Safety Areas and Gun Covers
A designated “Safety Area” at the range is provided for the bagging and un-bagging of your firearm. No ammunition may be handled in the safety area. This area is provided so that the competitor may check their firearm without being supervised by a Range Officer. There will be a designated safe direction in which to point the muzzle of your firearm. You are also allowed to practice mounting the gun, dry firing, reloads (as long as no ammunition is handled), and other activities such as repairs, cleaning, and maintenance.
Gun Bags or Covers are a good in many ways. Some venues may require guns to be carried between shooting areas in a gun bag or cover. This also protects the gun from any unwanted dust that may be in the air.
Carrying a Firearm on the Range
The firearm is carried with the muzzle pointed at the sky and the empty chamber indicator (eci) inserted to show there is no cartridge in the chamber, magazine out for box fed guns or tube empty for tube fed guns. The competitor is not allowed to lower the muzzle or remove the breech flag from their firearm unless in a safety area or ordered to do so by a Range Officer on an active firing line. It needs to be stressed that a properly designed eci will not permit ammunition to be in the breech when the flag is fitted.
Firearm Safety Check
It may be necessary or desirable to check the firearm for safety. This can be done at a “designated” safety area, or while under the direct supervision of a Range Officer. To check a semi automatic firearm do the following:
- While pointing the firearm in a “safe” direction verify that the magazine is empty on tube fed guns (or removed in the case of box fed guns) and the chamber is empty.
- Close the slide.
- Pointing the firearm in a safe direction lower the hammer by pressing the trigger.
- With the hammer cocked and the safety on, press the trigger, the hammer should not fall.
Note – Different action types will have additional checks, you should ensure you are familiar with the platform you are using.
Filling Magazines/Speed-loaders
The filling of magazines or speed-loaders can be done anywhere except in a designated safety area. If you handle ammunition in the safety area it will result in a Match Disqualification.
Use of the Firearm on the Line
Safety is absolutely essential in our sport and that is why it will be stressed throughout this course. The only time a firearm may be used in competition is when you are under the direct supervision of a Range Officer and you have been given the instruction “Load and make ready”. After loading and making ready the start position is assumed. During the course of fire, the muzzle must always remain pointing down range when shooting, loading or unloading, during movement, during remedial action, or when presenting the firearm for inspection to the Range Officer.