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This article is about the mechanical safety devices built into most firearms. For the main article about firearm safety education, see Gun Safety . rifle.]] In Firearm s, a safety or '''safety catch''' is a mechanism used to prevent the accidental firing of a weapon, ensuring safer handling. Safeties can generally be divided into subtypes such as internal safeties (which typically do not receive input from the user) and '''external safeties''' (which typically allow the user to give input, for example, toggling a lever from "on" to "off" or something similar). Firearms with the ability to allow the user to select various fire modes, from 0 (safe/off/no firing) to 1 (semi-automatic fire) to 2 (burst fire) to 3 (full-automatic fire), usually have a dial-type external safety that is called a '''fire selector''', '''fire mode selector''', etc. Many guns manufactured after the late 1990s include mandatory integral locking mechanisms that must be deactivated by a unique key before the gun can be fired. These integral locking mechanisms are intended as child-safety devices during unattended storage of the weapon — not as safety mechanisms while carrying. Other devices in this category are trigger locks, bore locks, and gun safes. SAFE HANDLING OF FIREARMS See Also: Gun safety Although safeties fulfill their intended purpose, they are never a substitute for gun safety education. Appropriate training is critical to ensure the safe carry of any weapon. TYPICAL SAFETIES Handguns Almost all modern handguns (except some exact replicas of antique models) have some safeties to prevent accidental discharge, and have one or more safeties that require an intentional trigger pull to make the gun discharge. However, the exact configuration depends on handgun type, year, make, and model. Single-action semi-automatic pistols On Single-action Semi-automatic Pistol s, these safety devices may include:
Double-action or "safe-action" semi-automatic pistols On Double-action Or "safe-action" Semi-automatic Pistol s, these safety devices may include:
Double-action revolvers On Double-action Revolvers , there are no external safety devices; a trigger pull will always result in firing (unless the chamber being indexed into battery is empty). In general, the heavy trigger pull required to cock and then fire the weapon prevents accidental discharges from dropping or mishandling the gun. In addition to that fact, most modern double-action revolvers do have an internal safety, either a hammer block or a transfer bar, that prevents firing not originating from a trigger pull (e.g., gun is dropped). Single-action revolvers Single-action Revolvers have no external safeties, and they usually have no internal safeties (such as a hammer block or transfer bar) to render them drop-safe. (Real antiques are in this category; modern replicas may have hammer blocks.) Therefore, carrying them with a loaded chamber under the hammer is not safe. When they are carried (concealed or openly), the hammer should be left down on an empty chamber. Other subtypes Examples of the variety of typical semi-auto mechanisms are a stiff double-action trigger pull with the safety off ( Beretta 92 ), a double-action with no external safety ( SIG-Sauer P-series , or Kel-Tec P-32 ), or a crisp Single Action trigger pull with a manual safety engaged ( M1911 and certain configurations of the HK USP ). An alternative are striker-fired or "safe action" type weapons which have a consistent trigger pull requiring force greater than required by a single-action design, but lighter than needed for a double-action trigger. Many such weapons do not have an external safety or external hammer ( Glock pistols and the Walther P99 and variants). Other designs feature an external safety, such as a grip safety ( Springfield Armory XD Series ).In both cases, the action is very simple—a trigger pull always sends a discharge—and there are internal safeties to prevent non-trigger-pull discharge (e.g., dropping the gun). Aftermarket modifications Certain handguns that come from the manufacturer with no external safety lever (on-off/armed-safe), such as double-action revolvers and Glock pistols, can be modified by aftermarket companies who add one at the user's request. Rifles Rifles come with various safetys. Some use a cross-bolt safety button, others a wing safety at the rear. The M1 Garand created a safety with a metal rocking lever at the front of the trigger guard that is now called the ''Garand-style safety''. Some rifle safeties have two positions, one which is "safe" which doesn't allow the gun to fire or the action to open. Some have three positions, one which is "fire", one which is "safe" and an intermediate which cannot fire but will allow the shooter to open the action in order to empty the rifle. Shotguns Some shotguns use button-style safeties behind the trigger guard. Tang safeties are also very common for shotguns. SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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