Huronia Hand Gun Club Members Manual P.O.Box 5096 Penetanguishene On. L9M 2G3 The executive and members of the Huronia Hand Gun Club would like to welcome you to the club. We hope you enjoy your membership. This club handbook is intended to familiarize you with some of the rules and procedures of the club. We suggest you keep this book with you the first few times you go to the range. RANGE ~ 1145 Pine Grove Rd. CLUBHOUSE and PARKING ~ 1163 Pine Grove Rd. Revised June 2016 1
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Huronia Hand Gun Club Members Manual Revised June 2016 3
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Huronia Hand Gun Club Members Manual Who can use the range The Range is for use by REGULAR club members and invited guests only, except for events that are open to the public. If you wish to bring a guest you must make sure the guests read and understand the range rules (posted on the building). Guests must also sign a waiver and pay a fee of $5 each time they come to the range. Guests must be under your direct supervision at all times. If your guest is shooting you are not. Each guest can also only visit the club 3x per year. If they want to shoot more than that they must join the club. You must be a member for one full year before you can bring a guest. Revised June 2016 6
CHILDREN Age 10 to 18 Children Must Be Supervised with Extreme Care. Children are EXTREEMLY EXCITABLE and it is easy for them to get distracted. Children also do not have a good sense of consequence so it is hard for them to appreciate what the results of an accident could be. Note that it is against the law to let someone use a gun unsupervised if they do not have a PAL or POL. So if you are shooting with a child or guest you must stay with them and have them under your direct supervision. Direct supervision means only one gun. They are not under your direct supervision if you are shooting or off doing something else. Children under 10 are restricted to air rifles, airsoft guns and archery with target tips. No crossbows. Children 10 to 15 are restricted to rifles chambered in.22 LR. Rifles must be bolt action, pump action or single shot. Children under the age of 15 are NOT permited to shoot handguns. At 15 all children must take the club safety course and become jounior members. Children may take the club safety course at 12 if the parents feel the child is ready. AGE LIMITS for Children may not apply if they are under the direct supervision of a Club Level Instructor. Revised June 2016 7
When is the range open The range is open for shooting firearms 7 days a week from 10am to 8pm. However we have restrictions on what firearms can be shot at what times. Note that Archery and Air Rifle are exempt from the above hrs of operation and can shoot from ½ hour after sunrise to ½ hour before sunset. Revised June 2016 8
What kinds of firearms can you shoot and when can you shoot them Members shoot just about every kind of firearm you can think of from Archery and Airgun to large Handguns and rifles. However we are a Hand Gun Club so the club is set up with the shooting of handguns foremost in mind. High Power rifles and Shotguns are restricted in as far as who can shoot them and when they can shoot them and how much they can shoot them due to noise issues. High Power Rifles and Shotguns can only be shot from 1pm to 7pm on weekends (Sat and Sun) and 11am to 7pm on weekdays (Mon to Fri). High Power Rifles and Shotguns are also limited to 20 shots per day per member and 10 shots per day per guest. Sunday Morning from 10am to 1pm is.17 and.22 rimfire only. Sat Morning from 10am to 1pm is Handgun calibre only. Note: Shooting hrs may end at 8pm but it is not safe to shoot if you can not see. So you always have to stop shooting ½ hour before sunset regardless of what time it is. What are High Power Rifles and Shotguns High Power rifles are any rifle that fires a cartridge that is not commonly found in a hand gun. Some examples are.223 ~ 7.62x39 ~ 30.30 ~ 30.06 ~ 8mm ~ 7mm Rem Mag. High Power Shotguns are any shotguns larger than a 410. Revised June 2016 9
WHO CAN SHOOT WHAT KINDS OF FIREARMS? All new club members have Hand Gun Caliber Privileges. Some older members have earned what we call Hi Powered Rifle and Shotgun Privileges. Hand Gun Caliber Privileges. You can shoot any firearm that uses common standard hand gun ammunition such as...17 HMR -.22 Short -.22 Long Rifle -.22 Magnum -.32 acp -.9mm -.40 Cal -.45 acp -.38 S&W -.38 Special -.357 Magnum -.44 Magnum 410 Shot Gun Slugs.. Hi Powered Rifle and Shotgun Privileges. You can shoot any of the larger calibers like...223 Rem -.30.06 -.7.62x54.. We Do Not Shoot.50 BMG or.338 Lapua.. We Do Not Shoot Shot Guns from the shooting house. Only Slug Guns. How can I tell who can shoot what kinds of firearms? If you are a new member your membership card will say Hand Gun Caliber Only. Revised June 2016 10
Targets and Target Stands Club approved targets only. Paper or cardboard targets of any size are fine. You may also use steel targets but all steel targets must be shrouded. Or in other words have a box around them. This shroud is a CFO Requirement. No shooting at any thing that makes a mess such as glass or plastic. It is up to each member to provide targets and stands. The club has some portable target stands for paper targets that you can use but they get shot up after a while so you cannot rely on them to be in good working order. We also have some wire frames that you can attach a paper target to. A large target board at the 80 yard line can have paper targets stapled to it. When using the 80 yard target board make sure you move your paper target around from time to time. This will make the board last longer. You will also see some orange steel targets hanging in boxes at the 80 yard line. They are for everyone to use. They may be shot at with High Powered Rifles as they are replaced as required. Orange Steel Plates may only be shot at from the shooting house. It is not safe to shoot them up close. Revised June 2016 11
If the steel plates are not painted orange then they are special steel targets for Handguns Only and may not be shot at with High Powered Rifles. Shooting Positions and Target Placement You must shoot only from approved locations at targets that are in approved locations. The locations you can shoot from are called Shooting Positions. The locations for your targets are called Zones. In the shooting house you will find each shooting position marked with a number from 1 to 6. Each of the shooting positions has a corresponding down range Zone or Zones for the target. If you are shooting from position 1 you must place your target in zone 1. If you are shooting from position 2 then your target should be in zone 2. Never shoot at a target that is not in your zone. Revised June 2016 12
Some shooting positions only have one zone. In other words you have only one place that you can put your target for that shooting position. However some Shooting Positions have more than one Zone. In other words you can pick from several places to place your target. Each shooting position has instructions for target placement posted on the bench at that location. All targets no matter what Zone they are in MUST be located as close to the backstop (the big pile of dirt) as possible. You CAN NOT move your target closer to you. Targets must always be located lower or closer to the ground than the firearm that is being used. In other words you should always be shooting at a slight downward angle. Never upward. So if you are standing and shooting and then you sit down to shoot you may need to lower your target. It is recommended that targets be located as close to the ground as possible but not so close to the ground that you get ground hits. Shots should always hit the berm. Not the ground. You MUST also have at least 3ft of berm to the left and right of your target. Revised June 2016 13
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Range Procedures Contrary to what most non-shooters think, a shooting range is one of the safest places you can find. Statistically the drive to the range is much more dangerous than shooting. The reason for this fantastic safety record is that a shooting range is one of the most controlled environments you will find. From the minute you arrive at the range until the moment you leave there are certain range procedures that you are expected to follow. These range procedures are vital to the safe operation of the range and in most cases they are the law. Our club has over 55 years of safe shooting. STEP 1. Lock the gate behind you. This gate should be locked at all times. This helps keep non members from entering the range. Step Two Flip the range status sign from CLOSED to IN USE and raise the Red Flag on the pole. Revised June 2016 15
EVERYONE Revised June 2016 16
Range Officer to see what is going on. Revised June 2016 17
Are Responsible For Safety. REMEMBER. Always go down range and have a look around before shooting if you are the first shooter to arrive at the club. Revised June 2016 18
the Range Officer Revised June 2016 19
Don t Forget To Lock The Box Revised June 2016 20
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ACTION RANGE USE The Action Range is for Approved Members only. To use the Action Range club members must have completed the Club Action Range and Holster Course and have a IPSC Black Badge. This course is available to all full members who have at least 100hrs of shooting experience at the club. No guests are allowed on the action range without permission of the Club Executive. The Action Range is a much more dynamic environment than the Shooting House so extra care must be taken when using the Action Range. Safe muzzle direction is imperative as no rounds are to leave the range area at any time. The following rules and procedures are for general day to day use. Special events like IPSC, IDPA, PPC and Cowboy will operate the Action Range according to the rules used for that kind of shooting event. Action Range Rules The following are some rules that apply to the Action Range. Remember that all the standard firearms safety rules that we use in the shooting house still apply. They are just not listed on this page. All guns not being shot must be benched, racked, holstered, or slung. Do not walk around with a gun in your hand, loaded or not. Any gun not holstered must have its action open when not being used. Only one person can be shooting at a time on the Action Range. Others can be waiting a turn or just watching but they must stay back at least 5 meters from the person shooting and 5 meters away from the established firing line. The Range Officer can however stand in any location his duties require. All holstered handguns must remain unloaded, decocked and with no magazine in place when not on the firing line. Unless engaged in a club sanctioned shooting event no more than one person should be shooting at a time on the Action Range. While watching or waiting to shoot at least one other qualified shooter must act as a Range Officer at all times to ensure safe shooting practices. No running around or moving while shooting or with a loaded gun. Shooting from fixed positions only. The risk of tripping and falling is too great. Unless under the direct and immediate supervision of a club level Range/Safety Officer. Revised June 2016 23
Keep the muzzle of your firearm pointed downrange and level at all times. Take special care when reloading. Do not point your firearm up into the air or above the top of the backstop. No rounds are to leave the range area at any time. All target stands must be placed so that all bullets will directly impact into the berm. Targets are as close to the burm and as low as possible. No targets are to be placed higher than 5ft from the range floor. Stay back at least 10 meters from your target. 15 is better. Do not leave live rounds on the ground. They pose a hazard to other shooters and people doing range maintenance. You may set up a tarp to catch your brass but be careful as it could be a tripping hazard. How to use the Action range by yourself or with one or two other shooters. REMEMBER Pick or find out who the Range Officer is before you do anything. Step 1. Raise the Red Range Flag. Step 2. The Orange Action Range In Use sign must be hung on the baffle. Step 3. Place your gear (not firearms as they go in the Safe Area) on table 1 or 2. Step 4. Set up your targets. If you are shooting at existing targets inspect them to see that they are in good condition. If you have doubts do not use them. Step 5. Establish a firing line. Unlike the shooting house shooters using the action range must set up a firing line. You can mark it with a table or a board on the ground or red paint or some other way. But it is important that everyone know the location of the line. Step 6. Unpack your firearms in the Safe Area. Prove your firearm safe. Remember no ammo is allowed in the safe area. Step 7. Holster or stage your unloaded firearm. Remember no magazines in unloaded holstered pistols. Staging a firearm is when you place your firearm on a table or bench that you have set up on the action range. All staged firearms must be unloaded with the action open. Revised June 2016 24
Step 8. Shoot. Remember you need the Range Officers OK to shoot. Step 9. Prove your firearm safe. Close the action. Point the firearm down range and pull the trigger, decock it or apply the hammer drop safety. Then re holster your unloaded and safe firearm. If you are staging a firearm place the firearm on the bench with the action open just like you would do when shooting from the shooting house. No magazines to be left in pistols when holstered. Step 10. If you are finished shooting remove yourself to the Safe Area the same way you would if you were in the shooting house. If your firearm is not in a holster carry it the same way you would in the shooting house. Handguns muzzle down. Rifles muzzle up. What kinds of Firearms and Ammo can you use on the action range. You can use any and all firearms and ammunition on the action range. However care must be taken with regards to what you are shooting at. In other words its not so much about the firearm or ammo. Its about your target. We rely on you to use your judgment but here are a few guidelines to help you. It is dangerous to shoot at steel targets with High Power Rifles on the Action Range. Never shoot at steel at close range with high power rifles. The risk of splash back is too great. So if you want to shoot your SKS or AR15 on the action range you should stick to shooting paper targets. Shooting at steel targets on the Action Range is really only for firearms of handgun caliber. Try to use solid lead projectiles when possible. Lead is safer and will not wear the steel out as fast as copper jacketed ammo. However solid lead is not always an option so jacketed handgun ammo is allowed. Note that the club has no restrictions on hollow point handgun ammo. Be careful with Shotguns. Shotgun pellets are light and can be moving relatively slow when compared to handgun or rifle bullets. You may think this is a good thing but slow moving light weight objects will bounce off a target rather than penetrate or self-destruct on impact. So be careful. Don t stand too close to your target. Remember all steel plates must be shrouded. The orange steel plates can only be shot at from the shooting house. DO NOT shoot at the orange plates while on the action range. They are dangerous at close range and shooting at them could result in dangerous ricochets. Special handgun ammo only steel plates have been set up on the action range for handguns, rifles that shoot handgun ammo and shotguns. These plates are painted grey or yellow. DO NOT SHOOT THEM WITH HIGH POWERED RIFLES. Revised June 2016 25
Shooting Positions and Target Placement On The Action Range You must shoot only from approved locations at targets that are in approved locations. The locations you can shoot from are called Shooting Positions. The locations for your targets are called Zones. In the shooting house you will find each shooting position marked with a number but on the action range you will find no such markers. It is up to the Range Officer to establish the shooting positions on the action range before shooting starts. All targets MUST be located as close to the backstop (the big pile of dirt) as possible. You CAN NOT move your target closer to you. Targets must always be located lower or closer to the ground than the firearm that is being used. In other words you should always be shooting at a downward angle a little bit. Never up. So if you are standing and shooting and then you sit down to shoot you may need to lower your target. It is recommended that targets be located as close to the ground as possible but not so close to the ground that you get ground hits. Shots should always hit the berm. Not the ground. You MUST also have at least 3ft of berm to the left and right of your target. Revised June 2016 26
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International Practical Shooting Confederation or I.P.S.C. IPSC was founded in May 1976. Practical shooting enthusiasts from around the world participated, creating a constitution and establishing the rules governing the sport. [1][2] Jeff Cooper served as the first IPSC President. While IPSC is an international organization, countries have their own organizations under the IPSC umbrella. For example, there is the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) in the United States, and the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association (UKPSA) in the United Kingdom. Major and Minor Power is a requirement in IPSC competition, along with speed and accuracy. The power of a given cartridge is measured by both bullet weight and velocity. The weight of the bullet fired in grains (7,000 to the pound) is multiplied by the velocity (feet per second) and the total must exceed certain thresholds. A competitor's ammunition is fired, in the competitor's firearm (velocities can vary slightly from one firearm to another) to measure the velocity for scoring. A Major load is one that exceeds the threshold of 160,000 or 170,000 (depending on the division competed in). To shoot Minor, a competitor's ammunition must exceed 125,000. Extra scoring is not given for exceeding the threshold. A competitor declaring Major, but who fails the threshold, has his/her score re-calculated at Minor. A shooter who declares Minor, but fails that threshold, is given a score of zero for the match. The International Defensive Pistol Association or I.D.P.A. The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is the governing body of a shooting sport that simulates self-defense scenarios and real life encounters. It was founded in 1996 as a response to the desires of shooters worldwide. The organization now boasts membership of more than 20,000, including members in 50 foreign countries. One of the unique facets of this sport is that it is geared toward the new or average shooter, yet is fun, challenging and rewarding for the experienced shooter. The founders developed the sport so that practical gear and practical guns may be used competitively. An interested person can spend a minimal amount on equipment and still be competitive. Revised June 2016 28
The main goal is to test the skill and ability of the individual, not equipment or gamesmanship. Competition only equipment is not permitted in this sport. Police Pistol Combat or P.P.C. Police Pistol Combat is a shooting sport intended to help police officers improve their skills for using their firearms in the line of duty. Originally this was a revolver-specific competition because most police officers carried this type of sidearm, but this was later expanded to include autoloading pistols. The competition involves shooting from a variety of positions, including shooting from behind an obstacle, in order to have a measure of similarity to real world situations. Official matches are restricted to currently serving and retired police officers and military personnel, but there are also clubs and matches using PPC rules that include private citizens. PPC is considered one of the forerunners of practical shooting. PPC is often associated with a particular style of a revolver having a heavy barrel and a prominent sight rib. This is not the only type of firearm used in PPC competition, but some manufacturers used PPC as part of the model name for such guns and the name stuck. Revised June 2016 29
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PROBATIONARY PERIOD SIGN OFF SHEET Safety is the most important consideration on a shooting range. In order to insure that new members to the club are able to use the range in a safe and effective manner new members are required to complete a minimum 8 hrs of supervised shooting. This is part of your probationary period. At the end of each hr of supervised shooting the Club Instructor will sign your sheet and make any recommendations. After completing this probationary period the executive will make its recommendation for more instruction or full membership based on the comments on this page. Name of Instructor - Date - Comments #1. One On One. #2. Revolver SA. #3. Revolver DA. #4. Semi Auto SA. #5. Semi Auto DA. #6. Rifle. #7. #8. It is the recommendation of executive of the Huronia Hand Gun Club that has completed his/her probationary Period and he/she be granted FULL MEMBERSHIP in the club. Revised June 2016 31