Everybody hates the rules, especially safety rules.  Cool firearms instructors post videos on YouTube breaking the rules. Sometimes, you can bend the rules and get away with it and sometimes exceptions will bite you.

I have learned much of what I know about the rules from mistakes, mostly the mistakes of others.

Which rules?  Why Jeff Cooper’s rules of course, as copied faithfully from the sacred text;  Cooper’s Commentaries volume 6 number 2.

  • RULE 1
    ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
  • RULE 2
    NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
  • RULE 3
    KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER TIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
  • RULE 4
    BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

What about situations off the range, outside the rule book? These rules don’t apply with dummy cartridges, right?  When I practice weapons manipulations at home or demonstrate them in a class, I use dummy rounds.  I prefer the ST Action Pro rounds because their distinctive bright orange plastic and empty primer pocket makes them obviously different from live rounds. I like them even more now, for reasons I will explain below.

ST ActionPro Photo courtesy of Marklsupply.com
ST ActionPro
Photo courtesy of Marklsupply.com

When I demonstrate in front of others, I some one else check each round. I won’t point a gun at anything I am not willing to shoot, even using dummy rounds. When I need to point at things I do not wish to destroy, I use a dummy gun.

Recently, a federal law enforcement agency was conducting shotgun training in the classroom at a local range. The firearms instructor brought an ammo can full of clear dummy rounds with him.  Spoiler Alert: Almost all of them were dummy rounds.

The instructor loaded his Remington 870 shotgun from the ammo can and began to demonstrate its operation. There was a loud noise and a hole appeared in the wall in front of the shotgun.

Shotgun Negligent Discharge: Bringing the Range to the Classroom