I made me a “safe direction” by filling a box with thick cards. The cards are thick enough that they will stop a .40 caliber round (I tested it). Prior to this, if I was dry firing, I would aim at my brick fireplace. Then I got to thinking what would happen if I did accidently fire a round at the fireplace? The round would ricochet sending fragments of bullet and bricks back at me or somewhere else in the house. So I made the box. Where is your safe place?
What is your "safe direction" to point a gun?
- Thread starter Wise1
- Start date
When in my house, it's in my basement at a wall that has drywall, insulation, an air gap, more insulation, concrete, then dirt. When outside, it's down the hill in my yard, pointed at the hill diagonally. (So that I'm not pointing back at my house, but rather at the empty lot between my house and the next - although from where I stand, a pistol round would have quite a ways to travel to reach there (it's a 200' vertical climb at about 30 degrees, about 1000 feet from my standing point to where the usual-use "back yard" begins.) I could probably get away with firing a .22 or subsonic 9mm in my backyard into that hill, and at most, neighbors would think it was a firecracker.
And, yes, I make 100% sure it's empty before pulling the trigger. Including re-checking if it's been more than two minutes since last verifying, even if it's been in my hand the entire time. I'm paranoid that way.
And, yes, I make 100% sure it's empty before pulling the trigger. Including re-checking if it's been more than two minutes since last verifying, even if it's been in my hand the entire time. I'm paranoid that way.
Phillip Gain
New member
I've actually considered something similar to Wise1's idea, since I live in an apartment complex. I have a couple of directions is "safe" for others, since the 2 walls plust the floor and ceiling are concrete bulkhead. But that whole ricochet thing does give me a bit of pause. I was thinking about maybe using phone books, ala Mythbusters Episode #139:
MythBusters Episode 139: Dive to Survive
MythBusters Episode 139: Dive to Survive
Straight up??!! HUH? I do hope you are kiddin
djmastawillyb
New member
The direction that your Target is in
Nightmare45
NRA LIFE MEMBER
Water trap in gun room or BG.
B2Tall
Stirrer of the Pot
No, I'm not. Why?
Deserteagle
New member
To a liberal, there is no safe direction, and it doesn't matter what I do with the gun because people dont kill, guns do. Therefore, to point it in a safe direction, just point it at a liberal. They will assume a gun will kill anyway, regardless of what the person holding the gun does.
agrippakc
New member
Given that I carry my weapon in condition 1 in a shoulder rig, the only "safe" direction for me would be in front or beside me... maybe above or below. Initially when I read your post title I started thinking about the context of the question. I was WAY off base. It seems to be that if you take a firearms basic safety class you will find that besides the "Never point your weapon at anything you wouldn't want to destroy" rule, which is gospel around here- you would also learn about clearing your weapon before you ever do anything even closely resembling a dry fire drill (which are also important). Seems that you are over thinking an issue that if you were following all the steps leading up to that point shouldn't be a problem. Safety first and if you do that correctly you will find that everything else is going to work out fine. Just remember that around here the term "accidental discharge" is a misnomer. We think of them as "negligent discharges" because somebody skipped an important safety step of was acting in an unsafe manner to begin with.
If I read the OP correctly he is asking about dry firing. I dry fire into a corner. Corner construction has more wood in it. Also in that direction a bullet would hit the ground before encountering a house or road.
Also I double and triple check before dry firing. An accidental discharge in this house would be a life threatening event. Just ask my wife.:butcher:
Also I double and triple check before dry firing. An accidental discharge in this house would be a life threatening event. Just ask my wife.:butcher:
I have no issues using the floor in my house but for anyone in doubt:
safe direction gun handling safety and training products
The_Outlaw
~The Dude Abides~
What is my "safe direction" to point a gun?
It depends on 'where' I'm at and 'what' I'm doing at the time.
Step one is to 'always' clear your weapon.
It depends on 'where' I'm at and 'what' I'm doing at the time.
Step one is to 'always' clear your weapon.
mappow
New member
My gun usually points to the ground on it's own, although on most mornings DUE NORTH. As for my weapon, I rarely dry fire due to wear and tear. Not really good to dry fire if you have a weapon with a floating firing pin. The constant shock on the pin with no absorbing casing can damage or break the firing pin. Revolvers without a floating pin should be OK.
I not real sure why you want to dry fire so much. If you're ensuring your weapon is clear, you should be able to eye ball a heck of a lot safer then squeezing the trigger. Does this weapon not have a visible hammer?
I not real sure why you want to dry fire so much. If you're ensuring your weapon is clear, you should be able to eye ball a heck of a lot safer then squeezing the trigger. Does this weapon not have a visible hammer?
Iam2Taz
New member
What goes up, must come down? I always thought straight up was pretty good. I haven't shot myself or the roof yet.
