CCWC Range and Safety Rules
Safety - All members of the club are responsible for safety at all times while on the range facilities. If you notice someone violating any safety or range rules, it is your responsibility to politely inform them of the violation.
Actions to follow - If someone approaches you and states that you are violating a rule, do not become offended. Take a moment to look and see if they are correct. If they are, correct the violation. If you do not believe they are correct, politely discuss it with them.
Dispute resolution - If at any time, there is any dispute concerning safety or rules while on the range, on that specific range bay ceases until the dispute is resolved.
Range safety terms:
Cease Fire – All shooting stops, firearms are set down at firing point, do not handle firearms in any way until reason for cease fire is resolved. This can be called by anyone anytime an unsafe situation is detected.
The following should be shouted in the direction of and coordinated with other shooters within the same range bay:
“Range is Cold” – All firearms are cleared and made safe, No handling of firearms until range goes hot. There are no exceptions to this rule!
“Range is Hot” – No one is down range or forward of the firing line, handling of firearms is permitted and firing may commence.
General Firearm and Shooting Safety:
NRA basic firearm safety rules.
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Know your target and what is beyond it.
Know how to use the gun safely and properly.
Be sure that the gun is safe to operate.
Ensure that you are using the correct ammunition for the gun.
Wear eye and ear protection.
Never use alcohol or drugs before or while shooting.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
Common sense.
Use common sense at all times when on the range.
If it does not feel right then do not do it.
If you do not want someone to see what you are doing, then do not do it.
If at any time you are unsure of the safety of what you are doing, then stop doing it.
It takes at least a minimum of intelligence to operate a firearm. If you are not willing to apply that same level of intelligence to operating the firearm safely, then we do not want you on our range!
No horseplay at any time.
There should never be any type of horseplay when operating firearms. If you want to engage in any type of horseplay, then unload and secure your firearms and leave the range. The use of firearms, while a lot of fun, is also serious business. It requires complete concentration on what you are doing at all times. Any distractions while you are using firearms should be eliminated and if that is not possible, then you should cease using the firearm until the distraction can be eliminated.
CCWC General Range Rules:
These rules apply to all ranges and to the Club’s property in general.
Violation of these Range Safety Rules may result in revocation of Club membership and forfeiture of any membership dues paid into the Club.
Hours of Operation - The Cumberland County Wildlife Club range is open for live fire Monday through Saturday 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset and on Sunday from 1:00pm (1300 hours) until 30 minutes after sunset.
Standards of Conduct: Safety first at all times, remember, courtesy costs nothing and is worth everything.
Gate - Keep front gate locked at all times unless the club property is open to the public. No one other than an actual club member is allowed to have the gate combination. Do not give the combination to anyone.
Displaying of membership card - Your membership card identifies you as an active member of the club duly authorized to use the range. Non members who are not guests are not authorized the use of the range except during club sponsored events/activities. Therefore, when on club property, members must always display their membership card so that it is visible to others. This should be on the front, upper half of the body. If you do not have your membership card, you must go get it or another member present at the range that has his/her membership card may allow you to be their guest.
Cleanup - Leave the range cleaner than when you arrived. Pick up all brass, including non-reloadable, and place it in the provided containers or take it with you.
Trash - Take down your used targets; do not leave them on the target boards. Pick up any trash that you see on the range, even if it is not yours.
Safety Infractions - All club members are responsible for politely correcting safety infractions or destructive actions observed on the range. If a member meets resistance while politely correcting safety violations, report this behavior to a Club Officer or a member of the Board of Directors. See dispute resolution above.
Visitors - A club member must accompany all guests (maximum of two, not including immediate family members), except during club sponsored events or activities. You are responsible for the actions of your guests.
Physical status - No one who is under the influence of, or impaired by, drugs (prescription, over the counter, or illegal) or alcohol will be allowed on the range. No alcohol is allowed on the range.
Protection - Appropriate eye and ear protection is required for all shooters under eighteen and is strongly encouraged for all.
Smoking is not permitted on the firing line. Smoking is permitted only in the designated areas.
Alterations - Any construction, alterations or changes of any kind (even temporary), must have prior approval of the Board of Directors.
All outings, events, or activities involving the range must have prior approval of the Board of Directors. A qualified and/or certified instructor shall be designated, present, and in control at all such activities. Approved, organized activities are authorized to deviate from these rules as long as safety is maintained.
Firearm status - With the exception of holstered or legally concealed firearms, all firearms must be unloaded and made safe before they are removed from a vehicle.
No fully automatic firearms or destructive devices, as defined by BATFE (i.e. antitank guns, machine guns, etc.) will be permitted on club property.
The use of .50 caliber BMG type ammunition, (or its equivalent), is not allowed on the CCWC ranges. Tracer ammunition is NOT permitted.
Unauthorized Targets - Bottles, cans, glass or other unsafe objects will not be used as targets. Exploding targets are not authorized.
Animals - No animals will be shot on the range.
Cold Range - All cartridge guns on the firing line must be unloaded, with actions open and magazines removed, and muzzle loading guns will be unprimed or uncapped with no load in the barrel, before the range can be considered clear (cold).
Moving downrange - No one shall go downrange unless the range has been cleared and declared cold.
Handling Firearms - Firearms will not be handled in any way while the range is cold. NO exceptions.
Firearm handling and cleaning - Prior to being placed on the back table firearms must be cleared and unloaded; magazines, if any, must be removed; bolts or cylinders must be removed if possible. Such firearms may then be cleaned or maintained only on the back table and only when the range is hot.
Hot Range - Prior to returning the range to the “hot” condition, shooters will ensure that all persons are again behind the firing line. If you arrive at the range and it appears that you are the only one there, visually and verbally insure that no one is downrange before you begin firing. (Shout – Is anyone downrange?)
Moving firearms - Guns may be placed on or taken off the front tables only when the range is “HOT”.
Target Placement - Targets will be placed so that bullets will impact in dirt berms. Targets will be placed at the base of the berm only. Targets should always be placed at a height such that the impact of the bullets will be in the lower half of the berm. Never allow bullets to hit the ground prior to impacting the berm. If they do, readjust your target height. At no time allow any rounds to go over the berm. Place the targets so that you can fire perpendicular to and directly at the berm. Do not shoot at an angle across the range.
Target Frames- Targets will not be placed directly on the wooden frames. Cardboard/lauan/plywood will be used as a target holder. Do not shoot the wooden target frames. No target frames other than those supplied, or approved, by the Club may be used on any range.
Exemptions – Requests for exemptions to the rules for specialized targets and/or firearms must be submitted in writing, in duplicate, to the Club for review and approval or disapproval. A designated Club Range Safety Officer and a Club Officer or member of the Board of Directors must approve and sign the written exemption request. Two signatures are required. The APPROVED (signed) exemption letter must be in your possession and presented on demand of any club member when exercising any exemption to these Range Safety Rules. Approved exemption letters are valid only for the member, or members, whose names appeared on the letter at the time of approval.
25 yard range specific rules.
You must set your target at the base of the berm.
You may move back from the berm for any distance less than 25 yards.
50 yard range specific rules.
You must set your target at the base of the berm.
You may move back from the berm for any distance less than 50 yards.
100 yard range specific rules.
You must set your target at the base of the berm.
You may shoot only from the designated, fixed, firing line on the 100 yard range.
Clay target shooting will only be by exemption.
Archery shooting (including crossbows) will be limited to the archery range and will be conducted within established archery safety rules/procedures.