Bagging

[IainWR]

This spills over into unload drills - a bagged firearm which hasn't been confirmed clear is an accident waiting to happen, while a firearm which has been (correctly) confirmed clear is safe whether bagged or not.

The NRA unload / carry rules, which only mention bagging indirectly through the GR&P rules, are below:

122 Inspection of Firearms and Magazines

a Firer’s responsibilities

The firer is responsible for ensuring both that his firearm is clear and that it is independently inspected in accordance with this rule before it is removed from the firing point. The action of “unloading” in this rule requires that, before inspection, such of the following actions as are possible for the firearm type have been carried out:

i Safety catch applied.
ii Magazine removed.
iii Integral magazine / cylinder emptied.
iv Chamber and action cleared of rounds, misfires and empty cases.
v Working parts fully open and locked.

The formal unload procedure for a Service Weapon may require additional steps after the inspection. Any firer who fails to present his firearm for inspection whether called to do so or not, or who presents his firearm for inspection in an unsafe condition, may be considered as “acting in a way that might prove dangerous” and be dealt with as in Para 546.

b Person Designated to inspect
The responsibility to carry out inspections falls to a specific individual. By default, the inspection should be carried out by the CRO or a member of the range staff to whom the CRO delegates the responsibility. The following concessions are permitted, subject to any overriding instruction by the CRO or range staff:

i In a team event where a coach is present on the firing point, the coach may carry out the inspection.
ii In individual competition, or in team competition if no coach is present, the register keeper may carry out the inspection.
iii Individuals outside competition may have their firearm inspected by any person sharing range space with them.

In all cases where a concession is invoked, the person inspecting must look down the barrel from the breech end and observe that the action and chamber are clear, and the firer must dismantle the firearm to the extent necessary to permit such observation. It remains the firer’s responsibility to ensure that the person inspecting does so.

c Procedure

On the conclusion of a shoot or stage, or on the order of the (C)RO, all firers must:

i unload their firearm and inspect the chamber, action, boltface and magazine (if one is fitted) to ensure that the firearm is clear,
ii if requesting inspection by a person other than the CRO or a range official, dismantle their firearm to the extent necessary to permit a clear view through the chamber and barrel,
iii present their firearm to the designated person on the firing point and have them inspect and confirm that the firearm is clear,
iv for a Service Weapon complete the unload in accordance with the current Service procedure,
v either keep the bolt removed or insert a breech flag (or both) for any bolt-action rifle, or carry out the equivalent procedure for other firearms (which may include casing in accordance with GR&P procedure)

before leaving the firing point and before anyone goes forward of the firing point.

d Comment

The practical results of the above rule are that any firearm other than a bolt-action or break-action firearm should for simplicity be inspected by the CRO or an official on his behalf, and that if a firer requires a bolt-action firearm to be inspected by anyone other than the CRO or an official on his behalf, the firer must remove the bolt.


123 A firer using a bolt-action rifle must carry it either with the breech open and a breech flag, which must protrude into the chamber, clearly inserted, or with the bolt removed from the rifle, except when on the firing point. Para 113 applies.
As an exception to the above civilian service rifles or practical rifles which are able to utilise a magazine fitted loading block which locks the working parts to the rear may do so.
Unless GR&P rules apply, a firer using a self-loading rifle must carry it unloaded, ie no magazine on it, no round in the chamber, working parts forward, not cocked and safety catch at ‘safe’.
Firearms specified in the NRA GR&P Handbook (published separately) must be carried in accordance with GR&P rules.
All other firearms must be carried in a manner such that they are as clearly unloaded as is possible for that type of firearm.

[Chapuis]

Ovenpaa isn't it a CPSA rule that guns can only be loaded with a maximum of three cartridges on clay shoots, or have the rules been relaxed since I last shot clays a few years ago?
The shooter who loaded up his gun with so many cartridges and then left it lying on the floor should have been given a stern reminder and sent home.

actually it's two cartridges but notwithstanding that YOU NEVER LEAVE A LOADED WEAPON UNATTENDED !

I would have had a 'word' with said offender and if he didn't apologise and start doing it different then I would have had a mini tantrum and made my feelings about his safety procedures crystal clear , I do the same at game shoots if required and I'm afraid I don't care if it's a newbie or an old hand , safety is safety !

Yes you can only start with two cartridges loaded maximum but on flushes you can have up to three cartridges loaded after the initial load if I remember the rule correctly, but like I said it has been some time since I shot sporting clays so the rules may have changed. In any case this guy should have been shown the door ASAP.

[Sim G]

"Bagging"!!! FFS! I've heard it all now....

It appears that more and more are becoming afraid of their own shadows.

[dave_303]

"Bagging"!!! FFS! I've heard it all now....

It appears that more and more are becoming afraid of their own shadows.

Certainly how the Swiss see that practice, I saw UK shooter carrying a bagged K31 to the firing point and doing the whole bagging drill, much to the utter confusion of the local Swiss shooters, to them all rifles are carried to and from the firing point (and the range itself!) slung over their shoulders, breach open, safety on.

[Blu]

Dave just out of curiosity mate, what does " the whole bagging drill" entail?

Blu

[Christel]

"Bagging"!!! FFS! I've heard it all now....

It appears that more and more are becoming afraid of their own shadows.

Certainly how the Swiss see that practice, I saw UK shooter carrying a bagged K31 to the firing point and doing the whole bagging drill, much to the utter confusion of the local Swiss shooters, to them all rifles are carried to and from the firing point (and the range itself!) slung over their shoulders, breach open, safety on.

Different people, different attitude

[Polchraine]

Certainly how the Swiss see that practice, I saw UK shooter carrying a bagged K31 to the firing point and doing the whole bagging drill, much to the utter confusion of the local Swiss shooters, to them all rifles are carried to and from the firing point (and the range itself!) slung over their shoulders, breach open, safety on.

I see them on the trains in Zurich especially on a Thursday or Friday morning ... suit, tie, briefcase, cappuccino, rifle over shoulder.