Polk County Gun Club Cecil Race Pistol Range Club Member Training and Certification

Transcription

1 Polk County Gun Club Cecil Race Pistol Range Club Member Training and Certification Revised 21 April

2 Purpose The purpose of requiring a certification of members to use the pistol facility is to insure the safety and enhance the recreational shooting experience of all members, their family and guests. This is achieved by training all members wishing to use the range in what is expected of them while shooting. The guiding principle of all rules, procedures, and guidelines is safety of all on and around the range. Safety, courtesy, and sportsmanship are required. By following these principles we help our organization with the encouragement of organized handgun, rifle and shotgun shooting by the citizens of our community, with a view towards better knowledge in the safe handling and proper care of firearms as well as better marksmanship. Our further objective is the development of the characteristics of honesty, good fellowship, self discipline, and self reliance, which are the essentials of good sportsmanship, the foundation of true patriotism, and conservation, all of which are fundamental the shooting sports. Standard Operating Procedures ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED! We do not say treat it like or act like. Mindset is critical and you must believe this!!! Never take anyone s word for the condition of any firearm. If you handle it, the responsibility rests with you and you alone. This document is based on these Firearms Handling Rules 1. ALWAYS POINT THE MUZZLE OF THE FIREARM IN A SAFE DIRECTION. The GOLDEN RULE OF FIREARMS SAFETY Rifles and Pistols- Uncased moving onto or off range point the muzzle straight at the ground. 2. KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER AND OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL READY TO SHOOT OR THE COMMAND TO FIRE IS GIVEN. Commence Firing! 3. KEEP THE ACTION OPEN AND THE FIRE ARM UNLOADED UNTIL READY TO USE OR THE COMMAND TO LOAD IS GIVEN. On the firing range this means that you are in position on the firing line and the range has been cleared for live fire. All firearms, when carried from one point to another, anywhere on this facility, will be unloaded and the action open. 4. BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND. When on shooting ranges or a-field be mindful of your surroundings and adjacent areas and act accordingly. 5. KNOW HOW YOUR FIREARM OPERATES. 6. BE SURE THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION ARE COMPATIBLE. 2

3 7. CARRY ONLY ONE GAGE/CALIBER OF AMMUNITION WHEN SHOOTING. When at the shooting range with more than one firearm of different gage/caliber, have only one firearm and ammunition on the line at one time. Store or secure the previous firearm and ammunition before using the next firearm and ammunition. 8. HEARING AND EYE PROTECTION ARE REQUIRED WHILE ON THE FIRING LINE. Hearing and eye protection may be purchased at the club house. 9. ALCOHOL AND ILLICIT DRUGS ARE PROHIBITED. 10. BE AWARE THAT CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RULES. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL Members who have completed the pistol range certification will be given a distinctive membership card for identification. Family members covered under the club s membership policy and guests may shoot but must be under DIRECT control of the certified member. The certified member has ABSOLUTE responsibility for all actions by guests and family members. Certified members are thus responsible for all gun handling and conduct of family and guests. All shooters including family and guests must sign in on the RANGE LOG and enter the specified information. All members should have their guests sign a Hold Harmless Agreement. GENERAL / FACILITIES POLICIES The pistol range is open during club shooting hours. Scheduled events and matches always take precedence over casual shooting. No alcohol or controlled substances allowed anywhere on the property or consumed prior to arriving. Intoxication of any degree will not be tolerated. All shooters are responsible for cleaning their area, including the removal of unwanted brass, disposal of all trash including the removal of targets from target frames. Trash should be disposed of in the specified containers. No cases should be left on the ground. Polk County Gun Club encourages shooters who reload to recover their fired cases, but any unwanted brass should be disposed of in the brass buckets. Once brass is disposed of in the brass buckets, the fired cases are property of the club and may only be removed by those persons authorized by the board of directors. NO LIVE ROUNDS SHOULD EVER BE LEFT ANYWHERE ON THE RANGE OR IN THE BRASS BUCKETS. Remember to maintain security by locking the gate and stowing the red flag when you leave unless you are absolutely sure another member remains on the property. 3

4 ABSOLUTELY NO MISUSE OR VANDALISM OF CLUB PROPERTY WILL BE TOLERATED. Safety, courtesy, and patience are expected on ALL ranges. No driving on the range. Park only in designated areas. USING THE RANGE Authorized firearms Handguns, rimfire rifles, pistol caliber rifles, shotguns, and muzzleloaders using black powder and normal black powder substitutes only, may be fired on the pistol range. NO centerfire bottle neck rifle cartridges. RANGE PROCEDURES EYE AND EAR PROTECTION ARE REQUIRED WHILE THE RANGE IS IN USE, WHETHER OR NOT ACTUALLY SHOOTING OR OBSERVING 1. Paper targets on member supplied, club approved PVC frame with wooden uprights with cardboard backer only. Glass, metal, bowling pins, metal shapes or spinners are not allowed. The target frame is placed at the member choice distance from the firing line. There are adjustable baffles attached to the cover above the shooters table... They are adjustable to the shooters height by the black telescoping adjusting cylinders. These baffles when properly adjusted will prevent projectiles being fired above the impact berm. 2. All bullets, shot, projectiles, etc. MUST impact the face of the rear backstop berm only. SIDE BERMS MAY NOT BE SHOT INTO. The face of the berm is defined as the area from 1 foot above the horizontal pole at ground level to 3 feet below the top. (Approximately 4 feet +/-1 foot above the floor of the range.) Projectiles/bullets should travel essentially parallel to the axies of the range both vertically and horizontally. Projectiles should never traverse diagonally across the range. 3. Projectiles must penetrate the target paper and backer and impact the berm face without touching any other surface or object, especially the range floor. Position your target height to ensure that this occurs. 4. No club equipment other than target frames beyond the concrete pad. 5. When multiple shooters are on the range, shooters must correspond to a target position which is parallel to the axies of the range. Communication/rapport must be 4

5 established by those using the range with one or more persons acting as Line Control Range Safety Officers. 6. All shooters must use a common firing line. When loading or unloading firearms MUST be pointed DOWN RANGE! (Note: Individuals, organized teams, groups, and instructional events which employ a definitive Range Safety Officer can use a common firing line at any specified distance from the impact berm. The event must be scheduled with the BOD and a qualified designated RSO identified beforehand. If scheduling provision has not been made, the range will be relinquished when other shooters arrive.) 7. The common firing line is established at the front edge of the concrete pad, regardless of the number of shooters. The muzzle of the firearm should NEVER point 90 degrees left or right from the axies of the range while loading unloading or in the act of actually firing a firearm. Target frames may be moved to give various ranges for individual shooters, so long as Rule 2 and Rule 3 are NEVER violated. COLD RANGE/ HOT RANGE PROCEDURES 1. Our pistol range is designated as a COLD RANGE. Until firing commences A. All pistols will be kept unloaded and in a bag, box, holster, etc. And placed on a table/bench, ground, etc. and out of anyone s hands. B. Revolvers will have chambers empty, hammers down, and cylinders open. The use of Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) is required to be installed in either the barrel or open cylinder. (ECIs may be fabricated from zip ties and a plastic safety chain link or purchased from a commercial source.) C. Semi-autos will have chambers empty, slides back, and magazines out. The use of Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) is required to be installed into the breach end of the barrel. (ECIs may be fabricated from zip ties and a plastic safety chain link or purchased from a commercial source.) D. All other pistols must have actions open, chambers empty, or cased. The use of Empty Chamber Indicators (ECI) is required to be installed in the breach end of the barrel if uncased. E. If you arrive at the range during a cold range/ cease fire situation, do not uncase or manipulate any firearms while others are downrange. F. While shooters are down range, after a cease fire has been called, those remaining at the concrete pad MUST remain behind the YELLOW READY LINE and refrain from handling their firearms and equipment. 2. Firearms may not be picked up nor loaded until firing commences or the range is declared HOT. 5

6 3. Shooters must call for a CEASE-FIRE to check targets or in event of an emergency. 4. When a CEASE-FIRE is called, no one moves beyond the firing line until all pistols are in cold condition as described in rules 1 and 2 above. Safety dictates that all shooters should move behind the YELLOW READY LINE away from their firearms while others are downrange. 5. Be sure your fellow shooters understand your intention to go down range, even after CEASE-FIRE is called. APPENDIX 1 GENERALLY ACCECPTED PISTOL CARTRIDGES Pistol Calibers, rimfire calibers, including 30 Carbine may be fired on the pistol range. Straight Walled pistol calibers may be fired on the pistol range in rifles and carbines including the M1 Carbine. Appendix 2 ENFORCEMENT OF RULES All certified pistol shooters are expected to call attention to unsafe acts or disregarding of rules and policies. The Board of Directors will take action against anyone disregarding the rules or vandalizing the facilities. There will be a zero tolerance policy for deliberate vandalism and unsafe acts. Appendix 3 Targets used on the pistol range must be a backed paper target or corrugated paper board (commonly known as cardboard) of any configuration as long as it does not depict the image of an individual. Humanoid silhouettes may be used. No metal targets may be used unless approved by PCGC Board of Directors. Plastic bottles and cans are not acceptable. 6