Shooting a rifle can be dangerous if anything goes wrong. You may harm anyone, even yourself, if you don’t follow the fundamentals of shooting.
In this post, you will be learning these fundamentals established by shooting instructors for decades. You will be more equipped to become an excellent marksman while practicing precautionary measures at all times.
The safety measures to adopt are as follows.
1. Steady Position
Assuming a steady position is the most important step in gun safety. Attain the right posture by resting your rifle in a V-shape on the heel of the hand that you will not use for firing. Fit your firing hand into the V and pull the trigger with your forefinger.
You can also improve the stability by placing your firing elbow in the spot that best placing the gun in a steady position and planting your non-firing elbow firmly under your gun to give a steady shot.
The firing elbow is placed in the best possible spot to steady the gun. Consequently, the non-firing elbow is planted firmly under the rifle to help steady the shot. To move the rifle, the non-firing elbow needs to move freely. And then place the gun on a knapsack, if available, and peer into the sight to line up your target properly.
Admittedly, the recoil control would determine if you can sustain the gun in a stable position. This is particularly helpful when firing rapid shots in succession. It is better to go with free floating handguards like the Aero Precision handguard to help you with a better grip.
2. Always Point Your Barrel at the Right Direction
This is another crucial step towards handling a rifle safely. Pointing it at the right direction prevents accidental or intentional discharge. To improve the handling of your rifle, it is preferable to equip the barrel with handguards like the aero precision handguard.
3. Assume That Your Rifle is Loaded at All Times
You have to give your rifle the respect that you give to a loaded gun by always keeping it safe. For instance, you shouldn’t point it at people even if unloaded.
4. Always Use the Right Ammunition
Ignoring this warning can prove to be quite fatal to you and everyone around you. You should follow the gauge, caliber, and ammunition specifications from the manual.
5. Know What is Behind Your Target
Shooting a rifle safely demands that you must know what is downrange behind your target. This is important because your bullet may penetrate and pass through your target and then cause harm to someone or something valuable.
6. Always Keep Your Rifle in Top Shape
Regular maintenance is among the best practices to ensure that your rifle is safe at all times. You should be able to disassemble, clean, oil, and reassemble the gun, especially the moving parts to prevent rusts and jamming.
The bottom line for shooting safely is that you must undergo the right training, you must always respect your rifle, and you must keep it in top form at all times.