1. ALWAYS POINT THE MUZZLE IN A SAFE DIRECTION -Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
2. KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER - and outside the trigger guard, until ready to fire or until the command "Commence Firing" has been given.
3. KEEP THE ACTION OPEN AND FIREARM UNLOADED UNTIL READY TO USE. On a firing range this means the shooters are in position on the firing line and the range has been cleared for loading.
4. KNOW HOW THE FIREARM OPERATES.
5. BE SURE THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION ARE COMPATIBLE.
6. CARRY ONLY ONE GAUGE/ CALIBER OF AMMUNITION WHEN SHOOTING. When at a shooting range with more than one firearm, use one at a time and when complete, rack or table (behind the firing line) that firearm and its ammunition before using the next one.
7. BE SURE OF THE TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND. When on shooting ranges, be mindful also of adjacent areas and act accordingly.
8. WEAR EAR AND EYE PROTECTION. Hearing protection is required -see the Range Officer if you need some. Eye protection is recommended - mandatory for pin shoots.
9. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE PROHIBITED ON THE RANGE.
10. BE AWARE THAT CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RULES.
11. NO BRASS MAY BE PICKED UP THAT HAS FALLEN IN FRONT OF THE FIRING LINE WITHOUT A CEASE FIRE FROM THE RANGE OFFICER.
12. INTERFERENCE - The firing line will be kept clear at all times with the exception of shooters in competition and such range personnel as may be necessary. Any person or competitor who interferes with or annoys the competitors in any way will be warned and upon failure to stop will be ordered off the firing line area.
13. SMOKING - No person shall be allowed to smoke on the firing line at any time.
14. COACHING - Coaching or spotting is permitted.
15. OPEN POWDER CONTAINERS - There will not be any open top containers of powder on the firing line of the range.
RANGE COMMANDS
1. SHOOTERS TO THE FIRING LINE!
Shooters take position on the firing line.
2. PUT BOLTS IN!
Shooters may put bolts in the gun.
3. LOAD! (Optional for training)
Notify participants that they can load the prescribed number of rounds. For muzzleloaders, the commands are somewhat different. The command to "Commence Firing" is given after which the participants will snap a minimum of three caps prior to loading the firearm. The command "load" is not for muzzle loading shooters.
Participants will load the prescribed number of rounds and stand ready for the next command.
4. IS LINE READY?
Determine if all shooters along the line are ready.
All shooters not ready should indicate their status to the range officer. Sufficient time will be allowed for the shooter to complete his preparation.
5. READY ON THE RIGHT?
Declare that the shooters have indicated they are ready.
Any shooter not ready at this command may chose either to alert the line officer that he is not ready or to complete the process of getting ready before the final command has been given.
6. READY ON THE LEFT?
Continue the command prior to giving the commence firing command. Action by shooter same as Ready on the Right.
7. READY ON THE FIRING LINE!
Notify all participants that the range is about to be under live fire and that if anyone is not ready at this point, he should call a range officer, otherwise, await the next command.
Participants simply await the next command.
8. AS YOU WERE!
This command means to disregard the command just given. (Example: If the command were given "ready on the firing line" followed by "as you were", it would mean that someone was not ready.
9. COMMENCE FIRING!
Declare the range is formally open for live firing.
The participants may commence the prescribed course of fire. Muzzleloaders may snap caps prior to loading. No muzzleloader may be loaded before the command to fire has been given.
Firing Period
Firing shall continue until a predetermined time period has lapsed or until all participants have completed the prescribed course of fire. During informal shooting events, participants when finished firing should simply open the action, clear the firearm, bench or ground the firearm and step back behind the line and wait until all shooters have completed the event. After this, a mutually agreed upon cease fire is called.
10. SHOOTERS YOU HAVE ___ NUMBER OF MINUTES LEFT TO COMPLETE THE COURSE OF FIRE or SHOOTERS FIRE YOUR REMAINING ROUNDS.
Alert all shooters that a general cease fire is about to be called and to allow the slower shooters to complete the course of fire. Those that have completed the day's activities may put away their equipment. in the event there are rounds remaining that have not been fired, the shooter upon the command "Cease Fire" simply unloads, clears and grounds or benches his firearm.
11. MISFIRE!
Notify the range officer and other participants that a round did not fire when the trigger was pulled and to alert other shooters along the line that a hazardous condition may exist, especially with muzzleloaders. Range Officer is to be alert to a misfire also - shell could be ejected with bullet in barrel - and a new cartridge in the chamber.
(1) The shooter experiencing the misfire continues to keep the firearm pointed down range, removes the finger from within the trigger guard and awaits further instructions. (2) The range officer may or may not call a general cease fire depending upon the situation. (3) Shooters immediately adjacent to the misfire should cease fire, unload, open and either ground or bench their firearms and step back from the line. (4) The remaining shooters may continue to fire as directed by a range officer or may cease fire at their option and await further instructions.
12. CEASE FIRE!
Stop all shooting routinely or, in case of emergency, immediately.
Participants immediately stop shooting, continue to keep the muzzle pointed down range, remove finger from within the trigger guard, unload and clear the firearm and await further instructions from the range officer.
13. SNAP CAPS! (Muzzleloaders only)
Assure that the flash hole is open and the barrel is free of any material (oil) capable of causing a hangfire. in some events, this command is also used to determine if all firearms are unloaded. In others, safety precautions require the guns to be uncapped, unprimed with hammers down prior to leaving the line.
All participants using percussion type muzzleloaders shall step up to the firing line, affix a primer cap, point the firearm down range and "snap" the cap.
14. RANGE IS CLEAR!
Alert all shooters along the line that travel beyond the firing line for purposes of target change or retrieval, the removal of brass and trash is approved.
Participants may move down range as directed or desired to change, remote targets or to clean up. The next relay shall not take up positions on the firing line until told to do so. Participants not going down range are to stand back from the firing line and away from firearms. NO firearm will be handled while others are down range.
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