Why point a cased rifle at someone, but not the uncased rifle?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why point a cased rifle at someone, but not the uncased rifle?

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:20:46 AM EDT

I’m sure most of us are careful not to point our unloaded weapons at other people when at the range. We even take care when packing up our gear not to point a weapon at anyone. But as soon as the rifle is in the case I notice most people treat the case differently. All of a sudden since the rifle is now in a plastic or nylon case people feel it is no longer potentially a threat. It is now okay to point that case at the guy on the next bench.

I’ve even observed this behavior in the most safety conscious people.

Why is that? Do you behave this way? Be honest. I’ll admit to doing it. I sling my nylon cases over my shoulder (muzzle in the air), but the hard cases are carried with the rifle parallel to the ground.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:23:00 AM EDT

[#1]

Usually you cant finger a trigger in a case. And the weapon is protected from hitting the ground etc.

Second, most people will unload a weapon before putting it a case.

But more weird stuff has happened, like that trooper who was killed by a gunshot from a car in an accident.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:23:25 AM EDT

[#2]

people more than likely associate the safety practices with the object itself. Once the rifle goes into the case it is no longer a rifle, just a case.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:24:57 AM EDT

[#3]

NOt saying it hasn't happened, But the chances of a cased weapon going off are virtually zero.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:25:01 AM EDT

[#4]

Because any chance of a negligent discharge is greatly reduced at that point. It doesn't bother me if people point their cased rifles at me, I do it myself (except for when taking them out of/putting them back into the case). There are times where it really isn't even possible to not point a cased long gun at someone, most notably when you have to jam the case into your trunk. They're also designed to be carried in such a way, with the handle on top and everything, and it stands to reason that everyone is going to be using them how they were designed to be used.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:25:27 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
people more than likely associate the safety practices with the object itself. Once the rifle goes into the case it is no longer a rifle, just a case.

I buy that.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:26:48 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
... It is now okay to point that case at the guy on the next bench....

Not at our range. Even cased rifles must be muzzle toward backstop.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:27:45 AM EDT

[#7]

I try to be mindful of this with my cased weapons, but NOT to the same degree when the bare weapon is in my hands.

Have you ever tried to take a rifle off a busy range, and get it into a case? If you are diligent about muzzle sweeps, it looks like some kind of twirling act!

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:28:45 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Quoted:
... It is now okay to point that case at the guy on the next bench....

Not at our range. Even cased rifles must be muzzle toward backstop.

Now that must make it a PITA to turn around and leave when you are done. LOL

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:29:28 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
NOt saying it hasn't happened, But the chances of a cased weapon going off are virtually zero.

The chances of ANY kind of AD are virtually zero, so why is a AD when a rifle is in the case any less likely than an AD when the rifle is not in the case?

According to the rules of firearm handling, an AD should never be possible because the rifle is ALWAYS unloaded unless ready to fire, and when it is ready to fire it is pointed in a safe direction, as it should be at all times anyway.

I think it's more a problem with "out of sight, out of mind"

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:30:07 AM EDT

[#10]

I could shoot a gun from my Secret Sam case.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:31:57 AM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
I try to be mindful of this with my cased weapons, but NOT to the same degree when the bare weapon is in my hands.

Have you ever tried to take a rifle off a busy range, and get it into a case? If you are diligent about muzzle sweeps, it looks like some kind of twirling act!

Muzzle straight down works, and you don't end up looking like a drum major.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:32:02 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
... It is now okay to point that case at the guy on the next bench....

Not at our range. Even cased rifles must be muzzle toward backstop.

Now that must make it a PITA to turn around and leave when you are done. LOL

Not at all. you just rotate the case skyward or keep it point toward the backstop as you walk directly to the rear off the line. We have some strict rules when you are on the firing line.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:33:35 AM EDT

[#13]

What the hell kind of question is this. Safety is safety but I think being concerned about the direction your gun case is pointing is just slightly nurotic. In fact you should be more worried about the guns in your safe you never know what evil things they maybe plotting while they are locked away.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:34:26 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
NOt saying it hasn't happened, But the chances of a cased weapon going off are virtually zero.

Happened just the other day here:

www.kcci.com/newsarchive/7371025/detail.html

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A western Iowa teen died Thursday after being shot in the back of the head.

Alex Parker, 17, his brother, and two friends had just returned from target practice near Anthon.

Authorities said Parker's friend was removing the gun from the car when it accidentally went off, hitting Parker in the head.

Investigators determined the gun was still in the case when it discharged.

The teens are all students at Maple Valley Anthon Oto High School.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:39:12 AM EDT

[#15]

It's really no different than pointing an unloaded weapon at someone. It's just as safe...although pointing an unloaded weapon at someone is generally accepted as something you don't do because even if you know for certain that the weapon is completely and totally empty and devoid of any ammunition. YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT IS CERTAIN OF THIS.

Therefore as a good safety measure, you never point an unloaded gun at someone. Remember, not everyone is as safe as you would like them to be...and accidents do happen.

No need to let all the idiots think that an unloaded weapon can't fire, because eventually, they will screw up - it will be loaded one time - and they will shoot someone.

I was raised to believe that there was not a problem with it because an unloaded weapon cannot fire. Yet to be on the safe side, you just don't do it as yet another backup safety measure. As safe certain as you may be, accidents can always happen. You just might screw up one day!!

When it's in the case...people just accept it at that point I guess

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:40:02 AM EDT

[#16]

soft cases im pretty mussle aware with. I feel that its not to difficult to carry these in a safe manner and I feel like there is still a slight chance of the trigger getting tripped.

Hard cases I have much less concern with because they are very hard to carry without pointing at someone and its pretty much impossible to pull the trigger though a hard case. Even with this I still dont intentionally muzzle sweep people.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:43:16 AM EDT

[#17]

Because 1/4 inch of nylon and padding will stop any bullet.

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:51:26 AM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
Quoted:
NOt saying it hasn't happened, But the chances of a cased weapon going off are virtually zero.

Happened just the other day here:

www.kcci.com/newsarchive/7371025/detail.html

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A western Iowa teen died Thursday after being shot in the back of the head.

Alex Parker, 17, his brother, and two friends had just returned from target practice near Anthon.

Authorities said Parker's friend was removing the gun from the car when it accidentally went off, hitting Parker in the head.

Investigators determined the gun was still in the case when it discharged.

The teens are all students at Maple Valley Anthon Oto High School.

Wow. I had not seen that. Thanks for posting.

Posted: 2/24/2006 3:07:30 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Quoted:
... It is now okay to point that case at the guy on the next bench....

Not at our range. Even cased rifles must be muzzle toward backstop.

Damn, I'm in trouble.

In one of my Starlight cases I have two bolt guns and the muzzles point in opposite directions from each other. Although, the bolts are out of them to save storage space.

Not to mention that when I pull a wheeled hard case behind me, the muzzles generally point in my direction.

Posted: 2/24/2006 4:28:28 PM EDT

[#20]

Holy Crap!

I gotta come up with some kind of Batmobile Turntable for my safe! That thing has muzzles pointing every which way!!! Oh Noes!!!!!

Besides, even a .22 is so powerful that if you have an A/ND into space, it will just orbit Pluto, come back and kill someone in 500 years. And a 50 BMG would blast right through the earth and kill that guy that much faster, still orbit pluto, and kill his greatx32grandson 500 years later.

Oh Noes!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: 2/24/2006 9:45:52 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
NOt saying it hasn't happened, But the chances of a cased weapon going off are virtually zero.

The chances of ANY kind of AD are virtually zero, so why is a AD when a rifle is in the case any less likely than an AD when the rifle is not in the case?

According to the rules of firearm handling, an AD should never be possible because the rifle is ALWAYS unloaded unless ready to fire, and when it is ready to fire it is pointed in a safe direction, as it should be at all times anyway.

I think it's more a problem with "out of sight, out of mind"

I don't believe in ADs. If the gun goes off, and you didn't want, nor expect it to then it is an ND. Unfortunately NDs happen all too often. When a rifle is in the case, generally speaking, it is going to be tough as hell to activate the trigger or by some other means make the firearm fire.

Posted: 2/24/2006 10:25:50 PM EDT

[#22]

Most people don't give it much thought, unless it's pretty close. (For example, talking to someone while loading the cased rifle into your trunk and swinging it right past his face).

As a sidebar to this topic, I sweep family/friends/strangers every day with a loaded (condition 1) .45 that's riding in a Galco Miami Classic and think nothing of it.

Posted: 2/25/2006 4:04:37 AM EDT

[#23]

Half the people in this country aren't responsible with most aspects of their lives. They can't handle their finances, they rack up credit card debt, they cheat on their spouses, they steal from their employer, they abuse their children and/or spouse, they abuse drugs or alcohol, and lots of other things. Why would all these irresponsible people all of a sudden become responsible with guns? My point is you need to be very careful at the range, because there are alot of people out there that are not capable of being responsible with firearms.

Posted: 2/25/2006 4:11:07 AM EDT

[#24]

I'm pointing my "cased rifle at you right now

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Why point a cased rifle at someone, but not the uncased rifle?

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