Safety etiquette in gun stores

MissPistol · June 24, 2013, 02:29 AM

I know the guns in the case are unloaded. But in the interest of the "safe direction" rule I try to be concious of it when handling a gun in the store. Usually, the guy behind the case has a back wall of some kind, so I find an angle off to the side that points to the back wall, not at the guy, or other folks. But today, I was in a store where the glass cases were in a U-shape - so customers were all around. Literally! so what would be a good way to handle the gun so as not to freak out the other customers and the folks working there?

SgtLumpy · June 24, 2013, 02:50 AM

Customer to Clerk:
"There's a lot of customers around this showcase. Is there an area where I can handle this gun with a little safer muzzle discipline?"

Or something similar.

Sgt Lumpy

TailGator · June 24, 2013, 11:22 AM

When I am trying out a trigger, I usually just point straight down at the floor. That works only when you are on the ground floor with a concrete slab under your feet, of course.

It is good that you are thinking about such things, though. Just being conscious of it is a step that not everyone takes. Along those lines, please don't assume that the guns in the case are cleared - confirm it for yourself, if you don't already.

jmr40 · June 24, 2013, 11:39 AM

I always open the action and leave it open unless I am trying the trigger. Then I find an unoccupied space.

Quote:

I know the guns in the case are unloaded.

Don't assume so. I've picked up 2 loaded guns at gunshows. When I opened the action a round came out of one, the other did not have a loaded chamber, but the mag was loaded.

A friend of mine owns a local store. He ALWAYS opens the action and hands guns to customers that way when they look at a gun. He showed a gun to a customer one morning and returned it to the case. When he showed the gun later that afternoon a round fell out of the chamber when he opened the action. The "customer" from earlier in the day left a round in the gun for some unknown reason. He now always re-checks the chamber before returning a gun to the shelf.

Pahoo · June 24, 2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

But today, I was in a store where the glass cases were in a U-shape - so customers were all around. Literally!

We have a similar situation at a local sporting goods chain store. In fact, they have two of these handgun islands. To date, all of the clerks allow me to take the handgun, to a back wall that is about 10ft. away, to have better muzzle control. Sure, they watch me and that's fine. ....

Be Safe !!!

Oceanbob · June 24, 2013, 11:54 AM

Some Gun Stores I've been in have 'animal' posters on the ceiling. That's where you aim the gun at. Good idea.

"all guns are loaded all of the time". Jeff Cooper

Backwoodsboy · June 24, 2013, 12:48 PM

+1 to what SgtLumpy said, we can never be too safe!!!

Garycw · June 24, 2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oceanbob

Some Gun Stores I've been in have 'animal' posters on the ceiling. That's where you aim the gun at. Good idea.

"all guns are loaded all of the time". Jeff Cooper

Aiming at the floor especially concrete, incase of a accidental discharge would send the round who knows where. Ceiling is diffidently best.
Never point at the clerk, pull trigger and say Bang.. You're dead!

buck460XVR · June 24, 2013, 02:12 PM

Gun store etiquette/safe handling is no different than anywhere else and the same basic rules of gun safety apply. There are no exceptions.

Skans · June 24, 2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

But today, I was in a store where the glass cases were in a U-shape - so customers were all around. Literally! so what would be a good way to handle the gun so as not to freak out the other customers and the folks working there?

If you have to aim the gun at something to check it out, ask the clerk if he minds you aiming at something behind the counter to check out the sights. Most clerks will tell you to aim it at something on the wall behind them. Otherwise, keep the muzzle pointed at the ground or generally behind the counter, but not at the clerk.

Kreyzhorse · June 24, 2013, 07:09 PM

Unless there is a target behind the counter to specifically aim at, I just point it at the floor.

MissPistol · June 24, 2013, 11:56 PM

... I'll ask if there is a basement under it -

and yes, they pointed at all the animal heads on the walls, too. Something about that I s'pose. I can't do it.

I will be more pro- active and ask, too.

Theohazard · June 25, 2013, 02:56 AM

Safety etiquette at gun stores? Heck, at this point in my LGS career I'm just happy when the customer doesn't accidentally pull the trigger on a gun I just handed him when it's pointed at my chest. At least I always clear the guns first!

And I'm also happy when a customer doesn't pull out a loaded gun and point it at my face because he wants to show me his rail-mounted flashlight.

And I'm happy when a customer doesn't tell me he's pulling out a magazine to show me, then whip out his cocked-and locked 1911 and flag me with it.

And I'm happy when a customer doesn't hand me a gun he claims is unloaded, only to drop the loaded mag and find a round in the chamber.

You can probably guess that this kind of thing happens all the time. So it's really no big deal at all if the customer points the gun in the wrong direction: We just ask them to point it at the targets at the top of the wall behind us, and we're just glad they weren't pointing the gun at someone's chest with their finger on the trigger.

June 24, 2013, 02:29 AM	#1
MissPistol Member Join Date: May 11, 2013 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 40	Safety etiquette in gun stores I know the guns in the case are unloaded. But in the interest of the "safe direction" rule I try to be concious of it when handling a gun in the store. Usually, the guy behind the case has a back wall of some kind, so I find an angle off to the side that points to the back wall, not at the guy, or other folks. But today, I was in a store where the glass cases were in a U-shape - so customers were all around. Literally! so what would be a good way to handle the gun so as not to freak out the other customers and the folks working there?

June 24, 2013, 07:09 PM	#11
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,464	Unless there is a target behind the counter to specifically aim at, I just point it at the floor. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

June 24, 2013, 11:56 PM	#12
MissPistol Member Join Date: May 11, 2013 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 40	The floor is a good idea.... ... I'll ask if there is a basement under it - and yes, they pointed at all the animal heads on the walls, too. Something about that I s'pose. I can't do it. I will be more pro- active and ask, too.

June 24, 2013, 02:50 AM	#2
SgtLumpy Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2013 Posts: 779	Customer to Clerk: "There's a lot of customers around this showcase. Is there an area where I can handle this gun with a little safer muzzle discipline?" Or something similar. Sgt Lumpy

June 24, 2013, 11:22 AM	#3
TailGator Senior Member Join Date: May 8, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,809	When I am trying out a trigger, I usually just point straight down at the floor. That works only when you are on the ground floor with a concrete slab under your feet, of course. It is good that you are thinking about such things, though. Just being conscious of it is a step that not everyone takes. Along those lines, please don't assume that the guns in the case are cleared - confirm it for yourself, if you don't already.

June 24, 2013, 11:54 AM	#6
Oceanbob Member Join Date: December 4, 2012 Posts: 47	Some Gun Stores I've been in have 'animal' posters on the ceiling. That's where you aim the gun at. Good idea. "all guns are loaded all of the time". Jeff Cooper

June 24, 2013, 12:48 PM	#7
Backwoodsboy Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2012 Location: Western, Ny Posts: 190	+1 to what SgtLumpy said, we can never be too safe!!!

June 24, 2013, 02:12 PM	#9
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Gun store etiquette/safe handling is no different than anywhere else and the same basic rules of gun safety apply. There are no exceptions.

June 25, 2013, 02:56 AM	#13
Theohazard Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2012 Location: Western PA Posts: 3,829	Safety etiquette at gun stores? Heck, at this point in my LGS career I'm just happy when the customer doesn't accidentally pull the trigger on a gun I just handed him when it's pointed at my chest. At least I always clear the guns first! And I'm also happy when a customer doesn't pull out a loaded gun and point it at my face because he wants to show me his rail-mounted flashlight. And I'm happy when a customer doesn't tell me he's pulling out a magazine to show me, then whip out his cocked-and locked 1911 and flag me with it. And I'm happy when a customer doesn't hand me a gun he claims is unloaded, only to drop the loaded mag and find a round in the chamber. You can probably guess that this kind of thing happens all the time. So it's really no big deal at all if the customer points the gun in the wrong direction: We just ask them to point it at the targets at the top of the wall behind us, and we're just glad they weren't pointing the gun at someone's chest with their finger on the trigger.