Range Safety and Rules
RANGE SAFETY AND RULES
SEE NEWS AND INFO SECTION FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION
RANGE SAFETY RULES – Click here to download a printable PDF
GUEST POLICY
Currently there exists a NO guest policy on all ranges. Members are allowed to bring their children or grandchildren who have not had their 18th birthday.
Exceptions to this rule are for club sponsored, fee based events such as currently existing events of Trap Shooting, Benchrest Shoots , Groundhog Shoots , 4-H Turkey Shoots and Site In Days.
GRASS CUTTING POLICY
ALL ranges are closed while the grass is being mowed or weed trimming is being done on Club Grounds. NO EXCEPTIONS.
RANGE HOURS OF OPERATION
8AM until Dusk
Trapshoots may be extended past Dusk with the range lights turned on .
MEMBERSHIP CARDS must be displayed on vehicle dashboard while using club ranges except during public events
GENERAL RANGE SAFETY RULES
1. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. When removing your firearm from your vehicle, open the action and inspect it to ensure it is not loaded. Do this before approaching the shooting area . Always keep the muzzle pointed down range. Never allow the muzzle to point in any direction whereby an inadvertent discharge would allow the escape of a projectile outside of the range boundaries.
2. Keep the action open and firearm unloaded until ready to shoot. On a firing range this means shooters are in a position on the firing line and the range has been cleared for live firing.
3. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions. Check action and barrel prior to firing. Check firearm for barrel obstruction after firing defective or dud ammunition. There are RED BOXES at the rifle and pistol range to dispose of dud ammunition
4. Make sure no one is downrange before loading or firing a firearm. Know where others are at all times.
5. Notify all shooters on the line before going downrange. After notification of need to go downrange, warning lights or warning flags are to be employed to give all shooters notice of impending downrange activities. At the times when these warning measures are in effect, firing line activities are suspended and all remaining shooters are to be behind the red line painted on the concrete directly behind the shooting area. All firearms are to be unloaded with actions open. ABSOLUTELY NO HANDLING OF FIREARMS AT ANY TIME IF SOMEONE IS DOWNRANGE. When the downrange activity is concluded, the warning lights or warning flags are discontinued and the “range is hot “ notice is announced . At that time shooters may return to the shooting benches and firing may commence.
6. Be sure of the target and what is beyond. When on a shooting range , be mindful of adjacent areas and act accordingly.
7. Never point a firearm at anything you do not want to shoot. In particular never point your firearm in the direction of other people.
8. Avoid all horseplay with any firearm
9. Wear ear and eye protection
10. NO alcohol or illegal drug use prior to or during use of the ranges. NO ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE ALLOWED ON CLUB PROPERTY
11. Absolutely no Styrofoam targets, cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles or exploding targets (Tannerite) are to be use on any of our ranges. These targets leave messes which must be cleaned up by work crews before mowing.
12. Clean up your shooting area before leaving the range. This includes targets, target frames, shotgun hulls and brass. There are garbage cans and brass buckets to place these items in. If safe to do so, burn old targets and target boxes in the burn barrels near the trapshooting banks, pistol and rifle ranges,
13. Targets must be stationary and at least 24” above the ground. (NO BOUNCY BALLS).
14. Steel targets must be made of AR500 plate steel
15. NO shooting of clay pigeons hung or placed on the framing of the Club’s hanging steel targets
16. NO one under the age of 18 is allowed to participate in any activity (shooting, archery, etc.) without parental or adult supervision. The adult must be a paid member for the current year if shooting on the rifle, pistol or archery ranges. No one including minors are permitted to use another member’s membership card to use the club.
17. NO crossfire on any of our ranges.
18. NO shooting of wildlife on any club ranges.
19. NO ATV or UTV use on club property.
20. All types of fully automatic firearms are prohibited on the ranges.
21. Firearms with muzzle energy greater than 6500 foot pounds (greater than a 458 Lott) are prohibited. The 50 BMG is well in excess of this limit. Shooters are responsible to know their firearms and act accordingly.
22. NO rapid fire (no more than ONE SHOT EVERY 2 SECONDS), mag dumps, or use of Binary Triggers on club ranges.
23. From the hip shooting of long guns is prohibited
24. NO armor piercing or tracer ammunition use is permitted on any of our ranges.
ARCHERY RANGE SPECIFIC RULES
1. Range boundaries are left from the left pistol berm to the end of the field
2. All shooting is to be directed towards the hillside.
3. DO NOT walk on the pistol berm.
4. NO broadheads are to be shot into the 3 Block targets in the left target house. FIELD POINTS ONLY.
5. Only shoot broadheads into the broadhead targets in the right target house.
PISTOL RANGE SPECIFIC RULES
1. Range boundaries are between the 2 earthen berms on the right and left sides of the pistol range.
2. All shooting is to be directed towards the sand pit backstop
3. Only ammo allowed to be shot on the pistol range is straight walled pistol, rimfire, shotgun, and muzzleloaders. NO CENTERFIRE RIFLE AMMUNITION IS PERMITTED TO BE SHOT ON THE PISTOL RANGE.
4. NO shooting of steel targets at less than 10 yards.
5. Quick draw shooting is prohibited
RIFLE RANGE SPECIFIC RULES
1. Range boundary markers (4×4 white posts with posted yardage information) have been placed on the right side of the rifle range. All targets must be placed to the left of these markers. Be certain all trajectories of projectiles, land said projectiles to the left of these markers, and inside the boundaries of the range.
2. Rifle range is closed May thru October on Wednesdays at 4 PM due to the trapshooting fields being used and anytime an ATA Shoot is being held .
3. NO shooting of steel targets at less than 50 yards.
4. Place your targets in front of the shooting bench you are shooting from. There are numbered concrete markers in the ground at 25, 50, 100 and 200 yards that match the number on the shooting bench you are using to help in aligning targets.
5. Do Not place targets in a direct line with the legs of the hanging steel target frame. Doing this will help with increasing the longevity of our steel target frame.
SHOTGUN PATERNING BOARD SPECIFIC RULES
1. Use only shotshell ammunition. NO SLUGS .
2. Shotguns only
3. Do Not use while any trapshooting is in progress on the trap fields.
4. No shooting of patterning board at less than 20 yards.
TRAPSHOOTING RANGE SPECIFIC RULES
1. Always keep your firearm’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction. When moving your firearm from your vehicle or gunracks to the trap fields, or moving to another shooting station on the trap bank , open the action and inspect it to ensure it is not loaded
2. The shotgun patterning board is closed for use while any trapshooting is in progress on any trap banks
3. Only load 1 shotshell at a time while you are at your shooting position awaiting your turn to shoot. The only exception is if you are shooting doubles then you load 2 shotshells while awaiting your turn to shoot
4. After the shooting round is over pick up any shotgun hulls you may have dropped on the ground .
5. If someone needs to go to the traphouse you are shooting from while a squad is shooting, all firearms must have the actions opened and unloaded before proceeding to the traphouse.
6. Before entering any traphouse, you must approach it from the leftside without going in front of it, locate the trap’s control box , activate the release switch to uncock the throwing arm(the red throwing arm will be pointing towards the wall closest to you). Then turn off the other switch for the hydraulic pump. This sequence deactivates the trap and allows for your safe entry into the traphouse. If the trap is still needed , after you vacate the traphouse be sure to turn the pump switch back on, and turn the throwing arm switch to reactivate the trap.
Don’t hesitate to point out poor gun handling. Safety depends on all of us. Even when it is not comfortable to hear or say.
Obey and study the range rules. The rules apply to members and non-members and to all shooting activities on club property.
Any violation of the safety rules can lead to disciplinary action if deemed necessary by the Board of Directors
Directors, MCHFC
RANGE SAFETY PLAN
Purpose: The Safety Plan has been established to ensure the health and safety of those individuals who use and frequent this facility. This program is designed to reduce risks associated with the use of firearms either on or off the range. Further, the plan protects the safety and health of those who live nearby.
RANGE RULES:
1. Always open action and check to be certain firearm is unloaded upon first arriving at the club before approaching shooting area.
2. Always point muzzle in a safe direction
3. Be sure the barrel and action are clear of obstructions.
4. Keep action open and firearm unloaded until ready to use.
5. Make sure no one is downrange before loading or firing a firearm.
6. Notify all shooters on the line before going downrange.
7. Be sure of the target and what is beyond.
8. Never point a firearm at anything you do not want to shoot.
9. Avoid all horseplay with any firearm.
10.Wear ear and eye protection
11.Do not mix alcohol or drugs with shooting activities.
RULE APPLICATIONS
12.The safety rules apply to all members and non-members while on
Club property.
13. The safety rules apply to all shooting activities on club property.
Any disciplinary action taken for violating the Club Safety Rules should fit the offense with varying degrees of severity. Disciplinary action may range from a friendly warning to being ejected from the club. The Board of Directors will make such determinations.
Directors, MCHFC
