If you’ve just purchased your first gun, or you haven’t been to the range in a long time, there are some basic bits of etiquette you should remember when heading out to shoot. Rachel Hernandez lays out a nice intro at the Loadout Room:
Follow the rules of the range.
Once you arrive at the range, keep your gear in the car. Go inside and tell the staff you are there to shoot. If you’re a beginner shooter, be upfront and tell them you’re fairly new; that will help the range staff better anticipate any questions or concerns you may have arising from your inexperience….
Always point your gun down range.
This is one of the most important rules of gun safety: always point your gun down range. Whether you are shooting, inserting a magazine (or removing one), aiming, or even just talking with the friend you brought to shoot with you, your gun should always be pointed down range. …
When not in use, lay your gun down slide back or cylinder up.
When you set your gun down, always keep the slide open or cylinder exposed pointed down range. As basic range etiquette, this shows others your gun is unloaded. After you finish shooting, you may want to reload a magazine or get another target….
Never touch your gun during a cease-fire.
…Upon a cease-fire command, usually from the range officer, everyone on the firing line must stop shooting. During a cease fire, clear your gun, lay it on the shooting bench/table and step away. Some ranges also require you to place a chamber flag within the chamber (to indicate the gun is clear)….
Do not bother others while they are shooting.
…Trying to shout over ear protection and gunfire is already challenging without having to worry about a loaded gun in your hands. Especially as a newer shooter, it’s best to save your conversations until you can have them off the shooting floor.
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