Please read and adopt the following practices. Too lazy, don’t have time, or think you know it all? Learning just one of these tips might save your life … a limb or organ … weeks in a hospital … months of agonizing pain … big bucks in medical and legal bills … a jail stint … forfeiture of gun rights ... your reputation and self-respect.
Fundamental Safety Rules
- Always treat firearms as if they're loaded!
- Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, i.e., never at any person or animal you're not willing to kill or injure, or at any object you're not willing to destroy or damage!
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, and don't press the trigger unless and until you intend to shoot!
- Always know your target, including what's beyond and nearby!
- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use!
- Always maintain firm control of your gun, including during recoil!
- Never use alcohol or drugs while handling, shooting, carrying or transporting firearms!
Get Your Gun?!
Know how to operate the gun safely (including safety/decocker and field-stripping).
Know how to operate the gun safely (including safety/decocker and field-stripping).
Be sure gun and accessories are safely and correctly functioning.
Know how to properly handle malfunctions including Failure to Load, Failure to Fire, and Failure to Eject.
Use only correct and reliable ammo (make, caliber, pressure rating, grain weight).
Health Matters
Always wear good safety glasses and hearing protection (NRR 27 min. recommended rating).
Wear proper clothing: flat shoes with sturdy soles for solid footing (no flip-flops or high heels); cap with visor to protect head and face from ejected casings; closed-top shirt to protect neck and chest from casings.
Keep “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) contact names & phone numbers and health insurance card in your wallet and/or smartphone.
Stay Arranged at the Range
Before going to the range, check to be sure you have all needed gear (i.e., gun, permit, ammo, magazines, eye & ear protection, targets, speedloader). Inspect guns to be sure they’re lubricated and in good working order. Preload magazines to save time at the range.
Carefully read, understand, remember and obey all range rules! Many ranges post the rules on their websites; review them before your visit.
Some ranges disapprove of persons entering their facilities with loaded and/or uncased guns. Be sure to comply with all such restrictions.
Carefully read, understand, remember and obey all range rules! Many ranges post the rules on their websites; review them before your visit.
Some ranges disapprove of persons entering their facilities with loaded and/or uncased guns. Be sure to comply with all such restrictions.
A gun range is an inherently dangerous place. Observe the range before entering to avoid any potentially unsafe activity or condition. Take notice of all exits and possible places of cover. Shooters (and others) should maintain a serious demeanor and responsible conduct at all times. Your undivided attention should be upon safety and proficient shooting. Remain vigilant for hazardous behavior or conditions nearby and throughout the range. Immediately report any concerns to range personnel.
Promptly and fully obey instructions of safety officers or other range personnel.
Promptly and fully obey instructions of safety officers or other range personnel.
Keep guns cased until inside your booth; no uncased guns outside your booth.
Please don't take photos or videotape (allow other shooters their privacy and anonymity). Your attention should be upon proficient shooting, good handling, and safety. A gun range isn't the place for phone chatting, texting, emailing, Internet surfing, or camera posing.
Most ranges ban beverages, food and tobacco.
It's smart to request an end lane whenever available. It lessens your exposure and vulnerability.
Respect other shooters! Don’t touch their guns, ammo, supplies, etc., without permission.
Truth in the Booth
Stay behind the bench or firing line at all times.
Always keep the gun pointed downrange, including while benched or reloading.
Load magazines inside - not outside - of your booth.
Familiarize yourself with booth lighting and target control apparatus.
Before setting a loaded gun on the bench, engage the safety or decocker (if equipped).
Safe footing is important. Keep supplies (targets, pistol cases, range bag, etc.) away from feet and occasionally sweep casings from your booth floor to the designated areas/receptacles. Ranges usually prefer the casings be swept forward of the bench/firing line. Sweep only your casings (other shooters may intend to reload theirs).
If you and another shooter want to try one another’s guns, first unload and carefully check guns to be sure they’re unloaded. Then either:
Please don't take photos or videotape (allow other shooters their privacy and anonymity). Your attention should be upon proficient shooting, good handling, and safety. A gun range isn't the place for phone chatting, texting, emailing, Internet surfing, or camera posing.
Most ranges ban beverages, food and tobacco.
It's smart to request an end lane whenever available. It lessens your exposure and vulnerability.
Respect other shooters! Don’t touch their guns, ammo, supplies, etc., without permission.
Keep unnecessary talking to a minimum. Don’t use profanities, insults or other antagonistic speech.
Don’t post targets or wear apparel that may offend other shooters.
If you want to speak with another shooter, wait for a pause in their shooting (e.g., during reloading) and approach them cautiously, non-threateningly and politely.
Check your ego at the door. Pomposity and braggadocio are marks of an amateur. Really good gun-handlers are quiet, humble and secure in their abilities. (Like “Hickok45” on YouTube.)
Unless kids fully understand gun safety, functionality, and range rules, they don’t belong at a range.
Truth in the Booth
Stay behind the bench or firing line at all times.
Always keep the gun pointed downrange, including while benched or reloading.
Load magazines inside - not outside - of your booth.
Familiarize yourself with booth lighting and target control apparatus.
Before setting a loaded gun on the bench, engage the safety or decocker (if equipped).
Safe footing is important. Keep supplies (targets, pistol cases, range bag, etc.) away from feet and occasionally sweep casings from your booth floor to the designated areas/receptacles. Ranges usually prefer the casings be swept forward of the bench/firing line. Sweep only your casings (other shooters may intend to reload theirs).
It’s best to keep your supplies neat and orderly on the shooting bench, and cartridges in their boxes (loose ones can easily roll off the bench).
Keep your range bag and supplies away from other occupied lanes.
It’s advisable to use only one gun at a time. Keep other guns, corresponding magazines and ammo in your range bag until ready to be used.
If something falls off your bench and lands forward of the booth/firing line, do not retrieve it. Ask range personnel for assistance.
Shoot at your targets only – not others’ targets, the floor, walls, ceiling, fixtures, carriers, hardware, etc. Don’t aim your gun, laser or tactical lights anywhere other than your target.
When a cease-fire is called:
- immediately take finger off and away from trigger
- keep gun pointed downrange
- remove the magazine
- eject any chambered round
- lock slide back
- check and recheck to be sure gun is clear
- set the gun on the shooting bench, muzzle pointed downrange, and ejection port facing up
- step back from the bench
- await further instructions from the range officer
No holster drawing unless expressly permitted by range.
- leave guns benched and pointed downrange in their original lanes while shooters trade places, or
- unload and case the guns before exchanging them.
If you want to take a brief intermission (restroom, buy ammo or targets, etc.): remove the magazine, eject any chambered cartridge, lock the slide back so action is open, check and recheck to be sure gun is clear, bench the gun with muzzle pointing downrange and ejection port facing up. As a further precaution, ask a trusted nearby shooter to watch your gear.
Once in a great while an ejected casing may hit, burn, singe and even stick to your skin. It can sting. Your instant, reflex reaction will probably be to look at and touch or swipe the affected area. Don’t … remember that you’re holding a gun! Instead, remain calm. Take your finger off and away from the trigger, engage the decocker or safety if equipped, and bench the gun with muzzle pointed down-range. Now you can safely brush away the casing and inspect the affected skin. Very seldom is there any serious burn or scarring. If needed, apply some cold water to the site and ask range personnel for disinfectant, salve, etc.
Don’t linger beyond your allowed shooting time. You wouldn’t want previous shooters to dawdle when you’re waiting for a lane.
Done With Your Gun
When done shooting, empty your gun, check it carefully, and encase it. Be sure to pack up all guns and gear (magazines, ammo, speedloader, etc).
Before finally exiting the booth, clean off the bench and sweep up within and around your lane. Properly dispose of your casings, used targets, empty ammo boxes, etc.
When leaving the range, notify the range manager that you’ve vacated the lane. Be sure to have any ID (driver’s license, gun card, etc.) and deposit returned to you.
Thoroughly rinse hands, wrists, and face with cleansing solution (e.g., “D-Lead”) to remove lead and other heavy metal contamination.
Be alert while entering and exiting a range/gun store, including the parking lot. Someone carrying a range bag might pose a tempting target for criminals looking to steal a gun.
When traveling to and from the range, know and obey all laws pertaining to transporting firearms.
Legal Disclaimer/Hold Harmless: Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the treatise's contents. However, the information and recommendations are provided "as is," and without warranty of any kind. The author disavows any responsibility or liability for accuracy, timeliness, completeness, legality or reliability and shall not be responsible for any injury, liability, loss, or damage of whatever nature (direct, indirect, consequential) which may result from its use or non-use.
Originally published July 26, 2013; rev. 7/5/22
Legal Disclaimer/Hold Harmless: Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the treatise's contents. However, the information and recommendations are provided "as is," and without warranty of any kind. The author disavows any responsibility or liability for accuracy, timeliness, completeness, legality or reliability and shall not be responsible for any injury, liability, loss, or damage of whatever nature (direct, indirect, consequential) which may result from its use or non-use.
Originally published July 26, 2013; rev. 7/5/22
Copyright 2013-2024 Bruce Edenson. All rights reserved.
