Winchester Repeating Arms 9422 (Historic Manual) - Manual (Page 26)

You Are Responsible For Firearms Safety
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these
responsibilities can mean the difference between life and death. Failure to follow any of these
instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and/or possible serious injury or death to
yourself and others. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all
times handle any firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger.
PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE CAUTIONS, PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES
AND INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THE OWNER’S MANUAL BEFORE USING YOUR NEW
FIREARM.
1. ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF YOUR RIFLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION , even
though you are certain that the rifle is unloaded. Never point any firearm at anything you
do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property within
the range of your ammunition.
2. NEVER RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR RIFLE'S MECHANICAL "SAFETY" DEVICE. The word
"safety" describes a gun's trigger block mechanism, sear block mechanism, hammer
block mechanism or firing pin block mechanism. These mechanical devices are designed
to place your gun in a SAFER status. No guarantee can be made that the gun will not fire
even if the "safety" is in the "on safe" position. See "Operations of the Safety" for
instructions on operation of YOUR gun's "safety."
LIKE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE, A "SAFETY" CAN SOMETIMES FAIL; IT CAN BE
JARRED OR INADVERTENTLY MANIPULATED INTO AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
Mechanical "safeties" merely aid safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your
rifle's muzzle in an unsafe direction.
While it is a good idea to "test" your rifle's mechanical "safeties" periodically for proper
function,
NEVER TEST IT WHILE YOUR RIFLE IS LOADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE
DIRECTION
Safe gun handling does not stop with your gun's mechanical "safety devices -- it starts
there. Always treat your rifle with the respect due a loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
3. WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE, ALWAYS OPEN THE
ACTION IMMEDIATELY, VISUALLY CHECK YOUR RIFLE'S CHAMBER, FEED MECHANISM
AND MAGAZINE.
Make certain they do not inadvertently contain any ammunition. Always keep the
chamber empty and "safety" in the "on safe" position unless shooting is imminent.
4. DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR RIFLE LOADED, WHETHER IN A SCABBARD, GUN CASE, OR
OTHER CONTAINER.
5. HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS DANGEROUS, and
may increase the risk of handling a firearm. The following rules should always be
observed by you and those you hunt with: Always make certain that the stand being used
is safe and stable. Always make certain that your firearm is unloaded when it is being
taken up to and down from the stand. Always make certain that your firearm is not
dropped from the stand, or dropped while it is being taken up to or down from the stand.
Remember, a loaded firearm may discharge when dropped, even with the safety in the
"on safe" position.