Complete Rules
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GENERAL

For the purpose of these rules, ‘Firearm’ is understood to include Air pistols and Air rifles (but not shotguns), unless special provision has been specifically made within a rule.
Safety is the responsibility of every Member. If you see anybody in breach of these rules, or acting in any other ‘unsafe’ manner, it is your duty to bring the matter to their attention and if necessary to the attention of the Range officials.

RANGE CONTROL
The Range Controlling Officer (RCO) will be designated on the day, and will be responsible for the overall conduct of range procedures and safety.
The Range Control Officer will be easily identifiable.
The Safety Supervisor(s) will be designated on the day by the RCO and will assist the RCO in his duties.
Follow the instructions of the Range Control Officer and the Safety Supervisor at all times.
Mobile phones, pagers, laptops etc. may not be used on the Range.
Cameras may be used only with the prior permission of the RCO.
Under no circumstances will shooting commence until any TWO FULL MEMBERS are in attendance on Club premises. This rule does NOT apply to Air rifles or Air pistols.
On completion of firing, and before leaving the Range, you must have your firearm checked ‘safe’ by the Range Control Officer or the Safety Supervisor.

ON THE RANGE

General
Upon arrival at the Range, and before shooting, Members must make themselves known to the Range Control Officer and complete the ‘Signing On book’. This is a Legal requirement.
Targets may only be erected on a direct line to each shooting bay, unless an arranged Club shoot requires otherwise.
Do not handle any firearm at anytime whilst people are forward of the firing point, except where specified elsewhere in these rules.
Do not load a firearm until authorised to do so. Loading is deemed to be the act of placing cartridges in a breech, tube or cylinder of a firearm, placing magazines into firearms, placing caps onto pre-charged BP firearms or placing priming powder into pans.
Charging of Black Powder Firearms must not take place on the firing point and must only be carried out in the ‘Loading Area’.
A Charged Black Powder Firearm is deemed to be one having: - powder, ball and patch but NO primer or priming powder.
‘Charged’ Black Powder firearms may be moved from the ‘Loading Area’ directly to the Firing Point immediately prior to shooting but only under the strict supervision of the Range Control Officer or Safety Supervisor.
At the firing point, keep the firearm pointing down range at all times.
If you experience a misfire, or a shot that does not sound right, wait 30 seconds, carefully unload, and check that the firearm is still functioning correctly and that the barrel is unobstructed. If in doubt, have the firearm checked by a Club Official (or its owner) before proceeding.
At Club shoots organised at other Ranges, local rules in operation must be adhered to, but may be superseded by our Standing Orders to give greater safety and control.
At Club shoots organised at other Ranges where no rules are evident, then our Standing Orders will be used where applicable to maintain safety and control.

Club Range
The use of shotguns on the club range is strictly prohibited
When entering the range with a firearm in your hand, ascertain that the range is clear before proceeding to the firing point. If people are forward of the firing point (in the case of target or detail changing or specific disciplines) then do not proceed and seek instruction from the Range Controlling Officer.
Never enter the range whilst the Red ‘Warning’ lights are illuminated, unless told to do so by a Club Official.
Red ‘Safety’ lights are fitted to all firing bays. When these lamps are illuminated, firearms placed on the firing point must comply with all of the following applicable safe modes. 1/ empty cylinder ‘swung out’; 2/ cylinder uncapped and hammer down; 3/ magazine removed and the action ‘locked back’; 4/ hammer down, pan open; 5/ lever fully open; 6/ holstered or cased. Firearms must not be touched (or un-holstered) until the red lights have been extinguished.
If the Red Safety lights illuminate when firing is in progress, (e.g. an emergency) firearms must be placed on the firing point and the firer should step back. Firearms should not be unloaded or touched again until the Red Safety lights have been extinguished, or you have been told to do so by the Range Controlling Officer.
If for any reason the ‘Warning’ or ‘Safety’ lights are inoperative then verbal instructions will be given by the Range Controlling Officer.

First Aid / Fire
All Members must report to the Committee any accidents (which must be recorded in the accident book), and use of any stock from the First Aid box (which is located in the Club room). Failure to do so will result in stocks becoming depleted, and may result in the Member (or Members) in question appearing before the Committee. Should the injury be of a more serious nature the Emergency Services should be summoned.
Misuse of Fire Fighting equipment, the First Aid box or its contents, WILL result in disciplinary action against the Member (or Members) responsible.

Unintentional Discharges

    Unintentional discharges can arise in different circumstances during rifle and pistol disciplines.       

All UD’s or mis-directed shots (i.e. any shots not falling within the specified target area) must be reported immediately to the Range Control Officer. The RCO will mark the shot and carry out a preliminary investigation (with notes) and report their findings/actions to the Committee as soon as possible. The Committee will investigate the event and decide on any course of action.

FIREARMS

Only firearms of calibre's permitted by the Safety Certificate covering the Range in use will be allowed.
You must never point a firearm at another person, under any circumstances.
You must never load a firearm with live ammunition or percussion caps / priming powder, except at the firing point, and only then under the direction of the Range Control Officer / Safety Supervisor.
When picking up a firearm, handing it to another person, or having it handed to you, ensure that it is unloaded. If you are in any doubt as to how to ‘prove’ the firearm safe, then DO NOT touch it, but summon assistance.
When carrying a firearm, it should be holstered or cased. If it is carried uncased etc., then the firearm must be pointed in a ‘Safe’ direction, with all applicable points below in operation.
  1. Firearms with cylinders must have the cylinder ‘swung out’.
  2. Semi-automatic firearms must have the slide ‘locked back’ and all magazines removed,.
  3. ‘Black powder’ firearms must have the cylinder removed if practicable, where a cylinder is fitted.
  4. In the case of a single shot firearm being used, the ‘hammer’ must be placed in the ‘down’ position.
  5. In the case of ‘Lever Action rifles’, the action must be in the ‘open’ position.
  6. All non ‘black powder’ rifles must have a ‘safety flag’ inserted.
If a firearm is left unattended in any situation, the applicable points numbered 1 – 6 above must be adhered to.
Any firearm boxed, cased or covered in any way must be shown to be unloaded (and uncharged with BP) if practicable to the RCO each time it is removed from its covering.

N.B. unloaded means no undetachable parts of a firearm holding cartridges. Magazines may contain cartridges, but must not be placed in the firearm.

Never touch or try the trigger of any firearm not belonging to you without permission of the owner.
Ammunition and ammunition components bought at the Range must not be taken away unless you hold the relevant completed documentation that entitles you to posses such items. Any breach of this rule constitutes a CRIMINAL offence, and the Committee accepts no responsibility for persons who fail to comply.
Make sure you are familiar with the operation of the firearm you are using, that it functions correctly, that the barrel is unobstructed and clean, and that the ammunition you are going to use is of a suitable type.
‘Laser’ sights must not be pointed directly or indirectly (i.e. via a reflective surface) at persons under any circumstances.