Loading & Unloading Your Gun

Before loading any firearm, thoroughly read the owners manual for specific loading instructions for your firearm.

Remember The Four Rules apply ALWAYS so keep them in force while loading and unloading your firearm.

The Four Rules Are:

All guns are always loaded.
Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Verify you have the right ammunition. Ammunition "can" be confusing. Know which round(s) are appropriate and safe for your model. Shooting the wrong ammunition in your firearm is extremely dangerous. Check both the labeling on the box and the actual round as well, (The round itself should be marked on the bottom). If you are not sure, don't load your firearm and get some expert advice. Revolvers and semi-automatic pistols are loaded and unloaded differently. Let's start with a revolver.

TO LOAD A REVOLVER

Step 1.

Make sure the hammer of the revolver is not in a cocked position or pulled back.

Step 2.
Place your hand on the grip of the revolver without placing your finger in the trigger guard, and point the barrel in a safe direction. Cup the body of the gun with your other hand. Push or pull (depends on the model) the cylinder latch with the thumb of the hand holding the grip.

Step 3.

It is IMPERATIVE that you fully expose the entire cylinder completely every time you load or unload. This should be your habit every time you release the cylinder. As you push the cylinder open with your non-dominant hand - allow your two middle fingers to slide through the frame to ensure full exposure of all chambers and a solid grip on the gun.

Step 4a.
Secure the butt of the gun against your waist with your non-dominant. You want to place the gun in the same location each time so it becomes habit. This will assist you in the event you must load your gun in the dark helping you to "feel" your way through the loading process.

Step 4b.
Insert the pointed or rounded end of the round first, not the flat end. Press the bullet into the chamber until it is fully seated (inserted with rim flush agains the cylinder surface). Repeat this process until you have inserted rounds into all chambers of the cylinder. Note: It is a common safety habit and personal choice to leave one chamber empty when loading your gun to either carry or prepare for home defense as you can position the empty chamber in line with the barrel and hammer which is the firing position.

Note: A speedloader is a device that holds and positions all rounds (typically 5 or 6, depending on the model) and are used for loading all chambers of a revolver simultaneously for faster loading. To load with a speedloader, grasp the speedloader with your dominant hand and bring it to your midline at the same time you secure your gun with your non-dominant hand at your waist. Use your index and middle fingers to align the rounds into position. Release the rounds with a slight twist to slide into all chambers simultaneously.

Step 5.
Turn the cylinder until the empty chamber is in the 12 o'clock position. Push the cylinder back toward the gun frame until you hear the cylinder latch lock into position with a click. Look at the back of the cylinder to verify that the empty chamber is in line with the barrel and hammer, or in the firing position. If it's not, open the revolver by pulling on the cylinder latch, pushing the cylinder out to the left and rotating the cylinder so that when you put it back in place with the empty chamber will be in the firing position.

Step 6.
Gently attempt to rotate the cylinder clockwise by hand to make sure it is locked. It is locked if it does not move. If it does move, you will need to re-open and close the cylinder to make sure.

Step 7.
As soon as you have completed your reload, bring your hands back into your regular firing position.

TO UNLOAD A REVOLVER

Step 1.
Place your hand on the grip of the revolver without placing your finger in the trigger guard, and point the barrel in a safe direction, away from people. Cup the body of the gun with your other hand. Push or pull (depends on the model) the cylinder latch with the thumb of the hand holding the grip.

Step 2.

This should be your habit every time you release the cylinder. As you push the cylinder open with your non-dominant hand - allow your two middle fingers to slide through the frame to ensure full exposer of all chambers and a solid grip on the gun.

It is IMPERATIVE that you fully expose the entire cylinder completely every time you load or unload.

Step 3.
Rotate the gun and point the gun muzzle-up. As you rotate the gun, secure the cylinder to keep it from spinning with your thumb and middle finger. Use the palm of your non-dominant hand to press down on the ejector firmly. Press it all the way down one time to release all of the spent cases. Do not hit the ejector rod more than once or manipulate it in any way. Don't twist it or continually push it up and down as this can damage the star (the flat star-shaped piece of metal that the back end of the cylinder that "catch" the rim of the round for unloading).

Step 4.
Verify the gun is fully unloaded making sure the cylinder is "fully" exposed and all chambers can be seen and felt to insure a fully unloaded gun.

LOADING AND UNLOADING A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL

Before loading your firearm, thoroughly read the owners manual which will provide specific loading instructions for your particular firearm.

Verify you have the right ammunition. Ammunition "can" be confusing. Know which round(s) are appropriate and safe for your model. Shooting the wrong ammunition in your gun is extremely dangerous. Check both the labeling on the box and the actual round as well, (The round should be marked on the bottom of the bullet). If you are not sure, don't load your gun and get some expert advice.

Step 1.
Point the barrel in a safe direction. Place your hand on the grip of the pistol without placing your finger in the trigger guard.

Step 2.

Press the button on the side of the hand grip to eject magazine.

Step 3.
Verify the gun is fully unloaded and a round is not still in the chamber. Most sem-iautomatic pistols, after the final shot is fired, will lock its slide open. In the event the chamber is not locked open, pull back the rack and push up on the "slide lock" to reveal the chamber. Visually check the chamber to make sure it is empty.

Step 4a.
Hold the magazine firmly in your non-dominant hand with the tip of the rounds facing forward, the higher angled side, or toward the right if you are right-handed. The back of the magazine should be positioned in the V between your thumb and index finger.

Step 4b.
Insert rounds one at a time with your dominant hand by placing the bullet so that the case of the bullet rests on the top front third of the top of the magazine, with the rounded side of the round forward. Push firmly with your thumb (or index finger) on the center of the round and slide it back until it is below the retaining lip. Repeat until magazine is full.

Note: The magazines can be "tight" and inserting the rounds can take quite a bit of pressure, but will loosen some with use. I found loading the magazine was a great thing to practice and it becomes easier the more you do it.

Step 5.
Re-insert the magazine by pushing firmly upward into the hand grip with rounds pointing forward, until you hear a click, indicating the magazine has locked in place.

Note: No need to be shy. Firmly insert the magazine and gently tap the back of it against the palm of your other hand to align the ammunition.

Step 6.
If applicable, disengage the safety by pushing down on the safety lever at top, rear of gun. Disengage the slide lock and allow the slide to ride forward on its own. Do not follow it or ride it with your hand. Let it go. This action pulls up the top round in the magazine and chambers it.

If your slide was not locked open when inserting the magazine, you will need to manually chamber the first round. To do this you will need to "rack the slide"

Step 7a.
Grasp your gun with your dominant hand, similarly to your shooting grip with your trigger finger outside the trigger guard and with your non-dominant hand grasping the upper and rear end of the slide.

Note: As you grasp the slide, your trigger finger will naturally clasp as well. You must consciously prevent your finger from moving onto the trigger while you work the slide.

Position your hand so the heel of your hand is nearest you with your other four fingers over the slide and grasping on the outer side. CAUTION: Do not let your hand cover the ejection port as your hand can get severely pinched in it during the sliding action and blocking the ejection port can also cause a jam.

Step 7b.
Bring the gun toward your middle belly (midline) pointing in a safe direction with your dominant elbow braced in your side. Simply drive your gun hand firmly (very firmly) forward while holding the slide firmly in place toward your midline, so that it does not move with the gun. Think of this motion as punching the gun forward, not pulling the slide backwards. CAUTION: No matter how much you struggle with this movement, do not let your trigger finger slip into the trigger guard.

Step 7c.

Once the slide is pulled back to its rear most position, release the slide completely. Do not "follow" or "ride" the slide with your hand, let it go. The slide must slide unrestricted to properly chamber the round.

Step 8.
Raise your firearm and aim down the sight at the target. Only place pointing finger onto trigger when you're sure you have a target and are ready to shoot. Pull trigger one time for each shot you fire.

For many women, racking the slide is frustrating and discouraging as it takes a very particular motion to successfully and consistently rack the slide. Following the correct technique, you will get more proficient with this action. .380's and 9mm do tend to be easier to rack. Of course your hand strength and the model of your gun are the defining factors.

UNLOADING A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL

If you have just finished shooting a full magazine, your semiautomatic pistol will lock the slide open. If it did not, or you did not shoot all rounds in the magazine the slide will be closed.

Step 1.
Point your handgun in a safe direction.

Step 2.

Press the button on the side of the hand grip to eject the magazine.

Step 3.
Verify the gun is fully unloaded and a round is not still in the chamber. If your slide was not open, you will have to pull the slide back and raise the slide lock.

Step 4.
Carefully lay the gun down with the muzzle in a safe direction.

Step 5.
If rounds of ammunition remain in the magazine, press down slightly on the top round and with your thumb, slide the round out of the magazine. Continue until all rounds have been removed.

Step 6.
Safely store your firearm.

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