Range rules

Ok, I'm trying to come up with a simple set of range rules, and yes God forbid they have to include Inthingies... The first three I have are:
1. Only load from a measure, or prefilled speedloader, in the loading area, and not on the line.
2. Prime or cap only on the line with the gun pointed downrange.
3. Powder must be in a proper flask, or horn.

OK fellers give me some more to Ponder, so I can set up some range rules. Our club hasn't had organized BP shootin in a while, and it's on me to get her started. any and all help is apreciated. Bill

 

[Packdog]

No Smoking!

Range officer will declare the range "Hot" or "Cold".

 

[vradin]

No Smoking!

Bears repeating.

Other safety: Eye and ear protection? Some people just won't wear them, what are your club's other ranges rules about eye & ear gear?

Big rule at my range: ONE caliber per station ONLY!!! Got a .50 and a .45? use two stations. Saves on misloads and errors.

What about loading flasks or horns from a larger container? At the range, off line, or keep it at home? How about powder storage- do you want to limit amounts brought to an event? Does anyone really need 3 or 4 pounds of 3f and 4f?

Loading from a bag or bench?

I'll try to locate my SOP manual for the camp if you'd like a copy. It's set for Scout Camps, but might have some interest for a local range.

vic

 

[sniper68]

Never shot on a range w/my long guns before. Learned this on this Forum. A permanent or temporary shield to protect the adjoining shooters on either side from debris from the caps, flints and/or the touch hole... :thumbsup:

 

[Wart]

YOu may wanat to contact the NMLRA and ask for a copy of their blackpowder rules :thumbsup:

 

[Halftail]

One of the most Important rules at the muzzleloading ranges I shoot at is....MUZZLE UP AT ALL TIMES....When travelling to the line and back.Another good one is to keep firearm pointed downrange if there is a misfire.No smoking no drinking and no drugs.Range officer rules the show,his word is law.It don't hurt to have a few club members that are trained range officers either. :m2c:

 

[walruskid1]

its common sense but nobody handles a firearm when people are downrange. no fiddling with sights, cleaning, etc.

 

[bshultz]

Range Safety Rules

 

[donk]

seems like common sence to me but we have run into this at more rendezvous than I can remember. NO DRINKING BEFORE OR WHILE YOU ARE ON THE RANGE. I was at one shoot where the range officers were half tanked and didn't seem to think anything of it. :: :curse:

 

[Stumpkiller]

No shooting before 9:00AM or after 8:00PM. No Shooting before 10:00AM on Sunday.

But that's so my neighbors don't get ****** with me. Just courtesy. Same rules for lawn-mowing.

 

[Old Salt]

I've seen a rule/suggestion that states "Do not enter into conversation with another shooter while that shooter is loading the rifle".

The purpose is to allow the shooter to concentrate on the loading process there by eliminating the dreaded dry ball, double ball, or double load and double ball.

Old Salt

 

i would agree with swampfox on all points but the barrel blowing issue .
if you decide to include this into your rules then i would also include that all RR must be marked or sized to be flush with the muzzle when empty .
that before any shot all barrels will be swabed or run clear with the RR.

 

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I'm gonna pick and choose the appropriate ones, that apply over and above the existing rules of our club's range rules. We have no smoking/ drinking at our range already, and run the range with trained range officers. So part of this is to enlighten them of the differences from suppository guns. we also have a rule at informal shooting times that the first one there becomes the range officer, and controls fire, and ceasefire times, and there is no gun handleing when targets are changed. Again thanks for the input. Bill

 

[Johnny Tremain]

No hands over the muzzle.

Some folk have this bad habit of using their smoke pole and a leaning post.

 

[robinghewitt]

Blooming heck, so many rules :shocking:

If you have all these rules and the range officer gets out the wrong side of bed with a tooth ache, you may as well call the whole thing off... because it's supposed to be fun :crackup:

 

I agree Robin, so tonight aside from no smokin we cut it to four main rules.
1. no open containers
2. load from a measure
3. barrel up and down range
4. prime on the line.

Tried the KISS method.

Did have one senior citizen (84) prime at the bench, and when challenged, he stated his inline (excuse the blasphemy) had a safety. I stated and the Titanic was unsinkable, and I'm in charge and we prime on the lin or we don't shoot. He defered to youth, at 58 I was the youngest shooter of the eight of us. I found out I had to shout at him, as he had both his hearing aids out and muffs on when I covered the rules :crackup: Bill

 

[Slowpoke]

Our range is obsessed with safety and run by a bunch of fretful lawyers. CYA and use as much of ours as you want.

Double Click Here

 

Holy Merde, Slowpoke. Do they allow ya to even bring a gun to the range. My sympathies for you having to live under such drakonian rules, seems they are bleeding the fun outa shooting. I think I'm going to have nightmares after reading that list of rules. :cry: Bill

 

[oomcurt]

I have to agree with Bill here...never heard of such a litany of garbage. Seems to me...either people are getting dumber by the minute or as in this case...liars..er..sorry, lawyers are on a power trip. Funny thing...years back I belonged to a rather large gun club in WI. They had everything a good club range should have. Trap, pistol, rifle...100 and 200 yard. It didn't make any difference if there was one person using the range or a dozen....unless it was a competitive shoot..there was no such thing as a range officer...folks knew how to behave and how to be safe. In all actuality it appears to me that today we have so many people that cannot function on thier own..they need a wetnurse to keep them safe..sad, really.

 

[Slowpoke]

Yeah, I know the rules are tough and overbearing. 95% of the members (2500 in total) are fine, it's that other 5% that will turn around to talk to a friend and point a loaded gun right at you.

SP