Beretta Stampede Old West Beretta Stampede User Manual - Page 16

LOAD CHECK At various points in this manual you will be instructed to "visually and physically check to be certain your revolver is unloaded." This should become second nature to you, as you should: • Never assume that a firearm is unloaded (even a gun that is new and in its original packaging). • Never point or push a firearm toward yourself or another person. • Always visually and physically check to see that the chambers are unloaded, and open the action before handing it to another person. • Never take or pull a firearm from another person unless its action is open and has been visually and physically checked to confirm it is unloaded. To visually and physically check to be certain your Beretta Stampede single-action revolver is unloaded, carefully follow the steps below. 1. With your finger OFF THE TRIGGER and the barrel pointed in a SAFE direction, attempt to spin the cylinder with your fingers. Notice that the cylinder of your revolver will not turn in either direction. ! WARNING: For the next step, be certain your thumb is firmly in control of the hammer. 2. With your finger OFF THE TRIGGER and the barrel pointed in a SAFE direction, ease the hammer backward 3/4 of an inch (2 cm approx). You will hear a small "click" and will notice the cylinder beginning to move. The firearm is now in the half-cock (Fig. 7) or loading position. ! WARNING: The half-cock, position of the hammer is NOT a safety. A blow to the hammer may allow the hammer to strike the firing pin and fire the revolver. 16