You stumble in the field. The barrel of your firearm dips into the ground. You follow the steps to check for an obstruction in the firearm. After pointing the muzzle in a safe direction, what is the NEXT step?:

The next step is to carefully remove the magazine, extract any misfired cartridge and ensure there is not a bullet or other obstruction lodged in the muzzle of the gun.

Explanation:

Obstruction in firearm is a worldwide issue that has lead to the death of thousands of people. This has lead to the enactment of rules and guidelines towards gun safety for gun owners with some of them being:

1) Carry only empty guns, taken down or with the action open, into your car, camp and home.

2) Always be sure that the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.

3) Always carry your gun so that you can control the direction of the muzzle.

4) Be sure of your target before you pull the trigger.

5) Never point a gun at anything you do not want to shoot.

6) Never leave your gun unattended unless you unload it first.

As part of gun safety rules, when a particular gun is obstructed from firing, the right thing to do is to point the muzzle in a safe direction ( usually upwards) and carefully remove the magazine before extracting any misfired cartridge or checking for removal of the obstruction in the gun muzzle.