Break barrel safety

In the 80's I had a Beeman R-10 (.20) of "fine German craftsmanship" and quality ; ) I let the barrel go too soon once and it split the stock.
I bought a replacement stock from Beeman that was clearly of lesser German quality. Didn't matter. It never shot well in my hands anyway. : ) Moved it down the road.

The first time tried a break barrel I recognized this concern and how badly you could get hurt. I tend to watch for things like that in anything I do. My fingers and toes and the rest of my body parts don’t work as well as they once did but I still have all of them.

Rick H.

Call me whatever, but if anyone asks to shoot my Crow Magnum, I will break the barrel, load the pellet and hand the rifle like he is a new shooter, pointing to a safe direction. Some folks I know treat air guns as if they are toys.

Page 14 tells you everything you need to know about safety, cocking/loading, shooting technique and screw maintenance. Those damn Germans!

I had a B3 underlever slam on my thumb when I was a teenager. It left a fairly good impression on my behavior. Thumbnail grew back, but I would rather not have that happen again.

A general lack of intuition about simple mechanical objects seems to be a characteristic of our electronic age!

Try explaining to anyone under 35 that a new springer needs to "break in" before it will work at its best, and check out the blank stares you get...

thom said:

Watching videos on the 'net, I'm surprised how many people I see break a gun down then load a pellet without holding the barrel to prevent it from slamming closed, potentially taking off a finger or thumb, or damaging the gun. I've never had it happen but that's because I ALWAYS hold the barrel.

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When shooting a springer I always break the barrel, load a pellet then fully cock the gun. Mark

The many pictures on the web of break barrel air rifles with an upward bend in the STEEL barrel (smiling at you) should be enough warning. But no....we live in a different time.

stateofmisery said:

When shooting a springer I always break the barrel, load a pellet then fully cock the gun. Mark

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If the barrel drops enough to reach the breech when you first break it, this is an EXCELLENT idea. I always shoot lifting-barrel pistols (HW 45, Webley Tempest, etc.) this way - i.e., load before cocking.

I’m meticulous about holding the barrel at all times once jacked. Crow
And underlevers. I don’t care if there’s safety stops, I still hold the underlever.

I’m trying to get into the habit 100% also. I think it’s important with any airgun to develop a routine and never deviate from it. In golf it helps you take good shots and I think it helps shooting too. But more importantly you can build safety into your pre shot routine.

I break the barrel and place the stock in my armpit and hold the barrel , i learned this as a kid when my friend
placed the butt of hi8s gun on his leg / broke the barrel and something slipped and up went the stock , same as a barrel would , luckily nothing happened to to him or the gun .

OH for the side lever springer shooters , i cock the gun and place the receiver part of the gun in my armpit with the lever on the outside of my arm so my bicep would take the hit from the lever IF ........

I agree with all the postings.

I'm soooo tempted to post the YouTubers who are not holding onto the barrel or cocking level ...to shame them into compliance. Because their videos are watched by thousands (or more?) of impressional viewers.

But maybe a better way to initiate change or bring awareness is to support those who do it the right way and maybe post their videos links here.