It is almost impossible to have a range absolutely safe against an accidental discharge putting the bullet over the butts.
A man who swings his pistol over his head is almost sure some day to let off a bullet high over the butts if he does not blow his own brains out first.
If the shooter pays attention all the time to keeping the muzzle of his pistol pointed towards the butt he will be safe even if his pistol goes off accidently.
The barrel must be aligned towards the butt. Most beginners think that, if they see the muzzle of the pistol against the butt, it is aimed at the butt. That is not so. You can hold a pistol almost vertical like a candle in its socket, and think the muzzle covers the centre of the target, but if it is fired in this position the bullet will go straight in the air.
To aim a pistol, the breech (the part nearest the butt of the pistol) must be aligned with the muzzle on the target.
Keep the pistol lying on a table before you and pointing at the butt, and when you lift it always keep it thus horizontal or slightly inclining towards the ground but always pointed at the butt.
All single-shot breech-loading pistols open by pressing a lever, whether on top, at the side, or underneath the barrel.
Press this and open the pistol, look through the barrel to see that there is no cartridge in it and that the barrel is clear, and then close it.
Do this constantly for many days, so that you get into the habit the moment you take the pistol in your hand to look through it to see if it is unloaded, and no obstruction in it. To fire a pistol which has an obstruction in the barrel may burst the pistol.
If any one asks to see the pistol, first open it in his presence, of course pointing away from him or any one else, and look through the barrel before handing it to him. If an automatic, first take out the magazine and open the barrel as well.