Your new shooter "prove weapon" process

[Odd Job]

You are showing a new shooter how to use a Ruger 10/22 rifle with iron sights. You've explained all the controls of the rifle, the sight picture and the four safety rules. The new shooter understands this and always keeps the muzzle pointed down range, finger off trigger unless shooting. You are shooting from the bench with a pad under the front, using standard 10 round mags at a target 25 yards away.

With regards to the "prove weapon clear" process, what do you instruct the new shooter to do?
EDIT: there is no "chamber clear flag" available.

 

[Library Guy]

Magazine out.

Bolt locked back

Chamber visually and digitally inspected.

Empty chamber indicator in place.

 

[mortablunt]

Turn on safety, remove mag, cycle bolt manually twice.

 

[Brian Williams]

For Sure
1, Mag out
2, Bolt locked to rear
3, Visual chamber check

 

[Gtimothy]

Never shot a 10/22...BUT...

I've been showing my wife the correct procedures for operating and safing our new ARs. The range we belong to require "Clear Chamber" flags so the range officer can just walk the line and verify all weapons are safe.

What I told my wife for the correct safing procedure was "Safety on, Magazine out, Bolt back, Bolt hold-back on, Check chamber, Flag through ejection port into magazine well (NOT into barrel), Hands off gun" I always put the safety on first and drop the mag because if you don't, and you accidentally lose control of the bolt (AR or semis) a new round will be chambered! Mag out prevents this from occurring.

 

[BUCKrub91]

safety on, mag out, bolt back, check chamber

 

[Road Less Traveled]

"EDIT: there is no "chamber clear flag" available."

At my range, empty chamber indicators are mandatory. There is no good reason not to have several on hand at all times. Plastic zip ties are cheap, come in all sorts of colors and make great ECIs.

 

[Dimis]

NEVER SHOT A 10/22?!?!?!?!

hmmm something fishy there.... just kidding lol

safety on
magazine removed
bolt open and locked back
visually and physically inspected
hands off firearm

 

[Flopsweat]

I don't care what order they do it in as long as the gun is made safe. Certain orders may make sense with certain guns, but we're here to have fun, not pass muster.

 

[CoRoMo]

The second one:

• Drop mag
• Open/lock bolt
• Inspect chamber

 

[taliv]

imho, the important point is that you need a repeatable process that works for many guns of a given class (e.g. mag fed semi autos) and for lots of different uses (e.g. LEO procedures, IDPA, range fun) so you can turn it into a habit

i think the safety is optional for several reasons, so i voted the second one as sort of a least-common-denominator. e.g. you can't engage the safety on some guns after you pull the trigger so if you go "slide down hammer down" you may not be able to put it on safe. again the point isn't what's best for an individual gun (the 10/22 in question) but what you try to do for all similar guns

mag out is important first step (always remove the source of ammo),

then cycle the action. if the action was already open, then close it and open it again and lock it back. (my habit is to do this twice, with ARs, bolt guns and 10/22s)

then visually and/or digitally inspect the chamber

empty chamber indicators or open bolt indicators are good for range use, but you don't always have them in the field.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Putting the safety on seems redundant in my opinion, if the gun is locked open with the magazine removed, what could happen?

 

[Nuclear]

Magazine out. Work the action several times (if you forget the first step, this will get your attention). Lock the action open. Inspect the chamber.

 

[shotgunjoel]

Yeah, I never put the safety on a gun that I just unloaded. Of all of the guns in my safe right now, none of them have the safety on. Safeties are for when you load a gun and aren't going to shoot it right now, or shot some of the ammo in it and stop. Then I use the safety. I'm sure that I've had many range sessions where I never touched the safety.

 

[Dimis]

I always tell new shooters to apply the safety first that way the next motions (remove mag/lock bolt back) are done safely without an accidentally placed finger hitting a trigger (we are talking about teaching a NEW shooter not an old hat)

as for my personal guns I dont use the safety unless its loaded

 

[Odd Job]

That's my rationale also.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Safety on, mag out, bolt to the rear, visually inspect and watch the bolt go home on an empty chamber, ejection port cover closed. Marine Corps style.

 

[ny32182]

With a 10/22 there is no bolt catch...

Mag out, rack it 2-3 times, visually inspect chamber, done. Safety on if that is your thing.

 

[mgmorden]

I personally have come to really like the process used in most shooting sports:

"Unload, show clear, hammer down."

IE, remove the magazine, open the bolt and show the empty chamber to the range officer, then close the chamber and with the muzzle pointed downrange dryfire the weapon.

 

[Odd Job]

With a 10/22 there is no bolt catch...

Well you might call it something different such as a bolt hold, but there is definitely a means to retain the bolt in a backward position (at least on all the 10/22s I have used).

 

[gpr]

there is all ways some thing around for a bolt open....range flag, spent rifle or shot gun case, or a clean stick.....gary

 

[Rail Driver]

Drop the mag, lock the bolt back, check visually and physically for an empty chamber.

 

[Walkalong]

"chamber clear flag"

I have some of these. They work well.

http://www.larrysguns.com/Products/Chamber-Plugs__LGI.aspx

 

[jcwit]

I've helped "in a small way" at the NRA Metric Small Bore National Matches.

Chamber Flag required, easily seen my the RSO and totally safe.

 

[Dimis]

every 10/22 I own and have handles has had a bolt hold open just to the rear of the trigger guard even the high dollar volquartsen (however you spell it) models