Being a responsible gun owner comes with a whole bunch of responsibilities, safety being the most important.
And understanding range etiquette is an integral part of firearm safety.
When range rules are breached, it’s usually because of a lack of education and lack of proper technique.
Here’s how to avoid being an unsafe and disruptive shooter while at the range.
Going to a gun range is a social activity. You’re around other people so that means common rules of courtesy apply.
With that in mind, here’s Rule #1:
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EVER POINT YOUR GUN AT SOMEONE ELSE!
Keep all firearms pointed downrange. The muzzle should NEVER point to the right or left of you!
Better yet, whenever you have a firearm in your hand, FACE FORWARD.
Otherwise you risk alienating fellow shooters and/or range staff and might quickly find yourself banned.
If you need to turn around, be sure to set your gun down on the table, pointed down range. Better yet, make it safe by unloading and opening the action. Doing that every time you finish firing is a habit totally worth cultivating.
When you enter a range shop, make sure your gun is cased, bagged or otherwise covered.
Range bags or rifle cases serve to protect your gun, your optics, and your ammo.
If you just walk into a range armed, it doesn’t send a clear signal what your intention is.
Staff might get freaked out upon seeing you with a weapon in your hand!!!
Bottom line: using a shooting bag is a must. If you walk into a shooting range waving your rifle or pistol around, people will get the wrong idea. Case it safely, unloaded, with the action open, and bring your whole bag to the shooting bench. Once there, remove your gun following posted range procedures.
On any range, there are a lot of rules, terminology, techniques and procedures to digest.
All ranges maintain the same rules, but each individual range will likely have their own unique set of operating procedures. Follow the firearm safety rules, practice good range etiquette and always follow the RSO’s commands.
Upon entering a shooting range, the proprietor will hand you a list of range rules.
Take a couple minutes to actually READ them!
And eye and ear protection are requisite. Proper range procedures make them both A MUST!
If you have a Concealed Carry:
— keep it holstered;
— enter your lane or shooting bay;
— safely draw your firearm from its holster and be sure to keep it pointed downrange within your shooting lane;
— remove your defensive ammunition, get out your target ammunition;
— load;
— shoot to your heart’s content.
When you’re done, reload with your own defensive ammo, re-holster your gun, and then go about your business.
Get right up on the shooting line, getting as close to it as possible.
If you don’t, the muzzle of your gun will be behind other shooters on either side of you, leading to a lot of nervous shooters.
Remember — these people don’t even know you… ergo they don’t trust you! Especially with a loaded gun!!!
And if they don’t trust you, they sure as heck don’t want someone to have a loaded gun behind their back.
When you hear “Range Cold!”, step away from the shooting table and stay there the whole time the range is cold. This lets your fellow shooters know that you are not messing with your gun while the range is cold.
This cease fire allows shooters time to check their targets and do maintenance out where the bullets fly. It’s not the time to mess with your gun, adjust your sights or show off your latest piece of hardware.
An RSO will require you to unload your gun and lock the slide/cylinder open and then ask you to step behind a visible line on the ground while shooters go downrange to tape and set targets. Firearms are not allowed to be handled during a cease fire.
It doesn’t matter if your gun is empty. Remember — a gun is never empty!
Clean up after yourself when you’re done shooting. Leaving your mess for someone else to deal with is bad form.
