Range Rules and Procedures

CEASE FIRE

 
 
 
 



Rifle and Pistol Range Safety Procedures


There are generally two reasons for calling a "CEASE FIRE":

  • Someone needs to go down range to place, remove, or check a target.
  • Any situation requiring immediate attention such as a firearm malfunction.
When someone calls for a "CEASE FIRE", immediately stop firing and:
1. Clear / remove the round from the chamber.
2. Leave the action open.
3. Magazines must be removed from all semi-automatic firearms.`
4. Place your firearm on the bench or table and step back.
5. Do not touch any firearm until a further command is given.
The key things to remember during a cease fire are: 
  • Chamber empty 
  • Action open
  • Hands off
Before anyone goes down range, the person calling the "CEASE FIRE" will do a visual check to see that everyone has stepped back from the benches and then ask, "IS EVERYONE CLEAR"?
The word "CLEAR" means that all shooters and others on the firing range have cleared and / or otherwise safely secured their firearms (chamber empty, action open, hands off), that no one has a firearm in hand, and that there will be no handling of firearms until further command. Everyone else on the line should also be making this visual check. 
Remember, SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S JOB. 
Then and only then can anyone go down range.
When the cease fire is over, it is the responsibility of the person calling the cease fire to make sure everyone is back behind the benches before stating that "THE RANGE IS GOING HOT".
 
Trap Range Safety Procedures


The action must be open and the chambers clear when carrying any shotgun to or from the gun rack.

While in the rack, actions must be open and the chambers clear.  The exceptions are over and under/side by side types whose chambers must be clear, but their actions may remain closed.

Actions must be open and chambers clear when moving between ANY of the five stations on the line.

The action can be closed and the chamber loaded only when it is your turn to fire. 

Hearing and eye protection must be worn by shooters and observers.

An international orange traffic cone placed on top of the trap house indicates 
that someone is downrange reloading or adjusting the trap machine.

While the birds are being reloaded in the trap house, there will be no handling of firearms behind the firing line, ie, all firearms must be in the rack.

During a trap machine malfunction, a cease fire must be called, resulting in all actions being open and chambers clear,  prior to anyone  going down range to clear the machine.

Absolutely no Damascus barrels are permitted.

Seven and one half (7.5) is the largest shot size permitted.

The person in charge of the trap shoot has the right to disapprove of any firearm which they consider to be unsafe.

Any safety problems should be immediately brought to the attention of the person in charge or a range safety officer if present. 
 

We are a teaching / educational facility and it is one of the things we do best. If there are problems, be firm and explain the rules and procedures to the individual(s) in question. Get agreement that they now understand exactly what they did wrong and that it won't happen again. Any serious problems should be reported to the range officer if one was not present at the time of the violation.

The Range Safety Officer's are Bill Oliver (860-763-2327) and Jim Cowan  (860-749-7229).

REMEMBER, SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S JOB.

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