SAFETY

Safety is the most important aspect of our activities. To ensure safety we all need to think actively about safety at all times. Because it is all too easy for a person to fire a gun accidentally or in the wrong direction it is of paramount importance that everyone taking part in this sport keeps the need to act safely in the forefront of their minds. Safety must become a natural habit. 

In all shooting, safety is of prime importance, but in pistol shooting (which now means Muzzle Loading Handguns and Air Pistols) even greater care has to be taken as it is easier for a person with a short barrelled gun to turn with the gun so that it might be fired other than at the target.

Proving means examining a gun to ensure it is unloaded, not only to your satisfaction, but also to that of the Range Officer and other people.

Club Rules

• Until you have been signed off by a Club Instructor to shoot unattended you must be supervised by a Club member. You may only handle a gun on the range itself or in the gun room under the control of either the Range Officer and/or Supervisor
• Always prove the gun to the Duty Officer when you return to the Office. Rifles and carbines should be carried with the action open, magazine out, held vertically with the muzzle up.
• Ammunition purchased at the Club may not legally be taken off the premises unless it is entered on a firearms certificate. Ask the Duty Officer to store it for you in the club armoury.
• The Range Officers and Supervisors are there for your safety. Listen carefully to what they say and follow their instructions at all times.
• You will receive safety instructions in the handling and use of Club guns. If in doubt about anything at all - please ask.
• The wearing of ear protectors and safety glasses is strongly recommended.
• NEVER shoot at a bird, squirrel, fox etc within the club grounds. 
• Never shoot at anything which is not an officially approved target such as those obtained from the club. Tin cans etc. are prohibited targets.

Safety in the Clubhouse (or off the range)

• Always prove a gun when taking it from its box, case or locker.
• Always prove a gun whenever it is handed from one person to another.
• Always carry guns with the action open.
• Keep guns and ammunition separately if at all possible.
• Never touch/handle any gun without the permission of its owner, and only then when the range is declared clear for shooting (i.e. no-one is forward in front of the firing point).
• When dry-firing an unloaded gun, always point it at something safe.
• Never load a gun or a magazine except on the range at the firing point, after the command to load has been given by the Range Officer.
• Never point a gun at anyone, even in fun! Only point it in the direction in which it is meant to shoot, i.e. at the target.

Safety on the Range

• Do not handle guns while people are forward of the firing point, i.e. never touch a gun when people have gone down the range to change targets etc.
• Do not load gun until told to do so by the Range Officer.
• Unload immediately when told to do so.
• When the gun is loaded keep it pointing down the range in the safe zone which is the area of the targets and butt wall.
• After firing prove the gun and ensure magazines are empty.
• If you have to leave the firing point, or there is a disturbance, UNLOAD.
• If someone has to go forward of the firing point after the command load UNLOAD, put gun down, and stand back from the firing point. 

Safety at home

• Keep guns and ammunition under lock and key.
• If possible store ammunition away from guns.
• Safety is only achieved by constant vigilance