Range Facility Rules and Regulations

 

 

SECTION  1.     GENERAL

A.     The range address is: 3299 West Eble road, which is county road South 550.  Located 7/10ths of a mile east of State Highway 61, between Warrick County Road West 300, named Youngblood Road.

B.     The range telephone number is (812) 853-1910.

C.     The hours for firearms usage are:  6:00 AM through 10:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and 6:00 AM through 12:00 AM Friday and Saturday.

 

D.     The combination to the range lock changes every three months and is privileged information for members only.  Never leave the lock with the tumblers set on the combination.  It is necessary to scramble the combination tumblers to re-lock it.  Never leave the gate open or unlocked if you are the last person to leave the range.

 

         If you feel unsafe by locking yourself inside the range property you may leave the gate open while you are there.  However this may be an unintentional invitation for non members to come onto our property.  It will be your responsibility to confront any suspicious person and ask to see their membership card and to ask them to leave if they are not members.

 E.     The range has indoor rest rooms.  The water is safe to drink but is untreated or filtered and taste nasty, so bring something to drink with you.

 F.     The range has overhead lighting for night shooting.  This is expensive to operate so turn them off before you leave.

 G.      All members of the club shall conduct themselves in a cordial or business-like manner, practicing good sportsmanship at all times, while doing the business of the club or using the range facility.

 H.      If you are asked by another member to show your membership card, do it.

 I.     If another member addresses you regarding a safety matter, listen to their concerns, discuss it with them, thank them for their concern and consider your actions and make the appropriate safety changes necessary to insure the safety of everyone.

 J.     If you see someone violating safety rules or otherwise acting unsafely, introduce yourself to them, get their name and then discuss it with them.  If the unsafe activity continues, notify the club range officer or another Director as soon as possible.  It is possible that the Range officer will come to the range immediately.   If necessary, otherwise identify them, such as by recording a license plate number and vehicle description.

 K.     You are responsible for the conduct and safety of any guests you bring to the range.  Always be attentive to your children and those of others.  Do not allow them to wander into harm's way or annoy other members.

          Children should only be allowed to touch a firearm or ammunition under the guidance of the parent, guardian or an instructor approved by such a person.  If you are instructing a novice shooter, stand in such a position as to be able to prevent any unsafe movements or acts.

          We strongly recommend children and guest at the firing lines wear hearing and eye protection.

           You may not have a guest at the range unless you are there also.

 L.      The use of alcohol or illegal drugs or being under the influence of any mind altering substance while at the range will not be tolerated and shall be grounds for immediate ejection from the range facility and further disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion form the club.

 M.     Any serious injury which occurs on the range shall be reported to the Range Officer or another Director as soon as possible and practical.

 N.      All members shall abide by all Federal, State and Local laws while using the range facility.

 O.      No hunting is allowed on the range property.  We have allowed trapping beavers from our lakes for the purpose of removing pests.  Extreme caution should be exercised when walking near the lakes.  They are down range of the shooting lines.  It would be best to access the lakes during non-shooting hours.

 P.      Fishing is allowed on range property.  Fishing is allowed only during non-shooting hours.  Except for the East lake, all the lakes are down range.  There is an inherent danger if a person continues to fish into the established shooting hours or if a member were to disregard the shooting hours policy and shoot before or after shooting hours.

 

SECTION  2.     FIREARMS

A.     You may use any firearm that is legal to own up to but not including the Browning 50 caliber machine gun round. 

B.     Explosive devices that are illegal, destructive to the property or that could cause death or serious injury are prohibited from use on the range property, by the general membership.  The Board of Directors may approve the use of explosive devices for good reason by properly-trained persons, on an as needed basis.

 

SECTION  3.     TARGETS

A.     Observe the signs at the range which describes what type firearms and cartridges are prohibited on a particular bay.  This is for good reason.  High powered or bottle necked cartridges can penetrate or cause pot holes in the steel plates on the pistol bays.  This will lead to an injury later when a bullet hits a pot hole and comes straight back.

B.     There are steel plate targets positioned throughout the range.  Use only straight wall pistol calibers and .22 rimfire on the pistol bays to protect the steel plate targets and promote safety.

        You may use any firearm or ammunition on the 300 yard rifle range except as limited to less than a Browning .50 BMG round.   

C.     The club furnishes target stands that resemble a saw horse.  Lath sticks also available at the range, can be placed in the stands and cardboard can be stapled to the lath sticks.  Your target can then be stapled or taped to the cardboard.  Cardboard is also available inside the pole barn.

         Do not intentionally shoot the stands.  Place your target on cardboard above the stand. 

         Always return your target stand to the storage area near the firing line, before you leave.  This is to keep the range neat and orderly and to prevent a stand left down range from being hit inadvertently by rounds fired at a target placed between it and the firing line.

D.      Never use glass bottles as targets.  Many competitive shooting sports requires a prone position and broken glass will cause injury to persons.   Aluminum cans and plastic bottles are OK for targets but always police the grounds and clean up all your mess before you leave.  Such debris can cause damage to maintenance equipment and also cause injury.

 

SECTION  4.     SAFETY EQUIPMENT

A.     All Shooters and those observing at or near the shooting line should wear hearing protection.  We highly recommend that you always shoot with safety glasses.  Safety glasses are required when shooting steel targets at fifty yards (50) or less.  

B.     The range telephone is primarily for emergency purposes.  Do not make a habit of making long-winded social calls.  The phone is a restricted area use phone, no long distance calls can be made by direct dialing. 

        A phone is located at the East end of the first pistol bay and another at the east end of the 300-yard the rifle range.  Future plans are to place a phone in the pole barn.  The range phone number is: (812) 853-1910.  Answer the phone if it rings.

        For emergencies dial 911.  The range address is: 3299 West Eble Road.  The directions are:  Seven Tenths (0.7) of a mile East of Highway 61 to the main gate.

       Note: Notify the Range Officer or another Director if the phone is out of order.

C.    Use of the club First Aid kit or Fire Extinguisher should be reported to the Range Officer or another Director so supplies can be restocked.

 

SECTION  5.     Shooting Safety Rules

A.     For the protection of all members and guest, always follow and practice all firearms safety rules, especially these three fundamental rules: 

         1.   Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

         2.   Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

         3.   Always keep the firearm unloaded until you are ready to shoot.

         Remember, a gun safety is a mechanical device that can fail.  Be patient and think before you act.  You cannot call back a fired bullet or stop the damage or injury it will cause.

         The safety of our members is our number one concern.

         If you would like some personal firearms safety instruction contact the Club Range Officer.  We have several NRA- certified Instructors in the Club who are certified to teach most NRA shooting and self defense courses.

B.     The range command "THE RANGE IS HOT" means that shooting may commence.  The first person ready to begin shooting after a period of time in which the shooting had ceased, should use this command and observe all of the other people on the firing line for approval and allow them time to replace their safety equipment, before firing a shot.

C.     The range command "CLEAR" means you want to make it safe to go down range.  You must make eye contact with every person on the firing line and get back from them the signal "CLEAR" before anyone goes down range.

         Before you give anyone a "CLEAR" signal, all your firearms must be unloaded, the actions opened and the magazines out.  You are not obligated to stop firing immediately.  You may finish your string of shots, however you are obligated to answer the call by responding, "NO,  NOT CLEAR,  WAIT".

D.     The range command "CEASE FIRING", is a command for all shooting to stop immediately, signifying that an emergency or dangerous situation has occurred. 

E.      During formal competition, follow the commands of the Range Officer or match Director.  They will be explained at the match.  Common commands are: "Load and make ready," "Ready on the left," "Ready on the right," "Commence firing."  You are expected to respond if you are not ready.

F.      Never leave a loaded firearm unattended.  All firearms not being used shall be made safe by unloading them, removing the magazine and leaving the action open.           

G.     Place all targets downrange as straight in front of your firing position as possible, to insure the bullet path is downrange.  Do not intentionally shoot over the berms (the dirt banks that divide the shooting bays).  Do not shoot at steel targets closer than Twenty Five (25) feet. The preferred distance is fifty (50) feet or more.

H.     Never swing a firearm so as the muzzle is pointing down the firing line (where the shooters are standing).  All shooters on any bay should maintain the same firing line .  In other words, no shooter should establish his firing line in front of or behind the other shooters.  If someone does this, stop shooting and call them back in line.  Never have a loaded firearm behind the firing line.

I.       The 300-yard rifle range is normally open to the members for informal shooting.   

           The 500-yard rifle range is only opened for formal competition and for members use on scheduled and announced days.  Watch the news letter for these announcements. The 500-yard rifle range is normally closed to members for informal shooting, because of several safety concerns.  The firing line of the 500-yard range is behind and to the right of the 300-yard range.  Match directors are required to place a safety sign "Range in use today" with the date at the two entrances to the farm property behind our range, before we may use the 500-yard range. 

          In the event the 300-yard rifle range is being use for formal competition, you may use the third pistol bay for rifle shooting.

          NOTE !  Any time the safety gate, which is located on the bridge to the 300-yard rifle range, is in the down position do not attempt to use the 300-yard range.  It means either downrange maintenance work is being done or that the 500 yard range is in use.

J.      Never leave live or misfired ammunition on the range.  Take it home and discard it.  Never place it in the trash barrels, because we often burn the trash.