GENERAL RULES

Always think SAFETY and COURTESY on the range.

1. Pistols always UNLOADED, locked and boxed.

2. Pistols ONLY to be REMOVED from the case on the firing line AFTER the Range Officer has called PREPARATION TIME.

3. The magazine to then be removed and the slide locked open or cylinder open.

4. Pistol to be POINTING DOWN RANGE at all times.

5. Always know where the pistol is pointing

6. No magazine or cylinder is to be loaded till you receive the command LOAD from the Range Officer.

7. No pistol to be removed from the firing line until CLEARED by the range officer.

8. THE RANGE OFFICER MUST BE OBEYED AT ALL TIMES.

9. Unload the pistol and check that it is unloaded before you put the pistol down.

10. No loaded pistol to be placed in the rest or on the bench. Pistols don’t cause accidents, it's the people who do not practice safety.

INTOXICATING LIQUOR

No liquor will be permitted at the Firing Points or bays at any time.

Constitution Rule PMPC 39 - No Person shall consume intoxicating liquor on the ranges of the club.

No person shall be admitted to a Range of the Club whilst apparently under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Visitors, whether from another Pistol Club or not, must comply with these conditions.

Any person found apparently under the influence of intoxicating liquor shall be removed forthwith. Any member violating these conditions shall be liable to expulsion or, if a visitor from any other Pistol Club, shall be reported in writing to the Committee of their Pistol Club.

STANDARD RULES FOR SAFETY AND CONDUCT

see Constitution Rule PMPC 37

• Immediately on entering the Range. Every member shall sign the Attendance Book and visitors have their licence details verified by a Range Officer or club official before attending the Firing Line. Every visitor, whether competitor or spectator, shall sign his/her name and address, or, if a member of another Pistol Club, the name of the Club in the Visitors Book. If shooting licence details must be verified.

  Every person entering the Range, whether member or visitor, places him / herself under the control of the Club Officials or Range Officer and his/her assistants, and must at all times comply with their lawful directions and instructions, and the Rules for Safety and Conduct.

• Refusal to Obey – No person shall refuse to obey the instructions of the Range Officer or any other Club Official in the proper conduct of the affairs of his/her office.

• Loaded Pistols - No person shall enter or leave the range with a loaded pistol. No firearm or magazine will be loaded until the Competitor is in his/her place at the Firing Point and the command “LOAD” been given by the Range Officer. At all times while loading, the pistol shall point in the direction of the Target.

• Unloaded Pistols - When not at the Firing Point, firearms will be unloaded at all times; Cylinders will be open or slides back with a "flag" inserted and magazines out, unless it is cased.

• Removal of Pistols - No firearm may be removed from the Firing Point until it and the cylinder(s)/magazines have been checked and cleared by the Range Officer.

  No person shall touch the Pistol or equipment of another person without the owner’s permission. For club pistols, permission is to be obtained from the Secretary/Club Captain, Vice Captain or Range Officer.

• Firing Point Commands

  LOAD means to load and insert the loaded magazine or load and close the cylinder.

  ATTENTION is a command instructing the shooter that the series has begun.

  START means to start firing without delay. The timing of the series commences with this command. Start may be signalled verbally, by a short whistle blast or by some other device.

  STOP means STOP FIRING IMMEDIATELY and to unload and open the action of the pistol. Failure to immediately obey the command STOP is one of the worst infractions of Range discipline. It could result in the wounding or death of a person who has wandered into the line of fire. On this command cylinders will be opened; magazines will be removed and slides locked back and all pistols will be placed on the shooting bench until the next command by the Range Officer. Stop may be signalled verbally or by a long whistle blast or by some other signalling device.

  UNLOAD is the command for all shooters to place their pistol on the bench with the action or cylinder opened, magazine removed and chamber empty, then to stand back from the firing line.

• Firing Line - No person on the Firing Line shall touch a pistol or equipment whilst any other person is forward of the Firing Line you should remain out of the shooting bay.

• Discipline -The Safety of Competitors, Range personnel and spectators requires continual attention by everyone involved to the careful handling of firearms and caution in moving about the Range. Self-discipline is necessary on the part of all Competitors, Range personnel and spectators. Where such self-control is lacking it is the duty of Range Officer or Club Officials to enforce it , and the duty of Competitors to assist in such enforcement.

• Spotting Scopes - The use of a telescope by the competitor is permitted in most events for the spotting of shots. No part of the telescope or stand may touch any part of the shooter’s clothing or person.

• Shooting kits - Shooting kits may be taken into the Firing Range when they are of such size and construction that they will not interfere with shooters in adjacent bays.

• Firing positions - Competitors shall take their positions as indicated by the Range Officer. No portion of the shooter’s body may rest upon the bench or touch the ground in advance of the firing line.

• Interference - The firing points will be kept clear at all times except of competitors actually firing and such Range personnel as may be necessary. Any person, competitor or otherwise, who interferes with or annoys any competitor in any way will be warned to desist and upon failure to comply will be ordered off the pistol range.

• Policing the Range - It is the duty of competitors to clean up their firing points at the completion of the match. The Range Officer will supervise this.

• Competitors match duties - Competitors will act as scorers and patchers when requested to do so by the Range Officer.

• Officials - The firing line is under the control of the Range Officer and such assistant Range Officers as may be required. The Range Officer is responsible for the safety and discipline of the range personnel, competitors and spectators. It is his / her duty to be completely familiar with the programme and club, PA and ISSF Rules. He / she will comply to the best of his / her ability with all instructions issued by the Captain and will render every co-operation to other officials. He / she must be constantly alert, impartial in his / her handling of competitors and courteous but firm.