Airguns are not toys!  They should never be taken lightly because they have the potential to cause serious injury or death.  Every shooter should be aware of safe gun handling rules and procedures and follow them always.  Adult supervision is required. Read your owners manual so you are familiar with your specific airgun.

Airguns can fire a pellet or BB for considerable distances.  Airguns are capable of inflicting serious injury or death if misused or used carelessly.  Therefore, it is necessary that all shooters take steps to avoid accidents. 

The mind of the shooter is the most important aspect of safe shooting. Get in the habit of thinking about everything you are doing when you handle your airgun.  Is my airgun loaded?  Is it pointed in a safe direction? Where will the pellet go if my air rifle accidentally discharges?  Is the backstop adequate for the type of shooting I am doing?  Am I shooting in such a manner that a ricochet is likely to occur?  Is my airgun in good condition?  Are others around me acting safely?  Shooting involves these aspects and they should become second nature. 

While common sense rules of safe gun handling can be expressed in various ways, and no one list of rules can ever substitute for the careful thinking and actions of the shooter, below is a collection of generally accepted safety rules for handling airguns. Use these rules in addition to the information particular to your airgun in your owner’s manual to more thoroughly enjoy shooting sports.

Safe Gun Handling

 Treat every gun as if it were loaded. 

Always treat an airgun as though it is loaded and with the same respect you would a firearm. Follow the instructions in your manual for loading and unloading your airgun and placing it on safe.  Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. Even if you’re absolutely certain it is unloaded, handle every gun as if it were loaded. One famous gun writer has restated this rule to read, “All guns are loaded!”    

Never allow a gun to point in an unsafe direction, or point a gun at anything you would not shoot. 

Whenever you are handling an airgun, be aware of where the muzzle is pointing. The muzzle should never be in line with any person or pet.  When you are loading, cocking or charging your airgun, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. When you aim your airgun, be sure your target is a safe one. Be aware of what you might hit if you miss. Never point the airgun at any person, or at anything you do not intend to shoot.

Always wear eye protection.

Eyes can be vulnerable to injury.  Whenever you are shooting, you and others with you should always wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes. If your reading or prescription glasses are not safety glasses, make sure you wear shooting glasses over your regular glasses.

Keep every airgun unloaded, with the safety engaged until you are ready to shoot.

Don’t load your airgun until you are ready to shoot. If you slip or fall, you may not be able to control the direction the gun is pointing.   Keep the airgun “On Safe” until you are ready to shoot. Always check to see if the airgun is unloaded and the safety engaged when transferring it to and from another person or from storage. These habits can prevent accidents.

Do not shoot at a hard surface or water.

Pellets and BBs can often ricochet at unpredictable angles.  Never place a target on a board or other hard surface.  When using a backstop, pick a location that will be safe should the backstop fail. Replace your backstop if the surface is worn or damaged or if a ricochet occurs.

Do not modify your airgun

Do not attempt to disassemble or tamper with your airgun.  Use only the caliber of ammunition recommended for your airgun. Use service and repair stations authorized by the manufacturer of your airgun. Using unauthorized repair centers or modifying the function of your airgun in any way may be unsafe.

Store airguns safely.

Store your gun in a safe location. Before you store your airgun, make sure it is unloaded, not charged, and is "On Safe."

Follow all laws about the ownership and use of airguns.

Rules for buying, owning, transporting and shooting airguns can vary widely from state to state and from locality to locality among different states and local municipalities. Be sure you know and obey the laws and regulations of the area in which you choose to use your airgun.

Never use an airgun when mental or motor skills are impaired.

Because the human mind is the key to safe gun handling, one should never engage in any type of shooting sport when tired or under the influence of any substance (such as medications or alcohol) that influences mental or motor skills.  

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The rules listed above apply to the use of any type of airgun.  However, there are some additional guidelines that may apply to specific types of airguns. Of course, refer to your owner’s manual for details about your model airgun.  Follow manufacturer’s recommendations for type and caliber of ammunition, and required maintenance.

When using break action air rifles, be sure the barrel is snapped in the firing position. Generally you should not fire a break action air rifle without a pellet loaded.  This “dry firing” may damage the airgun.

Airguns that are powered by CO2 are constantly under pressure unless the cylinder is empty. Follow instructions in your owner’s manual when loading and unloading CO2 cylinders. Keep hands and face away from escaping CO2 gas.  Store CO2 cartridges in a cool place out of direct sunlight.    

When pumping pneumatics, hold the airgun as recommended to avoid catching your fingers, clothing etc in the pumping area. Do not over-pump.

Be thoroughly familiar with your airgun and how it operates by studying the owner’s manual.  Know safety rules and guidelines and keep them in mind constantly.  Safe gun handling is a necessity every time you use your airgun.  Taking a loose, indifferent attitude is inviting an accident to happen, and once the projectile has been launched, it can not be recalled.  Your airgun is only as safe as you are.