GSI Firearms Handling & Safety Protocols 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When storing handguns in a vehicle, what is the most important safety consideration a GSI should communicate to students?
- Always leave the gun loaded for quick access
- Store the firearm in a locked container out of sight to prevent theft and unauthorized access (Correct answer)
- The glove box is a secure storage location because it has a lock
- Storing firearms in vehicles is always illegal and should be avoided
Correct answer: Store the firearm in a locked container out of sight to prevent theft and unauthorized access
A locked container out of plain sight prevents opportunistic theft and keeps the firearm away from unauthorized users, including children.
Question 2: What does the term 'cross-dominance' mean in the context of firearms instruction, and why is it important?
- Using two different calibers in the same training session
- A shooter's dominant eye is on the opposite side from their dominant hand (Correct answer)
- Switching between strong-hand and support-hand shooting drills
- Firing from both standing and kneeling positions alternately
Correct answer: A shooter's dominant eye is on the opposite side from their dominant hand
Cross-dominance means the dominant eye and dominant hand are on opposite sides, requiring the GSI to address aiming and stance adjustments for that student.
Question 3: A GSI is teaching a student who is left-handed and notices the spent casings from a right-hand-configured semi-automatic ejecting toward the student's face. What is the best corrective action?
- Tell the student to tilt their head away from the ejection port
- Switch the student to a firearm with an ambidextrous or left-hand ejection port, or adjust stance (Correct answer)
- Inform the student that ejected brass is harmless and they should ignore it
- Instruct the student to always wear a hat to deflect brass
Correct answer: Switch the student to a firearm with an ambidextrous or left-hand ejection port, or adjust stance
Using a firearm configured for the shooter's dominant hand or adjusting the stance so brass ejects safely away from the face is the proper solution.
Question 4: Under NSSF and NRA range protocols, what must a shooter do before stepping forward of the firing line to retrieve targets?
- Signal to other shooters by raising one hand
- Unload and holster the firearm, then wait for a ceasefire to be called (Correct answer)
- Set the safety and leave the firearm on the bench
- Ask the person next to them to watch the firearm
Correct answer: Unload and holster the firearm, then wait for a ceasefire to be called
A formal ceasefire must be declared, all firearms must be unloaded with actions open, before anyone moves forward of the firing line.
Question 5: What is the primary hazard of using ammunition that is not rated for a specific firearm?
- The ammunition will fail to cycle the action
- Overpressure can cause catastrophic firearm failure and serious injury (Correct answer)
- The warranty on the firearm will be voided
- Accuracy will decrease significantly
Correct answer: Overpressure can cause catastrophic firearm failure and serious injury
Ammunition generating pressure beyond the firearm's design specifications can rupture the case, damage the barrel, and cause serious injury to the shooter.
Question 6: A student asks whether they can use steel-case ammunition at an indoor range. What should the GSI advise?
- Steel-case ammunition is always prohibited because it is armor-piercing
- Check the range's rules, as many indoor ranges prohibit steel-case ammo due to ricochet and fire risk (Correct answer)
- Steel-case ammo is safer than brass because it does not expand
- Steel-case ammo is only prohibited at outdoor ranges
Correct answer: Check the range's rules, as many indoor ranges prohibit steel-case ammo due to ricochet and fire risk
Many indoor ranges prohibit steel-case ammunition because steel projectiles or cases can cause dangerous ricochets and sparks that pose a fire hazard.
Question 7: When instructing students on muzzle discipline, a GSI should explain that the muzzle must be controlled at all times because:
- Range officers will issue a penalty point for any muzzle sweep
- A bullet travels in the direction the muzzle is pointed regardless of intent, so accidental sweeping can cause injury (Correct answer)
- Muzzle sweeping only matters when the firearm is loaded
- The muzzle gets hot after firing and can burn nearby people
Correct answer: A bullet travels in the direction the muzzle is pointed regardless of intent, so accidental sweeping can cause injury
The muzzle always dictates the bullet's path; since safeties and trigger discipline can fail, the muzzle must never point at anything the shooter is not willing to shoot.
GSI Firearms Handling & Safety Protocols 3
When storing handguns in a vehicle, what is the most important safety consideration a GSI should communicate to students?