Range Rules

BOB’S RANGE SAFETY RULES

 

 

SHOOTERS WILL ALWAYS STRICTLY FOLLOW 

THE NRA’s 3 FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF FIREARM SAFETY, Plus  The NRA’s 8 Secondary Rules of Firearms Safety.

 

1. ALWAYS keep the firearm pointed in the safest direction possible. 

   • This will always be pointed towards the berm, unless under direct supervision while conducting an approved course of fire.

   • This is an outdoor range, with uneven ground.  If you slip, trip, or fall you must maintain your muzzle awareness and always keep the muzzle oriented downrange.

 

 

1. ALWAYS keep your finger away from the trigger until you are ready to shoot.    

   • Placing your trigger finger ‘indexed’ high on the frame or slide of your firearm is the best practice to ensure it is well away from the trigger & trigger guard.  

   • Having the Safety on / engaged is NOT an excuse for placing your finger on the trigger!  

   • Additionally, ensure that no clothing or objects come into contact with your trigger / trigger guard that could inadvertently discharge the firearm.

   • If you lose your grip on the firearm and drop it, DO NOT attempt to catch the gun on the way down to avoid inadvertently hitting the trigger.  Once it has come to rest on the ground be aware of the orientation of the muzzle. Ensure no one, including you, are forward of the muzzle before you carefully recover the gun without touching the trigger. 

 

1. ALWAYS keep the firearm unloaded until ready to use. 

   • All firearms are always treated with the same respect as if they are loaded. Even when unloaded, treat them as if they are loaded. 

   • Before handling a firearm, personally check and clear visually and by feel.  Once it is in your hands, YOU are responsible for knowing the condition of the gun.

   • Any firearms not in use or secured in a holster will be unloaded with magazine removed and action locked open.  If placed on a table or bench, the ejection port shall be facing up and muzzle pointed downrange.  If placed in a shotgun / rifle rack, ensure your gun is held securely.

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• DO NOT load / unload your firearms in the parking lot!  Leave your gun holstered and proceed to the range to clear your self defense firearm before training.  Remember to reload with your self defense ammunition ON THE RANGE before departing.

 

 

NRA’s Secondary Rules for Safe Use & Storage of Firearms

 

Know your target and what is beyond it. 

• You are responsible for every round that exits your firearm.

• DO NOT engage targets in a manner that will risk your round going over the backstop / berm.  The green barrels are an additional safety measure to mitigate any rounds / ricochets leaving the property; they are NOT to be shot at intentionally!

• If using any apparatus on the range as ‘cover’, ENSURE your muzzle clears the edge.  Remember that your sights sit higher than the bore line of your gun; just because you can see your target doesn’t mean your muzzle is clear of the apparatus.  Shooting the edge of an apparatus creates a shrapnel/ricochet hazard to you & others, and may deviate the trajectory of the round out of the backstop area.  

  

Always Use Eye & Ear Protection.

• Bring your own eye & hearing protection.  None are provided by Bob’s Range.

• Eye protection should be rated for ANSI Z-87.1 ballistic protection.  Normal prescription glasses or sunglasses won’t protect your eyes while shooting unless they have this rating.  If you wear prescription glasses, use ballistic eye protection designed to fit over your prescription glasses.

• Eye and hearing protection must be worn during restroom breaks if anyone is using Range A.  Ensure you use the walkway between the back of the Range Admin Shack and the side berm of Range B to access the restrooms and handwash station; DO NOT walk thru Range A if others are using it.  

• YOU ASSUME ANY RISK by not wearing appropriate protective gear; remember that eye & hearing damage can be forever!

 

Know How to Use the Gun Safely.

• Be familiar with the functions & safety precautions outlined in your Owner’s Manual.  If you don’t have the manual, look online or contact the manufacturer for a copy.

• If you are new to firearms, or the one you will be using is unfamiliar to you, contact a qualified instructor for assistance.

 

Ensure the Gun is Safe to Operate.

• YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for the maintenance & safe operation of your firearm.  If you have a catastrophic failure of your firearm, YOU BEAR the responsibility of any injury to self or others.

• If you are uncertain of the safe operation of your firearm, contact a qualified gunsmith to have it inspected.

 

Use Only the Correct Ammunition for Your Gun.

• Ensure the markings on your barrel or gun match the ammunition type you are using.

• Understand the difference of SAMMI specs and +P / +P+ ammunition pressures, & refer to your owner’s manual to ensure compatibility with your firearm.

• Understand that Squib Loads (rounds lacking enough pressure for the projectile to exit the barrel) can happen with both factory ammunition and reloaded / hand loaded ammunition.  Understand the signs of a squib load, and IMMEDIATELY stop shooting if there’s any chance of an obstructed barrel.  Failure to do so may cause catastrophic failure of your firearm, and injury to self and others.

 

Never Use Alcohol or Drugs Before or While Shooting. 

• This includes any prescription or over the counter medication that may impair your decision making while handling firearms.

 

Store Guns so They are Not Accessible to Unauthorized Persons. 

• You are responsible for everything you bring to Bob’s Range, especially the security of your firearms.

• Ensure all youth are SUPERVISED at all times.

 

Be Aware That Certain Types of Guns & Many Shooting Activities Require Additional Safety Precautions. 

• Steel targets are located on the range.  

o Range A & Range B:  

• Only traditional pistol calibers may be used to engage steel targets (including .22 LR).  Shotguns with birdshot or buckshot may be used, but MUST BE lead shot only. Steel Shot and slugs are PROHIBITED on these steel targets.   

• DO NOT engage steel targets using a traditional rifle caliber such as .223/5.56/300 Blackout/7.62, even if used from a pistol.  ((Using a rifle firing .22 LR is allowed)).

• DO NOT engage targets with 5.7x28mm ammunition! It will damage the steel targets at pistol distances.

• DO NOT engage these steel targets closer than 10 yards with handgun or shotgun ammo.   

• Ensure your rounds will impact perpendicular / at a right angle to the target surface to reduce risk of ricochets.

• There is an inherent risk of ricochets and injury / property damage when shooting steel targets.  Ensure everyone on your range bay is wearing eye protection before engaging steel targets, even if at the picnic tables.  Pieces of lead or other flying debris may fly back onto vehicles in the parking lot.

• If you move any steel targets, RETURN them to their original placement when clearing the range.  Some steel may have sharp edges; wear leather gloves.

• Repaint all steel targets before your session is over.  If you arrive at your session & notice the steel was not painted by the previous shooter, take a photo with a time stamp & email to Bob at bobsrange@outlook.com. Bob will provide a courtesy email to the responsible party to remind them of their duty to leave the range better than they found it.

 o Rifle Range:  

• Muzzle velocities AT THE STEEL TARGET must be 3,000 fps or less.   

• DO NOT engage steel targets closer than 100 yards with rifle or shotgun slugs.

• Place all steel targets at the base of the berm.  DO NOT place steel targets mid-range of the shooting lane.

• Ensure your rounds will impact perpendicular / at a right angle to the target surface to reduce risk of ricochets.

• Repaint all steel targets before your session is over.  If you arrive at your session & notice the steel was not painted by the previous shooter, take a photo with a time stamp & email to Bob at bobsrange@outlook.com. Bob will provide a courtesy email to the responsible party to remind them of their duty to leave the range better than they found it.

 

• Muzzle Loaders:  

o Ensure you know the fire hazard conditions, and either DON’T shoot muzzle loaders in high risk conditions or be prepared to immediately put out any fires your smoldering wadding causes. o Keep your powder dry, & away from flames / sparks.

• These additional safety considerations are not all-inclusive; ensure you know the safety protocols of whatever discipline you are practicing. 

 

 

Bob’s Additional

 “Not Always Common Sense, Common Sense Rules”

 

• Prohibited Ammunition Types:  

  • Tracer and incendiary ammunition is not allowed. o “Dragon’s Breath” or other exotic types of ammunition that present a fire hazard are prohibited.  

  • Armor piercing or ‘penetrator’ type ammunition such as M855 is only allowed for use on paper targets.  DO NOT engage steel targets or target stands; shooters violating this will be responsible for the replacement cost of whatever is damaged. o If you arrive to your range session & observe obviously fresh damage to steel targets or apparatuses, take a photo & email to bobsrange@outlook.com. Bob will provide a courtesy email to the responsible party to remind them of their duty to leave the range better than they found it.  The time stamp of your email at your session arrival time will ensure that you are not held liable for someone else’s actions.

 

• Rates of Fire:  

o Keep all rounds impacting the backstop / berm.   

o Rapid fire / automatic fire IS NOT ALLOWED on the rifle range due to ricochet hazard.

o YOU are responsible for keeping all your rounds into the backstop / berm.

 

• Use of Holsters:  

• Each individual wishing to practice drawing from a holster while not supervised by an instructor MUST demonstrate basic proficiency in safe holster skills to Bob’s Range and be given clear permission before conducting individual or solo practice.  This evaluation DOES NOT transfer any liability to Bob’s Range; YOU are solely responsible for any injuries caused by your use of a holster.

• You must be able to demonstrate safe gun handling skills, with an emphasis on trigger finger discipline and muzzle awareness.  You must be able to safely draw from the holster AND reholster.  If your body-mass index or holster location prevents you from being able to see your holster to ensure it is clear of obstructions or causes you to muzzle yourself while reholstering, you may not be given authorization to use a holster.

• Email Bob at bobsrange@outlook.com to schedule an evaluation and receive permission for holster use.

 

• Youth on the Range:  

• Minors must be a minimum of 12 years old and capable of shooting in the judgement of Bob’s Range, AND  

• Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian authorized to sign the Waiver of Liability, and who shall directly supervise the child at all times.

 

• Range Commands:  

• When commencing firing, let others know by yelling “GOING HOT”.  Allow others behind you time to acquire hearing protection before you begin shooting.

• Anyone observing an unsafe act or condition should immediately yell “CEASE FIRE”.  Anyone hearing the command CEASE FIRE shall immediately stop firing; keep their muzzle pointed downrange; and look at the person who called the Cease Fire to determine what hazardous conditions exist.  Anyone has the right and obligation to call a CEASE FIRE if they witness unsafe practices or range violations. SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S DUTY.

• A Cease Fire may also be called periodically for the personnel on that range bay for the purpose of walking downrange / forward of the firing line to inspect, mark, reset, or replace targets.  This applies only to that range bay, & unless a safety hazard exists the adjacent ranges may remain in a Hot status.

• “GOING COLD” or “COLD RANGE” indicates that range bay is no longer in a firing status, either at the end of the scheduled session or to allow participants to go forward of the firing line to inspect, mark, reset, or replace targets.  While the range is COLD, no one shall handle or touch firearms while any personnel are forward of the tables / benches. Loading of magazines are permitted, but DO NOT touch any firearms. Prior to anyone moving forward of the firing line or tables/benches, all firearms will either be holstered, or cleared and placed on a table/bench or in a gun rack, with magazine removed or cylinder open, and action open.

 

  

• Clearing the Range at the End of Your Session:  

• Take down and dispose of paper targets. o Pick up your brass, steel, or aluminum cases and leave in buckets provided. 

• DO NOT dispose of LIVE or UNDISCHARGED ammunition in the trash. Leave in bucket with other cases.  

• If you moved or rearranged anything at the range, please put it back. 

• Pick up your trash and clean up your mess. Your mother doesn’t work here and my wife won’t pick it up either.  o Wash your hands after shooting with cold water to remove lead dust. Handwashing basin located near the restrooms.

 

     

THANK YOU FOR VISITNG BOB’S RANGE - HAVE A GOOD SHOOT!

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