First Day at the Range....
Also take a look at the paperwork each range user is required to
fill out prior to range use...
Real Range...
Many of the guys we see coming to the range have never been to a
"real" range before. Most have only shot informally in the
woods. This is gonna be different from anything you have
ever seen before. There is something called Range Ettiquet.
This just means that there is a right way and a wrong way to do
things. Chances are, when you get here, you won't be the only
one here and will be sharing the range with sometimes over 20
shooters (happens like that sometimes). Most of the time,
expect to have at least 5 or 6 guys using the range at any given
time.
1.) Be aware that the Public Range is run by a traffic light on a
timer. When the light is green, shooters may chamber ammo and
shoot. When the light is yellow, shooters should be taking
their last shots, making the gun safe, action open, no ammo in the
gun, gun benched. Benched means it is laid down on the bench
so it won't get knocked off the rifle rest by anyone walking by.
When the light goes red, everyone is to have have their gun safe and
can proceed downrange to staple up new targets, mark or evaluate
holes in targets, or take old targets down before leaving. The
light will stay green for 19 minutes, yellow for 1 minute, and red
for 10 minutes. No one has control of the light to extend or
shorten the times. The timer is inside the light fixture.
2.) You will see and hear the terms "hot" and "cold" around the
range. Hot means that fire can commence, you can shoot.
Cold means the shooting on the range has ceased and all firearms
have been "made safe".
3.) "Made safe" means that your gun is put into a condition where
the action is open, all ammuntion has been taken out of the gun, any
magazine has been removed, and any safety engaged. Anyone can
take a glance at your gun and tell it is in a safe condition.
4.) No one may handle their gun while the range is cold, the light
is red. Don't load your gun, put clips or magazines in it.
Don't allow it to point at anyone downrange while they are out there
fixing targets. This refers to looking through the scope on
your gun while shooters are downrange.
5.) You will hear the terms uprange and downrange used.
Uprange refers to the area where the shooters are. Downrange
refers to the area where the targets are. You wouldn't
want to be downrange while guys are shooting.
6.) Once the range goes hot, the light is green, you may
handle your firearms. Never allow the muzzle of your
firearm to point at anyone on the range. Either lift it
upwards so it points at the sky or depress the muzzle so it point at
the ground. This is called "muzzle discipline". All safe
gun handlers excercise muzzle discipline at all times. The NRA
has boiled gun safety down to 4 very basic rules.
1. Always be certain of your gun's condition, loaded or
unloaded. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
2. Always be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
3. Never place your finger on the trigger until your
sights are on your target.
4. Never point your firearm at anything you don't want
to kill or destroy.
Rule number 4 is what we are talking about when we talk about muzzle
discipline.
7.) While the range is cold and the light is red, there is no
handling of guns allowed. People will probably be
downrange and won't appreciate you getting your gun out and
unloading it while they are in front of the firing line. You
wouldn't want anyone doing the same behind you when you are
downrange. If you get to the range and the light is red, take
the opportunity to set up your targets and get your ear plugs in.
Wait until everyone is back uprange and the light goes green making
the range hot before getting your gun out.
8.)Don't be in a hurry. Murphy hangs out here too. Take
your time. Plan on a couple of hours to get anything
done. If sighting in your rifle, plan on cooling down periods
for it to cool off. You want a cold first shot zero anyway.
If you fire more than 5 shots in a row, your group will start to
string and you will waste ammo and time chasing the holes with the
scope. We see guys get here about half an hour before closing
time all the time. They rarely accomplish what they came here
to do.
9.) You will need both eye protection and hearing protection.
You will have to use both while on any of the ranges here.
They are your eyes and God only gave you two of them. See the
2009 news letter for a graphic reason on why you should keep your
glasses on. There is also a cool picture of a blown up S&W 629
hanging on the wall behind the counter in the office. The
shooter had a frag hit his glasses hard enough to leave a mark when
it went off. We want to see something between your eyes and
the rest of the world. What you use is up to you. I wear
and sell ANSI rated wrap around style safety glasses. I
know guys who wear oversized safety glasses over their seeing
glasses. Again, what you use is up to you. The
glasses we have here are cheap but provide a good level of
protection. We sell them for only $6.00. Try to find any
for less. They start at about $9.00 at Home Depot or Lowes.
As for hearing protection, we have both plugs and muffs for sale at
the range office. Plugs are $1.00 and the muffs are $6.00.
Using both plugs and muffs gives you the highest level of protection
available. Hearing damage is permanent. Always wear
something so you can hear your grandkids later.
10.) Ammo. You can shoot ammo from anywhere. There is no
requirement to use range ammo. Reloads are allowed here.
For most of us, we couldn't get much shooting done because of the
cost without reloading. We sell factory name brand ammo here
at the lowest prices in the area. If you found it anywhere
else for less, someone is running a loss-leader sale to get you in
their store. Buy their ammo, stock up. It will never be
any cheaper than it is today. We all are holding our breath
waiting to see what the Obama administration will do with gun
control. The best bet is on a very high tax on ammo,
making it unaffordable for most. I tell guys, if you
have money for a new gun, buy ammo with it instead. Read up on
reloading. You can reload your brass for 1/4 to 1/2 what you
would spend for the same ammo new. Plus its a lot of fun
making your own.
11.) Targets. You can bring your own paper targets or get them
here. The targets here are only $.94. We also have some
very cool things to shoot here other than paper targets. The
pistol side of the public range has two plate racks and a dueling
tree. The rifle side has a couple of rifle plates at 100
yards. All are reactive targets... that means they do
something when hit by a bullet. They fall over, swing from
side to side or ring loudly when hit. The plate rack targets
are reset by pulling a rope which stands them all up again. No
one has to go downrange to set anything back up.
Shooting the plates are a challenge and are the most fun targets,
short of the ones that explode, that anyone can use. One or
two boxes of ammo ain't enough. It takes about 200 rounds for
most guys to feel satisfied on the plates. For a serious
challenge, try hitting the 12 inch rifle plates out there at 100
yards with your handgun. If you do everything right,
you'll be rewarded with a cool "DING". For more info on
the steel plate target systems in use here, see the 2009 range
newsletter page on this site.
12.) What guns can you shoot? You can shoot pretty much
anything you legally own here with two exceptions. Class 3
full auto or selective fire weapons are not allowed on the public
range because they throw a bunch of brass on the guys to your right.
They usually don't appreciate it... no matter how cool your gun is.
The other is the 50 BMG guns. Again, due to the conciderations
of those around you. Yeah, they are cool to shoot... but they
aren't cool to shoot next to. They are just too dang
loud. Both are allowed on the member's part of the range.
If you own full auto or 50 BMG, join and use the other ranges.
13.) How old do you have to be to use the range? The
minimum age for range use is 21 years old. If you are under
21, we require you to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
This is for a couple of reasons. First, the Federal Government
has a law that says we can't sell or deliver ammunition that will
chamber in a handgun to a minor (defined as anyone under 21).
Second, there is a world of difference in the level of maturity
between a 17 year old and a 21 year old. It simply makes for a
safer shooting environment for everyone on the range. Third,
minors can not enter into any legally binding contract... such as
the Waiver from Hell posted below. I hate it for those wanting
to come out and burn ammo at ages under 21. We really would
like to take your money and let you shoot but this policy is for the
best. With that said, there is no minimum age requirement
either... so long as a parent or guardian is present to supervise
the child while at the range. We get them here at 6 or 7 all
the time, shooting 22's or a hunting rifle with Dad, Grandpa or an
uncle.
14.) When you get here, make your way to the grey brick building with the big "Main Office - Sign in Here" sign on it. The range is always staffed. There will be someone inside wearing a "FOP Range" shirt to help you get started. There are two forms everyone using the range has to fill out. First is the Non-Member Info Sheet. It asks you for some basic information. Who are you, where are you from, how do we contact you later should we need to. Who do we call should you injure yourself here, and which hospital do you prefer we have you hauled to. If you have anything you would want medics to know about you such as allergies, there is a space for that as well. The bottom part of the form is the "Waiver from Hell". It is a hold harmless agreement that everyone using the range must execute before getting access to the facility. The other form is on the back of the same sheet of paper and is the Public Range Safety Rules.
The
Public range has 12 concrete benchrest tables with rifle rests ready
for your use. 
Looking
up range