SIG SAUER 1911 - Manual (Page 6)

3.3 LOADING THE MAGAZINE
• Press down on the magazine follower with the cartridge case rim.
• Push the cartridge to the rear and under the magazine lips.
• Continue until the magazine holds the desired number of cartridges.
3.4 LOADING THE PISTOL
• Be certain the muzzle is pointed in a safe direction.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire.
• Insert a loaded magazine and make sure it has engaged the magazine catch.
• Draw back the slide as far as it will go and allow it to snap forward under full
tension of the recoil spring. Racking the slide back and releasing it will cock
the hammer, strip off the top round in the magazine and chamber it.
The pistol is now loaded, cocked and ready to fire.
• Engage the thumb safety and leave it engaged until you are ready to shoot.
• Always unload the pistol immediately after you are done shooting.
3.5 DISCHARGING A ROUND
• Ensure that the target and the environment allow shots to be fired without
danger.
• When discharging a round, ensure that neither your fingers, hands or any
other part of the body are located in front of, adjacent to, or over the barrel
muzzle or the ejector port.
• Never allow other persons to stand beside you where they might be struck by
ejected cartridge cases.
• Always wear ear protection and safety glasses when shooting. Alert bystanders
to the importance of wearing eye and ear protection.
• Immediately stop shooting and unload the pistol (see sect 3.7, pgs 10-11) if
you suspect that a round has not been chambered properly, a case is jammed,
WARNING
DAMAGED, NON-STANDARD OR IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED MAGA-
ZINES SHOULD NEVER BE USED.
WARNING
THE MANUAL SAFETY MUST BE ENGAGED (IN THE UP POSITION)
UNTIL READY TO FIRE. FAILURE TO ENGAGE THE MANUAL SAFE-
TY CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE, CAUSING INJURY,
DEATH OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
3.1 INITIAL PREPARATION PROCEDURE
For preservation, the pistol is normally delivered with a light coating of protec-
tive grease and oils. Before initial preparation, the pistol must be stripped, the
protective coatings removed and then relubricated.
• Strip the pistol (see Sect. 5.1, pgs. 14-16)
• Clean and relubricate the pistol (see Sect. 5.2, pgs. 16-17)
• Assemble the pistol (see Sect. 5.3, pgs. 17-18)
3.2 AMMUNITION
This pistol will function effectively and safely with a wide variety of commercial
and military-standard ammunition. Here are some suggestions that will keep
your pistol free from ammunition related problems:
• Use only ammunition of the caliber for which your pistol is chambered. The
right caliber is permanently engraved on the barrel of your pistol.
• Always use ammunition that complies with the performance standards estab-
lished by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, Inc. of
the United States (SAAMI).
• Never use reloaded, “refurbished”, hand-loaded, non-standard ammunition or
ammunition of a different caliber.
• Never use dirty, wet, corroded, bent, damaged or oiled ammunition.
• Always read and comply with the warnings and instructions that come with
your ammunition.
• Never leave ammunition unattended.
3.0
HANDLING
THE PISTOL
9 8
WARNING
USING THE WRONG AMMUNITION COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH. CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE COULD OCCUR.
WARNING
ALWAYS KNOW YOUR TARGET AND THE MAXIMUM RANGE OF
THE AMMUNITION YOU ARE USING.