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Before leaving the firing line, it is essential to unload your firearm as the priority action. This is a critical safety measure in firearms handling. Unloading ensures that the firearm is not capable of firing and minimizes the risk of accidental discharge.

By making sure the firearm is unloaded, you contribute to a safer environment for yourself and others present. This step is vital in preventing accidents, which can occur if a loaded firearm is inadvertently handled or mishandled during the transition away from the firing line.

While checking your surroundings, notifying the range master, and packing your equipment are important actions in a shooting range context, they follow the fundamental principle of firearm safety, which dictates that a firearm should be unloaded before leaving the firing line. These other actions are part of general range etiquette and safety checks but take precedence only after ensuring that the firearm is not loaded.