Proper hand off

[phil57]

I was always taught when handing a handgun to someone to always have it magazine out slide locked to the rear. Or cylinder open in the case of a wheel gun. I did this at the range and got a strange look from several people. I was trained by my father and also by the Marines. I worked on the Rifle and pistol range and would never hand a loaded weapon over to anyone. Am I correct ?


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[r1derbike]

I drop the mag, clear the chambered round, feel the chamber is empty, and gently let the slide home, all in front of the person I'm passing it off to. I grab the barrel and hand it to the person.

If he's smart, he will perform the chamber check once again, before he loads the mag and chambers a round.

I know it's cleared, but he doesn't as he didn't do the drill.

I'm sure others will chime-in with their routine. If I'm giving it to someone I trust and have shot with, I lay it down with barrel downrange and tell him it is hot, I then step behind, and to the side of my buddy, before he picks-up the sidearm.

Your open slide hand-off is the safest method of all, but folks unfamiliar with the gun may feel intimidated with a, "what the hell do I do now so I don't look stupid"?:sarcastic:

I would never hand a hot sidearm over to someone. That has grim reaper written all over it.

 

[wolf_fire]

With a semi-auto, I clear the handgun (drop mag, rack slide, keep slide back), I then show the individual I'm handing the gun to that the chamber is empty, grab the gun with my hand over the top of it, so the individual can grab the gun by the grip. Always! No exceptions on the range!

With a wheel-gun, I empty it, keep the cylinder out, show the individual it is empty, put my finger through the opening where the cylinder goes and hand it over so the individual can grab it by the grip. Always! No exceptions at the range.

The only time I would deviate from this is if SHTF and I needed to give a loaded weapon to someone to defend themselves. Otherwise, in ALL other circumstances it's done as stated above.

When receiving either of those two types of handguns, even though they showed me an empty weapon on the hand off, I still go through a visual and tactile check myself.

 

[apvbguy]

I was always taught when handing a handgun to someone to always have it magazine out slide locked to the rear. Or cylinder open in the case of a wheel gun. I did this at the range and got a strange look from several people. I was trained by my father and also by the Marines. I worked on the Rifle and pistol range and would never hand a loaded weapon over to anyone. Am I correct ?

screw what anyone thinks, as long as you are practicing safe firearms handling you are doing nothing wrong. you can never be too safe when handling firearms

 

[phil57]

Thanks I know I'm correct but had this strange encounter and made be think I was missing something.


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[tcox4freedom]

As an RSO & trainer I sometimes have to pass/retrieve a loaded firearm while on the firing line. (As long as both parties obey the safe gun handling rules you will usually be fine.)

But, as a general rule I prefer to clear the firearm and open the action before any type of hand off.


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[cds0699]

If i was a RSO and someone is being unsafe, then it would be my resposibility to get the safety concerns resolved immediately and however it had to be done....if that means i have to disarm them temporarily then so be it, but safety is always #1. Aside from a situation like that, i never accept or pass a loaded firearm to anyone.

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[apvbguy]

As an RSO & trainer I sometimes have to pass/retrieve a loaded firearm while on the firing line. (As long as both parties obey the safe gun handling rules you will usually be fine.)

But, as a general rule I prefer to clear the firearm and open the action before any type of hand off.


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as a general rule???
are you really a RSO?
anytime you touch a firearm you should be certain to clear the action to be certain that you are handling a safe weapon!

 

[tcox4freedom]

as a general rule???
are you really a RSO?
anytime you touch a firearm you should be certain to clear the action to be certain that you are handling a safe weapon!

Yes, I am an RSO/trainer and have been working with newbies a longer than I care to say. I've never had a ND or an incident when I'm on the range. What about you?

Yes as a "general rule".
I could not say "always" because as an RSO trainer, sometimes there are problems & issues on the line that require you to take control of a loaded firearm. There are also times when I'm training newbies or teaching kids that have never handled a firearm that require me to ready the weapon. (Until, I'm sure a student is comfortable and skilled enough, I prefer to do all the clearing & manipulations myself. Thank you very much!)

Are you telling me that you allow a newbie or kid to load & clear a unfamiliar firearm when you take them shooting? If so, you're taking an extreme risks is safety.

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[Jman87]

I too am currently a Range Safety Officer. In my experience some of the most dangerous people at the range are either the ones that have never shot before or the guys that always tell me, "I was a cop for 30 plus years." That being said, we must have rules that apply to everyone no matter their expertise. At the range I work at, as an extra safety measure, we ask that the firearm not be passed hand to hand even when the chamber is cleared. Setting the firearm on the bench rest and allowing the other person to pick it up takes away many risks that could be over looked.

Just my experience.

 

[tcox4freedom]

That's exactly the way we do it as well. But, things happen sometimes that make it necessary for an RSO to take control of a firearm and secure it themselves. Part of all RSO & instructor training is learning how to take a loaded weapon away from a student and secure it. That's why it's impossible to say there is never a reason to transfer a loaded weapon and know what you are really talking about. Like I said before, there are "rules" and "exceptions" to those rules.


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[BC1]

Yes, you are doing it correctly. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. Keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. Never hand a loaded gun to some one. Never accept a loaded gun from someone. Both NRA courses "First Steps Pistol" and "Basic Pistol" require instructors to teach exactly how you hand-it off. Don't let others tell you "as long as your being careful." That's just not good enough for those of us present at the range.

 

[maestromsv]

Your teacher gets a Gold star for teaching you gun safety. I think the weird look you received was one that said "now what do I do?"

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[mappow]

I was always taught when handing a handgun to someone to always have it magazine out slide locked to the rear. Or cylinder open in the case of a wheel gun. I did this at the range and got a strange look from several people. I was trained by my father and also by the Marines. I worked on the Rifle and pistol range and would never hand a loaded weapon over to anyone. Am I correct ?


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IMHO and world you are correct! Unloaded, OPEN breach and pass butt first. If it's a wheel, unloaded, open cylinder and pass grip first. With the wheel you have a handle at the top of the frame to accommodate the pass. SAFETY-SAFETY-SAFETY. Screw the strange looks, they lack knowledge of proper safe handling of Firearms. Idiots abound, Darwin says their self culling.............