Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in

1 Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication canadian Firearms safety course : Student handbook - 4th edition Also available in French under the title, Cours canadien dans le maniement des armes feu, manuel de l' tudiant. ( galement disponible en fran ais sous le titre, Cours canadien dans le maniement des armes feu, manuel de l' tudiant.) ISBN 978-0-660-19826-2 Catalogue no.: PS99-2/2-2008E 1. Firearms-- Canada -- safety measures. 2. Firearms ownership-- Canada . 3. Firearms-- safety measures. 4. Gun control-- Canada . I. Royal canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) / Canada Firearms Centre (CAFC) 2008 C2006-980173-3 (2008) HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN RIGHT OF Canada as represented by the Royal canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP/CAFC will allow reproduction in whole or in part, with appropriate credit, provided no changes have been made to the content and it is intended for non-profit use.

2 A formal request for permission must be sent to the RCMP/CAFC. This edition of the canadian Firearms safety course is produced by: Technical Documentation and Graphics Section Information Management Branch / CIO Sector RCMP Headquarters Ottawa ON K1A 0R2 Canada Fax: 613-825-9617 - 2 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Preface PREFACE Acknowledgements Many organizations with an ongoing interest in firearms safety volunteered their time to review and comment on this handbook during its developmental stages. The efforts and assistance of the many people involved (see below) are acknowledged and appreciated. Without their help and that of the following organizations, this handbook would not have been possible: Chief Firearms Officers and their Staff Central Forensic Laboratory, RCMP International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) Saskatchewan Association for firearm Education (SAFE) Firearms safety Education Service of Ontario (FSESO) Nova Scotia Hunter & firearm safety Education Instructors Association National Firearms Association (NFA) User Group on Firearms Coalition for Gun Control Info-s cure Inc.

3 Most importantly, the RCMP/CAFC wishes to acknowledge the talent and expertise of the certified Instructors of the canadian Firearms safety course from across Canada , many of whom took the time and effort to provide written recommendations and suggestions in the development of this material. - 3 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Preface Disclaimer The improper use of firearms may result in serious injury. The material presented in this handbook is intended to demonstrate the operation of firearms in accordance with safe handling techniques and an awareness of manufacturers' specifications and safety features. The RCMP/CAFC makes no warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, oral or written, in fact or by operation of law or otherwise, regarding the safety of any firearm or the use of any safety mechanism shown in the handbook .

4 Individuals should use firearms in accordance with manufacturers' specifications and contact individual manufacturers as each model features different safety mechanisms and some of the techniques demonstrated might not be appropriate for certain firearms. Ultimately, responsibility for firearm safety rests with the individual. - 4 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 4 List of 15 List of 18 List of 19 INTRODUCTION TO THE canadian FIREARMS safety course .. 21 Introduction to the 23 The canadian Firearms 24 course 25 course 26 The Vital Four ACTS of firearm 27 PROVE 28 Section 1 INTRODUCTION TO The Evolution of 31 31 33 Wheel 34 35 36 37 37 Percussion 38 - 5 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents 39 Repeating 40 Table 2 - Evolution of 41 Firearms in 42 Major firearm 42 42 43 44 44 44 45 Stock or The Firing 46 Types of firearm 47 Legal 49 Classes of 49 Review 2 - BASIC safety .

5 The Vital Four 55 55 PROVE Basic firearm safety 57 Keep Firearms and Ammunition Separate and Secure When Not In 57 Load a firearm Only for Actual 57 - 6 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Be Sure Before You 58 Be Sure of Your Target and 58 Secure Locking 60 Review 3 - 65 65 65 67 Shotgun 69 Shotgun 70 Black Powder and Black 71 Black Powder Projectiles for a Muzzleloading 72 73 Cartridge Components and 75 Types of 77 Cartridge 79 Table 6 - Typical Cartridge Names and Actual 81 Chart 1 - Comparison of Rifle Cartridges and Shotgun 82 Shotgun 83 83 Shotgun Shell Components and 83 Chart 2 - Shot 86 - 7 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Shotgun Shell 87 91 93 94 Ammunition Precautions and 95 Review 4 OPERATING firearm 101 Muzzleloading and Antique 102 Loading 103 Do s and Don'ts of 107 Action 108 110 110 Hammer on Half-Cock 110 111 Pivot/ 112 112 Trigger 112 Cross-Bolt 112 Action General Loading and Unloading 113 113 Unloading Procedures - PROVE 114 - 8 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Checking the Barrel for 115 Loading 115 Loading and Unloading the Most Common Action 116 Hinge (or Break) Action.

6 Single or Multiple 116 Unloading Procedure - PROVE 117 Loading 119 Single 120 Single Shot Unloading Procedure - PROVE 122 Single Shot Loading 123 Operating Repeating 124 Box-Type 125 Tubular-Type 126 Bolt Action 128 Unloading Procedure - PROVE 130 Loading 131 Lever Action 132 Unloading Procedure - PROVE 134 Loading 135 Pump Action 136 Unloading Procedure - PROVE 138 - 9 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Loading 139 Semi-automatic Action 140 Unloading Procedure - PROVE 142 Loading 143 Revolver: Single Action, Non-Swing-Out Cylinder (Loading Gate).. 144 Unloading Procedure - PROVE Revolver: Double Action, Swing-Out Cylinder and Break 147 Unloading Procedure - PROVE Semi-automatic Actions: 149 Single Action, Double Action, Double Action Only: Semi-automatic (Unloading Procedure - PROVE Safe).

7 152 Jammed 155 Review 5 - SAFE HANDLING AND CARRYING OF NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS .. 161 Personal safety 161 161 Eye 161 Hearing 162 Slips and 162 Safe Handling of Firearms in 163 safety Procedures at the 164 - 10 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Additional Range safety Range Range 168 Safe Handling of Firearms 169 Shooting or Hunting with a 172 172 Informal Firing 172 Safe Zones of 172 Carrying 174 Review 177 Section 6 - FIRING TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES FOR NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS .. Introduction to 181 181 Shooting 182 182 187 Aiming Your 188 188 Aiming 190 Pointing 192 Trigger 193 Controlled 193 193 194 - 11 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Review 7 - CARE OF NON-RESTRICTED FIREARMS.

8 firearm 199 firearm 200 Cleaning 201 Cleaning 202 Cleaning a 205 Cleaning 206 Review Section 8 - SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIREARMS OWNER/USER .. firearm -Related Deaths and 211 Intentional Misuse of 211 211 212 213 Signs of 215 Firearms Reported Lost, Missing or 216 Secure 217 Unintentional Misuse of 218 Table 11 - firearm Hazards and 222 Social Responsibilities and 223 Table 12 - Social Responsibilities of a firearm 225 Legal 226 Other Duties of firearm Owners and 227 - 12 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Review 9 - SAFE STORAGE, DISPLAY, TRANSPORTATION & HANDLING OF NON-RESTRICTED Classes of 233 233 Table 14 - Non-Restricted 233 Table 15 - Restricted 234 Table 16 - Prohibited 235 235 235 Table 18 - Prohibited 236 Table 19 - Prohibited 237 238 240 242 243 Table 20 - The Vital Four PROVE Safe.

9 246 Review 249 Appendix A: 249 Appendix B: Antique 249 Appendix C: Buying 249 Appendix D: Legal 250 Appendix E: Firearms 252 Appendix F: Personal Firearms 253 - 13 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 Table of Contents Appendix G: Replica 254 Appendix H: Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms, Licences, 254 Appendix I: Visual Range Signals and Appendix J: Gun 255 Appendix K: Transferring 256 259 - 14 - canadian FIREARMS safety course 2008 List of Figures List of Figures Name Section 1. Cannon 2. Matchlock 3. Wheel lock 4.

10 Flintlocks 5a. Flintlock pistol 5b. Flintlock rifle 6. Percussion cap on a lock 7. Examples of modern cartridges 8. Major firearms parts 9. Firing sequence 10. Types of firearms actions 11. Various firearm locking devices 12. Rifled versus smooth-bore barrels 13. Cross-section view of various chokes and illustration of shotgun patterns (30" patterning target) 14. Types of shotgun slugs 15. Shotgun gauge (not to scale) 16. Ammunition components for a muzzleloader 17. Example of a rim-fire and centre-fire cartridge with head stamp 18. Example of a barrel data stamp 19. Centre-fire bullet, powder charge, case, and primer 20. Examples of rifle bullets 21. Rim-fire cartridge 22.