It may be necessary or desirable to check the firearm for safety. This can be done at a “designated” safety area, or while under the direct supervision of a Range Officer. To check a semi automatic firearm do the following:

• While pointing the firearm in a “safe” direction verify that the magazine well and chamber are empty.
• Close the slide.
• Pointing the firearm in a safe direction lower the hammer by pressing the trigger.
• Manual safety:
  • With the hammer cocked and the safety on, press the trigger. The hammer should not drop.
  • With the hammer cocked and the safety on, press the trigger with a strong force. Release the trigger; take the safety down to the “off” position. The hammer should remain cocked.
• The half cock notch: Cock the hammer. Then holding the hammer, press the trigger, and release the hammer slowly. It should stop in the half cock position.
• The disconnector: check by cocking the hammer, and then open the slide, approximately 1/16”. Press the trigger. The hammer should remain cocked.

On a revolver check the following:

• While pointing the firearm in a “safe” direction, open the cylinder and verify that the firearm is not loaded.
• Close the cylinder.
• Pointing the firearm in a safe direction, pull the trigger and cycle through the cylinder.
• Hammer bar or block: With the cylinder open, cock the hammer. Holding the hammer, press the trigger and ease the hammer forward about 1/8”. Then release the trigger, and ease the hammer down. The firing pin should not protrude through the frame.
• Timing: The cylinder should not have excess rotation when the hammer is cocked. The chamber should be held in the correct alignment to the barrel. Slowly press the trigger double action, and just prior to the hammer falling, you should detect the cylinder bolt locking into the recesses on the cylinder. When locked, and the trigger fully pulled to the rear, there should be very little rotational movement.
• Headspace: There should be very little fore and aft movement of the cylinder.