General Firearms Safety

Basics:

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN "UNLOADED" GUN. Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

Muzzles must point down range AT ALL TIMES.

ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety.

ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Safe Condition:

A safe condition means the following:

Firearm unloaded

 Action open
 Magazine removed (if detachable)
  Slide, bolt, lever, whatever locked OPEN
 Revolver cylinder open & empty. 
 For any firearms that have a bolt that cannot be locked open, place a spent cartridge or chamber flag, sticking 
 up out of the chamber that all can easily see.
 Set all firearms down with the muzzle pointed down range
Step back from the line and KEEP HANDS OFF ALL FIREARMS!!
 
 

Responsibilities:

When you possess a firearm, even temporarily, you have several responsibilities, to yourself and to others.

YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROPER AND SAFE OPERATION OF YOUR FIREARM(S).

GET PROPER SAFETY TRAINING FROM A PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTOR WHO IS CERTIFIED TO TEACH IT.

Read the owner's manual for the firearm. If you do not have one, write to the manufacturer.

Most U.S. manufacturers will furnish a manual to you free of charge for any firearm they make, or have made in the recent past.

You have the responsibility to know how to put the firearm in a SAFE CONDITION promptly.

All firearms must be in this condition anytime anyone is forward of the firing line. The firing line is the front edge of the concrete.

DO NOT HANDLE FIREARMS FOR ANY REASON (EVEN TO CASE THEM AND LEAVE THE RANGE) WHILE PEOPLE ARE DOWN RANGE.

Pistol & Rifle Range Rules

Safety First

Range hours are 9am until Sunset.

Eye & ear protection are mandatory.

Club badges must be clearly displayed on your clothing or range bag.

Every shooter has the personal responsibility to make sure that every bullet fired impacts a berm.

All shooting shall be initiated from the proper firing line at the properly prepared target placed in the proper location.

Every member is considered a Range Safety Officer, and has the personal responsibility to ensure that every round fired stops safely on this range.

Range Control and Calls:

Informal use of the range requires courtesy and patience from everyone.

When arriving at the pistol/rifle range DO NOT HANDLE OR UNCASE FIREARMS if people are down range, wait until everyone is back behind the firing line.

Wait until another shooter has finished his string of shots before asking for a cease-fire.

If someone is waiting to go down range be prompt in finishing your shots and get into a SAFE CONDITION.

Get your business down range done promptly so as not to hold up other shooters.

Bring binoculars or a spotting scope rather than going down range just to check your group size.

Get the attention of all shooters when calling for a cease-fire.

Yell, shout, carry a whistle, or walk over and talk to them.

You MUST have everyone's attention before you can call a cease-fire.

All firearms MUST BE MADE SAFE before anyone heads down range to hang or collect targets.

It is equally important to get everyone's attention for a commence fire.

Use courtesy. A range master will use the commands "CEASE FIRE" and "COMMENCE FIRING" but during informal use everyone is range master. Ask, "Could we please have a cease fire after you finish you string?"

DO NOT HANDLE FIREARMS FOR ANY REASON (EVEN TO CASE THEM AND LEAVE THE RANGE) WHILE PEOPLE ARE DOWN RANGE.

Firing line:

NEVER SHOOT FROM ANY POSITION FORWARD OF THE CONCRETE FIRING LINE.

Fire only from the firing point that lines up with your target.

Fire only from behind the firing line.

Do not stand in front of the firing line.

Moving forward of the firing line

Before anyone goes forward on the firing line, all firearms shall be made safe. All actions must be open and magazines must be removed.

DO NOT HANDLE FIREARMS FOR ANY REASON (EVEN TO CASE THEM AND LEAVE THE RANGE) WHILE PEOPLE ARE DOWN RANGE.

Targets:

Paper, cardboard or composite targets only.

Make sure targets are placed eye level from where you are shooting from

Do not hang targets on the upright posts.

Make sure targets are placed so all bullets impact the berm. 

This means that you cannot place targets on the top of the berm, or on the ground.

Cans, plastic bottles, glass containers may not be used as targets. Metal or steel targets may not be shot on this range.

Unacceptable firearms:

No shotguns with bird or buckshot. They wreck the target frames. This is not the place to pattern a shotgun.

No fully automatic or simulated automatic firearms.

No cannons.

Spent Cases:

Police your firing area. Please pick up all your brass and either place it in the white plastic brass cans or take it home with you.  Non-reloadable centerfire cases should be picked up and placed in the trash

Trash:

Please do NOT throw empty aerosol cans, batteries, and live/misfired ammunition into the trash bins. We burn out trash, and all these items can cause serious harm and damage when put into a fire. 

Live / misfired ammunition should be placed into the orange live ammo box in the hut or removed from the range.

Zero-Tolerance Policy

The Hampton Rod & Gun Club has a Zero-Tolerance policy towards anyone found under the influence or using alcohol and/or illegal drugs while participating on any of our ranges. Anyone found in violation of this policy will be immediately brought before the board pending revocation of membership.

Closing Comments

Treat the range as if you owned it, YOU DO!

DO NOT LITTER:

Do not be too proud to pick up other people's litter. Littering is not a competitive sport.

DUMPSTER:

This range has a dumpster. DO NOT place your household trash in the dumpster, it is only emptied once a month and you can imagine how quickly it fills up.

QUESTION ANYONE DOING IT WRONG:

Seniority is not an excuse for unsafe practices. Seniority and safety are separate issues.

Even new members should feel free to question unsafe actions by others.

Be polite, courtesy is the best policy.

If an incident occurs please get the name, or at least the vehicle license number, of any suspected offenders and report it to any club Officer.

BE MATURE ENOUGH TO LISTEN WHEN YOU ARE QUESTIONED:

If you are wrong, admit it, apologize, and take corrective actions. If you are right, don't start an argument, be polite.

BE DISCIPLINED ENOUGH TO DO IT RIGHT YOURSELF:

Keep in mind that every action with a firearm that is UNSAFE, UNLAWFUL, UN-SPORTING, or UNETHICAL destroys a little bit more of our RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.

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