New Hampshire Whitetail     |     GUN SAFETY
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RIFLE / LONG GUN

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

A typical bolt-action long gun is shown here with the names of some of its parts. Various types of long gun actions are shown on the following pages of this brochure.


Magazines
Some long guns use a magazine. A magazine is a storage device designed to hold cartridges ready for insertion into the firing chamber. The location of the magazine may vary depending upon the action, model, and make of the gun. Various types of magazines also exist. Two of these magazine types are described below.

A box magazine is usually found in the location shown here. Some box magazines are detachable and can be removed by depressing a button, latch, or similar release device. Other types of box magazines are not detachable. Some have a hinged floorplate, and are unloaded by pressing a release device that allows the floorplate to open and the cartridges to drop out of the magazine. Other types of non-detachable magazines do not have a releasable floorplate, and the cartridges are usually ejected by carefully opening and partially closing the action.

A tubular magazine is usually found in one of the locations shown here. Some tubular magazines have an inside tube which must be removed in order to let cartridges drop out of the magazine. The action must also be opened and partially closed several times in order to be sure that no cartridges are left in the magazine. Other types of tubular magazines do not have a removable inside tube, and the cartridges are usually removed by carefully operating the action of the gun. Because a cartridge can become stuck in a magazine tube, the gun may still contain a cartridge after the above steps have been taken. Therefore, leave the action open to prevent a cartridge from being moved into the chamber.

NOTE: Read the manufacturer's instructions for unloading your type of gun. However, whenever possible: (1) avoid handling the gun when a cartridge is in the chamber; and (2) avoid working the action in such a way that a cartridge is fully inserted into the chamber.
Bolt Action

Bolt actions are opened using a lift and pull motion similar to that used to open a door bolt or gate bolt.

To Unload:
•   If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see "Magazines" above.
•   Open and partially close the action several times by operating the bolt to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.
•   Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.
Lever Action

Lever actions are opened by pulling the lever down and away from the stock, and are closed by returning the lever to its original position. Most lever-action guns have tubular magazines, but some models may use box-type magazines.
To Unload:
•   If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see "Magazines" above.
•   Open and partially close the action several times by operating the lever to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.
•   Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.
Pump Action

Pump actions are operated with a pumping motion. The action is opened by pulling the fore-end of the gun to the rear, and closed by pushing the fore-end back to its original position. Some pump-action guns have tubular magazines, while other models use box-type magazines.
To Unload:
•   If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see "Magazines" above.
•   Open and partially close the action several times by pumping the fore-end to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.
•   Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.
Semi-Automatic Action

Semi-automatic actions are opened by pulling the bolt handle straight to the rear. Some semi-automatics have tubular magazines, while other models use box-type magazines.
To Unload:
•   If the gun has a detachable box magazine, remove it. If the magazine is tubular or non-detachable, see "Magazines" above.
•   Open and partially close the action several times by pulling the bolt handle to the rear to be sure that all cartridges are ejected.
•   Inspect the chamber (plus the action and any tubular or non-detachable magazine) to be sure that the gun is empty.
Hinge Action

Hinge actions are opened by moving a release lever to one side, and then moving the hinged barrel(s) downward. Hinge-action guns do not have magazines.
To Unload:
•   Activate the release lever and move the hinged barrel(s) downward.
•   Opening the action may cause the cartridges to be ejected from the firing chamber(s). If the cartridges are not ejected, remove them from the chamber(s) with your fingers.
•   Inspect the chamber(s) carefully to be sure that the gun is empty