

What is the recommended maximum number of cartridges that a self-loading weapon should be loaded with initially, until the correct functionality of the weapon has been established, according to the statement?

Answer 26

Revolvers may be loaded to full capacity while self-loading weapons
shall initially be loaded with a maximum of two (2) cartridges until the
correct functionality of the weapon has been established

Question 27

What is the recommended limit for full automatic firing, and when should this limit be exceeded?

Answer 27

Full automatic firing should be limited to four (4) cartridges unless
circumstances dictate otherwise

Question 28

What should one do if the recovered bullet from a high velocity firearm is unsuitable for comparison?

Answer 28

When test firing a high velocity firearm, if the recovered bullet is
unsuitable for comparison, reduced load cartridges should be used
(downloading).

Question 29

What is downloading ammunition?

Answer 29

Downloading ammunition is the reduction the power load of a cartridge?

Question 30

Why is downloading ammunition neccessary?

Answer 30

It may be necessary to reduce the powder load of a cartridge in order
to obtain a velocity for safely collecting test fires for microscopic
comparison. This is due to limitations with some bullet recovery
systems.

Question 31

What is the procedure for downloading ammunition?

Answer 31

• Pull the bullet out of the case using a inertia puller or reloading press.
• Remove and weigh the bullet.
• Consult are loading manual to obtain the proper powder for weight bullet given the desired velocity.
• weight out the appropriate powder charge and place in the empty cartridge case.
• weight out the appropriate powder charge and place in the empty cartridge case.
• Seat the bullet back into the cartridge case using a rubber mallet or a reloading press.

Question 32

What must you do for each test fire when downloading ammunition?

Answer 32

Check the barrel for obstruction between each test fire.