Range Safety Rules
RIFLE SPECIFIC RULES
RIFLE SPECIFIC RULES
- Rifles may be used on Rifle 1, Rifle 2, and the Indoor (Quonset) range only.
- A Range Safety Officer, approved and trained by the SGGC, must be present and on duty during the firing of rifles on any range. The RSO may not participate in shooting when on duty.
- During a ceasefire, all firearms must be removed from the firing line and stored as above.
- During a ceasefire, those not proceeding downrange are to remain more than 1 meter away from the firearms racked / stored at the rear of the shelters. They ARE allowed along the firing line and benches, in order to set up equipment and perform other tasks which do include handling firearms. FIREARMS MAY NOT BE HANDLED IN ANY MANNER DURING A CEASEFIRE when people are downrange. This includes casing, preparation, cleaning, repair, adjustment, lubrication or any other handling. Such activities are only allowed upon the return of all persons from downrange and the return of the range to active shooting status.
- During a ceasefire on the Rifle 1 (300m) range, the ceasefire lights must be activated. All shooters are responsible to ensure that all persons who have gone downrange have returned prior to declaring the range active. Note that on Rifle 1 not all of the 300m target stands are visible from the leftmost (most Westerly) shooting position – the member acting as range officer must ensure they have viewed all target stands and that the range is clear of personnel before declaring the range active.
- Firearms must never be pointed at another person. Long guns must be moved to and from the shooting benches and racks with their muzzles pointing up. Long guns must be removed from their cases only on the shooting benches on the firing line, with the muzzle pointing up or downrange. Firearms must never be pointed along the firing line (sideways) when moving or handling them.
- The shooting position baffles in front of each shooting position must be raised to a point immediately below the line of bore to obscure visibility of the ground between the shooting position and the target. Their use is mandatory.
- All shots are to be made at the target directly in front of the shooter’s firing position. No shots are to be made at angles across the range, as this poses a ricochet and safety hazard. Shooters wanting to shoot at a different target stand / distance must move to a firing position which provides the required stand / distance immediately to the front of that position.
- When finished shooting, clean up all brass casings. Brooms and brass pickers are provided for your use. Remove your targets from the backstops and ensure that your shooting area is clean before leaving the range.
- Cartride restrictions per Federal regulations: .460 Weatherby and .50 BMG are PROHIBITED.
- Rifle ammunition with steel cores and / or steel penetrators is strictly PROHIBITED – no exceptions! Members are responsible to test their own ammunition prior to use using the magnets and bolt cutters provided.
- When proceeding downrange during a cease fire on Rifle 1 and Rifle 2, shooters must use the red/green flip-tag board, moving the tag corresponding to their bench number. Be sure to reverse the tag upon returning. Red indicates that the shooter is downrange.
SHOTGUN SPECIFIC RULES
SHOTGUN SPECIFIC RULES
- Shotguns firing shot may only be used on the shotgun / trap ranges, and must not be fired at the plywood target stands on other ranges. Shotguns may be patterned, using lead shot only, on the designated patterning board. Shotguns firing only slugs may be shot on the rifle ranges in accordance with rifle rules.
- Only shotguns firing lead birdshot are to be used on the shotgun / trap ranges. Buckshot and slugs are prohibited on those ranges.
Only one shotgun shell is allowed to be loaded into a shotgun at a time. - Manual trap area shooters are to shoot with the barrel of their gun constrained as to direction by the blue hoops at the four stations. Load only on your turn to shoot.
- The manual trap area will be subject to a cease fire when required by the trap/skeet field or the five stand field to the east of the RO shack, at the discretion of the RO(s) in those areas.
- Only clay targets and other approved Sporting Clay targets are to be used on the shotgun ranges.
- Shotshell restrictions: Lead shot only, maximum shot shells to be size US # 7.5 (0.095″), 2.75″ in length, 1 1/8 ounce shot maximum. STEEL SHOT IS PROHIBITED.
PISTOL SPECIFIC RULES
PISTOL SPECIFIC RULES
- Pistols are to be shot on Pistol 1, Pistol 2, Pistol 3 and the Indoor (Quonset) range only, and not on the rifle ranges. If shooting pistols on the indoor (Quonset) range they MUST be shot from within 50m of the rear berm.
- Targets are to remain on target stands at the rear berms, with shooters varying their distance to the targets as required, while maintaining a common firing line for all shooters on that range.
- Shots must impact directly into the rear berms. Do not shoot into the side berms or “floor” of the pistol ranges.
- Drawing and firing a loaded handgun from a holster must be done in a safe manner and with the greatest care at all times. The handgun must be loaded and unloaded only at the firing line.
- Handguns in holsters not in immediate use on a firing line must be unloaded of ammunition and/or magazines, with hammer down / striker de-cocked.
- Handguns must be holstered, or set in or on a case or table (muzzle pointing downrange) during a cease fire. There is to be NO handling of handguns during a ceasefire for any reason.
- Handguns that are removed from a case or returned to a case must be done with muzzles pointing downrange, and only when the downrange area is clear and the range is declared active.
- When moving forward and backwards to a firing point pistols must be continuously pointed downrange. At no time should a pistol be pointed more than 90 degrees from downrange for any reason.
- Holsters which are located on the hip or thigh of the shooter’s dominant or support side are allowed. Chest, shoulder, small-of-back and any other holsters which might cause the pistol muzzle to point uprange, across the firing line, or at the wearer, while in the holster or during the motion of drawing or re-holstering the pistol are NOT allowed. Generally, cross draw holsters are not allowed due to the above, however Cowboy Action shooters are allowed to wear cross-draw hip holsters in that their shooters re-position their body so that the handgun is pointed downrange whenever the handgun is drawn and re-holstered with the dominant hand, as supervised by their ROs.
ARCHERY RANGE RULES
ARCHERY RANGE RULES
- Firearms must not be discharged on the archery range – archery only. Broadhead and bladehead arrows are prohibited for use on SGGC target bags.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE
EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE
- Police (ex. RCMP, EPS, Sheriffs) while in uniform only may carry slung carbines downrange during ceasefires. Firearms must be cleared and flagged prior to proceeding downrange and may not be otherwise handled.
- Police and other previously approved groups may shoot carbines and shotguns on the pistol ranges with special and prior permission
The following exceptions are allowed for special organized groups within SGGC while they are holding formal competitions or practice sessions, all under the direct control of their respective Range Officers for the entire time. Examples of these groups include Sporting Clays, Silhouette, Cowboy Action, Swiss Rifle, Schuetzen, Service Rifle, IPSC, IDPA, and WRAS. These exceptions are NOT allowed for the general membership during casual shooting. - Group matches or practices that incorporate approved exceptions (shown below) to the general rules 1 to 6 inclusive (above) must utilize signs to advise others that the match or practice is an authorized and previously scheduled event. Ad hoc and unscheduled practices are not allowed to to use those exceptions. Group members wishing to hold practices muist adhere to the scheduling and special use setup requirements listed on the group match and practice directives. Refer to thos directive documents for details.
- Targets may include steel targets with special permission and specific conditions of materials used and usage of targets. Steel targets must be shrouded per special use conditions as directed to the organized group. Group matches or practices must utilize signs to advise others that steel is in use.
- Targets may include clays for competition and practice.
- Rifles utilizing pistol cartridges may be shot on the handgun ranges, ex. 44/40, 38/40, 45 Colt, etc.
- More than one shotgun shell may be loaded into a shotgun at a time. Approved competition and practice may utilize other sizes of lead shot.
When safe and suitable, organized competitions may access a range via the maintenance gate after the range has been cleared and a new firing line established downrange of the temporary entrance. - Approved competition and practice may set target stands at other locations than at the rear berms with special permission and specific conditions of usage to eliminate hazards.
- Guests at matches and commercial customer guests are not required to display guest passes unless mandated by their organizing group.