Many of our readers are going to be indoor shooting during the winter months. Indoor ranges are a great place to practice with handguns or rifles that have the proper chambering. Indoor shooters should be aware of safety and noise concerns. You must follow certain safety and behavior rules when you are at a shooting range. Bad range etiquette can be annoying. Poor gun handling can be dangerous at other times. The NRA Blog published an article that discusses range safety and “range manners”. These tips were designed with indoor ranges as a focus, but most of them are applicable to outdoor ranges. You might want to print this article and give it to new shooters at your local club or range. Kyle Jillson’s NRABlog article on 8 Tips for Gun Range Etiquette includes Kyle Jillson’s story.Here are eight tips for range etiquette that will keep you and others safe as you enjoy your day [at a range]. Michael Johns, the NRA Headquarters Range Manager who helped with this article, deserves a special thanks. 1. Three fundamental rules for safe gun handling
Always keep the gun pointed away from you.
Always keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded before using it. This NSSF video covers basic gun range safety rules:
2. Bring Safety Gear (Eye Protection and Ear Protectors)
No matter if the range rules “require” it or not, eye and ear protection is MANDATORY to ensure safety and health. It is the responsibility of the shooter to ensure that proper protection is used and secured before entering/using any range. Hearing loss can occur instantly and permanently in some cases. A catastrophic firearm failure can ruin your eyesight in an instant. 3. Carry a gun bag or case
It is a matter of common courtesy and good manners to bring all firearms unloaded, in a case or covered. No range staff will welcome a stranger who walks into a range carrying a “naked”, unloaded firearm. You can purchase a pistol case or sock for less than $10. 4. Know Your Range Rules
Review and understand any and all “range specific” rules/requirements/expectations set forth by your range. What is the maximum rate of fire at your range? Can you collect your brass? Do you have to pass a test in order to shoot? Do not be afraid to ask questions or to tell the staff that this is your first time. They are there to help. 5. Follow ALL Range Officer Instructions
The RO is the final authority at any range. Their decisions are usually final. Arguments/debating a Range Officer are both bad taste and could get you thrown out, depending on the circumstances. 6. Do not touch or bother others with their guns
Respect the privacy of other shooters unless there is a safety concern. Inform the RO instead of engaging other shooters in order to correct perceived safety violations. Shooters are responsible for calling a cease-fire if a serious safety event occurs. It is against protocol to handle or touch another shooter’s gun without their consent. It is also rude to offer other shooters “training” or any other form of instruction without their permission. 7. Know What to Do During a Cessation of Fire
STEP AWAY FROM THE SHOOTING BENCH (or booth) and immediately set down your gun, pointed downrange. The Range Officers on duty will provide instructions from this point and/or secure any firearms before going downrange, if necessary. The ROs don’t want shooters to “secure/unload their firearms” in a ceasefire situation, which could be a stressful event. They want the shooters to be separated from their guns immediately so that they can control the situation. 8. Cleaning Up After Yourself
Remember to remove your old targets, clean your shooting booth, dispose of your trash and return any chairs/equipment. There are other people who use the range; no one wants a dirty lane.
