What is Practical Gun Safety? Your Complete Guide
Gun ownership comes with significant responsibility. Every year, thousands of preventable accidents occur due to improper handling, storage, and maintenance of firearms. Understanding practical gun safety isn’t just about following rules and laws—it’s about developing habits that protect you, your family, and your community.
This guide covers the essential principles every gun owner should know, from fundamental safety rules to proper storage techniques. Whether you’re a first-time owner or looking to refresh your knowledge, these practices will help you handle firearms responsibly and confidently.
For gun safety training classes, our Free Basic Gun Safety class and Gun Safety Master Class go more in-depth and are a great start to your practical gun safety training.
What is Practical Gun Safety?
Practical gun safety refers to the real-world application of proven techniques and principles designed to prevent accidents and injuries and teach how to properly handle firearms. Although gun laws and regulations are important and you are responsible for knowing the law, they won’t help you know how to actually safely handle a firearm.
Practical gun safety encompasses several key areas, such as proper handling techniques, safe use and function, secure storage methods, and even topics such as situational awareness and mindset. Each element works together to create a comprehensive safety system that becomes second nature through consistent practice.
Most online gun safety classes concentrate on laws and regulations for a particular state or area. At GSTP, we believe that practical gun safety and knowing how to properly handle firearms is the most important aspect for preventing injuries and deaths amongst firearm owners. For this reason, our gun safety classes do not include laws and regulations for any particular jurisdictions, but focus on the proper and safe handling of firearms.
The Three Primary Gun Handling Rules
These three rules apply specifically to safe gun handling in all situations. Whether at the range, cleaning your gun at home, or conducting dry fire practice, these three rules should never be broken.
Rule 1: Always Keep Every Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction
Whether loaded, unloaded, or the condition is unknown, we should always keep every gun pointed in a safe direction. Be constantly aware of where the muzzle of the gun is pointing, even when cleaning or loading the gun.
When at a shooting range, this may mean pointing downrange. At home, it could be down at the ground. Just remember, the “safe direction” is not always the same. The safest direction is dictated by each individual situation and can always be changing. It requires constant attention of where the muzzle of your gun is pointing.
Rule 2: Always Keep Your Finger Off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot
Your trigger finger should rest along the frame of the gun (outside and above the trigger guard), not on the trigger itself, until you’ve made the conscious decision to fire. This prevents accidental discharges caused by startle responses, stumbling, or dropping the firearm.
Develop the habit of keeping your finger straight and indexed along the receiver. Only move it to the trigger when you’re aimed at your target and have decided to shoot.
Rule 3: Always Keep Every Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use
This rule is all about knowing the condition of your firearm. The condition refers to knowing whether your gun is loaded or unloaded. This rule should NOT be read as “keep every gun unloaded”.
If you conceal carry a handgun, then it should be loaded and in your proper holster. It is “ready to use” in this condition. The same goes for a handgun or home defense gun that is properly stored and may be loaded in a quick access lock box. It is loaded and ready to use. But if I am putting a gun in the safe that I have no intention of using, then it should be unloaded. Of if I set my gun down on the table in front of me at the range because I am done shooting, it should be unloaded.
Safe Gun Handling Techniques – Firearm Fundamentals
Proper handling techniques reduce the likelihood of accidents and improve your overall control of the firearm while also increasing accuracy and skill. This brief overview of shooting fundamentals is also expanded upon in our Handgun Essentials online class in much greater depth.
Grip and Stance
Maintain a firm, consistent grip with your dominant hand positioned high on the backstrap of the gun. Your support hand should wrap around your firing hand, providing additional stability and control. Being able to maintain a firm and consistent grip on a handgun is the second most important aspect to repeatable and accurate shooting.
Your stance should be balanced and athletic, with feet shoulder-width apart. Lean slightly forward to manage recoil effectively and with your feet evenly spaced and a slight bend in the knees. Keep your body weight centered over both feet to maintain stability during shooting.
Sight Alignment
To achieve correct sight alignment, you must position the front sight post in the center of the rear sight notch, ensuring the top of the front sight is level with the top of the rear sight. There should be equal space on either side of the front sight within the rear sight notch. Focus your vision solely on the front sight while aiming and during shooting.
With a red dot sight, the biggest advantage is being able to maintain focus on the target itself. Using a quality red dot sight, the red dot itself does not need to be centered in the window as well. As long as you can see the dot, and it is placed on your target, the dot is where the bullet should impact.
Trigger Control
Trigger control, or the trigger pull, is widely considered the most difficult fundamental to master as well as the most important skill to be able to do well. Using the pad of your index finger, generally the spot between the joint and the tip of your finger, the goal is to pull the trigger back smoothly and without moving the rest of the gun until it fires. Jerky or sideways pressure on the trigger will cause movement in the muzzle, which will result in poor accuracy.
Safe Storage Practices
Proper storage prevents unauthorized access while keeping your firearms ready when needed.
Gun Safes and Lock Boxes
Invest in a quality gun safe or lock box appropriate for your needs and budget. Look for models that meet established security standards and provide fire protection for your valuable firearms.
Position safes in locations that aren’t obvious to potential thieves but remain accessible to you. Bolt larger safes to the floor or wall studs to prevent removal.
Trigger Locks and Cable Locks
These devices prevent the firearm from being fired by blocking the trigger or action. While not as secure as a safe, they provide an additional layer of protection, especially when combined with separate ammunition storage.
Always ensure trigger locks are properly installed and test them regularly to confirm they’re functioning correctly.
Ammunition Storage
Properly storing ammunition ensures that it will last for years without degrading. Typically, storing ammo in a cool and dry environment is always best. Avoid moister! If you are in a humid environment, invest in dehumidifiers for your gun safe or area where the ammo is stored.
Keep ammunition in original packaging when practical, as this provides important information about the cartridge type and manufacturing date.
Gun Maintenance
Always ensure the firearm is completely unloaded before beginning any maintenance procedures. Work in a well-lit area with proper ventilation.
Proper gun maintenance does not necessarily mean cleaning your firearm after each use. Some studies have shown that deep cleaning after each use can actually cause additional and early wear on the firearm. Refer to your firearms owners manual for specific recommendations for your particular gun.
Generally, quality firearms that are geared for self-defense purposes just need proper lubrication to continue working reliably and smoothly.
Building a Culture of Safety
Practical gun safety extends beyond individual responsibility to creating an environment where safety is the top priority. Share these principles with family members and fellow gun owners. Lead by example in your handling practices, and don’t hesitate to speak up when you observe unsafe behavior.
Remember that developing these habits takes time and conscious effort. Start with the fundamentals and practice them consistently until they become automatic responses. The investment in proper training and equipment pays dividends in preventing accidents and protecting the people you care about most.
Safe gun ownership requires ongoing commitment, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re handling firearms responsibly makes that effort worthwhile.
Continue your training today and enroll in one of our professional online training classes!
