Safety is not a poster in a clubhouse, it is a habit you can perform when your fingers are numb, the peg is muddy, and a dog is weaving round your boots. The four cardinal rules are simple. Living them in real weather, on real ground, takes practice and a system.
This guide blends the rules with real scenarios, drills you can run this week, and quiet kit choices that make good behaviour effortless. Where there is formal guidance, we reference it so you can check the source.
Rule 1: Treat every gun as if it is loaded
Real-world pitfalls
At the clay ground, someone calls your name as you unzip the slip, the muzzles drift before you have opened the gun. In the workshop, you place a rifle on the bench, convinced it is clear, the magazine still holds a live round.
What good looks like
Open the action before a shotgun leaves its slip, check bores are clear, and keep the muzzle in a safe direction. BASC spells this out plainly. “A shotgun should be opened before removing it from the slip” and, even then, do not touch the trigger. Check barrels are clear. BASC
Expert voice
“Make clearing a spoken ritual. Open, look, touch, say clear. The words slow you down just enough to stop a mistake.”
David Bellamy, Managing Director, The Instinctive Shooter
Drills and fixes
- Two-sense check at home: every clearance is eyes plus fingertip on chamber and magazine well, with ammunition in a different room.
- Red line rule: a strip of red tape by your cabinet or bench means no closed actions cross that line.
Helpful kit
Chamber flags for semi autos, snap caps for dry drills, bright slip with a wide mouth so the open action is easy to prove at a glance. BASC also notes breech flags are good practice for pumps and semi autos. BASC
Rule 2: Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy
Real-world pitfalls
On a high bird you let the swing cut the edge of the line. A friend hands you a closed gun “because it is empty.” You cross a gate with a slung rifle and forget where the muzzle is pointing.
What good looks like
Carry shotguns open and empty when not actually shooting. When passing a gun, present it open and empty, stock first, so the chambers are visible. BASC is explicit about the handover sequence and the need for visible empty chambers. BASC
Expert voice
“Handovers are choreography. Giver shows clear, receiver confirms clear, then takes hold. If either misses the word clear, nothing moves.”
David Bellamy, The Instinctive Shooter
Drills and fixes
- Muzzle index walk: with an empty shotgun, walk a figure-of-eight, keeping muzzles inside a safe low arc. Reset the moment they rise above knee height.
- Handover ritual with a partner: ten slow repetitions each, saying clear every time.
Rule 3: Keep your finger off the trigger until sights are on and you have decided to shoot
Real-world pitfalls
Cold hands mean sneaking a finger onto the trigger during the mount. A shout from the next stand makes you flinch as pressure builds on the blade.
What good looks like
Finger indexed high on the action until you see the sight picture and you have decided to fire. BASC lists “Keep your fingers away from the trigger until you want to fire” in its safety section. BASC
Drills and fixes
- Shotgun mount with a parked finger: sets of five mounts, finger high on the action, only moving to the trigger at the end of the mount.
- Coin drill for rifles: with a cleared rifle and no ammunition in the room, balance a coin near the muzzle and press without dropping it.
Helpful kit
Gloves you have actually trained in. Many lapses start with unfamiliar kit.
Rule 4: Be sure of your target, what is beyond and around it
Real-world pitfalls
Low birds tempt a hasty shot across a hedge line. Evening light makes a shape seem like a deer. Flat permissions hide poor backstops for pellets or bullets.
What good looks like
For airguns, BASC’s code is blunt, have a safe backstop that captures the pellet, and do not take chance shots. BASC
For night control, BASC states, “You must clearly identify the body of the animal,” never shoot at eyes or an unidentifiable heat signature, and always confirm a safe backstop. BASC
Drills and fixes
- Target, beyond, around: speak this quietly before each shot.
- Backstop walk: on your ground, photograph three safe and three unsafe backgrounds and review them with a partner.
- Decision line on driven days: set a non-negotiable height or angle below which you will not shoot, then stick to it. The Code of Good Shooting Practice underpins safe conduct for all forms of game shooting. codeofgoodshootingpractice.org.uk, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
PPE that actually gets worn
Hearing and eye protection are not optional at grounds. CPSA says “hearing protection is mandatory at clay grounds and shooting schools” and suitable eye protection is required on the stand. Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
Practical tips
- Fit over fashion: choose slim-arm glasses that sit cleanly under muffs.
- Anti-fog wipes live in the slip, not your glovebox.
- Keep a spare set of plugs for the mate who forgot.
Helpful kit
Electronic earplugs for clear conversation on the line, wrap-around glasses with interchangeable lenses.
Storage and transport, what the law and best practice expect
The Home Office Guide on Firearms Licensing Law states that certificate conditions require guns to be “stored securely so as to prevent access by an unauthorised person.” It explains that the exact method depends on your property and circumstances. GOV.UK
For transport and day-to-day handling, the Home Office Firearms Security Handbook provides guidance used by police and certificate holders on secure storage and carriage. GOV.UK+1
Best-practice guidance recommends cabinets to British Standard BS 7558, separate storage of ammunition, and taking reasonable precautions when in a vehicle, such as keeping guns out of sight and separating bolts. thedeerinitiative.co.uk
Practical tips
- Cabinet ritual, same order every time: action open, check clear, store, lock, key back on hook.
- Vehicles: unload, slip the gun, store out of sight, remove the bolt where practicable, and do not leave it unattended. BASC
Expert voice
“Security is not just a cabinet, it is a routine. If the routine never changes, the mistakes never creep in.”
David Bellamy, The Instinctive Shooter
Loader and double-gun work without the panic
If you are using a loader, BASC’s guidance sets a clear sequence, the client presents the open breech with safety on and finger away, faces the drive, then closes only when ready. Practise this choreography with snap caps before the day. BASC
Short scenarios, quick fixes
Crossing obstacles
Unload, open, prove empty, then cross. BASC describes solo and in-company procedures and stresses muzzle awareness when retrieving the gun. BASC
On driven days
Agree arcs, call low birds, and leave marginal shots alone. Align your briefing with the Code of Good Shooting Practice so everyone is working to the same standard. codeofgoodshootingpractice.org.uk
Night work
Positive ID first, safe backstop second, then and only then the shot. “Never shoot at a pair of eyes or an unidentifiable heat signature.” BASC
A one-week habit builder
Day 1
Dry handling at home, no ammunition in the room, practise opening, proving clear, and saying clear out loud. BASC
Day 2
Mount work with an empty shotgun, finger parked on the action until the decision to shoot.
Day 3
Coin drill with a cleared rifle to build a clean press.
Day 4
Backstop walk on your permission, photograph safe and unsafe backgrounds, agree no-shoot angles.
Day 5
Handover practice with a partner, show clear, say clear, then take.
Day 6
Range or ground day, ask a friend to watch only your safety and give one piece of feedback.
Day 7
Review what nearly tripped you up and what ritual saved you time, then set next week’s focus.
Quiet kit that helps good habits
- Chamber flags and snap caps for drills and safe carriage of semi autos and pumps. BASC
- Hearing protection that you will actually wear all day, CPSA’s baseline is clear. Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
- Wrap-around glasses with lenses that suit British light rather than American sun.
- Cabinet dehumidifier, silica packs and a bolt lock for storage that is both secure and kind to your kit. Best-practice guides recommend rust prevention and separating bolts where practicable. thedeerinitiative.co.uk
If you want help choosing the right flags, ear pro or cabinet accessories, we stock the lot at TIS Guns and we will fit you properly rather than guessing.
Why this matters
Clubs and grounds keep a high bar. CPSA requires a qualified Safety Officer on duty at registered grounds and mandates hearing protection on the stand, which is one reason our sport has such a strong safety record. Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
BASC’s codes and best-practice notes are designed to be lived in the field, not just read in the kitchen. The Code of Good Shooting Practice helps align behaviour on driven days so new Guns know what good looks like. BASC, codeofgoodshootingpractice.org.uk
Work with The Instinctive Shooter
We run short, focused coaching at your ground that rehearses real movement, not just targets, including handover choreography, decision lines for low birds, and night-shoot positive ID drills aligned to BASC best practice. We also offer a practical storage and transport walkthrough against the Home Office guide, tailored to your home and vehicle. GOV.UK
If you want this turned into a printable range card and a 15-minute pre-shoot briefing your syndicate can use, we will draft it to suit your ground and your people.
Sources you can check
- BASC Shotgun Safety, including slip removal, handovers and safety statements. BASC
- CPSA Safety in Shooting, hearing and eye protection, Safety Officer requirement. Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
- Home Office Firearms Security Handbook and Guide on Firearms Licensing Law, storage expectations and principles. GOV.UK
- BASC Air Rifle Code of Practice, safe backstops. BASC
- Code of Good Shooting Practice, framework for safe game shooting. codeofgoodshootingpractice.org.uk
- BASC Night Shooting, positive ID and backstop at night. BASC
- Deer Initiative Best Practice, BS 7558 cabinets, vehicle precautions and rust prevention. thedeerinitiative.co.uk
This guide is information, not legal advice. Always follow your club’s rules, your certificate conditions and current Home Office guidance.
Straight-Talking Safety FAQs for UK Shooters
What Is the Most Common Safety Mistake Seen on the Shooting Ground?
The biggest lapse is muzzles drifting off target between shots, especially during casual conversation or when moving between stands. Keeping the muzzles in a low, safe arc at all times should be as automatic as breathing.
Do I Need to Wear Eye and Ear Protection When Shooting a Few Clays?
Yes, every time. The CPSA makes hearing protection mandatory on registered grounds, and both they and BASC recommend eye protection to guard against debris, ricochets, and accidental discharges.
What Counts as a Safe Backstop for an Air Rifle on Private Land?
A safe backstop is something solid enough to fully stop the pellet, such as a thick earth bank or a purpose-built pellet trap. Never rely on fences, thin boards, or hedges, and always ensure you have permission to shoot on the land.
How Should I Hand a Shotgun to Another Person Safely?
Always present it with the action open, muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and chambers visibly empty. The receiver should confirm it is clear before taking hold, and both hands should stay away from the trigger.
What Is the Safest Way to Cross a Fence or Gate with a Firearm?
Unload completely, open the action, prove it is clear, and pass the firearm over first before climbing through yourself. If you are alone, place the unloaded gun on the far side with the muzzles pointing in a safe direction, then cross carefully.
Do I Have to Use a BS 7558 Cabinet for Shotgun Storage?
While it is not a legal requirement to have a BS 7558 cabinet, most police forces expect one as it meets recognised security standards. Your cabinet should be fixed to the fabric of the building and only accessible to authorised certificate holders.
What Should I Do If I Am Unsure About Taking a Shot?
If there is any doubt about your target, your backstop, or your surroundings, do not take the shot. It is always better to walk away than risk an unsafe or unlawful discharge.
