Minnesota Firearms Safety Hunter Education Practice Exam

What is the best practice to follow after falling in water with your firearm?

1. Continue using it if it fires successfully

2. Unload it and check the barrel for obstructions

3. Dry it by the fire before the next use

4. Shake the water out and continue hunting

The correct answer is: Unload it and check the barrel for obstructions

After falling in water with your firearm, the best practice to follow is to unload it and check the barrel for obstructions. This is important because there may be debris or water that has entered the barrel, which could cause malfunctions or even accidents. Continuing to use the firearm without checking could potentially result in harm to yourself or others. It is also not advisable to try to dry the firearm by the fire as this could cause damage to the gun itself. Similarly, shaking out the water and continuing to hunt without thoroughly checking for obstructions could also lead to potential dangers. Therefore, the safest and most responsible option is to unload the firearm and carefully inspect the barrel before using it again.