Basic Range & Firearms Rules of Safety
Firearm Safety
1. Treat all firearms as if they were loaded.
2. Keep the muzzle of your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all
times.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
4. Never pull the trigger unless you are sure of your target and what's
beyond.
5. Never load a firearm until ready to use it.
6. Make sure the ammunition matches the firearm.
7. Always make sure the barrel is free of obstructions.
8. Never take chances with a loaded firearm. Unload your firearm when not
shooting
9. Never rely on your firearm's safety-A safety is a mechanical device,
subject to failure.
10. Never mix alcohol or other drugs and firearms.
Alcohol and/or drugs always impair judgment and reaction time; never consume
either before or during target practice.
Shooting Range Safety
1. When your firearm is unattended, always leave the muzzle pointed down
range with the breech open so that other shooters can see that the gun is
unloaded.
For rifles: The bolt action, lever action or receiver is opened,
open bolt indicator is placed in chamber, the magazine is emptied of any
ammunition (if attached) or removed (if detachable), and the rifle is either
set upon a table or placed in a gun rack.
For pistols: The action is opened by opening the loading gate
(single action), positioning the empty cylinder open (double action), or
locking slide back, exposing breech (semi-auto), the magazine is emptied of
any ammunition (if attached) or removed (if detachable), and the pistol
placed on a table or bench in such a manner as to exhibit that the gun is
unloaded.
2. When anyone wishes to go down range, they must first call a cease fire
among those shooters using that range.
NEVER go downrange to check you target without first announcing your
intentions AND confirming that the other shooters have acknowledged your
intentions and are finished with their present round of shooting.
3. Shoot only at authorized targets that are down range.
4. Shoot only your targets unless otherwise agreements made.
5. There is no handling of firearms permitted when anyone is beyond the firing line.
6. Shoot only at right angles to the target.
