General safety rules

WARNING
Please read these basic safety rules and the owner's manual before handling your firearm. Firearms can be dangerous and can potentially cause serious injury, damage to property or even death if handled improperly. The following safety rules are an important reminder that firearm safety is your responsibility.

NEVER POINT A FIREARM AT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SAFE TO SHOOT
Never let the muzzle of a firearm point at any part of your body or at another person. This is especially important when loading or unloading the firearm. When you are shooting at a target, make sure you know what is behind it. Some bullets can travel over a mile. It is your responsibility to ensure that your shot does not cause unintended injury or damage if you miss your target or if the bullet penetrates it.

ALWAYS TREAT A FIREARM AS IF IT WERE LOADED
Never assume that a firearm is unloaded. The only certain way to ensure that a firearm’s chamber is empty is to open the chamber and visually and physically examine it to see if a round is present inside. Removing or unloading the magazine does not guarantee that a firearm is unloaded or cannot fire. Shotguns and rifles can be checked by cycling or removing all rounds and then opening the chamber and visually inspecting it for any rounds remaining inside.

STORE YOUR FIREARM SO THAT CHILDREN CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO IT
It is your responsibility to ensure that children under the age of 18 or other unauthorised persons do not gain access to your firearm. To reduce the risk of accidents involving children, unload your firearm, lock it and store the ammunition in a separate location under lock and key. Please note that devices intended to prevent accidents - for example, cable locks, chamber plugs, etc, - may not prevent use or misuse of your firearm by a determined person. Firearm storage in a steel gun safe may be more appropriate to reduce the likelihood of intentional misuse of a firearm by an unauthorised person or child.

NEVER SHOOT AT WATER OR AT A HARD SURFACE
Shooting at the surface of water or at a rock or other hard surface increases the chance of ricochets or fragmentation of the bullet or shot, and can result in the projectile striking an unintended or peripheral target.

KNOW THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE FIREARM YOU ARE USING, BUT REMEMBER: SAFETY DEVICES ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES
Never rely solely on a safety device to prevent an accident. It is imperative that you know and use the safety features of the particular firearm you are handling, but accidents can best be prevented by following the safe handling procedures described in these safety rules and elsewhere in the product manual. To further familiarise yourself with the proper use of your own or other firearms, take a Firearms Safety Course taught by an expert in firearms use and safety procedures.

PROPERLY MAINTAIN YOUR FIREARM
Store and carry your firearm so that dirt or lint cannot accumulate in the working parts. Clean and oil your firearm following the instructions provided in this manual after each use in order to prevent corrosion, damage to the barrel and the accumulation of dirt which could prevent use of the firearm in an emergency. Always check the bore and chamber prior to loading to ensure that they are clean and free from obstructions. Firing with an obstruction in the barrel or chamber can rupture the barrel and injure you or others nearby. If you hear an unusual sound when shooting, stop firing immediately, engage the safety and unload the firearm. Make sure the chamber and barrel are free from obstructions such as defective or incorrect ammunition jammed inside.

USE PROPER AMMUNITION
Only use new, factory-loaded ammunition manufactured to industry specifications: CIP (Europe and elsewhere), SAAMI® (U.S.A.). Make sure that each round you use is of the right calibre or gauge and type for your particular firearm. The calibre or gauge is clearly marked on the barrels of shotguns and on the slide or barrel of pistols. The use of reloaded or remanufactured ammunition can increase the likelihood of cartridge over-pressure, case-head ruptures or other ammunition defects that can damage your firearm and cause injury to yourself or others nearby.

ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE GLASSES AND EARPLUGS WHEN SHOOTING
The risk of gas, gunpowder or metal fragments blowing back and injuring a shooter who is firing a gun is extremely low, but the injuries that can be sustained in such circumstances can be severe, and include possible loss of eyesight. Shooters should therefore always wear impact resistant shooting glasses when firing any firearm. Earplugs or other high-quality hearing protectors help reduce the chance of sustaining hearing damage from shooting.

NEVER CLIMB A TREE, FENCE OR OBSTRUCTION WITH A LOADED FIREARM
Open and empty the chamber of your firearm and engage the manual safety before climbing or descending a tree or before climbing a fence or jumping over a ditch or other obstruction. Never pull or push a loaded firearm toward yourself or another person. Always unload a firearm, visually and physically check to see that the magazine, loading mechanism and chamber are empty, and check that the action is open before handing it to another person. Never take a firearm from another person unless it is unloaded, visually and physically checked to confirm that it is empty, and the action is open.

AVOID ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR JUDGMENT/REFLEX IMPAIRING MEDICATION WHEN SHOOTING
Do not drink and shoot. If you are taking medication that can impair motor reactions or judgment, do not handle a firearm while you are under the influence of the medication.

NEVER TRANSPORT A LOADED FIREARM
Unload a firearm before putting it in a vehicle (chamber empty, magazine empty). Hunters and target shooters should load their firearm only at their destination, and only when they are ready to shoot. If you carry a firearm for self-protection, leaving the chamber unloaded can reduce the chance of an unintentional discharge.

LEAD WARNING
Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, damage to the reproductive system, and other serious pathologies. Ensure adequate ventilation at all times. Wash your hands thoroughly after exposure.

WARNING
It is YOUR responsibility to know and abide by national and local laws governing the sale, transport and use of firearms in your area.