Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Unloading and loading a break-action shotgun

Unloading and loading a break-action shotgun are very straightforward and only require a minimum of training to become accustomed to.

Opening a break action shotgun for loading or unloading is a very straightforward process. However, even though the process is simple, always follow the four rules.

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

While all four rules are equally important, let me emphasize that while unloading a firearm, be certain to keep the firearm pointed away from any target AND your finger off the trigger at all times.

Now having said that, we can begin by pressing in on the BREAK OPEN SWITCH on the front of the trigger frame. When you press, you want to move it directly back toward the stock of the firearm as in the photo below.


Continue to press back on the break open switch until it can move no further.


Now you can easily break open the shotgun. Press down on the stock and down on the barrel while lifting upward on the frame. Like a upside down V. The shotgun will open along the hinge with a "click"


When you open a break action shotgun, a small piece of metal will push the existing shotshells away from the barrel of the shotgun. This is the SHOTSHELL EXTRACTOR. Unloading the break action shotgun is just a matter of pulling the shotshells free from the rim of the extractor.


Loading a break action shotgun is only a matter of placing the appropriate shotshell ammunition as far as they can go into the shotshell chambers so that they rest on the shotshell extractor. Then just close the shotgun by bringing the barrel and stock upward so that they meet and close with a "click". Nothing to it!

After every discharge of the firearm, repeat the process from the first step to unload and load the ammunition.

-end-

1 comment:

Seth and Caroline said...

what kind of shotgun are you using in this pic?