I found a gun range close enough for me to go to. It is a members only and has outdoor pistol and indoor .22. The member is given the combination to get through the gate and into the indoor range. There is nobody managing it onsite. We went to see what it was like the other day and it is nice and only a couple other members were there. Here is my question: both indoor and outdoor lanes require the shooter to bring their own targets and you have to walk out into the lane to place it. We had the lanes to ourselves but I am concerned about when others are there. I am assuming everyone waits until another shooter has placed their target before shooting. What is the correct etiquette? If someone does start shooting while another is in a lane is it best to just leave or say something to them. Sorry if this seems like a obvious question, but this is a new environment and there is really nothing posted except the basic gun safety rules.
Range etiquette question
- Thread starter CCWlady
- Start date
Kalamity023
New member
I'm not sure what the membership by laws call for, however, if I were in your shoes I'd collaborate with the other shooters there beforehand and establish a ceasefire interval. Make a time when all stop shooting and handling firearms to change targets. That's the safest way IMHO.
Treo
Bullet Proof
At my range who ever gets there first is the defacto RSO.
As Kalamity said everyone coordinates cease fires and generaly one person stays back on the firing line to police the line while everyone else is down range.
If I were down range and some one started shooting I would very likely shoot back
If you need to go paste your targets, ask for a Cease Fire, when all guns are clear, go check your targets.
When everyone is back and ready, the range can go hot.
Some may not be sure what to do but they will follow your lead.
When you are down range guns are NOT to be handled.
We all want a safe range and we all want to go home.
When everyone is back and ready, the range can go hot.
Some may not be sure what to do but they will follow your lead.
When you are down range guns are NOT to be handled.
We all want a safe range and we all want to go home.
Treo
Bullet Proof
And NO ONE handles weapons while anyone is down range
MamaLiberty
New member
That's the way our range has been run for a long, long time. I am the CRSO for the club, and I have a very easy job. I wrote the safety plan for the range, and help with some of the organized shoots - which are the only times regular RSOs are on the range. We get a little more formal that way when a hundred strangers show up in hunting season to sight in their rifles. 
Otherwise, it's just a matter of local people cooperating and keeping each other honest. We've had no problems.
Otherwise, it's just a matter of local people cooperating and keeping each other honest. We've had no problems.
wolf_fire
New member
Each range has its own specific rules and regulations concerning range safety. The heart of range safety is what command is used for a cease-fire (generally in my experience, it is simply "Cease Fire"). Anyone can call a cease-fire. When that is called, everyone should lock their slides back or open their cylinders and lay their firearms on the bench so that anyone looking along the line can see that all weapons are open. Do not touch them again until everyone is back behind the line and it is CLEAR that a "range going hot" command is given. This includes reloading your weapon... simply do NOT ever touch the firearm until everyone is back behind the line and it has been called that the "range is going hot".
Thank you for this information, I would not have known to lay the gun down or not to reload.
wolf_fire
New member
No problem CCWlady. Hope your days at the range are happy and safe ones.
If you have a semi-automatic and you want to load your magazines, that is by all means a safe activity, just don't touch your firearm. I personally walk back to the table behind the lines and fill my mags up just so everyone knows I'm not near the firearm while I'm doing this.
golocx4
Got Beretta's?
At my ranges, it is pretty standard.
During an open shoot,
Shooter notes that he is the only one firing and everyone else is behind the line waiting for him/her to finish. (no one can be in the shooting area and down range at the same time.)
Once finished places a flag in the Chamber and removes magazine.
All lanes are inspected to insure that all guns are unloaded and flagged.
He announces to the RSO, Range is Safe.
RSO states Range is Safe you may go forward.
RSO stays back and if anyone approaches the bench they are immediately stopped.
Once all participants have returned and are behind the line.
The RSO will state. Shooters may approach the bench and the range is no longer safe.
During an open shoot,
Shooter notes that he is the only one firing and everyone else is behind the line waiting for him/her to finish. (no one can be in the shooting area and down range at the same time.)
Once finished places a flag in the Chamber and removes magazine.
All lanes are inspected to insure that all guns are unloaded and flagged.
He announces to the RSO, Range is Safe.
RSO states Range is Safe you may go forward.
RSO stays back and if anyone approaches the bench they are immediately stopped.
Once all participants have returned and are behind the line.
The RSO will state. Shooters may approach the bench and the range is no longer safe.
I am glad somebody else mentioned VERIFYING the firearms on the line have been emptied! Also that there is one person on the line to keep others from even LOOKING like they are about to go to the shooting bench. The NRA says that the two reasons for firearms accidents are ignorance and carelessness, and at the range I am a RSO for, I see loads of the latter and little of the former. I would not want to be down range at a shooting facility without someone to keep an eye out for those that are careless.
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