Watch
Step through the slides. The trainer's words are under each one.
Loading and unloading
Shotgun, lesson 3 of 8: doing it safely, every time
This is lesson 3: loading and unloading. Doing it safely, every time. We carry on with Johan and his instructor, Anel, at Ridgeview.
Before you load or unload anything
- Muzzle in a safe direction
- Finger off the trigger
- Safety on, if your gun has one
- The right cartridges, and no others, in reach
Loading and unloading are when most accidents with shotguns happen, because the gun is in your hands and closed for a moment. So every time, before you start, four things: the muzzle points in a safe direction, your finger is off the trigger, the safety is on if your gun has one, and only the right cartridges are within reach. Not a mixed pocket, and never a different gauge.
Loading a break-action
- 1Open itPush the top lever; the barrels drop
- 2CheckBoth chambers and barrels are clear
- 3LoadOne cartridge in each chamber
- 4CloseLift the stock to the barrels, muzzle downrange
A break-action is the easiest to load safely. Push the top lever and the barrels drop open. Look into both chambers and through the barrels to see they are clear. Put one cartridge in each chamber. Then close the gun by lifting the stock up to the barrels, not by swinging the barrels up, so the muzzle stays pointing downrange the whole time.
Unloading a break-action
- 1Muzzle safeFinger off the trigger
- 2Open itPush the top lever; the barrels drop
- 3RemoveLift or catch the cartridges and hulls
- 4LookBoth chambers empty, then carry it open
To unload a break-action: muzzle safe and finger off the trigger. Push the top lever and open the gun. The extractors lift the cartridges, or ejectors throw out fired hulls, so take them out. Then look into both chambers to see they are empty, and carry the gun open. That is how Johan leaves every stand.
Loading a pump-action
- 1Check it's clearOpen the action, look in the chamber
- 2Fill the tubePush cartridges into the magazine, one at a time
- 3Chamber oneOnly when you're about to shoot: pump fully back and forward
- 4SafetyOn until you're ready
A pump-action loads from the magazine tube under the barrel. Start with the action open and check the chamber is empty. Push cartridges into the magazine through the loading port underneath, one at a time. Only when you are on the stand and about to shoot do you work the forend fully back and fully forward to put a cartridge in the chamber. Then the safety stays on until you are ready. Short-stroking, not going all the way back and forward, is a common cause of feed problems.
Unloading a pump-action
- 1Muzzle safe, safety onFinger off the trigger
- 2Empty the magazineAs your model's manual shows
- 3Clear the chamberWork the action to eject the chambered cartridge
- 4Look and feelChamber, lifter and tube are empty
Unloading a pump takes more care, because cartridges can be in two places: the chamber and the magazine tube. Muzzle safe, safety on, finger off the trigger. Empty the magazine the way your model's manual shows; some use a shell release, some are cycled out one at a time. Work the action to eject the cartridge in the chamber. Then look and feel: the chamber, the lifter and the magazine tube must all be empty. A self-loading shotgun is unloaded in the same order: magazine first, then the chamber, then check.
Look, then feel
- Look into the chamber
- Look at the magazine follower
- In good light
- Put a finger in the chamber
- Feel the magazine is empty
- Both, every time
Looking isn't always enough. In low light, a dark cartridge base can hide in a dark action. So after you look, you feel: a finger into the chamber and onto the magazine follower. Look, then feel, every time.
Showing it clear to someone else
- Action open
- Chambers and magazine empty
- Turn it so the other person can see
When Johan hands his gun to Anel, he hands it over open, empty, and turned so she can see into the chambers. Anel then checks it herself, because of rule one. Neither of them is offended. That is what good practice looks like.
Your turn
Before lesson 4
- Do the exercise: Which step is it?
- Answer four quick questions on this lesson
- Practise unloading with an empty shotgun, under supervision
Before you move on, do the exercise, Which step is it?, and answer four quick questions on this lesson. Then, in your own time: practise the unloading sequence with an empty shotgun, under supervision. Next: carrying, transporting and storing your shotgun.
Do: Which step is it?
Put Johan's unloading in order. For each action, say which step of the unloading sequence it is.
Check
Four quick questions. The reason shows as soon as you answer.
Apply
Where this shows up in your own life.
Practise the unloading sequence with an empty shotgun, under supervision
Ridgeview Firearms Academy and its people are fictional. This is study material written from the Firearms Control Act and the SAQA unit standards. It isn't an accredited course or legal advice; your accredited training provider runs the official tests.