Firearm Etiquette !

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jpage

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So I'm at the LGS kicking tires, and was commenting on a new Model 36. The employee pulled it out of the case, and muzzle-swept me multiple times, while offering it to me for examination. Wasn't feeling exceptionally confrontational, so I let it slide. Probably should have used that as a friendly "teaching moment".

Anyone else have similar experiences ?
 
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Yes, many over the years. LGS jobs don't usually pay a whole lot and the picken's are slim. Not saying LGS don't get a good guy once in a while, but many should have never been hired! I actually witnessed a LGS guy shoot himself in the hand at a SASS match. He had to show everyone there what the expert he was - yea, right! Blew a hole right through is hand with a 45 Colt SAA. Everyone knew what store he worked in and what a loud mouth, know it all he was. I believe he quit his LGS job because he was so embarrassed that so many had found out about his mishap.

Still many others strut around the LGS with their big pistol strapped on along with a Bat-belt of other accessories attached. Their knowledge usually comes from YouTube videos, hearsay, movies and gossip - usually few if any have much experience. Beware!
 
EVERY occasion in which a firearm is being handed from one person to another is an occasion to show your knowledge & consideration, or your ignorance.

- Keep firearm pointed in a safe direction
-Open action and, if present, remove magazine
-Visually confirm unloaded/safe condition
-Turn firearm, open action most present and visible from the other person’s perspective, and hand it to the other person
-Remain Alert!

If someone offers me a firearm to inspect and they can’t or won’t “make it safe” or allow me to, I politely decline to accept it.
 
The layout at the local store/range is such that they just about cannot show a customer a pistol out of the showcase without sweeping either the spectator area behind the range or the store area. There are a lot of places like that if not quite so obvious.
 
Jim Watson said:
The layout at the local store/range is such that they just about cannot show a customer a pistol out of the showcase without sweeping either the spectator area behind the range or the store area. There are a lot of places like that if not quite so obvious.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I respectfully disagree. Any gun can be pulled out of a display case, opened up and locked back or cylinder swung out pointed towards the floor and safety checked. It matters not where the display case is as there are no people on the floor. Then, once the gun has been checked and left in the opened position, it can be placed on the counter. Please let me know if I am missing something here.
 
I rarely go into gun shops any more. The last few times I have it has been in Rural King. All new handguns in the display cases are secured with a lock of some sort. No guns are handled by clerks or customers in a condition of being able to be loaded. Being offended by being swept by a gun with a lock on it is just nonsense picking at low paid store employees, something common on here unfortunately.
 
I know I'm going to come across as an old codger baby boomer here but I don't care.

My Dad was a disabled WWII veteran. He taught me gun safety. Later on I have been associated with a couple of gun clubs that would not tolerate unsafe behavior. All the gun shops that I have been associated with over the past 60 years were run my other old codgers, even older than me. The rank and file today at the shops are pi$$ant kids with no training.

I don't have an answer. Sometimes I MUST go to the LGS. I have no problem calling anyone out, and proclaiming that you lost a customer.
 
Well, there are three such racks -- revolvers on one side, Glocks on one, Sig on another, and a whole side for rimfire type. Veteran owned & operated, decent discounts if you are a regular (yes, I am), and 4473 on a laptop. Here in the Birmingham Alabama area, so if you are ever in this area, it's called Redland Rifle Company.

By the way -- no, that firearm is not $50 -- that is a discount.
 
The only one that comes to mind happened probably 15 years ago at a shop in another state. A customer was looking at a revolver and when he handed it back to the young staff member, she twirled it around her finger by the trigger guard Hollywood-style before placing it back in the glass display case. Yeesh.

Todd
 
Many years ago fresh out of the army my only handgun experience was with the 1911 and a ruger single six. Went into a shop saw a ruger 89, ask to see it. The old man, a WWII, vet put it on the counter and walk off. HUMMM. So I drop the mag, racked the slide, empty, that's good. Put the safety on and the hammer dropped. WTH! I can't believe I touch the trigger, so I did it again, making sure there was no way for my finger to touch the trigger. Yup the hammer dropped. "Holy cow". I took it to the old man and asked if there was something wrong with the gun. My 1st experience with a decocker. :)
jpage I would have politely ask not to point that at me. Depending on the reaction would depend on how politely I left or continued shopping.
 
What bothers me about such displays is customers have racked the SA's and they are left cocked. Safety on or not, it looks bad. Come on LGS staff, unhook them, clear the actions, and put a chamber block in it, cable tied if possible! You get to rack it and check the trigger in the salesman's office.

The other is while talking to a salesman about my recent purchase of an RXM, he pulled his from under his shirt (no holster, just trapped behind his belt by his "size"). As soon as I saw it was chambered - trigger was forward - I realized this guy was major league unsafe.
 
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