FIJI CODE

SHOOTING ASSOCIATION OF FIJI P.O.BOX 297 NABUA FIJI

1 A Publication of the Shooting Association of Fiji

Endorsed by SAF Executive Committee PRESIDENT: Glenn Kable ([email protected]) VICE PRESIDENT: Yong Seng Chia ([email protected]) VICE PRESIDENT: Jitendra Mohan ([email protected]) TREASURER: Sunil Datt ([email protected]) ARMOURER: Dave Evans ([email protected]) SECRETARY: Henry Stephen ([email protected])

Committee Members Peter Bidesi ([email protected]) Ramendra Chand ([email protected]) Vinay Chand Shalendra Prasad ([email protected]) Quintyn Stephen ([email protected])

Rangemasters Ifereimi Cawanibuka Dave Evans Anil Sami Anirudh Kumar

Webmaster / Booklet Editor George Tudreu ([email protected])

AFFILIATE OF:

2

FIJI FIREARMS CODE THE TEN BASIC RULES EXPLAINED As long as a is in good condition and The use of firearms in Fiji is controlled by the handled and stored properly, it cannot hurt Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 and the anyone. You are responsible for making Regulations made under that Act. sure your firearm is in good condition and handled safely. The Fiji Police administers the Arms and Am- munition Act and Regulations in Fiji and con- Rule 1: Assume that any gun is loaded trols the issue of licences and permits author- This rule is a matter of keeping a certain mind- ised by the Arms Act, through its Central set. The purpose is to create safe handling Police Station in Valelevu, Nasinu. habits, and to discourage reasoning along the lines of, "I know my gun is unloaded so This firearms safety booklet is published by the certain unsafe practices are OK." The Shooting Association of Fiji, in consultation proposition "the gun is always loaded" is with the Fiji Police Armory Section, and ac- used as shorthand, even though it may be knowledges the use of Arms Code published assumed—or even positively known—that by the New Zealand Police as the primary this is not true of a particular firearm. resource for the construction of this booklet. Many firearm accidents result from the han- SECTION ONE: dler mistakenly believing a firearm is emp- What you must know about firearms tied, safe tied, or otherwise disabled when Definition of a firearm in Fiji in fact it is ready to be discharged. Such "Arms" means misunderstandings can arise from a number (i) any lethal weapon with or without barrel of of sources. any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged * Faulty handling of the firearm. A handler may or which can be adapted for the dis- execute the steps of procedures such as charge of any such shot, bullet or other loading, firing and emptying in the wrong missile; and order or omit steps of the procedures. (ii) any weapon of any description designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious * Misunderstandings about a firearm's status. For liquid, gas or other thing dangerous to instance, a handler may think the safety is persons; on when it is not. A round of ammunition and includes any component part of any may be in the or in the weapon mentioned in paragraph (i) or (ii), while the handler thinks it is empty. A han- any accessory to any such weapon de- dler may receive a firearm and assume it is signed or adapted to diminish the noise in a certain state without checking whether or flash caused by firing the weapon and that assumption is true. For example, as any explosive-operated power tool, ram- handlers interact and pass the firearm be- set, hilt or fire nail fastener operated by tween them, each avoids over-relying on the pneumatic pressure; "show clear" of the other. Person 1 may but does not include an article designed misjudge the status; person 2 cannot assume or adapted solely to discharge a spear for that "it's OK because person 1 already spearing fish; checked it."

THE 10 BASIC RULES * Mechanical failures. Wear, faulty assembly,

damage or faulty design of the firearm can cause it not to function as intended. For Rule 1 - Assume that any gun is loaded Rule 2 - Keep your finger off the instance, a safety may have been worn down Rule 3 - Always point your firearm in a safe direction to a point where it is no longer functioning. Rule 4 - Know what you are shooting at Broken or worn Rule 5 - Be familiar with your gun parts in the trigger, Rule 6 - Don’t shoot at hard surfaces, including water Rule 7 - Don’t rely on a safety mechanism sear or hammer/ Rule 8 - Load your gun when you need to striker may have Rule 9 - Use the right ammo given the firearm a Rule 10 - Pay Attention "hair trigger" (a

3 very sensitive trigger). A dented or bent age, firearms should never be leant against body of the firearm may cause jams or pre- vehicles or in any place where they could mature discharge of ammunition. Sensitivity slide or fall. to impact may cause a firearm to discharge if dropped or struck against another object.

If a handler always treats firearms as capable of being discharged at any time, the handler is more likely to take precautions to prevent an unintentional discharge and to avoid damage or injury if one does occur.

Rule 2: Keep your finger off the trigger This rule is intended to prevent an undesired discharge. Normally a firearm is discharged by pressing its trigger. A handler's finger may involuntarily move for any of several A firearm must be open and empty before you reasons: the handler is startled, a lack of full pass it to or accept it from anyone. attention on body movements, physiological reasons beyond conscious control such as a Always be particularly careful when placing spasm, stumbling or falling, or the finger firearms in, or removing them from, vehi- being pushed by something (as when trying cles, boats and storage. to holster a handgun with one's finger on Be aware that firearms can go off unintention- the trigger). Handlers are therefore taught ally when: to minimize the harmful effects of such a Closing the motion by keeping their finger off the trig- Releasing the safety catch ger until the muzzle is pointing at the target and the handler wishes to discharge the Uncocking firearm. Or opening a loaded firearm The trigger guard and area above the trigger of a firearm presents a natural point for a Rule 4: Know what you are shooting at handler to keep their finger out straight This rule is intended to eliminate or minimize alongside the weapon, so as not to violate damage to non-targets when a firearm is this rule. Another recommendation is to intentionally discharged. Unintended damage keep the trigger finger above the trigger may occur if a non-target is misidentified as guard, so that there is less chance of the a target, if the target is missed, or if the finger involuntarily slipping into the guard bullet hits something or someone other when startled. A properly indexed trigger than the intended target. finger also helps remind the person holding Handlers are taught that they must positively the firearm of the direction of the muzzle. identify and verify their target. Additionally, they learn that even when firing at a valid Rule 3: Always point firearms in a safe target, unintended targets may still be hit, direction for three reasons: A safe direction will depend on where you are. The bullet may miss the intended target and Remember that bullets can hit a non-target around go through walls and ceil- or beyond the target. ings. A non-target may pass Never point a firearm at in front of the target anyone else or at yourself. and be hit with a bullet Keep focused when handling aimed at the target. firearms – no daydreaming. The bullet may pass To through the intended avoid target and hit a non- unin- target beyond it, so called "over penetra- tion". tentional firing or dam-

4 Therefore, this rule requires a handler to almost certainly occur from shooting at "always be sure of your target; not just the water or smooth flat surfaces and rocks. target itself, but above, below, to the left, to the right, in front of, and behind the target". This may create situations that present dilem- mas for a handler. Such situations are for instance, a civilian facing a possible intruder at night, or a soldier in a situation where civilians are near the enemy. Indecision or misjudgement of the handler's abilities in such a situation may cause undesired out- comes, such as injury to the handler due to hesitation, or the handler violating rules of engagement and causing unintended damage. Training is used to minimize the risk of such outcomes. Target practice increases the precision with which the handler can dis- charge the firearm and thus increase the Remember that when a ricochet occurs you chances that the intended target is hit. Edu- have lost control of where the projectile cation about terminal ballistics gives the will finish up, resulting in possible injury to handler knowledge about the characteristics another person or damage to property. of a bullet after a target is hit. This knowl- Be especially careful when shooting with an air edge coupled with insight into the handler's due to the slow velocity of pellets they own capabilities makes it easier for the han- fire. They are very prone to ricochet and dler to make appropriate decisions about should be treated with the utmost of cau- tion. Rimfire and centrefire bullets are prone to ricochet as they lose velocity at the end of their travel.

Rule 7: Don’t rely on a safety mecha- nism Treat every gun as though it can fire at any time. The "safety" on any gun is a mechani- cal device which, like any such device, can become inoperable at the worst possible time. Besides, by mistake, the safety may be whether to discharge or not, even if given "off" when you think it is "on." The safety little time and/or put under severe stress. serves as a supplement to proper gun han- Ammunition can be chosen to reduce the risk dling but cannot possibly serve as a substi- of over penetration tute for common sense. You should never handle a gun carelessly and assume that the Rule 5: Be familiar with you gun gun won't fire just because the "safety is Take the time to learn about the operation on." and features of the firearm you are planning Never touch the trigger on a firearm until you to use. The time to learn this is not while actually intend to shoot. Keep your fingers you are shooting ... that is when you need away from the trigger while loading or to be learning about grip, shooting positions, unloading. Never pull the trigger on any trigger control, etc. When you step up to firearm with the safety on the "safe" posi- the firing line, you should already know how tion or anywhere in between "safe" and to operate the gun you'll be shooting. "fire." It is possible that the gun can fire at any time, or even later when you release Rule 6: Don’t shoot at hard surfaces, the safety, without including water your ever touching Consider the area in which you are shooting. the trigger again. Could a ricochet occur? A ricochet will Never place the safety in between

5 positions, since half-safe is unsafe. Keep the using matches the specifications that are safety "on" until you are absolutely ready to contained within the gun's instruction man- fire. ual and the manufacturer's markings on the Regardless of the position of the safety, any firearm. blow or jar strong enough to actuate the Firearms are designed, manufactured and firing mechanism of a gun can cause it to proof tested to standards based upon those fire. This can happen even if the trigger is of factory loaded ammunition. Hand loaded not touched, such as when a gun is dropped. or reloaded ammunition deviating from Never rest a loaded gun against any object pressures generated by factory loads or because there is always the possibility that it from component recommendations speci- will be jarred or slide from its position and fied in reputable hand loading manuals can fall with sufficient force to discharge. be dangerous, and can cause severe damage The only time you can be absolutely certain to guns and serious injury to the shooter. that a gun cannot fire is when the action is Do not use improper reloads or ammuni- open and it is completely empty. Again, tion made of unknown components. never rely on your gun's safety. You and the Ammunition that has become very wet or has safe gun handling procedures you have been submerged in water should be dis- learned are your gun's primary safeties. carded in a safe manner. Do not spray oil or solvents on ammunition or place ammuni- Rule 8: Load your gun when you need to tion in excessively lubricated firearms. Poor Only load a firearm when you intend to use it, ignition, unsatisfactory performance or dam- and only in an area where it can be safely age to your firearm and harm to yourself or and legally discharged. Remember to unload others could result from using such ammu- it when you have used it. nition. Only load your ammunition into the magazine Form the habit of examining every when you have reached your shooting area. you put into your gun. Never use damaged (The firearm is then carried with the or or substandard ammunition -- the money action closed on an empty chamber. The you save is not worth the risk of possible cartridges are readily available from the injury or a ruined gun. magazine and it only takes a second to open the action and feed a round into the cham- Rule 10: Pay Attention ber.) It's easy to get distracted when you're having Do not load the chamber until you are ready fun, and target shooting can be a lot of fun, to shoot. especially if you're enjoying it with friends Unload the chamber if the game gets away. and family. Don't let yourself get carried (Put the round back in the magazine and away. Take extra care to follow safe gun close the bolt on an empty chamber.) handling rules, and don't be afraid to correct Unload completely – no rounds in the maga- others when you see them improperly han- zine or chamber – before leaving a shooting dling firearms - we all need a reminder area or entering a hut or camp. Double every now and then. Some folks may not check. like to hear it, but all participants must fol- low gun safety rules if everyone is to come Rule 9: Use the right ammo home safe and sound. You must assume the serious responsibility of using only the correct ammunition for your SECTION TWO: Firearm safety firearm. Read and heed all warnings, includ- ing those that appear in the gun's instruction 2a) Health and safety manual and on the ammunition boxes. Personal health Using improper or incorrect ammunition can Shooting is a sport with a high risk potential. destroy a gun and cause serious personal You need to be physically and mentally injury. It only takes one cartridge of im- competent and capable of safely controlling proper calibre or gauge to wreck your gun, your firearm. If you are ill or injured you and only a second to should seek confirmation, from a family check each one as member, fellow Association member, offi- you load it. Be abso- cial, hunting mate or medical practitioner lutely certain that the that you can shoot safely. ammunition you are

6 Good eyesight is important because you must If you fall or stumble when carrying a be able to identify your target beyond all firearm, your first and most important doubt and shoot with accuracy. Even colour responsibility is to make sure the muzzle blindness can cause problems so if you have is pointing in a safe direction, and that any doubts, visit an eye specialist. you do not touch the trigger. It is vitally important that the barrel is Safety equipment and first aid kept free from any obstruction at all Wearing safety glasses will protect your eyes. times. If you fall and the muzzle touches You can protect your hearing with proper the ground, always stop and check for muffs or earplugs. This is particularly impor- signs of blockage. Always carry your fire- tant at a firing range where others are firing arm in such a way that you can control alongside you. the direction of the muzzle should you All firearms users should have first aid skills. stumble. You may be the first at a shooting incident scene so you need to be prepared. Knowing To prevent water getting into the barrel what to do in this situation could prevent in heavy rain, keep the muzzle pointed further injury and possibly save a life. down. (Make sure it doesn’t touch the ground.) A small square of insulation or Health and safety masking tape over the muzzle can keep water and mud out of the barrel. Never NEVER SHOOT AT: insert a plug of cloth or other material movement only; colour only; sound only; into the barrel. shape only; a target on the skyline; and when When hunting in heavy scrub, watch for companions are ahead of you. twigs getting into the barrel. If you have a firearm action with an exposed hammer, And observe the following SAFETY GUIDES: be especially careful that the hammer is Get permission before shooting on any not cocked accidentally by brushing land, be it Native, Crown, Local Body or through scrub. Privately Owned. Pay attention when walking along river- Be aware that others may be in the same beds or dry creek-beds. They are often area. This applies especially to forest and slippery. national parks. You will be sharing the Walk through streams if carrying a fire- park with other users. arm. Don’t try to jump ditches and Make sure there is nothing obstructing streams, or to cross on rocks. the barrel of your firearm before you fire. If your firearm misfires you must check Completely unload before you leave the the barrel, from the breech end, in case a shooting area and never leave your fire- bullet is stuck in it. arm loaded. Crossing fences Unload your firearm before crossing a fence. If there is a gate – use it! Never climb a fence while carrying a firearm. Carrying Walk through a stream while carrying loaded firearms through fences and over firearms rather than jumping or crossing obstacles can result in injury and death. on rocks. If there are two or more people, one Always stay focussed when around fire- should climb over the fence without a arms – no daydreaming! firearm. Then, pass the unloaded firearms Give advice on safety if you see any care- across with the actions open, and pointed less or unsafe behaviour with firearms. in a safe direction. Irresponsible use of firearms causes inju- If you are on your own, unload the fire- ries and deaths. arm and place it, muzzle first, through the Have your firearm checked periodically fence. Lay the firearm on the ground, and by a gunsmith, when possible, who knows then climb over about the firearm you own. the fence. Take special 2b) Carrying your firearm safely care when Environmental hazards crossing electric 7 fences. Have your firearm unloaded and any moment, you should load your firearm the action open before you get near an and put the pre-tested safety catch on. If electric fence. An electric shock can you release the safety catch and then don’t cause your muscles to contract and your shoot, put the safety catch back on. Always hands to clench. keep the muzzle pointing in a safe direction, and unload the chamber immediately if you do not take the shot.

2c) Handling your firearm safely Cleaning firearms Firearms are made of metal and wood or composite material. Regular cleaning and maintenance will keep your firearm safe and reliable. It is essential that the barrel is free from ob- struction. Before storing your firearm you should clean Crossing fences must be done carefully. the barrel with a rod, clean patches and solvent. Where possible, insert the cleaning When hunting rod from the chamber end of the bore to Half- or action in a of semi-readiness avoid damaging the muzzle. ( and except semi-automatic) When you have cleaned the barrel push an The state of ‘semi-readiness’ can be taken up oily patch through it. Clean the action and when you have seen game or expect to the outside of the firearm. Wipe all metal flush it at any moment. Hold the firearm in parts with a lightly oiled rag. both hands, with a cartridge pushed partly When you are taking your firearm out for use, forward into the chamber. point it in a safe direction then check that it Do not close the action completely unless you is not loaded. Push a clean patch through know you have correctly identified your the bore and check that the barrel and ac- target and you have time to make a safe tion are clean and dry. Grease or oil in the shot. If you do close the action but then do action can cause a misfire. If either gets into not take a shot, go back to the ‘semi-ready’ the barrel, they can cause it to bulge or with a half-open action. burst. A ‘break open’ can be carried in the When hunting, take cleaning gear with you – hinged open position with cartridges in the at least a pull- through, patches and oil. At chambers. This is semi-ready with a shot- the end of each day clean and oil the barrel. gun. The firearm is safe while open and can Before setting out on the next day’s hunting, be closed and fired quickly and easily. clean the barrel again. Only the shooter at the front of a hunting party should be in a of semi-readiness. The semi-ready condition with half-open bolt is not always practical. Unless the bolt is held with the thumb, it may slide backwards and eject the round completely. In this case, the bolt is best left closed on an empty chamber. When you expect to take a shot, load a round into the chamber and carry the firearm firmly in both hands to control muz- zle direction. Use of a pre-tested safety catch for semi auto- matic shotguns and rifles Cleaning a firearm. The rod is inserted from the It is not possible to use chamber end of the barrel. a half-opened bolt with Semi- Automatic Rifles Testing the safety catch and Shotguns. So, when If you have a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun you have seen, or ex- you should have it checked and tested by a pect to flush game at competent gunsmith. However, if you are

8 testing the safety catch yourself: can cause misfires, burst cases and block the Be sure there is no ammunition in the barrel. Wet or damp ammunition can in- firearm crease pressure in the firearm and could Point the muzzle in a safe direction at all also damage and injure. Never attempt to times dry wet ammunition by heating it.

Cock the action Loading your firearm safely Apply the safety catch Old shotguns Check the firearm cannot be fired. (Do Shotguns with any pitting of the barrel should this by pulling the trigger several times not be fired. Modern ammunition must not and by bumping the firearm.) be used in old shotguns. The barrels may If you have any doubts about a safety catch – not be strong enough for the high pressure take it to a gunsmith! of modern ammunition or the chambering Never use live ammunition to check the safety may not allow for modern star crimp car- catch mechanism. Dummy or blank ammuni- tridges. tion can be used to test actions. The chamber is the slightly enlarged section of Dummy ammunition consists of a normal pro- the barrel bore where the cartridge is jectile and an empty case. There is no pro- locked up before being fired. In the case of a pellant powder or primer in it. star crimp shot cartridge, the chamber Blank ammunition is quite different. A blank needs to be long enough to allow the crimp round has a small charge of propellant and a to peel forward, out of the way of the shot primer. It will fire, making a loud bang, but and wad. not fire a projectile. However, it is danger- Get a gunsmith to check your old gunshot ous to fire a blank cartridge near, or at, any before you use it. person. Although there is no bullet, a wad is often discharged and people have been Firearm magazines struck and injured or killed by this. All repeating and semi- ac- tions have a magazine where the ammuni- Correct ammunition tion is held before being fed into the cham- It is important to use the correct ammunition ber. Most bolt action rifles have box-type for your firearm. Even if you have the right magazines with the cartridges placed one on calibre, it may not necessarily be the right top of the other. Many lever action and ammunition. The chambering may be unsuit- firearms, and some semi- able or the action may not be strong automatics, have a tubular magazine where enough e.g. 22 short, .22 long, .22 long rifle the cartridges are placed end-on, one be- and .22 magnum are all .22 rimfire, yet are hind the other. not suitable for every .22 rimfire rifle. A tubular magazine can be dangerous. If the If the wrong ammunition is chambered it may tube has been dented, the cartridge can be too big to allow the action to close. If it stick temporarily. If it later becomes free it is too small it can slip so deeply into the can be fed into the action without you even chamber that it is out of reach of the firing knowing about it. pin. Worse still, it may fit, allow the action To obey Basic Rule 3 – always point firearms to close and fire the wrong calibre bullet. in a safe direction and to check your firing This could burst the barrel or cause a dan- zone – you need to know about Patterning gerous of gas in the shooter’s and Sighting In. face. Numbers that show the calibre are stamped Patterning on the base of the cartridge case. However, Before you use a shotgun for hunting you need sometimes there are other numbers or to see what sort of pattern it fires with the words to identify one cartridge from an- cartridges you intend to use. Tack a large other. You should know the correct and full sheet of paper or cardboard 40 metres description of the cartridges your firearm away in a safe direction. See where the requires. To make sure there is no mistake, pattern of shot use that description when ordering ammuni- hits. tion, and also check the description on the ammunition packet. Sighting in Do not use old or corroded ammunition. It ‘Sighting in’ with a

9 rifle is even more important. If your rifle has self. Get a gunsmith to fit these. a telescopic sight a dealer or gunsmith can Items that need to be checked: check that the sight is correctly set accord- Headspace ing to a collimator. However, it will still protrusion and shape. (For require checking with the ammunition you safe, reliable firing.) intend to use. Do this on a range or suitable rural area. Tightness of action and stock. (Affects accuracy.) Setting of sights for accuracy Condition of barrel and chamber. (For Sights must be correctly set. If they are not, safety and accuracy.) rounds may fall short or go far beyond the General condition of firearm, including target. Adjust the sights for distances suit- action and stock. able for the calibre and intended use. Mechanical fitness of firearms Safety catch. (Especially important for semi-automatic shotguns and rifles.) Trigger pull. (For safety and accuracy the trigger pull set by the manufacturer should be used. Trigger pull should only be changed by a competent gun- smith.)

2d) Safe shooting at a range A range is a place that has been designated safe for shooting. Shooters fire from a clearly marked ‘firing point’, down range A bullet begins dropping from the moment it towards targets set up for the type of leaves the barrel, so if your sights are just lined up shooting, or competition being held. Ranges with the barrel, the bullet will drop below where are supervised by Range Officers. you are sighting

Range rules ‘Sighting in’ is best carried out on an estab- Ranges are operated under a set of rules lished range. Otherwise, it should be some- known as Range Standing Orders. where away from people, stock or prop- On the SAF range: erty, and with a safe backstop. All persons on a range must obey the Shoot from 25 metres and adjust sights instructions of the Range Master im- until the point of aim and the bullet im- mediately and without argument. pact are the same. Safety glasses and ear protectors must If you are using iron (open) sights always be worn. move the rear sight in the direction you want the shot to move. The foresight is Visitors and children must be closely the reverse of this. With a scope, follow supervised on ranges. the arrows on the scope adjustment. Firearms must be handled very care- Next go back to 100 metres, fire shots in fully and be stored or carried with the pairs, and adjust sights. actions open at all times. The use of a chamber safety device makes it easy Most high-powered rifles are best zeroed for the Range Master to check that so the bullet hits the target about 75 mm firearms are safe. high at 100 metres. You must not handle other persons’ Mechanical fitness of firearms firearms and ammunition without their It is dangerous to tamper with firearms. Even permission, except when a Range Mas- minor repairs or adjustments ter, or other responsible official, thinks should be carried out they have been left in a dangerous by a competent gun- position and directs you to shift them. smith. Never exchange All firearms used on a range must be in bolts, bolt heads or good mechanical condition. other action parts your- Firearms may be loaded only on the

10 Range Master’s instructions, and every SECTION THREE: UNDERSTANDING shooter must have the muzzle of their FIREARMS firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times. On a range, ‘safe direction’ 3a) Firearm types means down the range at the targets. The Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 defines a Only the group actually shooting may firearm as anything from which any shot, bul- be on the firing point, and all must let, missile or other projectile can be dis- remain there until released by the charged by force of explosive. (See the defini- Range Master. tion of ‘arm’ at the beginning of this booklet If the Range Master gives the command for a full definition.) When you are choosing a “STOP!” or “RANGE IS CLOSED!” all firearm, remember that no single firearm, and firing must cease immediately. All no single type of ammunition, will suit all pur- shooters must remove cartridges from poses. The Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 the chamber and leave all bolts and also controls airguns. actions open. Airguns Shooters must make sure that no car- An airgun is any air rifle, or weapon that tridges are left in the firearm when has a gas or compressed air firing mecha- they have finished firing. The Range nism. An ‘airgun’ includes air rifles, air pis- Master must inspect each firearm to tols, BB guns, soft air pellet guns and paint- check complete unloading before re- ball guns. leasing the shooters from the firing For a beginner a .177 calibre air rifle is inex- point. Inserting a chamber safety device pensive and will provide plenty of cheap, confirms the firearm is unloaded. safe practice. Other types of airgun are When you intend to use your firearm on a available, including ‘soft’ airguns that fire a shooting range or in the field check that: plastic pellet at fairly low velocity. Soft air- The firearm is mechanically sound guns are usually made to look like real pis- It is not loaded tols or military firearms – they are not toys The barrel is not blocked and like all airguns are controlled by the The grease and oil is removed from Arms Act. You should never use an airgun the barrel and action in situations where it might be mistaken for a real firearm. The ammunition is correct for the

firearm Who may use airguns The firearm is not left unattended Anyone may use an airgun if: They hold a Fiji The firearm is made safe and secure Firearms Licence or they are under the ‘immediate supervision’ of a firearms licence Please note: The shooting range has strict rules holder. and a Range Master to enforce them. In hunt- ing situations you are not under such control ‘Immediate supervision’ means that the li- and it is up to you to follow all the safety rules. censed or older person is within reach and Don’t be afraid to point lapses out to other in control of the person using the airgun. shooters – their behaviour can affect your The person providing the supervision must safety. be able to take control of the airgun. They cannot be in possession or control of an- other firearm or airgun. On a range or paintball field: the rules in place, fenced field and supervision of umpires, referees or Range Master go toward immediate supervi- sion.

Pistols A pistol is any firearm that is designed or Firearms in use on a range adapted to be held and fired with one hand, and includes

11 any firearm that is less than 762 mm in Rifles length. A rifle normally fires a single bullet and, in Fiji, In the Act, it is defined as any arms or other rifles generally range in calibre from .17 weapon of any description from which any to .45. All are used for target shooting. shot, bullet or other missile can be dis- The .17 and .22 rimfire is suitable for charged and of which the length of barrel small game such as pigeons and mon- (not including any revolving, detachable or goose. magazine breech) does not exceed 9 inches The centrefire .22 is suitable for hunt- (22cm); ing goats. You are required to either belong to a Shoot- ing Association recognised by the Commis- The .243 is about the smallest calibre sioner of Police), or, be a bona fide collec- that should be used for pig hunting. tor to use a pistol. can only be fired Some cartridges are not suitable for on an approved Shooting Association range. hunting pigs but the following are used on bigger game: the .308 Winchester (7.62 Nato), 7.62 x 39 .270 Winches- ter, 30.06, .303 British, 6.5 x 55, 7mm and 8 mm Mauser and the 30.30 Win- chester. It is recommended that you join the SAF where you can get information and advice from experienced firearms users.

Shotguns Shotguns are used for clay target shooting and to hunt small animals such as pigeons and ducks. There are about 200 pellets in a 12- ‘Pistol’ means any firearm that is designed or gauge cartridge that spread out when they adapted to be held and fired with one hand. It leave the muzzle. At 30 metres they will includes any firearm with barrel length that is less strike in a circular pattern nearly a metre than 22 centimetres in length. across.

Antique firearms In hunting, the bigger and stronger the game, An antique firearm is any firearm which is held the more powerful the cartridge must be to in the possession of any person, solely as an kill the game humanely. antique (but not as a copy or replica of an antique) and which is not designed for, and Shotgun cartridges are loaded with different is not capable of firing rimfire or centrefire sizes of shot: cartridge ammunition. (Arms and Ammuni- 7, 8 and 9 for smaller birds tion Act 1978) 4, 5 and 6 for duck Antique firearms should not be fired. This can 3 and 2 for swan and geese be dangerous especially if it is in poor condi- Buckshot, or a single solid slug for pigs tion. An antique firearm is normally only at close range. suitable as a collector’s item, an heirloom, a

display, or kept because of its special signifi- The size of the shot for clay target shooting cance. depends on the competition. Black powder shooters usually fire replicas of

the original firearms. The replicas are work- Military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) ing models made of suitable materials and firearms can be fired safely with the correct ammuni- Military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) firearms tion. Loading and firing a black powder fire- are prohibited in Fiji. arm is complex and An MSSA is a self-loading rifle or shotgun with requires a lot of care. one or more of the following features: These firearms can be as lethal as a modern Folding or telescopic butt firearm. Magazine that holds, or has appearance of holding, more than 15 cartridges

12 for .22 rimfire A pump action is again similar. A pump slide is Magazine that holds, or has appearance pulled backwards to open the action and of holding, more than 7 cartridges for cock it. When the slide is pushed forward others the action feeds a fresh cartridge, locks, and Bayonet lug is ready to fire. A semi-automatic also known as a self loading Free standing military style pistol grip action, operates in the same way as the Flash suppresser above firearms. However, ejection and load- ing is carried out automatically by the force Types of actions of either the or by gas pressure. Be- All cartridge firing firearms used for target cause of the automatic reloading, a cartridge shooting or hunting have the following is ready to be fired each time the trigger is things in common: the cartridge is fed into squeezed. the chamber; it is locked there by the ac- The most common shotguns found in Fiji are tion; the action is cocked; it is fired; it is the break-open variety in which the barrel unlocked; and the empty cartridge case is or barrels hinge downwards. There are over extracted and ejected. -and-under, side-by-side and single barrel shotguns. Some shotguns are semi- automatic or pump action.

3b) Where and when you may use fire- arms Before you do any shooting, whether with a firearm, you need to know when and where it can be safely and lawfully used. You should take steps to ensure that your shooting does not endanger property or frighten, annoy or put neighbours at risk. Cutaway drawings of four different types of car- Telling your neighbours about what you are tridge. A shot cartridge. A centrefire cartridge. A doing is always a good first step. rimfire cartridge. A rifled slug for use in a shotgun The permission of the land owner is required before shooting anywhere. A permit is nec- The bolt action is one of the simplest and essary before hunting on any land managed most trouble-free firearm actions. Starting by the TLTB, which includes conservation from the unloaded condition, the action is and national parks unlocked by lifting the bolt handle and pull- ing it back. A cartridge is fed into the cham- .22 Rimfire rifles ber by pushing the bolt forward. The bolt A .22 rimfire rifle has been the traditional first handle is then turned downwards, locking rifle for many. It is regarded as a safe and the bolt and cartridge in place. A firing pin is inexpensive firearm for a young person, usually cocked by movement of the bolt or however this rifle can be just as deadly as bolt handle, and when the trigger is any other firearm and should be handled squeezed the pin is released, firing the car- with the same respect and care as other tridge. The empty cartridge case is then larger calibre firearms. ejected by lifting the bolt handle again and pulling the bolt back. Shotguns A shotgun is suitable for shooting at birds on The lever action works on the same basic the wing. Shotgun pellets do not travel so principle, except that a lever is pushed far and are much lighter. This means they down to unlock the bolt and move it back- are less likely to endanger someone at dis- wards. This movement also cocks the ac- tance. tion. When the lever is pulled upwards again it feeds a cartridge into the chamber and locks, ready to be fired by the trigger. After the cartridge is fired the empty case is ejected by once more pushing the lever down.

13 are available in Fiji, usually at commercial game fields. The operators of these fields adhere to a voluntary code of practice, including the application of strict safety measures.

Firearm licensing 4a) How to apply for a firearms licence To obtain a firearms licence you must first apply in person to the Station Sergeant at your nearest Police precinct, complete an application form and supply one coloured passport size (4.3mm x 3.5mm) photo of yourself. You will be required to pay the application fee and present the receipt with your application. This fee is non-refundable. The Fiji Police will check whether you are a fit and proper person to possess firearms, and ensure you can provide safe storage. They will ask for the names of two people (one your spouse, partner or next of kin) who will be interviewed about your suitability. People who have a history of violence or re- peated involvement with drugs or been irresponsible with alcohol or a personal or Common firearm actions. A bolt action. A lever social relationship with people who may be action. A pump action. A semi-automatic deemed to be unsuitable to obtain access to firearms or indicates an intent to use fire- The shotgun is used for fast moving game on arms for self defence may find it difficult to the ground and in the air. A shotgun is also satisfy the Fiji Police that they are fit and used for competitive shooting at clay tar- proper to have a firearm. If you are not sure gets. whether or not your background is suitable, discuss it with your local Arms Officer be- Centrefire rifles fore applying. Centrefire rifles in various calibre are suitable You will have to study this Firearms Code for a whole range of game and target shoot- Booklet and to attend training on firearm ing. There is such a variety of calibre, pro- safety. The SAF can provide this training at jectile type and weight, however, that no cost. single firearm or cartridge is suitable for every A multi-choice test is given by SAF and you purpose. It is important, therefore, to think must get at least 28 of the 30 questions about where you can use your firearm be- correct. Ten of the questions are vital, relat- fore buying one. ing to the TEN BASIC RULES of firearm safety. If any one of these ‘compulsory’ Pistols questions is answered incorrectly you could Pistols may only be used at a range that has fail. However the instructor will work with been approved by the Commissioner of you to understand where you have gone Police. The Shooting Association of Fiji is wrong. the national body for this sport. It is not difficult to pass the test if you study the Firearms Code Booklet thoroughly, Paintball airguns rather than merely read it through. Anyone Shooting at any person with an airgun is not who fails the test may apply to sit again at a advocated. However, in later date following further study of the the case of paintball Firearms Code Booklet and attending an- marker games the ob- other lecture. ject is to shoot your Each applicant who passes the test will be opponents. Organised given a certificate by the firearms instructor. games and competitions

14 Self defence Shooting Association of Fiji which is recog- Important note: Firearms for self de- nised by the Commissioner of Police. Note fence that membership does not allow you to Self-defence is not a valid reason in Fiji to purchase, import, or possess firearms or possess firearms. The law does not permit possess ammunition outside the SAF. Un- the possession of firearms ‘in anticipation’ used Ammunition will need to returned to that a firearm may need to be used in self- the SAF for safekeeping. defence. Citizens are justified in using force in self de- Revocation fence in certain situations. The force that is A licence may be revoked as a result of irre- justified will depend on the circumstances of sponsible behaviour with firearms. the particular case. Every person is crimi- Your firearms licence or endorsements can be nally responsible for any excessive use of revoked by a Commissioned Officer of the force against another person. Fiji Police if you act in such a way that indi- A firearm is a lethal weapon. To justify the cates you are no longer a fit and proper discharge of a firearm at another person the person to be in possession of a firearm. user must hold a honest belief that they or someone else is at imminent threat of death Domestic violence or grievous bodily harm. The Fiji Police may seize firearms and consider Discharge of a firearm at another person will revocation of a person’s firearms licence if result in a Police investigation and whatever that person is thought to be involved in the consequences of the incident you may family (domestic) violence. face serious criminal charges. A protection order issued under the Domestic Violence Act automatically revokes a fire- 4b) Firearms licences and endorsements arms licence. If you wish to keep owning or Everyone who possesses or uses a firearm using firearms when a protection order (except under immediate supervision of a applies to you, you must ask the Court to licence holder) needs to have a firearms allow you to keep your licence. This is usu- licence. ally done by responding to the notice sent The minimum age for a licence holder in Fiji is to you by the Court when the order is first 21. To own and use some firearms you may taken out. need further special endorsements on your It is an offence to be in possession of firearms licence. or airguns after your firearms licence has been revoked. Immediate supervision No matter how old you are, if you do not Licence expiry have a firearms licence but want to use a A firearms licence expires after 1 year. You firearm, you may do so only under the im- should apply for a new licence, or surrender mediate supervision of someone who has a your current one, before it expires. Once a firearms licence. In other words, the person licence expires it costs much more to ob- with the licence must be with the shooter, tain another one. (This higher fee reflects and close enough to take control of the the actual cost of issuing a licence.) The firearm if necessary. To meet this require- application is for a ‘new licence’. Full vetting ment the supervisor cannot be using a fire- is carried out by the Fiji Police. Security will arm at the same time. Generally, this means be inspected. The Fiji Police will ask how that there will be only one firearm between many firearms you possess so as to ensure the two people. that the security they inspect is adequate.

Firearms licence Endorsements A firearms licence allows the holder to have Any endorsements attached to your firearms and use sporting type shotguns and rifles. licence continues if you apply for a new A firearms licence is valid for 1 year unless licence before the current one expires. revoked or surrendered sooner. Otherwise the endorsements Shooting Association Membership expire with the This allows members to use pistols and rifles licence and an during shooting sessions as a member of additional fee is

15 required to apply for any new endorsement. nition When you apply to renew your licence you will be required to justify continuing to hold The Arms Act states that “30. (1) A person the endorsement. (including a licensed or exempted person) who, without lawful excuse, carries in a The fee public place any arms commits an offence. A firearms licence, dealer’s licence and en- (2) For the purposes of this section, any dorsement applications are only accepted arms is deemed to be loaded if there is with an accompanying receipt showing that ammunition in the chamber or barrel or in the fee has been paid. The fee, set by regula- any magazine or other device which is in tion, is paid to the Fiji Police. It is non- such a position that the ammunition can be refundable. fed into the chamber or barrel by the man- ual or automatic operation of some part of Surrender of licence the gun or weapon.” You may surrender (hand in) your licence to So .... Even before you buy your first firearm the Fiji Police at anytime before it expires if you need to know how you will carry it you no longer wish to possess firearms. You home and where you will keep it. Once must either give or sell your firearms to your firearm arrives from abroad, you will someone who is licensed, or to the Fiji Po- be carrying your firearm in a public place. lice for destruction. Tell the Fiji Police that Bear in mind that it is illegal to carry or use you no longer have firearms, so your licence a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Remember can be ‘closed off’. also to make sure the action is open when around other people. 4c) Purchasing or acquiring a firearm You are strongly advised to get a padded You should have your firearms licence with cover or hard case in which to carry your you whenever you carry your firearm. Any- firearm. This ensures the firearm is pro- one who sells you a firearm will need to see tected and stays in good condition. It also your licence. All sellers are legally required makes it less obvious so is less likely to to see the purchaser’s firearm licence. alarm other members of the public. Keep a record of the firearms you have A hard case with a soft lining will protect your bought or sold because if one should be firearm while travelling. A soft padded cover is lost, destroyed or stolen you must immedi- useful but not as protective. ately inform the Fiji Police in writing. If you provide them with the details, the Fiji Police will record them against your firearms li- cence record.

Ammunition Only a firearms licence holder can purchase ammunition.

4d) Disposing of firearms and ammuni- tion You can hand any unwanted firearms and am- munition into the Fiji Police for destruction. Only licensed arms dealers may purchase fire- arms from members of the public and sell You must have a particular lawful, proper and them on behalf of the owner. If the firearms sufficient purpose to have firearms with you, are in an unsafe condition, or stolen or lost so you should have firearms – unloaded – in property, they will be handed to the Fiji your vehicle only on the way to or from a Police for disposal. hunting trip, shooting range, or for some other genuine reason. SECTION FIVE: It is vital for community safety and crime re- Your duties and legal duction to keep your firearms secure at all requirements times. You may lose your firearms licence if 5a) Transporting you fail to do so. firearms and ammu-

16 Car Some international destinations require You may not leave a firearm in an unattended prior approval of the carriage of firearms vehicle. ‘Unattended’ means no-one is in, to/from or through their country. Discuss near or able to watch the vehicle. If possi- this with your travel agent at the time of ble, make the firearm inoperable e.g. by booking – well in advance of the travel. taking out the bolt. You cannot drive a vehi- cle on a road with a loaded firearm. This Mail/courier includes the magazine - it must be empty. Generally firearms are not considered in Even on private property it is dangerous to themselves to be dangerous goods. How- have a loaded firearm in a vehicle, or to get ever, individual courier and postal compa- in or out of the vehicle with a loaded fire- nies may have their own policies regarding arm. Be careful when moving your firearm the carriage of firearms. Discuss your re- in or out of a vehicle. Treat it as loaded. Do quirements with the courier or postal com- not point it at yourself or at anyone else. pany. Do not pull it towards you by the muzzle. Ammunition is considered to be dangerous goods and is generally not available except Boat through the SAF for SAF purposes. All am- Bird shooters should check their game licence munition for transportation must be pack- before they use a firearm in a boat. Public aged, secured, and identified properly. transport (bus, train, inter-island ferry, air- There are limits on quantity for carriage of craft) On some shooting trips you will need ammunition. to carry your firearm by public transport. Remember to make suitable arrangements Exporting and importing for this when planning your trip. Discuss the If you wish to send or take any firearm out of requirements with your travel agent or the the country you must let the Fiji Police carrier. know at least four (4) days in advance. You will require an import permit if you plan to In general: bring them back into Fiji. Obtain this before leaving Fiji. You should allow a month to Firearms and ammunition are not allowed obtain the import permit. to be carry-on luggage. Firearms and ammunition must be pre- Exporting firearms, parts and ammuni- sented to the Carrier for inspection prior tion from Fiji to travelling. An export permit is required before firearms, You will be asked to confirm or demon- components, accessories, ammunition and strate that the firearm is not loaded. other weapons may be taken out of Fiji. These controls apply regardless of the com- The Carrier will take custody of them pleteness or working condition of the items. until arrival at the destination. All arms must have their bolts removed Exiting Fiji (where applicable) and must otherwise be If taking a firearm out of Fiji with the intention rendered inoperable. of bringing it back, you will need an export A locked hard carrying case will protect and import permit issued by the Fiji Police, your firearm during the journey. and a certificate of export from the Cus- Upon arrival at your destination, you may toms. Show these forms on your return to be required present your baggage check prove that the firearm was taken from Fiji to reclaim your firearm. and not obtained overseas. You can obtain Only a limited amount of factory boxed the certificate at any Customs office a few ammunition used for sporting purposes days before departure, or at the airport of (excluding explosive or incendiary projec- departure. Allow yourself sufficient time for tiles) may be carried as checked luggage. the formalities if you are seeking the certifi- Check the amount that may be carried cate at the airport. before travelling. If you do not have a permit to import Allowances for more than one person the firearm into must not be combined into one or more your country of packages. destination you 17 risk forfeiture of your firearm. Contact the given 7 days in which to produce it to relevant embassy to check their laws on the Fiji Police. firearms. Notify the Fiji Police, within 30 days, of a change in your residential address. Entering Fiji Notify the Fiji Police whenever any You must declare any firearm to Customs and firearm you own is lost or stolen. You the Fiji Police on entering Fiji. An import should record the make, model and permit issued by the Fiji Police is needed for serial number of all your firearms. all firearms imported from or on return Police can record it on their database from overseas. It is advised that you get this for you. permit from the Fiji Police before you leave. If you do not have an import permit, be Give your full name, address and date prepared to surrender the firearm until one of birth if requested by the Fiji Police is obtained, from the Fiji Police. when you are found in possession of a Any firearm or parts brought or sent to Fiji firearm – including an airgun. must be approved for import. Contact the Refusal to give these details, or giving Fiji Police to see whether the firearm or false details, can lead to arrest. parts you want are approved. You will also Ensure that any person to whom you need to apply for an import permit. You risk sell or supply a firearm or ammunition prosecution if you do not have a permit to is the holder of a firearms licence. import, and the firearm or parts are not Report any injury and death caused by approved for import. As well, you will be any firearm, airgun, pistol or restricted required to send the firearm or parts out of weapon. The report must be made in the country or surrender them uncondition- person and as soon as possible at any ally to the Fiji Police for destruction. Police station or to a member of the Fiji Police. Visitors to Fiji People visiting Fiji for 12 months or less, and What to do if you become unsuitable wishing to bring a firearm into the country to hold a firearms licence for their use, need to obtain a visitor’s fire- Arrangements should be made for the arms licence and an import permit. The possibility that you become unsuitable licence can only be applied for, in person, in to hold a firearms licence. Fiji but the details of the proposed importa- Your family, doctor or other represen- tion can be confirmed in advance. tative need to know their obligations if Intended applicants need to send or bring you are no longer considered safe to copies of : be around firearms. Discuss with them the combined visitor’s licence and any reasons, including mental health import permit application problems, where you may be judged the photo page of the their passport unfit to hold a firearms licence. Do this evidence of being a bona fide shooter while you are still competent enough in their country of origin (their home to be involved with the decision mak- country firearms licence/permit/ certifi- ing. Plans must be made for the safe cate). disposal of your firearms. These can be sent by email, mail or fax to the Fiji Police. What to do if the firearms licencee dies As a responsible firearm licence holder, you Arms Laws requirements need to make provision for the disposal of your firearms before the event of your The Arms Laws require that you: death. It is your duty to inform your next of kin and Produce your licence legal representatives of how to legally dis- when required to so by pose of the firearms. These arrangements a member of the Fiji consist of advising the local Arms Officer of Police. If you don’t have the death and surrendering the firearms to your licence with you the Fiji Police, a dealer or another licence when asked, you may be holder until provision can be made for final

18 disposal. Carrying a pistol or restricted weapon If you own a firearm, your personal represen- without approval from the Fiji Police. tative, or any other person who takes pos- Carrying a firearm, airgun, imitation session of the firearm, must immediately firearm or ammunition with criminal notify the Fiji Police of intent. The death; and Pointing any firearm, whether loaded The location of the firearm. or not, at any person. Prompt action must be taken to ensure that Careless use of a firearm, airgun, pistol these types of firearms are all accounted for or restricted weapon. and are transferred to a person with the appropriate endorsement type and security. Discharging a firearm, airgun, pistol or restricted weapon in or near a dwelling 5c) Recording your firearms house or public place so as to endan- Write down the make, model and serial num- ger property or to endanger, annoy or ber of all your firearms. Keep these records frighten any person. in a safe place, separate from your firearms. Being in charge of a firearm or airgun Police will record your firearms for you if while under the influence of drink or you wish. This is usually done as a matter of drugs. routine during licensing enquiries. Carrying a firearm that is loaded Every licence holder is required to advise the (whether in its breech, barrel, chamber Fiji Police, in writing and within 30 days, or magazine) in or on a motor vehicle whenever there is a change of address. on a road or in any place to which You can record your firearm details and notify members of the public have a right of changes of address using the pages at the access. back of this book. Using or attempting to use a firearm with criminal intent or in the commis- 5d) Offences with firearms sion of a crime. Firearms owners and users have certain obli- Selling or supplying a firearm or ammu- gations under the Fiji Arms and Ammunition nition to someone without a licence. Act 2003. Failure to follow these require- Supplying an airgun to a person less ments can lead to prosecution. Most are than 18 years of age. (Unless that per- common sense but if you are in any doubt, son is licensed) or require more information, you should contact the Fiji Police or a solicitor, or ob- Supplying a firearm to someone who tain a copy of the Arms and Ammunition does not have a permit to procure. Act. Selling firearms or ammunition by mail Some of the offences are listed below in gen- order or internet sale without a writ- eral terms ten order signed by the purchaser and bearing the endorsement signed by the Using or possessing a firearm without Fiji Police. either being licensed or under the Importing a firearm or parts without immediate supervision of the holder of first obtaining a permit to import from a firearms licence. the Fiji Police. Being in possession of firearm or air- Not advising the Fiji Police when a gun after revocation of firearms li- firearm is lost, stolen or destroyed. cence. Tampering with or altering the details Being in possession of a pistol, re- of any firearms licence. stricted weapon or MSSA. Failing to surrender firearms if licence Failing to produce a firearms licence revoked. when required by the Fiji Police. Failing to give four days notice of inten- Carrying or possessing a firearm with- tion to remove a out a lawful, proper and sufficient pur- firearm from pose. Fiji. Carrying an imitation firearm without a Failing to lawful, proper and sufficient purpose. notify police

19 of change of address for firearms li- adapted for the discharge of any noxious liq- cence. uid, gas or other thing dangerous to persons; Failing to report injuries caused by (b) and includes any component part of any firearms. weapon mentioned in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), any accessory to any such weapon designed or GLOSSARY: adapted to diminish the noise or flash caused by firing the weapon and any explosive- Accessory operated power tool, ramset, hilt or fire nail includes a magazine, sighting system, sling, fastener operated by pneumatic pressure; weapon bag or case, weapon cleaning kit, am- (c) but does not include an article designed or munition belt, wooden stock for butt or fore adapted solely to discharge a spear for spear- or any component or part of any arms that ing fish; does not affect the normal discharge of the arms; Arms Identification Card A card issued under section 7(3) of the Arms Action and Ammunition Act 2003 Effective Motion – a mechanism – the breech action of a firearm. The operating part that Arms licence transmits power to the mechanism. A licence issued under section 6;

Ammunition Authorised Officer Ammunition is the consumable component of A Police Officer authorised in writing by the firearms system. Ammunition is required to Commissioner for the purposes of the Arms fire a firearm. A single unit of ammunition in and Ammunition Act 2003 modern firearms is called a cartridge. The units of measure for quantity of ammunition Barrel are rounds. There are hundreds of sizes of A narrow hollow cylinder portion of a firearm ammunition; examples include .223 Remington, through which the bullet travels during the 9mm Luger, 30.06, .308 Winchester, .300 acceleration phase of its journey to the target. Winchester Magnums, and .50 Browning ma- chine Gun (BMG). The ammunition used must Bolt match the firearm. The mechanism of some firearms that holds the cartridge in place during the firing process. Under the Act, it means live ammunition for See also Bolt Action. any arms and includes a missile, cartridge, cartridge case or anything designed or adapted Bolt Action for or capable of use with any arms, or de- A type of firearm, almost always a rifle, in signed or adapted to contain any noxious liq- which an empty shell casing (remnant of a uid, gas or other thing, and any military ord- cartridge) is removed from the firing chamber nance, grenade, mortar, rocket, naval shell, by the turning and retraction of a metal cylin- field gun ammunition, paint ball gun ammuni- der shaped mechanism called a bolt. A new, tion or charge used in explosive-operated unfired, cartridge is inserted and secured into power tools; (c) but does not include a spear the chamber by reversing the action of the discharge from any arms solely for the pur- bolt. Bolt action firearms are typically the pose of killing fish; most accurate.

Arms Bore (a) means The hollow portion of a barrel through which (i) any lethal weapon with or without barrel of the bullet travels during its acceleration phase. any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged or which can Breech-Block be adapted for the dis- The metal block at the base of the breech charge of any such shot, which retains the cartridge after it has entered bullet or other the chamber. The bolt of a bolt-action rifle is a missile; and breech-block. (ii) any weapon of any description designed or Bullet 20 A generally cylindrical shaped projectile that mouth partly and confine the charge. travels through the (dictionary.com) air after being fired from a firearm. This is only one component of a cartridge, which is a sin- Cocked gle piece of ammunition. A of readiness of a firearm. The hammer (or similar mechanism if there is no hammer) only Butt (of a stock) needs to be released by the trigger to cause The stock of a rifle or shotgun is usually placed the firearm to fire. against the shoulder to fire. The contact point with the shoulder is the butt of the firearm. Commissioner The Commissioner of Police appointed under Butts/Backstop the Constitution of Fiji; A target range. An obstacle behind a target for stopping a shot. (dictionary.com) Dealers Licence An arms dealers licence issued under the Carry Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 in relation to any arms or ammunition, means to be in physical possession of it; Dowel A usually round pin (often wood) that fits Case head separation tightly into a corresponding hole to fasten or Case head separation occurs when the walls of align two adjacent pieces. (dictionary.com) the casing become thin or fatigued. Upon firing the round, the case separates into two pieces Dud near the head. It is not uncommon with brass A dud (also a misfire or failure to discharge) that has been reloaded several times. occurs when the trigger is pulled but the primer or powder in the cartridge malfunc- Chamber tions, causing the firearm not to discharge. The portion of a barrel where a cartridge is Dud rounds can still be dangerous and should placed just prior to being fired. This is a high- be deactivated and disposed of properly. pressure containment area that is very pre- cisely aligned with the bore of the barrel. A Elevation firearm cannot be fired when the chamber is 1) The setting on the sights of a firearm that empty. controls the vertical placement. 2) The alti- tude above mean sea level. This is important Cartridge for long range precision shooting because the The assembly of a bullet, shell casing, gunpow- air density changes with elevation and affects der, and primer that is put in the chamber of a the path of the bullet. firearm. Failure to eject (FTE, "stovepipe") in a semi- Calibre automatic pistol. Stovepipes can sometimes be 1) The diameter of the bore of a firearm. Typi- caused by a malfunctioning or defective ex- cally in millimetres or a decimal fraction of an tractor. inch. 2) Common usage, but imprecisely the name of the cartridge used in a firearm. Exam- Firearm ples include .223 A firearm which uses the combustion of some Remington, 220 Swift, 22-250 which all use the chemical mix, typically smokeless gunpowder, same bullet, but different cartridge, because to propel a projectile (see the definition at the they have the same diameter of bore. beginning of this manual).

Centrefire Cartridge Firing Line A cartridge that has a primer located in the A line, either imaginary or marked, from which centre of the base of the shell casing. This is as people shoot their firearms down range. opposed to a rimfire cartridge. Firing Pin Crimp A needle-like metal In cartridge making, to fold the edge of (a part of a modern cartridge case) inward so as to close the firearm that gives a

21 vigorous strike to the primer initiating the side of the weapon, or in the weapon with the firing of the cartridge. action open, could cause serious fragmenta- tion injury. Flush Game To frighten from cover. To drive or force into Heel (of a stock) the open. To excite, to animate. To stir. See The top of the butt, when the firearm is in also Game. (dictionary.com) position on the shoulder to be fired, is called the heel. Game Wild animals, birds or fish hunted for food or Imitation Arms sport. (dictionary.com) Anything that has the appearance of any arms, whether or not capable of discharging a shot, Gunpowder bullet or other missile; A chemical mixture or compound that burns rapidly with or without the presence of air to Import Licence produce hot pressurised gases capable of pro- A licence to import issued under the Arms pelling a bullet. There are two basic types of and Ammunition Act 2003 gunpowder – Black Powder and Smokeless Powder. Black Powder is composed of a mix- Interim Import Licence ture of charcoal, sulphur, and potassium ni- An interim import licence issued under the trate and produces a cloud of white noxious Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 smoke when it burns. Smokeless Powder burns much cleaner but may still produce a Iron Sights small puff of smoke. All modern firearms use Sights made of metal with no optics. smokeless powder, not only because there is less smoke, but also because the bullets can be Lever Action made to exit the firearm faster. A type of firearm that uses a lever operated mechanism to remove an empty shell casing Hammer and insert a new cartridge in the chamber of a Similar in function to the carpenter and me- rifle. Other types of mechanisms include bolt chanic’s tool, the hammer of a firearm is pro- action and pump action. pelled by a spring to strike either directly or via a firing pin the primer of a cartridge causing Licence the firearm to fire. A licence of any description issued under the Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 Hammer follow Hammer follow occurs when the disconnector Licensed Arms Dealer allows the hammer to follow the bolt and The holder of a valid licence to deal in and firing pin into battery, sometimes causing the repair arms or explosive-operated power firing mechanism to function faster than it is tools or to deal in and store arms and ammu- designed to. nition issued under the Arms and Ammunition Act 2003 Hang fire A hang fire (also delayed discharge) is an unex- Magazine pected delay between the triggering of a fire- An ammunition feeding device that holds the arm and the ignition of the propellant. When- cartridges just prior to them being put in the ever a weapon fails to fire, but has not clearly chamber of the firearm by the operation of a malfunctioned, a hang fire should be suspected. mechanism on the firearm. This mechanism When this occurs, the correct procedure is to may be operated manually as in a bolt action keep the weapon pointed downrange or in a or semi-automatically when the firearm fires safe direction for thirty to sixty seconds, then after pulling the trigger. The magazine may be remove and safely dis- detachable or part of the firearm (as in a tubu- card the round (which lar magazine common with lever action rifles is now a dud as ex- and most semi-auto and pump shotguns). plained above). The reason for this is that a Mechanical malfunctions round detonating out-

22 Mechanical malfunctions of a firearm (commonly called jams) include failures to Prohibited Area feed, extract, or eject a cartridge; failure to A prohibited area declared under the Arms fully cycle after firing; and failure of a recoil- or and Ammunition Act 2003 gas-operated firearm to lock back when empty (largely a procedural hazard, as "slide lock" is a Pump or Pump Action visual cue that the firearm is empty). In ex- A type of mechanism for removing a spent treme cases, an overloaded round, blocked shell casing from the chamber of a firearm and barrel, poor design and/or severely weakened inserting a fresh cartridge into the chamber. breech can result in an explosive failure of the This type of mechanism is most commonly receiver, barrel, or other parts of the firearm. used in shotguns and rimfire rifles.

Missile Ramrod Includes a shell, bullet, shot, dart or any other A rod used to force the charge into a muzzle- similar thing; loading firearm. A rod used to clean the barrel of a firearm. (dictionary.com) Muzzle The end of the barrel where the bullet exits as Receiver it is being fired. The portion of a rifle that has the serial num- ber on it. The stock, barrel and other compo- Pellet nents such as the bolt are typically attached to A bullet or piece of small shot. the receiver. Some firearms may have a multi- (dictionary.com) part receiver such as an upper receiver and a lower receiver. Permit to Purchase A permit to purchase issued under the Arms Recoil and Ammunition Act 2003 The sudden rearward push made against the shooter when a firearm is fired. This push is Primer due to Newton’s First Law of Physics (for A small metal cup that contains a tiny explo- every action there is an equal and opposite sive charge that is sensitive to impact. A reaction). The heavier the bullet and the faster primer is placed in the base of a shell casing to it leaves the muzzle of the barrel the more ignite the powder of the completed cartridge. recoil. The weight of the powder and the ve- It is detonated by the striking of a firing pin in locity of the gases it produces at the muzzle the firearm. also enter into the equation describing the total recoil. Projectile An object given an initial velocity which pro- Rifle ceeds on its own inertia through the air and A firearm designed to be fired from the shoul- perhaps solid objects in its path. A bullet fired der and fire only a single projectile at a time, from a firearm is a projectile. as opposed to a shotgun, which can throw many small projectiles (shot) at the same time. Pistol Rimfire Cartridge A firearm that is designed or adapted to be A type of cartridge whose primer is integral to held and fired with one hand, and includes any the shell casing and located along the edge of firearm that is less than 762mm in length the base in a . When the firing pin strikes it (Arms Act, 1983). pinches the rim against the chamber and causes it to detonate and ignite the powder. Pistol Grip 1) A section of a rifle stock shaped like the Rounds grip of a pistol. 2) A variation of stock type A unit of measure for ammunition. One car- that is often fitted to military-type firearms, tridge. Typical quantities are 20 rounds and 50 and is not permitted on a sporting semi- rounds in single box. automatic firearm. A serious target shooter will normally Powder go through about 100 See gunpowder. rounds in one day. At

23 some pistol matches a shooter may go of a firearm in the proper direction to hit a through several hundred rounds. In a weekend target. The most common sights are iron and of training, a pistol shooter may go through telescopic. 1500 or more rounds. Slamfire Safety (mechanical) A slamfire is a premature, unintended dis- A mechanical device used to block the firing charge of a firearm that occurs as a round is pin or trigger such that the firearm cannot be being loaded into the chamber. fired. Squib load Semi-Automatic A squib load (also squib round, squib, squib A firearm that uses the energy and momentum fire, insufficient discharge, incomplete dis- of the just fired cartridge to eject the spent charge) is an extremely dangerous malfunction shell casing and load a new cartridge into the that happens when a fired projectile does not chamber. This makes it an automatic loader. carry enough force and becomes stuck in the This is sometimes shortened to ‘automatic’ instead of exiting it. In the case of which some people confuse with a full-auto semi-automatic or automatic weapons, this (machine gun). can cause successive rounds to be fired into the projectile obstructing the barrel, which Shot can cause catastrophic failure to the structural 1) n. A term used to describe the round pellet integrity of the firearm, and pose a threat to projectiles fired in a shotgun. The shot may be the operator or bystanders. The bullet from a one of many different sizes described by a squib stuck in the barrel can be ejected when number. The smaller the number the larger subsequently firing a blank round, causing the the pellet. The numbers do not go negative, gun to discharge a bullet when not expected. but start adding additional zeros to the desig- Furthermore, blank rounds use a type of pow- nator. der different from that of other rounds, and generate much more pressure. Therefore, the 00 presence of a bullet or other obstruction in (pronounced ’double-nought‘) is larger than 0. the barrel may cause the firearm to explode. Number 8 shot is about the size of a head of a pin. 00 shot (also sometimes called ’buck- Stalk shot‘) is about the size of a large pea. 2) v. act To move threateningly or menacingly. To of firing a firearm. track prey or quarry. To pursue by tracking stealthily. To approach under cover of a Shotgun screen, or by stealth, for the purpose of killing, A (typically) smooth bore long firearm that as game. (dictionary.com) shoots a group of pellets called shot instead of bullets. Depending on the bore size and the Stealth size of the pellets there may be from less than To avoid detection by moving carefully and 10 to two hundred or more pellets in a single quietly. (dictionary.com) shotgun cartridge. Shotguns are designed for shooting moving targets (such as flying birds or Stock moving rabbits) at close range. The supporting structure of a long firearm to which the receiver, barrel, trigger, and other Shell Casing components are attached. Typically this is the A hollow, bottle or drinking glass shaped, portion of the firearm the shooter holds while piece of metal that is closed on one end ex- firing. See also heel and butt. cept for a small hole which holds a primer. The open end holds the bullet. The hollow Stovepipe portion holds the powder. Together the as- A stovepipe, smokestack, or failure to eject sembled unit is called a (FTE) occurs when the empty cartridge case cartridge. jams vertically in the ejection port of a self- loading firearm instead of being thrown clear, Sights a condition usually caused by not holding the The device that aids the firearm correctly, or "limp wristing". eye in aiming the barrel

24 Telescopic Sight A sight which has an integral telescope.

Trigger The mechanism used by the shooter to initiate the firing of a cartridge. Typically this is a lever type piece of metal that must be pulled with the index finger.

Trigger Lock A locking device put on a firearm to render it unable to be fired.

Trigger Pull A piece, as a lever, which is connected with a catch as a means of releasing it; especially (Firearms), the part of a lock which is moved by the finger to release the cock and discharge the piece. (dictionary. com)

Use In relation to arms or ammunition, means to use any arms or ammunition or hold any arms so as to cause a reasonable belief that it will be fired, whether or not it is capable of being fired.

WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMA- TION:

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The SAF provides the opportunity for you to share information, support and friendship with fellow enthusiasts.

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10 BASIC RULES 1 ASSUME THAT ANY GUN IS LOADED 2 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER 3 ALWAYS POINT YOUR FIREARM IN A SAFE DIRECTION 4 KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SHOOTING AT 5 BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR GUN 6 DON’T SHOOT AT HARD SURFACES, INCLUDING WATER 7 DON’T RELY ON A SAFETY MECHA- NISM 8 LOAD YOUR GUN WHEN YOU NEED TO 9 USE THE RIGHT AMMO 10 PAY ATTENTION

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