Range Standard Operating Procedures
The use of Explosive Targets is strictly prohibited on the range or any other Club property!
1. General. Live firing conducted at the Bath Rod and Gun Club Range Complex is designed to provide authorized personnel access to a facility where they can become proficient in the safe use of firearms.
2. Facilites for use. Range availability is at the discretion of the President and Board of Directors. Live fire shooting is normally limited to the following ranges and equipment:
A. 200 yard Outdoor Range—Rifles, pistols, air guns and shotguns of any caliber or gauge may be used. No tracer ammo is allowed. Shotguns firing shot may be patterned on this range but the user must provide his/her own target frame. Shooting hours are between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
B. 50 foot Indoor Range —Archery equipment with target points, BB guns, air rifles, air pistols, .22 RF rifles, and handguns of any caliber may be used. Lead alloy or plated bullets may be used. No ammunition with a muzzle velocity over 1000 fps, jacketed bullets, guns loaded with black powder or a black powder substitute, tracers or armor piercing ammo is allowed.
C. Trap and Skeet Ranges, Sporting Clays course—Shotguns only. Targets loads with shot no larger than #7 ½ can be used. Slugs and/or hunting loads are not allowed.
D. Police Range—Fully automatic firearms are authorized only for law enforcement officers. The Club’s law enforcement liaison must approve weapons prior to the live fire event. The law enforcement liaison can deny automatic fire during shooting for any reason. The use of flash-bangs and other pyrotechnics must be approved by the law enforcement liaison. Groups of members may request the use of the police range for other activities with the permission of the police liaison.
3. Range Limitations and Safety Requirements. Live-fire shooters will:
A. Ensure all projectiles impact within the established range safety limits.
B. Wear appropriate eye and ear protection; this also applies to trappers (trap operators?) and range Officers (ROs) and Range Safety Officers (RSOs).
C. Anyone can call “Cease Fire” and “Make Safe All Firearms” when a person moves forward of the firing line or for any unsafe condition.
D. Notify the RO or RSO of any unsafe condition or infraction of the rules.
E. Scheduled events should (shall?) have a RSO or experienced RO present.
F. Members may fire on the outdoor rifle range when it doesn't disturb a scheduled event. No one will handle a firearm when someone has gone forward of the firing line. Actions must be opened and firearms grounded or benched.
G. Pick up all brass, paper cups, and other debris that accumulates on the range. Dispose of them in the containers provided. Any group using the classroom at the law enforcement range will sweep or mop the floor before leaving if needed.
4. Authorized Personnel. The following persons are allowed to fire:
A. Current members of Bath Rod and Gun Club.
B. Competitors invited to a competitive event.
C. Invited guests of members provided the member is present and assumes full responsibility for the conduct of his or her guests. No individual can be a guest for a live fire event more than three times in one year.
D. Immediate members of the Club member’s household until they reach 18 years of age. Children of members are also exempt from membership requirements if they are active duty military or in college.
E. Personnel approved by club officers on a case by case basis.
F. Organizations that have contracted for the use of the facility, and provided the Club with a certificate of insurance and have been approved with the Club’s Board of Directors.
5. Personnel Responsibilities.
A. Club Officers and Board of Directors
1) Maintain the ranges facilities with the help of members and contractors as needed.
2) Periodically review club procedures with an eye towards making improvements.
3) Periodically see that RSO and Chief RSO training is held
B. RSOs or experienced club activity chairmen (Range Officers) will be in charge of live fire events. They will check in at least one half-hour before the event begins and obtain the necessary keys, targets, change, etc. for their event. Conduct a quick range inspection before the event and periodically do a detailed inspection using the checklist, Outdoor Range (Appendix 1) Indoor Range (Appendix 2) or Shotgun Range (Appendix 3). The police range will be inspected by the Law Enforcement Liaison or contracting organization’s RSO or head instructor.
1) Conduct range safety briefing for new shooters and give updates and reminders for experienced shooters.
2) Conduct live fire in accordance with section 5c of this document. Failure of shooters to abide by the procedures listed in 5c will result in immediate eviction from the range and possible suspension of future shooting privileges. Report all incidents to the RSO or president.
3) Turn in all Club gear, put money in the safe, leave the range in a neat and clean condition.
C. Club Members at organized events
1) All shooters must check-in with the RSO or event chairman.
2) Shooters will conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all times and will be responsible for the conduct of any guests they bring.
3) All shooters are responsible for their guns, ammunition and gear while on the Club’s property.
4) With the exception of law enforcement officers, only unloaded guns with the actions open can be brought into the clubhouse.
5) Firearms that are out of the case and are not being fired must be benched. Actions open and facing up, chambers empty, muzzles pointed downrange.
6) Only load firearms on the firing line after the RSO has given the command to load. Shotguns on the trap or skeet fields will not be loaded with more than two rounds.
7) Do not point firearms at anything other than authorized targets.
8) Fire at your own target only
9) Give the command “Cease Firing” if any unsafe condition occurs.
10) Follow all instructions from the RSO.
11) Assist in picking up spent cases and other debris.
12) All shooters are responsible for their guns, ammunition and gear while on the Club’s property.
13) No pets are allowed to run free on the range complex during live firing.
6. Scheduling events. The president develops a schedule based on requests received and posts them on the Club calendar and in the newsletter. This is generally based on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. If an event chairperson wishes to reschedule someone else’s event for good cause please contact the president who will take up the problem with all the concerned parties and make a decision on the use of the facility. No one will fire on the outdoor rifle range when there is a scheduled event on the skeet field. The law enforcement liaison will schedule all events on the law enforcement range.
7. Hours of Operation. The outdoor ranges are open for live fire from 8:00 AM till 10:00 PM (This is a County noise ordinance.)
8. Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs. Shooters cannot consume alcoholic beverages or intoxicating drugs before or during live firing .The event chairmen or RSO will deny range access to anyone in violation. After firing, shooters may consume alcoholic beverages in the following locations:
A. The pavilion (only after all firearms and ammunition have been properly secured).
B. The clubhouse.
9. Medical emergencies. Call 911 and start first aid as appropriate. Have someone guide the ambulance or helicopter, take names of witnesses and what they saw. Notify the president or an officer as soon as possible.
10. Penalties for disregarding the directions of an RSO or event chairmen on a safety issue include expulsion from the ranges for the day of the event to expulsion from the Club after a review by the officers and directors.
11. All RSOs and ROs will encourage shooters at the events they supervise to wash their hands before eating or drinking. Additional lead hygiene will be followed when using or maintaining the indoor range:
A. The ventilation system of the indoor range will be turned on during live fire.
B. After firing is complete the floor will be swept in a manner that does not generate lead dust in the air.
C. Not less than once a year the bullet trap will be cleaned of lead (which will be recycled to bullet casters). During the work the trap will be sprinkled with water to reduce dust in the air, and the workers will wear dust masks or respirators. Before returning home the workers will wash their exposed parts thoroughly and will be instructed to wash their work clothes separately from the family wash.