Thread: Loaded Rifle

Relevant to this post, the Canadian firearms safety course basically hinges around two acronyms that cover most firearms safety in terms of handling:

ACT and PROVE

ACT for general use:
Assume every gun is loaded
Control muzzle direction
Trigger finger off the trigger and out of trigger guard

PROVE for whenever you pick up or put down a firearm to ensure it isn't accidentally loaded:
Point the firearm in a safe direction
Remove the magazine/ammunition
Observe the chamber
Verify the feed path between the magazine and chamber
Examine the bore for obstructions (a loaded round, squib projectile, dirt etc)

If you follow the steps in this order you don't end up cycling a round into the chamber when clearing the firearm, which is the issue with other clearing methods. When you're in the habit of doing it you just do it as you handle a firearm and it doesn't take any time at all.