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Range Rules
SAORSA ACRES GUN CLUB
RANGE RULES (effective 01 OCT 2022)
Any violation of the following stated rules by a member (or their guest) will subject that member to possible disciplinary action, up to and including revocation of their membership and expulsion from the club.
I. RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS
A. All members by acceptance of these rules and by their participation at Saorsa Acres Gun Club are, by extension, Range Safety Officers. As such, if any member in their capacity as a RSO witnesses any unsafe act or rules violation, it is their accepted duty and responsibility to make the other party aware of such. Or to report the incident, along with the name(s), date, time and issue to Club Leadership at 985-635-5280.
II. RANGE HOURS OF OPERATION
A. Firing may begin at 8:00A
B. Firing must end at 6:00PM or sunset, whichever may come first.
III. EYE AND EAR PROTECTION
A. Hearing protection will be worn at all times when the range on which a member (and/or guest) is participating or observing is “hot.” It is also highly recommended that it be worn if shooting or observing on an adjacent range to the “hot” range in use. Complimentary hearing protection can be found in the locker on the firing line.
B. The use of impact resistant eyewear with side (temple) protection is strongly recommended. Complimentary eye protection can be found in the locker on the firing line.
C. Use of mandatory eye protection may be required for specific classes or competitions.
IV. RANGE FIRING LIMITATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS
A. Indiscriminate fire:
a. Unaimed or indiscriminate fire has a higher probability of impacting target frames and/or other range equipment or of escaping the safety berm, so is therefore prohibited.
b. Examples of indiscriminate fire are:
1. Using any firearm without sights or without employing the sight system on the firearm.
2. Firing from the hip, chest or other position that does not allow proper visual sighting.
3. Firing “quick draw” style without using sights or bringing the firearm’s sights into the shooters visual plane. (Exceptions must be approved, and will only be approved on the pistol range for shooters having displayed proficiency training in close quarter drills)
4. Firing any firearm “gangster style.” I.e. holding the firearm sideways without using the sights.
B. Prohibited Items:
1. Unapproved steel targets
2. Bottles, cans or other hard item used as a target
3. FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
4. Any firearm which mimics full auto firing
5. Rifles with power factor / Muzzle Energy exceeding .338 Lapua Magnum
6. Tracer, explosive or incendiary ammunition
7. Any firearm not equipped with sights or an adequate aiming/sighting apparatus
8. Long guns without a shoulder stock (including side or under-folder style stocks with the stock folded)
9. Anything that may impair a person’s senses or ability to conduct himself in a safe manner.
C. Consumption of alcohol on the premises is strictly prohibited.
V. GATE (when installation is completed)
A. Make sure the gate is closed and locked behind you when entering or exiting the range. The gate is to remain closed and locked at all times except for match days.
B. No member is to give out the gate combination to any non-member. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule.
VI. SIGN IN BOOK
A. Upon arrival, each member must sign in using the book located on each range. They will record their name, the name of any guest(s) and/or family member and relationship, i.e.son, wife, etc., and time arriving. When leaving the member needs to record the departure time in the book as well.
B. Your membership card must be available at all times. Members, as RSO’s, reserve the right and responsibility to challenge anyone on the range that they believe may not be a member or under the supervision of a member. This is not a requirement if shooting in a sanctioned match at the range (i.e. Mid-Range, Smallbore, Across the Course, etc.).
VII. GUESTS
A. ALL guests must be recorded in the Sign-In Book. PRINT ALL INFORMATION LEGIBLY
B. The guest fee is $15.00 per day with no attendance limits and will be paid in advance or on the day of each visit.
D. Members are responsible for all guest activities while on the range.
E. Guests can only shoot on the same range as the member.
F. No guest fee will be charged for:
1. Member’s immediate family (wife/husband, dependent children under 21.
2. Member’s student child over 21 but under 25.
G. The member MUST be present if family members under F above are shooting on the range.
H. Family members’ must still be signed in as guests and relationship noted.
VIII. GARBAGE/REFUSE
A. Do your part to keep the range clean.
B. Pick up spent brass and dispose of it.
C. Do not place live or defective ammo in the trash cans.
D. Fired .22 rimfire brass should be swept up and disposed of.
IX. TARGETS
A. Paper targets are to be used. APPROVED steel targets can be used only on lanes that already have steel targets.
B Unapproved steel targets, bottles, propane tanks, etc. are not acceptable targets.
C. The 600 yard competition targets on the 800 yard range may only be used by those members who have received an additional orientation regarding usage of that range beyond 300 yards.
D. DO NOT place other targets on the competition target backers. A target frame and backer will be provided for members use when shooting from 200 and 300 yards.
X. TARGET FRAMES
A. All target frames must be made of materials that will not promote ricochets.
B. ALL TARGET FRAMES must be configured and positioned so as to ensure that all bullets impact the rear berm.
C. Do not position targets so the fired projectile will impact outside of range fan markers.
D. Do not position targets so that fired projectiles will impact the ground in a manner which could cause a ricochet and escape the protective berm(s) or range complex. Existing target frames are designed to meet this requirement.
E. If a member wishes to use their own target frame it must meet the requirements set forth in A, B and D.
F. Paper targets are to be secured to the backer with staples, pins and/or tape. The target must fit entirely within the confines of the border on the supplied target frames.
G. When firing is complete, remove the target, staples, pins and/or tape and return the target frame to the target storage.
H. DO NOT move any steel targets already posted into the ground.
I. Shotguns are NOT to be fired at club target frames. To pattern a shotgun, the member must supply their own club approved frame.
J. If a member has any questions about this section, please ask. 985-635-5280.
XI. FIRING LINE SAFETY RULES
A. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded at all times.
B. Firearms should always be pointed up or downrange when being handled. DO NOT “muzzle sweep” the line.
C. Do not load the firearm until the line is hot and firearm is pointed downrange.
D. All personnel must be thoroughly familiar with their firearm(s) and must follow all manufacturers’ operating instructions.
E. Shooters experiencing a malfunction of any kind will keep their muzzle pointed down range at the berm at all times. The malfunction should be dealt with per manufacturers’ instructions.
F. Anyone on the range can and should call an immediate “cease fire” if they see an unsafe or potentially dangerous situation.
G. Any shooter experiencing an “abnormal report” or misfire will keep the muzzle pointed at the target for a minimum period of 30 seconds to preclude the possibility of a hang fire (delayed ignition).
I. All uncased firearms MUST have actions OPEN and MAGAZINES REMOVED, unless the firearm is active on the firing line.
J. Every firearm on the shooting bench or shooting mat MUST have an Empty Chamber Indicator (ECI) installed in the chamber when the firing line is “cold.” ECI’s can be found in the locker on the firing line if needed. Please put ECI’s back when you are done with them.
K. Firearms active on the firing line will not be touched, handled, cased, uncased, moved etc. and all personnel will remain behind the red line whenever personnel are downrange and the firing line is “cold.”
XII. TRANSPORTING FIREARMS
A. Whenever a firearm is removed from a vehicle it must be in an unloaded condition.
B. When transporting UNCASED firearms from a vehicle to the range, the action must be OPEN and the magazine REMOVED.
C. When transporting CASED firearms from a vehicle to the range, upon opening the case, the firearm must immediately have the action OPENED and any magazine REMOVED.
D. As stated earlier- Firearms should always be pointed up or downrange when being handled. DO NOT “muzzle sweep” the line.
XIII. RANGE COMMANDS
A. Routine Range commands (i.e. “cease fire”, “the line is cold”, the line is hot”, etc.) are to be issued by members only. An emergency “cease fire” can be called by anyone.
B. A “cease fire” should be called every 15 minutes or sooner, if by agreement.
C. Before calling the line “HOT”, the member wishing to call it “hot” will-
1. Determine that no one is downrange.
2. Poll all persons on the firing line to see if they are ready. I.e. hearing protection in, etc.
3. The command “the line is hot” will then be given loudly enough for all on the firing line to hear it.
D. After a “hot” period of 15 minutes or sooner if by agreement, a member may call the line
“COLD.” Before calling the line “cold”, the member requesting it will-
1. Poll all personnel on the firing line to see if all are in agreement
2. Double check that all shooting positions, including prone or standing have made their weapons safe (bolt is open, ECI inserted, etc.) and have moved away from them to behind the shooting bench area.
3. The member shall then call the line “Cold.”
4. The command will be acknowledged by all shooters.
5. People may only then go downrange.
XIV. RANGE USE
PISTOL RANGE (When completed)
A. The 50 yard pistol range can be used for pistol, rifle or shotgun. Targets may be placed at any distance provided an approved target frame is used (i.e. no short frames). Rifles will be limited to .223/5.56, 7.62x39, 300BLK, or other common “carbine” calibers.
B. Pistol competitors who are “STEEL QUALIFIED” may follow their standard pistol protocols in lieu of the above ECI requirement when using the Pistol Range.
300 YARD RANGE (When Completed)
A. The 300 yard range can be used for rifle or shotgun. Pistols with scopes (hunting style) are the only pistols approved on the 300 yard range.
B. Targets must be no closer than the 50 yard line. If you need to shoot closer than 50 yards, use the pistol range. (This will be temporarily waived until the pistol ranges are completed)
C. Approved frames must be used.
D. All firing must be done from the firing line (the end of the concrete slab).
E. All rounds must impact the back protection berm.
800 YARD RANGE (Open Now)
-GENERAL RULES FOR 800 YARD RANGE
A. It is the member’s responsibility to maintain good judgment in the use of appropriate equipment when firing from any or all distances.
B. Members must have a knowledge of elevation and windage doping to safely place a round in the target at all distances.
C. DO NOT close the bolt on a chambered round until the muzzle is safely pointed downrange in a level position.
D. Follow all other rules as outlined in the orientation.
E. Targets are to be placed on the designated frames only.
D. All members are entitled to use the wind flags and equipment located in the locker on the 800 yard firing line. It is the user’s responsibility to return equipment and flags to their proper container(s) when completed.
E. No vehicles are allowed to drive on the grassy area of the range during wet conditions.
F. Any shooter not demonstrating the ability to hit the target within three (3) rounds will immediately move to the 300 yard range to correct their issue.
-300 YARD FIRING AREA USAGE
A. Any member may shoot from the 300 yard firing line.
-800 YARD FIRING AREA USAGE
A. All members who wish to fire at distances greater than 300 yards on the 800 yard range must first attend and successfully complete the 800 Yard Qualification Orientation.
B. The qualification process will involve the testing of knowledge and equipment to be used at 600 yards.
C. SKS’s, AK’s, 16 inch AR’s, 30-30’s, etc. are not acceptable rifles for usage beyond 300 yards and as such should only be used on the 300 yard range. (Exceptions will be made only until the 300 yard range is completed)
D. Red dot sighting is not acceptable for usage on the 800 yard range.
E. Mid-Range and Highpower competitors may be exempt from the 800 yard orientation. This information will be provided by the appropriate Match Directors, when requested.
F. All members that have been qualified to use the 800 yard firing line will be issued a different colored membership card which states in bold lettering “800 YARD QUALIFIED.” This card replaces the standard membership card and must be available at all times.
G. “800 YARD QUALIFIED” members may bring non-qualified members or guests to shoot on the 800 yard firing line, but they will be solely responsible for those persons’ actions and suitability of equipment used.
H. If you wish to use a remote viewing camera system, please provide an officer with the information. DO NOT begin using a remote viewing camera until you have been authorized.