N/A Reloading a springer help?

[Hugo11213]

Hi, I’ve just bought my first gun “sabre .117”I watched a tutorial for safe gun handling and had a question. When loading it why do I need to keep my hand on the barrel after the click of the spring? There is no more tension so couldn’t I remove my hand from the barren and use it to load the pellet??

Thanks

 

[Joedirt199]

Probably just a safey issue incase of an accidental sear trip that causes the barrel to come flying up unexpectedly. I can see it in the under barrel cocking guns since you finger is right in the action. Probably not good on a break barrel to fire it with the barrel cocked. Can never be too safe.

 

[Mycapt65]

Always Hold the barrel with your off hand while loading with your trigger hand.

This keeps your finger away from the trigger when open. A few things can happen if you accidentally trigger the gun. None of them good.

1. the barrel will slam closed and definitely bend upwards.

2. The stock might break at the wrist.

3. You can chop off your
loading finger or fingers if you're loading when the barrel slams closed. It really happens.

I'm not one for the overcautuious nanny state trying to idiot proof the world but you're new and should develop these particular safe habits from the start as this is a real concern.

 

[KitCarson16]

It is a safety issue that most of us should follow but mostly do not. If the trigger is accidently tripped the barrel and or action will come flying shut with speed faster than the eye, chopping off fingers and bending barrels. Most newer break barrels have an internal secondary Bear Trap system to prevent this, however that can fail also.

Get one with a magazine that reloads with each action of the cocking stroke, problem solved.

Kit

 

[beerthief]

To load a break barrel :I put the rifle stock in the top crease of my leg , pull the barrel down to cock ,keep my hand on the barrel and move to stock under my armpit .
The gun now forms a triangle with my hand on the barrel , butt of the stock in my armpit and arm holding the barrel .

 

[MDriskill]

+1 on all that's said above, it's a good common-sense safety practice. Think of it this way: when the gun is cocked, the "tension" from the mainspring is NOT GONE! It is in fact at its max, but has moved from your cocking hand to the tiny parts in the trigger mechanism. Those can fail, turning barrel-cockers and sliding-breech fixed-barrel guns into little guillotines.

I learned this lesson the hard way, many years ago when a top-lever cocking air pistol "bear trapped" on me. I got three black fingernails and a broken bone in one fingertip (and, I was actually lucky three fingers were in the way - had it been only one, the tip would probably be gone). And any springer rifle is much more powerful than that.

 

[Frank in Fairfield]

All of the above mentioned remarks are mandatory at most ranges and airgun events.
Fingertips have been lost.

 

[beerthief]

All of the above mentioned remarks are mandatory at most ranges and airgun events.
Fingertips have been lost.

just the thought of that makes me very careful ALWAYS.

 

[Struckat]

It’s the only way I load my springers, hold the barrel.

 

[Septicdeath]

I always crack the barrel open, load the pellet then cock the rifle, unless it's a underlever or sidelever then I always hold the cocking lever when loading.

 

[jkingrph]

All of the above mentioned remarks are mandatory at most ranges and airgun events.
Fingertips have been lost.

I had gotten a new AA Prosport and was cocking it, definitely not using a proper procedure. It was hot and my hands were a little sweaty. I think the buttstock was on my thigh and I had gripped the cocking lever with my right hand, and placed my left around the forearm, actually across the channel where the cocking lever rests. Anyway that slick lever slipped out of my hand and whacked the end of my left thumb breaking it. SInce then with all of the underlevers, I grip the stock at the wrist, and cock with my left hand.

 

[RicL]

I don’t like the idea of loading underlevers, even when holding the lever tightly. I tried some reverse tweezers to load and it was actually pretty easy. Need to get some with a rubber tip. Will report how it goes.

 

[RicL]

Also for break barrels I like to pop open the barrel, load, then fully cock. Not all allow enough clearance to do this, but some, especially if short stroked do.

 

[AirNGasman]

Having described the firing behavior of spring-piston rifles as "A violent chain of mechanical events taking place in front of your face every time you trip the trigger", imagine the results when all that violence is unleased to attack fingers or hands. Think 'overgrown mouse-trap'. Better yet, think BEAR trap!

 

[jkingrph]

Having described the firing behavior of spring-piston rifles as "A violent chain of mechanical events taking place in front of your face every time you trip the trigger", imagine the results when all that violence is unleased to attack fingers or hands. Think 'overgrown mouse-trap'. Better yet, think BEAR trap!

My thumb can attest to that!

 

[AirNGasman]

My thumb can attest to that!

In the eighties I had a .22 BSA Airsporter Stutzen springer that I dearly LOVED. Besides cocking the underlever, since it was a tap-loader that required a separate charging step. ONE time I forgot to close the underlever, and it almost broke my forearm when that thing slammed "home".

Experience is NOT the best teacher; BAD experience is much better at inflicting LASTING impressions.

 

[Bandito]

When I bought and first cocked and loaded my new RWS M48 I became aware of how truly powerful and wicked it would be to get in the way of that trap mechanism. It hadn't occurred to me how much could go wrong there. I have since learned how to decock most springers I own. Load and shoot! Be Well, Bandito.

 

[KWK]

Half the time I don't hold the barrel on a break barrel. Scream, whine, bawl, curse, rant, have a tantrum and mess your pants. IDC they're My guns and I'll never get my fingers stuck in them. My fingers too. All 9 1/2 of them.
Be safe out there.

 

[Wadcutter]

You know the old saying......A picture is worth 1000 words.
So, hold that barrel.
Not my thumb by the way. Pics are from a post over a decade ago, but I saved them as a reminder.

 

[Bedrock Bob]

The fellow who taught me carpentry used to say, "All that clumsy flesh must come off."

Springers are a bear trap in a pipe. Hold on to the lever. Sooner or later you will have one snap back. If your not holding that lever your going to squash your booger hook.