Whether you're a first-time gun owner or an experienced shooter, understanding the various types of gun safeties and how they operate is crucial for the safe handling and storage of weapons. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of gun safeties available, including manual safeties and internal safeties.
What Are Gun Safeties?
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A gun safety is a mechanical device or safety mechanism that is designed to prevent the unintentional and accidental discharge of a firearm. They can be found on a wide variety of firearms, including handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and they come in many different forms. Each type of safety works in a different way to prevent the gun from firing.
Types of Gun Safeties
Modern weapons come with two different types of safeties: Manual or external safeties and internal safeties. To learn more about how these safeties function, scroll down below:
Manual Safeties or External Safeties
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Manual safeties are the most common type of safeties found on firearms. They are normally found on the outside of the firearm and are manually operated by the user.
Manual safeties can be of different types, including:
1) Cross Bolt Safety
A cross-bolt safety is typically found on semi-automatic and pump weapons. It is either located at the rear or front of the trigger guard and it is operated by the user by moving the button or lever across the receiver of the firearm. When the safety is engaged, it blocks the trigger mechanism, preventing the firearm from firing. When the safety is disengaged, the trigger or firing mechanism is unblocked, allowing the firearm to fire.
2) Pivot Safety
A pivot safety is a type of manual safety that is typically found on semi-automatic pistols. It is a button or lever that is located on the slide or frame of the firearm. The user can engage the safety by sliding or pushing the button or lever in a certain direction, depending on the design of the firearm.
3) Half Cock Safety
Half cock safeties are external safeties found on revolvers and rifles. It is a safety feature that is located on the hammer of the firearm, and it is operated by the user by pulling the hammer back to the half-cock position. When the safety is engaged, the hammer is not in contact with the firing pin, preventing the firearm from firing.
4) Tang Safety
A tang safety is a type of manual safety that is typically found on rifles. It is a lever that is located on the tang (the back of the receiver) of the firearm, and it is operated by the user by moving the lever. The safety is often fully engaged and the bolt and firing pin is locked in the safe position when the tang is straight back.
5) Grip Safety
Grip safeties are typically found on handguns. It is a mechanism that is located on the grip of the firearm, and it is operated by the user by holding the grip in a certain way. This added level of safety helps to prevent accidents caused by the user dropping the firearm or by not having a proper grip.
6) Thumb Safety
A thumb safety, also known as a thumb-operated safety, is the most common type of safety. It is a lever that is located on the frame or slide of the firearm, and it is operated by the user by using their thumb. When the lever safety is engaged, neither the firing pin nor the trigger can move. It operates as a simple external thumb "switch."
Internal Safeties
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Internal safeties are safety mechanisms that are built into the firearm and are not visible or accessible to the user. These safety features are frequently present on some handguns and are meant to stop the unexpected firing of the gun.
Like manual safeties, internal safeties can be of different types including:
1) Firing Pin Safety
Firing pin safeties are internal safeties that prevent the firing pin from striking the primer of a cartridge. The shooter must pull the trigger to move this physical block.
2) Magazine Safety
Magazine safeties, also known as magazine disconnect safeties, prevent the firearm from firing when the magazine is not inserted or is not properly seated. These types of safeties are rare but extremely useful in preventing accidents.
3) Drop Safety
Drop safeties are internal safety mechanisms that stop a gun from discharging if it is dropped. These safeties are frequently installed close to the striker or hammer at the back of the slide.
Summary
Understanding the different types of gun safeties is an essential aspect of owning and using firearms. Whether you own a handgun, rifle, or shotgun, remember to always engage the safety to prevent mishaps. Along with this, practicing regularly is also extremely crucial, and EasyShot shooting targets are a great tool to help you achieve that. With EasyShot, you'll be able to practice your shooting skills in the comfort of your backyard and improve your accuracy and proficiency in no time. Check us out today!