Firearms and Shooting Sports

MN. Department of Natural Resources : Sponsor firearm safety education with the purpose of training responsible, safe and knowledgeable hunters. Manage wildlife, enforce hunting laws.

Sport Shooting Injury Stats Injury rate for different outdoor activities SportParticipantsInjuries Injuries per participants Football17,800,000418, Basketball29,900,000512, Bicycle Riding43,100,000485, Baseball14,200,000155, Fishing 43,300,000 63, Golf24,700,00034, Hunting20,900, Sources: Participants - National Sporting Goods Association, Injuries - Consumer Product Safety Commission. Injuries treated in hospital emergency departments. Hunting Injuries: International Hunter Education Association, Hunting Incident Summary, Note: The National Safety Council warns against using participation figures to calculate injury comparisons as frequency and number of participants will vary in each activity.

Firearm Safety Main outcome of Firearm Safety is to prevent firearm and hunting accidents and to ensure the future of hunting and shooting sports through the compliances with laws, regulations and ethics. (Accident data!)

Major Funding for Firearm Safety 1. Pittman – Robertson Act of % tax on sporting goods to help protect habitat, wildlife, water and to help fund hunter ed. Programs (collect $3.5 million/day) 2. Others: Duck Unlimited, Pheasant Forever, Sportsman club, IHEA, NRA =National Rifle Association, You.

American Sportsmen donate time and money to ensure habitat is available for wildlife. TIP: “Turn in Poachers” Cash rewards for tips leading to an arrest of bad guys. (800)

Ethical hunting 1. Respect for Self 2. Respect for Others 3. Responsibility for Actions 4. Respect for Resource

Guns in America Guns played a big role in United States of America: Wars (Revolution, Civil war) Mountain men Taming the “Wild West

Even Today! Recreational uses today - Sport shooting and hunting. Defense: Conceal and Carry Law

Violent acts and media cause much debate about guns

History of Guns First powder: Chinese (fireworks) Black powder: Burn rate very high (aka highly explosive) Smokeless powder - burn rates vary

Muzzle loaders 4 Locks: The mechanism that discharges a firearm) 1. Matchlock….… 2. Wheelock………..………………. 3. Flintlock… Percussion cap………..………….

Breech loaders Cartridge guns came about after the invention of the percussion cap. The primer, gunpowder and projectile were all incorporated together

Center and rimfire amunition

Rifles shoot single projectiles called: “balls” (muzzleloaders) or “bullets” Rifles measured in calibers the bore diameter is in one thousands of an inch or measured in millimeters. Examples: , , 308, 243, 6mm, 9mm RIFLES!

Rifling The bullet is spiraled through the barrel due to “rifling” (lands and grooves cut into the inside of the barrel.)

Rifle bullets have very high velocity, good for long range accuracy. (Know your target and beyond!!!)

Shotgun Anatomy

Barrel LockStock

Shotgun Anatomy Comb Butt

Shotgun Anatomy Trigger Trigger Guard

Shotgun Anatomy Forearm Chamber Breech Action

Safeties Push-Button Safety Slide or Tang Safety Lever or Pivot Safety

John Browning invented the slide or pump *(1880) remains one of the most popular of all shotgun actions. Other actions include: Hinge, Single and double barrel, Lever, Bolt Interactive Animation:

SHOTGUNS Gauge: determined by the number of lead balls equal to the diameter of the bore to weigh one pound. The smaller the gauge the larger the number. i.e. it takes 12 lead balls the same diameter as a 12-gauge shotgun bore to weigh one pound. Gauges of shotguns: 410 gauge (only exception) this one measured in caliber 28 gauge 20 gauge 16 gauge 12 gauge 10 gauge 8 gauge

AMMO:

Shot pellets vary according to size and composition. Lead shot is heavier than steel shot. Lead shot has an alloy added “antimony” to increase hardness. Harder shot pellets (magnum shot) deform less and stay on course for good patterns.

Patterns df: The spread of the shot after it leaves the barrel

Chokes: the constriction at the end of the barrel of a shotgun. affects the pattern spread

Shotgun quality can effect patterns Pellet size and hardness can affect patterns Powder charge affects velocity thus impacting patterns

- Single pellet energy at any given range is virtually the same regardless of the gauge or choke of the gun -Long barrel length of guns provides a longer sighting plane. Best for longer range shots.

GUN FIT Gun dimensions can affect how a gun fits the shooter. Good gun fit is important to accuracy. Proper trigger squeeze technique to assure stable gun on stationary targets –Proper breathing, squeeze trigger, don’t jerk trigger, keep head on gun after shot

Good gun maintenance includes frequent cleaning. Lead deposits and powder residue need to be removed. It is a bad practice for safety reasons to pull the trigger on an empty chamber, damage to the firing pin may also result. Long time storage of firearms takes special requirements to avoid rusting of the gun.

Sights Open sights – front and rear parts, sight can be moved to change where bullet will hit Rear/peep sights – front and rear parts, rear part is a peephole where your eye will focus telescopic – gathers light and magnifies, target appears closer

Safety

Causes of accidents Loaded firearm is moved around in vehicle Loaded firearm falls Crossing an obstacle unsafely Horseplay Shooter cannot see partner Hunter is mistaken for game

Three Basic Rules for Firearm Safety: 1. Treat all guns as if they were loaded. 2. Control your muzzle 3. Be sure of you target and beyond. * Know all 10 commandments.

Transporting your firearm A person may not transport a firearm, including a handgun, in or on a motor vehicle unless the fire arm is unloaded* and fastened in a case so that no part of the firearm is exposed (a holster is not a legal case); unloaded* and in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle; or carried under a permit to carry a pistol or handgun.

Under the following circumstances, a person may transport unloaded, uncased firearms (excluding pistols) in a motor vehicle, including ATVs: while at a shooting range with permission while lawfully hunting on private or public land or while travelling to or from a site the person intends to hunt or trap or has lawfully hunted that day.

Firearms must be transported unloaded and cased: within Anoka, Hennepin, or Ramsey counties. within the boundaries of a home rule, charter, or statutory city with a population of 2,500 or more. on school grounds as otherwise restricted in game refuges, shining, thermal imaging or night vision laws.

Carrying a firearm There are several ways to carry a gun safely and still have it ready for quick action. Three rules apply to all carrying methods: Muzzle pointed in a safe direction and under control Safety “on” until immediately before you’re ready to shoot Finger outside the trigger guard

Carrying a Firearm Elbow/Side Carry Sling Carry Trail Carry Two Handed or “Ready” Carry Shoulder Carry Cradle Carry

Shooting Positions Prone Sitting Kneeling Standing

‘Pointing’ vs ‘Aiming’ a gun In shot gunning you point the barrel at your target. Leaving both eyes open with proper dominant eye gives you better depth of field and ability to see target otherwise hidden by the barrel.

WINGSHOOTING “Wing shooting” requires more attention to safety. “Wing Shooting” requires that you lead your target : Reasons: Lock time, human reaction time, shot travel time Types of leading: Swing through - start behind/ pull ahead Sustained lead - stay ahead Snap shooting – stationary barrel

Safe Zones of Fire

What to Wear

Crossing obstacles Muzzle control Point in a safe direction! Hand to someone, cross, take gun back Alone, put on ground (muzzle in safe direction), cross, pick up gun

Treestand Safety Fall arrest system (body harness) Use a haul line

Trapshooting Fundamentals

A Brief History Began as a way to refine proficiency with a shotgun. Targets changed over time: –Live birds –Glass balls with feathers –Potters clay –Pitch + Limestone

Fundamentals - 16 Yard Singles -16 Yard Doubles -5 Shot Stations -Handicap -22 o Rotation From Center -Target Leaves House at mph -Shot Fall Area = 300 yards

Commands Squad Ready?

Commands READY!

Commands Puller Ready?

Commands Ready!

Commands Let’s see a bird!

Commands PULL!

Commands Hit! (Marked with an ‘X’ on score sheet)

Commands Loss! (Marked with an ‘O’ on score sheet)

Commands No Target! (Either a no target is released or target is broken when leaving the trap house)

Commands Change! (After station is complete.)

Commands OUT! (Entire round is over)

Leading Gun Barrel: 1” wide = 1ft. at 36 yards

Other Events:

YOUR CHALLENGE: 1) First 25 in Outdoor Adventures Class 2) First Girl > 21

Gun Etiquette  Alcohol and/or drugs should never be consumed or used when handling firearms.  The first thing you do when you pick up any gun, is to check and see if it’s loaded.  Before you pick up or accept a gun from someone, make sure you know how it works.  If you don’t know or can’t remember, don’t be embarrassed to ask someone to show you.  When handing a gun to someone, open the action to make sure it is not loaded.  Then with action open, hand the unloaded gun to the person with the muzzle pointing away from them.

Gun Etiquette (Cont.)  Handle the guns of others with care and respect. When dealing with other people’s guns: –Don’t let the slide or action slam forward –Don’t let the bolt slam forward in Semi-Automatic Rifles and Shotguns. (unless loading the chamber to shoot) –Don’t quickly and forcefully close the bolt on bolt action Rifles, Lever action Rifles and pump action Shotguns and Rifles. –Close break action Shotguns, Rifles, and Pistols with care.

Uncase and case your gun at the shooting bench, never behind the safety line. Always keep the barrel pointed down range. Always keep the gun on safe until you intend to shoot. Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting. Range Safety

Range Etiquette Always pick up your spent cases and/or shells when you’re done shooting. Always take down your targets when you're done shooting. Always straighten up your area before you leave. Never eat or drink while shooting.