United States Volunteers

SOP - 1. Safety Regulation

TAB C - WEAPONS SAFETY

  1. Weapons will be inspected for safety by EACH COMPANY COMMANDER AND/OR COMPANY ORDNANCE /SAFETY OFFICER/NCO prior to each event.

  2. NO modern firearms OF ANY KIND, rifle, pistol or shotgun are allowed.

  3. NO Hawken, Zouave, Kentucky, Plains or Flintlock firearms are allowed.

  4. Infantry rifles will be 3 banded percussion Springfields or Enfields ONLY.

  5. Cavalry will be equipped with carbine, pistol and saber.

  6. Exceptions to those rules would be units that crried breechloaders historically.

  7. Sidearm are to be carried by officers only. Units that document the issue of pistols to enlisted personnel may carry such. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT BE LOADED.

  8. NO LIVE AMMUNITION IS PERMITTED ON SITE! Cartridges must be of lightweight paper, in period style. NO penny wrappers, staples, wonder wads, etc… as these become projectiles if loaded!!

  9. Cartridge papers will not be loaded. Powder will be poured and paper discarded.

  10. Recommended loading charges are:

    54 - 58 cal - load 60 grains maximum
    69 cal - load 80 - 90 grains
    carbines - load 60 grains
    pistols - load 30 grains

    Experience has shown that any excessive Powder is simply blown out the barrel unburned and wasted, creating a potential safety hazard.

  11. FIREAMRS WILL NEVER BE AIMED DIRECTLY AT ANY PERSON OR ANIMAL1

  12. Firearms will not be discharged at a range inside 25 yards. Inside 40 yards, ALL FIRINGS WILL BE ELEVATED so as not to endanger any combatant or animal. Use "Rule of Thumb" to establish range.

  13. NO gunfire in camps unless on orders of authorized officers.

  14. Fingers should be kept OFF the trigger and outside the trigger guard when moving. DON’T PLACE YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE!

  15. Fouled muskets will be taken 20 paces to the rear of the line of file closers with the unit serveant/safety NCO to clear.

  16. Ramrods WILL NOT be drawn on the battlefield as they become projectiles if left in the barrel. ONLY the file closer/safety NCO may draw a ramrod to check a firearm on the field.

  17. Tompions will be left in camp. Any tompion found during safety inspections will be taken and given to your overall commander. You may reclaim it after the event.

  18. No participant under the age of 16 years will be allowed to carry or fire a firearm or serve on a cannon crew.

  19. NO sheath knives will be worn or carried into battle.

  20. Bayonets will not be fixed except for drill demonstrations or stacking of arms.

  21. FIREWORKS, of any type are prohibited.

  22. When at "Rest", DO NOT place your hand(s) atany time over the muzzle of a rifle, loaded or unloaded. An accidental discharge could cause severe injury.

  23. If it is necessary to recover from the "Aim" position, lower the hammer form the full cock position by placing the "crook" of the thumb over the hammer spur and gently bringing the hammer to "half-cock". Be especially observant of the position of the muzzle.

  24. At the conclusion of "live" firing in the field prior to return to camp at the end of the day, ALL firearms (including officers’ revolvers) will be primed and discharged on command to insure that no unburned powder remains in firing chambers.

  25. During loading of the rifle-musket, the hammer SHOULD LEFT IN "FIRED" POSITION with a musket cap in place while charging with powder. This precludes the possibility of air coming in through the nipple, mixing with a spark left in the barrel and causing a premature discharge as powder is being poured down the barrel. Failure to adhere to this procedure is one of the chief causes of flashes and subsequent burns during loading!

  26. HAND TO HAND AND CLOSE COMBAT.

    A. While there is to be no unauthorized hand-to-hand combat, the following guidelines are for safe "close quarters combat" when opposing units meet on the field.

    1) Musket butts should not be raised above waist level.
    2) Muskets should be held at "present arms" position for the defensive and "port arms" for the offensive.
    3) Lunging with musket muzzles is prohibited.
    4) Pistols must not be discharged at close quarters.
    5) Sabers should be used with sheaths at close quarters.

    B. Rear rank soldiers must keep the first and second bands of their muskets aligned with the first rank soldiers’ shoulders and most importantly must not step back when firing as this will move their musket muzzles too close to the first rank troops.

    C. Firearms should be discharged before taking a "Hit".

    D. Show respect for our individual units. Taking of Colors will not be done unless agreed upon prior to battle. Units desiring such portrayal must agree and overall Union and Confederate Commanders must be made aware and agree to such actions.

    SAFETY IS EVERY PARTICIPANT’S RESPONSIBILITY!

    While units officers and NCO’s are held responsible for the actions of their unit members, it still remains that EVERY UNIT MEMBER IS A RESPONSIBLE ADULT!

    It takes two mistakes to make an accident. Someone doing something they shouldn’t and someone not paying attention.

    You are the visitor since I installed the counter on this Page. Please enjoy.

    Counter Installed May 21st 1999.

    Back to Safety Index Page
    Go to 2nd Mich. Vol. Inf. Home Page

    This page hosted by   Get your own Free Home Page