The rules
Seems the various discussions of the rules take everyone all the way around their butt to get to their elbows. Where they ultimately agree but aren’t happy about it. It’s what gunnies do.
Meanwhile, I’d like to pass along my fifth rule because, maybe, someone will read it one day and it may save their life:
Sure, covered by other rules. But worth pointing out.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:32 am
Absolutely! I ALWAYS stress to people never to try to catch a dropped gun.
October 20th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Rule 5 also applies to knives, swords, and other sharp objects. If you see something falling, just get out of the line of travel.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:10 am
That rule has saved my ass twice.
BTW – Its not your rule, it Plaxico’s rule! š
October 20th, 2010 at 10:18 am
I’ve always felt, keep your finger off the bang switch until your ready to shoot, and don’t point it at anything you don’t want to shoot pretty well covers it. I like your addition. I might have to add that.
October 20th, 2010 at 10:33 am
This ain’t new. It was going on on rec.guns over a decade ago…
October 20th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Rule 5 at my house is “Don’t shoot daddy.” Also covered by other rules, but still very important.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I violated that rule the other night. The finger finds its’ way into the trigger guard like magic.
Lucky for me it was more of a fumble than a drop, so there was no momentum to cause anything to go boom.
October 20th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I was standing around Coal Creek (actually Guncraft Sports at that time) playing with my new knife and tried to catch it when it dropped.
I caught the blade, which sunk deep into my flesh, and learned a valuable lesson.
I sure wouldn’t try to catch a gun.
October 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
I must ask what is undoubtedly a stupid, or at least ignorat question. I’d appreciate your thoughts.
Can one safely attempt to slow or stop the fall of a gun by using one’s foot, in a sort of hacky-sack way? I can’t see how a gun hitting a foot in a shoe could in any way make a gun go off, and scratches and dings on pistols and revolvers may add character but detract from value. I think at least slowing the fall might prevent some damage.
October 20th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I’ve found that to be a really good rule with a lot of things that are dropped. An iron was what taught me that lesson. I bumped the ironing board, and then tried to catch the falling iron. Burned the crap out of my finger.
October 20th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Probably best to stay out of the way of anything that’s in freefall, unless you’re mentally fast enough to apply judgement to the situation. That means stay the hell out of the way of things that are in freefall. You’re not fast enough. Dings may detract value, but that means be careful you don’t drop it. You may be able to heal from dings you get, but then again you may not. We don’t want to have that happen to you.
October 20th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Mikee:
No.
Most guns today can be safely dropped. Putting your limb in the way greatly increases the chance that a part of that limb will depress the trigger.
Just let it drop, and then pay a gunsmith to repair the finish.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:16 am
Rule #6, whenever possible, don’t drop ‘yur @#$%^&* gun.