How to Avoid Ammo Nightmares Like These eight
There were many times as in my career at a busy gun range, that the staff and I dealt with brand new gun owners. Most of the time, things worked out fine and the new shooters had a safe and fun experience. There were some however, that made us all .. concerned. If you are new to the shooting sports, please- for your safety and those around you, take an introductory class at the very least. If you live in a state where training is mandatory, please pay close attention to the instructor. Read the owner’s manual that comes with your firearm. (If your firearm was either a gift or purchased used, and a manual did not come with it, you can contact the manufacturer and request a manual.)
Two incidents come to mind describing the importance of knowing your gun.
The first incident was over the fact that .22LONG and .22LR are NOT the same round, and yes .22LONG would be the absolute incorrect ammunition to run through this shooters gun. Due to the variety of .22 caliber rounds available, staff was trained to verify what round for which gun. This verification process highly irritated the customer, and what should have been a simple process was a lengthy, frustrating exercise that resulted in the shooter being put in her place and the staff member having to walk away to discuss the situation with the Range Master. Moral of this story is two-fold. One, shooting the improper caliber will damage your firearm and potentially hurt you. Two, irritating range staff with an extremely bad attitude and poor safety practices will result in your being excused from the range.
The other incident was with a gentleman who had purchased a revolver for home defense. When customers come to a gun shop, they expect to be dealing with knowledgeable professionals, who will help find the right gun for their situation. Unfortunately, this gentleman met with a charlatan who sold him the incorrect gun for the job, at an inflated price. On the customer side, this gentleman did not read the owners manual, nor did he do any research into proper ammunition for this firearm. When he got to the range, he requested .45ACP. He fired one round through the gun, came out to the counter and requested assistance for a jam, and it was at this time the staff discovered he needed an entirely different caliber for this firearm (.45 Long Colt). Moral of this story: do your research and take some time to learn. Understand the differences in caliber, and know what caliber you need.
In either of the above mentioned situations, had the owner needed their gun in a defensive situation, the improper ammunition would have rendered them defenseless at the best, injured from a serious malfunction at the worst. (Aside from what a potential aggressor may inflict upon them.) You’ve GOT to know the proper caliber for your gun, in order for you to be safe and effective.
Poster Comment:
Know your gun.