SAFETY INFORMATION
The following information is
conveyed to new members during their initial instruction in the safe handling of
firearms and ammunition. Probationary members are always supervised by Club
appointed Range Officers while on range.
Standard Range Commands - All Range
Conducting
Officers' Commands must be obeyed by everyone in the range without question.
No-one may enter the shooting bays until command no. 2 below is given.
1. "MUFFS" - Everyone in range
must don hearing protection and shooters should also don safety glasses (unless
a spectacle wearer). Do not remove muffs until the "Range Clear"
command 4 is given as others may still be shooting if you have finished.
2. "SHOOTERS TO THE LINE - LOAD - COMMENCE FIRING" - Shooters may
enter their respective bay, load up and commence firing. (If the 'Commence
Firing' part of the command is not given, please wait until the RO is ready and
has given this command).
3. "STOP! STOP! STOP!" - All shooters
must immediately stop shooting, unload their guns and place them on bench empty
with actions open. Black powder shooters must obey RCO's instructions for
discharging any remaining loaded chambers. Bays must be vacated at this point.
4. "RANGE CLEAR" - This command
will be given after the RO has checked all firearms in the bays for clear/safe.
At this point all bays will be vacant and persons present may remove hearing
protection and go forward for scoring, patching or changing targets. NO-ONE MAY
ENTER A BAY DURING A 'RANGE CLEAR' PERIOD.
5. Once the RO is satisfied that all
persons are back behind the bays the sequence will start again at command 1,
"MUFFS".... etc.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
1. Clearing Firearms on Entry & Exit
to the Range - When bringing your own gun onto the range you must show it open
and empty to the RCO and await his/her instruction to place it in a bay. Do not
point the muzzle at any person during this action. On leaving your bay you
should again show your gun empty to the RCO before placing it in its slip or
case.
2. Muzzle Direction - guns must always be
pointed in a safe direction i.e. 'down range' towards the targets when loading
or unloading. Always keep the gun pointed down range and when addressing the
target never 'sweep' the ceiling or floor with the gun's muzzle direction. NEVER,
NEVER under any circumstances must a gun be pointed at any person,
even if it is unloaded.
3. Trigger Finger - never pick up a
firearm with your finger in the trigger guard. Always remove your trigger finger
from the guard between shots. Your 'natural' position should always be with your
trigger finger laying along the frame of the gun.
4. Semi-automatics - beware of the cocking
lever on semi-automatic firearms - always keep your hands and fingers in a safe
position relative to the action of the lever.
5. Tube Magazines - when re-inserting the
magazine follower do not position your fingers in front of the muzzle.
6. Safety Catches - these vary from gun to
gun and are designed primarily to allow a loaded gun to be safely carried. For
target shooting purposes loaded guns are NEVER carried away from the shooting
positions on the range and therefore the use of safety catches is a matter for
the individual shooter's discretion. If you feel safer applying the safety catch
while reloading or looking through a spotting scope then please do so.
7. Jams - these will be experienced mainly
on semi-automatic firearms and sometimes in lever action guns when empty cases fail to clear the ejection port or
foul the next live round being chambered. It may be necessary to work the action
to release the jam or even resort to a screwdriver or rod to extract a case
which will not leave the breech.
8. Lever Action Guns - when loading these
guns it is most important to ensure that the action is fully closed before
feeding the rounds into the loading gate. If the gate closes before you have
finished loading the desired number of rounds you should either carry on and
shoot the rounds already loaded or alternatively unload the gun and start from
the beginning. Further rounds should not be forced into the gate once it has
closed on a round. Lever actions should not be forced if an obstruction is felt.
Failure to observe these actions will result in damage to the
gun.
AMMUNITION FAILURES - MISFIRES &
UNDER-POWERED ROUNDS
There are two basic ammunition failures
with which you must be fully familiar. It is crucial that you do not
confuse the two as the application of the wrong remedy will have serious
consequences and could cause injury to yourself or others:-
'MISFIRE'
Symptom: gun simply goes 'click' as the
hammer falls and there is no sound of a discharge. Round may ignite following a
delay!
Possible causes: faulty primer, weak
hammer strike, lack of priming compound in rim-fire ammunition, contaminated
powder, non-feed in semi-automatic, etc.
Remedy: Wait for 30 Seconds, unload faulty
round, hand to RCO for disposal.
'UNDER-POWERED ROUND'
Symptom: on firing the round ignites with
a noticeably quieter discharge and with little or no recoil. There may be
insufficient energy to drive the bullet or ball completely through the barrel
resulting in a serious blockage. Sometimes referred to as a 'pop'
Possible causes: low or no powder charge,
contaminated powder, etc.
Remedy: unload any remaining rounds then
examine barrel for obstruction. If obstruction found then the barrel must be
rodded clear. Never fire a second round into a blocked barrel. Be
absolutely sure that the barrel is un-blocked before re-commencing firing. With
black powder guns notify RO and follow instructions.
Remember the RCOs are there to help you -
please do not hesitate to ask them about any safety or marksmanship points of
which your are unsure.
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