Browning BLR Owners Manual - Page 14

fold-down feature puts the hammer in a safer position, but this position should not be considered a safety. DROPPED OR FIRED POSITION - This is the position of the hammer after a round is fired. However, it is not a recommended carrying position (Figure 7). PREFERRED CARRYING POSITION - For maximum safety, you should never chamber a cartridge until a shot is imminent. The half-cock position with the hammer folded forward is the recommended position of the hammer during handling and storage. GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDURES LOADING - THROUGHOUT THE LOADING PROCESS MAKE CERTAIN THE RIFLE IS POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. FIGURE 8 1 Be sure that the chamber is empty and the hammer is lowered to the half-cock position with the hammer folded forward. 2 Detach the magazine by pulling down on the magazine release button with the index finger (Figure 8). The magazine will slide easily from its recess. Pull down to release magazine 3 To load the MAGAZINE: Cartridges are loaded by pressing them downward until they are retained by the rim of the magazine. Insert cartridges into the detachable box magazine. The correct caliber is inscribed on the right side of the barrel. 4 With the bolt closed and the hammer in the folded-down hammer position, reinsert the loaded magazine into the rifle. A sharp, metallic click will indicate that the magazine is fully inserted and engaged with the magazine latch. 12