Basic firearms safety & terminology, Marine Corps Style

By “Chesty Puller”Former Marine, OIF II veteran

Not endorsed, developed, or affiliated with the United States Marine Corps.

Nothing contained here is legal advice, so go find a lawyer if you want legal advice.

This class came into being because of this infographic/meme floating around the web. I believe in it, and this is your free period of instruction on how to safely handle a firearm.

This class comes with a 100% money back guarantee.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

A magazine is a device used to actively feed a weapon during firing.

A clip is a loading aid; it is used to assist in the loading of a weapons magazine.

Vocabulary

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

45

56

6

7

7 8

8

1. Buttock2. Pistol Grip3. Trigger4. Magazine5. Front sight6. Rear sight7. Barrel8. Muzzle/muzzle

device9. Bayonet mount10. Carry handle11. Laser12. Flashlight13. Fore grip14. Red dot (optic)15. Optic sight

10

9

9

1415

13

12

11

Vocabulary

12

43

7

2

6

51. Forward assist2. Charging handle3. Ejection port4. Ejection port cover5. Magazine release6. Bolt hold open7. Safety selection

lever

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Why the USMC safety rules vs the NRA, the NJ, or any others?

• They can be committed to memory easily.• They are simple and straightforward.• They work in peacetime, wartime, garrison, patrol, duty, and any

number of other circumstances.• They cover a variety of weapon systems.• They cover things more thoroughly than civilian rule sets.• There’s no hint of political correctness to them.

Since I’m teaching, I’m comfortable with them, and I prefer them, so that’s what I will teach.

USMC Weapons Safety Rules

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

USMC Weapons Safety Rules, verbatim

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

5. Know your target and what is behind it.

USMC Weapons Safety Rules, appended

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

• Know your target and what is beyond.• Know how to use the gun safely.• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.• Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.• Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs

before or while shooting.• Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.• Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities

require additional safety precautions.• Cleaning

NRA Weapon safety rules, for reference

1. Treat every gun as if it was loaded.2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.—Jeff Cooper’s Safety ruleshttp://aegisacademy.com/community/gun-safety-rules/

Other sets of rules, for reference

The Canadian Firearms Program uses the concept of The Four Firearm ACTS:1. Assume every firearm is loaded.2. Control the muzzle direction at all times.3. Trigger finger off trigger and out of trigger guard.4. See that the firearm is unloaded. PROVE it safe.—Canadian Firearms Centre, The Four ACTS of Firearm Safety

Condition 1Magazine insertedRound in chamberBolt forwardSafety onEjection port cover closed

Condition 2Does not apply to the M16A2/AR15.Does apply to external hammer fired weapons and weapons with de-cocker leavers.

Condition 3Magazine insertedChamber emptyBolt forwardSafety onEjection port cover closed

Condition 4Magazine removedChamber emptyBolt forwardSafety onEjection port cover closed

USMC Weapons Safety Conditions

Less safe

More safe

Condition 4

Condition 3

Condition 2

Condition 1

Weapons conditions, safety

More ready to fire

Less ready to fire

Condition 4

Condition 2

Condition 1

Condition 3

Weapons conditions, readiness

Primarily for range use

Load – Takes the weapon from Condition 4 to Condition 3

Make Ready – Takes the weapon from Condition 3 to Condition 1

Fire – engage target(s).

Cease Fire – Stop target engagement.

Unload – Takes the weapon from any condition to Condition 4.

Unload, Show Clear – Unload the weapon, show another individual that it is clear*.

USMC weapons commands

Some firearms handlers are lulled into a false sense of security because their firearm is not loaded. Because [their] “firearm is not loaded”. We’ve already established that weapons safety Rule #1 is treat every weapon as if it were loaded. That means that you need to clear, or watch a weapon being cleared, each time you receive it, and each time you had it off. That’s just good manners.

Some philosophical warriors make the argument that you can stop with this one weapons safety rule. Philosophically, that makes sense. Practically, not so much.

All negligent discharges happen because someone wasn’t treating the weapon as if it were loaded. If they were, it wouldn’t be a negligent discharge, it would be a purposeful discharge, wouldn’t it?

1. Treat every weapon as if it were loaded.

Also known as: Your weapon is not a toy.

Some other safety rules talk about killing or destroying things. You’re not guaranteed to destroy or kill anything with 1 shot*, but you are guaranteed to shoot it. Fuck a damn political correctness.

Part of this rule is a courtesy to those around you. They don’t know if there’s a round in your chamber, and they don’t know if you intend to shoot them or not. The proper way that you inform someone you do not want to shoot them, is that you do not point your weapon at them. Therefore, if you are pointing your weapon at someone, everyone knows that you want to shoot them. This transcends all languages and is very simple and easy to understand.

There are several ways to carry your weapon without “flagging” someone (the term used when you point your muzzle at someone unintentionally). You can point it towards the deck/ground, towards the sky, downrange, or just away from other people; whichever is applicable and appropriate in your circumstances.

2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.

Also known as: Muzzle Awareness, Muzzle Discipline.

For some reason, the first instinct for too many people is to put their finger on the trigger and pull it as hard as they can as rapidly as they can as soon as they pick up a weapon like they are Ahnold or some other action hero. Keep your finger, also know as your “booger hook”, off the trigger until you are ready to fire the weapon.

For those weapons without mechanical safeties like duty pistols, your trigger discipline is the only safety that you have.

DO NOT PULL THE TRIGGER TO SHOW THAT THE WEAPON IS CLEAR. There are some ranges and/or instructors that insists on pulling the trigger as proof that the weapon is clear. This is a bad idea and is the cause of the 2 negligent discharges that occurred in my unit while we were overseas.

3. Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire.

Also known as: Trigger Discipline.

For those weapons with external safeties, keep them on safe until you are ready to fire, click them off safe, fire, and then click them back on safe. For those weapons without a mechanical safety like duty pistols (i.e. Glocks), trigger discipline is of utmost importance.

Some weapons are not drop safe unless their safety is engaged, so that means that you could feasibly drop the weapon on its but and discharge the weapon. Vietnam era M16’s were like that. If you’re wearing a lot of gear and you sling your weapon, or attempt to holster your pistol, a piece of your gear may catch the trigger, and a safety may prevent a negligent discharge.

This rule may seem overbearing, but it builds good and proper discipline and habit.

4. Keep the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.

Also known as: Keeping the weapon on safe.

Rounds tend to go long distances and can penetrate some barriers, depending on the caliber and weapon. If you are setting up a target range, make sure to have an adequate backstop for your caliber. However, stateside, if you are involved in a Defensive Gun Use (DGU), you must be aware of your surroundings and the ramifications of firing your weapon. Especially in our litigious society.

If you plan on using your firearm to one day protect yourself, your loved ones, or a random stranger, you should consider finding a legal service to join or pay for such as Legal Shield, Legal Heat, or something similar.

5. Know your target and what is behind it.

Bullets go through a great many things and go for a long, long, way.

Questions?