rule 3 tweakage

[akodo]

Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you have made the decision to shoot).

I like the sentiments of this rule, but have never been terribly keen on exactly how it is worded.

For one, when I fire a handgun, the recoil moves my sights off target, am i supposed to remove my finger from the trigger for the split second it takes to get back on target? I hope not. Of course that is a silly extreme, but I think it does show a flaw

second and much more important regards dry firing and some gun disassembly. People argue that dry firing is bad because it breaks the rules, others argue that the rules are bad because sometimes you need to pull the trigger to dissassemble.

here is my take on disassembling and dry firing, regarding this rule and the others.

Okay, by rule 1, I have to assume this gun I am about to dryfire or disassemble is still loaded, that means when I pull the trigger, this gun will fire. then I factor in rule 2, this gun is going to fire a bullet out, where is that bullet going to go? Factor in rule 4, is that an acceptable place for the bullet to go? These are questions you should ask yourself every single time you go to dryfire or disassemble a gun. Now, for me, it is into a corner of the basement, for you it may be a sand bucket or a berm or whatever, but you should be prepared for it to happen. Up into the sky is not acceptable, toward the wall that seperates the living room and a childs bedroom is not acceptable.

In this example I have not 'made the descision to shoot' but I have 'prepared for the gun to fire' by being fully aware of the other rules, considering where that bullet is giong to go (via muzzle direction) and deciding what the target is, and is beyond it (something safe to catch a stray bullet)

Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target (and you are prepared for the gun to fire).

I think that makes a better rule. when i dryfire, my sights ARE on target...into the safe corner. when I disassemble, I am doing more 'pointshooting' than carefully alligning the sights, so it is still not absolutely positively terrific with that wording, but I think it is a lot better.


Or maybe just

Keep your finger off the trigger until you are prepared for the gun to fire

Under the catagory of 'prepared for the gun to fire' you can cover all the specifics of 'an unaimed shot in combat does no good, you aren't truely prepared until your sights are aligned' as well as 'when dry firing or cleaning a safe place for the bullet to land would be X' or for hunting 'you aren't prepared to fire until you have correctly identified the 'thing' you are looking at as the proper species, sex, and size of animal, so until you know that, your finger should remain off the trigger'

 

[El Tejon]

You may be prepared, but the pistol's muzzle may not be. Including the sights helps with Rule #2 and 4.

Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on target and you are prepared to fire.

 

[akodo]

"prepared to fire" is what i can be when I point a gun at a backstop and dryfire, with my sites aligned to "prepared to fire" is what I can be when I point a gun into the basement corner before pulling the trigger for disassembly even if I am not looking down the sites.

"and you have made the decision to shoot" by the very use of 'descision to shoot' can never fit with dry firing, sites alligned or not.

also, bolt action rifle, no iron sights, scope mounted, designed for you to open bolt, pull trigger and hold it down to slide bolt out. How exactly do you do THAT under the 4 rules, if you literally have to have your sites on target, so you hold the gun in your right hand, line up the sights, pull trigger, hold it, reach around with left and bang hit your face before you can pull the bolt free.

Or how do you safely handle a rifle with no iron sights befoer you mount your scope on it?

I do these by not 'deciding to shoot' but by 'preparing for the gun to fire' by knowing where the muzzle is pointed even without perfect site alignment, and knowng that the item them muzzle is pointed at is capable of catching the bullet, and anything around/behind it is also safe.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

a bit off topic, but in my NRA class, the instructor emphasized (sp?) 'ALWAYS'

ALWAYS treat the gun like its loaded
ALWAYS point the gun in a safe direction/ NEVER point it at anythign you want dead/destroyed
etc.

But I never see anyone saying always here

 

[pax]

Hmmm, I guess I've never really thought of the "(and you have made the decision to shoot)" part of Rule 3 in reference to dryfire -- except, of course, that it means you shouldn't put your finger on the trigger until you've decided to pull the trigger.

When I first learned this rule, I understood that the parenthetical part was specifically referring to situations where you may want to take someone at gun point. Because the human startle reflex often causes a sudden clenching of the fists, in some circumstances it may a good idea to point a gun at the bad guy, but it is always a bad idea to put your finger on the trigger unless and until you've consciously decided to shoot him.

pax

 

[Josh Aston]

I'm not really a big fan of the four rules. They are too black and white, while we don't live in a black and white world. Some guns require you to break one or more rules just to disassemble them. What about when I'm doing dry fire practice in my house. I don't really want to put a hole in anything in my house, but if I'm going to dry fire I'm going to have to point the gun at something I don't want to shoot. Of course I'm going to point it at something that's not going to bother me too awfully much if I do happen to shoot it. But then I don't really know what's behind my target either. And I'm certainly not treating the gun as if it's loaded, but then I just double checked and it wasn't. Know what the gun is capable of and treat it with respect, just like any other tool. I personally don't worry too awfully much about the semantics of the four rules.

 

[Clipper]

This thread sounds like someone has too much time on their hands...Go out and shoot instead of posing 'If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to hear it does it make any noise' philosophical questions, and you'll feel better...

 

[XavierBreath]

(and you have made the decision to shoot) vs (and you are prepared for the gun to fire).

akodo, I think you make a good point. Jeff Cooper, the originator of the four rules, worded Rule Three differently. Here is what he had to say:

Rule III: KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

Rule III is violated most anytime the uneducated person handles a firearm. Whether on TV, in the theaters, or at the range, people seem fascinated with having their finger on the trigger. Never stand or walk around with your finger on the trigger. It is unprofessional, dangerous, and, perhaps most damaging to the psyche, it is klutzy looking. Never fire a shot unless the sights are superimposed on the target and you have made a conscious decision to fire. Firing an unaligned pistol in a fight gains nothing. If you believe that the defensive pistol is only an intimidation tool - not something to be used - carry blanks, or better yet, reevaluate having one around. If you are going to launch a projectile, it had best be directed purposely. Danger abounds if you allow your finger to dawdle inside the trigger guard. As soon as the sights leave the target, the trigger-finger leaves the trigger and straightens alongside the frame. Since the hand normally prefers to work as a unit - as in grasping - separating the function of the trigger-finger from the rest of the hand takes effort. The five-finger grasp is a deeply programmed reflex. Under sufficient stress, and with the finger already placed on the trigger, an unexpected movement, misstep or surprise could result in a negligent discharge. Speed cannot be gained from such a premature placement of the trigger-finger. Bringing the sights to bear on the target, whether from the holster or the Guard Position, takes more time than that required for moving the trigger finger an inch or so to the trigger.

Clipper and Josh, when something is being taught or enforced for others to follow such as rules, policy or law, semantics are very important. Proper semantics leads to proper interpretation of the instruction. Poor semantics leads to failure to comprehend. Revision of rules, policy or law is usually the result of poor semantics, not wrong intent.

The beauty of the Four Rules is you must break two of them for a tragedy to occur. Thus, you can prevent tragedy by breaking just one at a time if you must. Cest la vie, the information is available if you want it.

Jeff Cooper's Rules Of Gun Safety

FWIW, Here are my thoughts on Rule Three.