How should you safely confirm a handgun is unloaded before maintenance?

How should you safely confirm a handgun is unloaded before maintenance?

• A. Lock the slide open and visually inspect the chamber.
• B. Remove the magazine, lock the slide to the rear, visually and physically check the chamber and magazine well, and then re-check before proceeding.
• C. Wipe exterior and grip with a rag.
• D. Rinse with water and dry.

Answer: (B)

Before doing any maintenance, you must verify the handgun is completely unloaded using a thorough clearance procedure. The safest approach is to remove the magazine, lock the slide to the rear, visually and physically check the chamber and the magazine well, and then re-check before proceeding. Removing the magazine eliminates the feeding source. Locking the slide open exposes the chamber and makes it possible to see and feel for any round. Visually inspect the chamber and the magazine well to confirm there is no cartridge present and no magazine containing rounds is seated. Then perform a second check to ensure nothing has been missed before you begin maintenance. Wiping the exterior or rinsing with water does not verify the firearm is unloaded and could create safety or damage issues, so they aren’t appropriate methods for ensuring a safe condition.

Before doing any maintenance, you must verify the handgun is completely unloaded using a thorough clearance procedure. The safest approach is to remove the magazine, lock the slide to the rear, visually and physically check the chamber and the magazine well, and then re-check before proceeding. Removing the magazine eliminates the feeding source. Locking the slide open exposes the chamber and makes it possible to see and feel for any round. Visually inspect the chamber and the magazine well to confirm there is no cartridge present and no magazine containing rounds is seated. Then perform a second check to ensure nothing has been missed before you begin maintenance. Wiping the exterior or rinsing with water does not verify the firearm is unloaded and could create safety or damage issues, so they aren’t appropriate methods for ensuring a safe condition.