Curious about longer range safety rules

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machohugeaxe

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Peel Region, Ontario
I only belong to a 50 yard indoor range with a target system. Thinking about joining a longer outdoor range. I'm curious about the rules of the ranges as long as 300 yards. I heard before the target system here, people had to call cease fire to set and retrieve targets. Is that the same for a long outdoor range? Doesnt the walk back and forth take a while? Do people try to organize to go in waves? That seems kind of difficult if people arrive once in a while. Are there instead timeslots people try to show up for and set up all at once, and try to manage the rest with spotting scopes?
 
My range has various sized gongs at 300, 400 & 500m so you don't need to set up targets... but if you want to.
Yes, you would call a ceasefire and set the range flag to 'safe' or green. We have a second flag you set up right in front of the shooting benches in case someone arrives while you're downrange.
There's a road so you can drive down and not take too long. Once done reset the flags to 'live' red and you're good to go. On green flag all firearms are in the rack, no handling allowed.
 
Yep, just like Ben said.
My range there is a single person appointed as the safety officer in charge of calling cease fire. Everyone confirms they are ready, no handling of firearms, and then a flag goes up and you flick a light for your station. There’s a road to drive down for far ranges. If lights are still on it means someone isn’t ready to go back to a live range. Then the range safety officer calls for the range to go hot once everyone has their targets up.
 
Hmm ok so there's no magic to it. I was looking at a range where you can book a 1.5 hour timeslot for a fee, if you're not a member. I'm just thinking if that would feel rushed if there are a portion of that time where various people are calling ceasefires to set up targets
 
If the targets are on conventional target stands, the shooters have to change their own paper. On military ranges, there are generally reinforced concrete butts with vertical target carriages. The butts are below the line of fire when the targets are raised. Shots are fired, orders are given and the markers in the butts pull their targets down to score.
 
machohugeaxe said:
I only belong to a 50 yard indoor range with a target system. Thinking about joining a longer outdoor range. I'm curious about the rules of the ranges as long as 300 yards. I heard before the target system here, people had to call cease fire to set and retrieve targets. Is that the same for a long outdoor range? Doesnt the walk back and forth take a while? Do people try to organize to go in waves? That seems kind of difficult if people arrive once in a while. Are there instead timeslots people try to show up for and set up all at once, and try to manage the rest with spotting scopes?
Click to expand...

5 The operator of an approved shooting range shall ensure that the discharge of firearms on the shooting range does not endanger the safety of persons at the shooting range or in the portion of the surrounding area described in paragraph 3(2)(a), by taking appropriate measures, including ensuring that

(a) the design and operation of the shooting range

(i) is such that projectiles discharged from firearms will not leave the shooting range if they are discharged there in accordance with the safety rules, and

(ii) promotes the safety of all persons on the shooting range, including by accommodating any adaptation that may be appropriate given the nature of the shooting activities that may take place and the type and calibre of firearms that may be used there;

(b) the shooting range has an adequate warning system to warn persons that they are entering a shooting range and to inform them, when such is the case, that shooting activities are taking place at that time;

(c) appropriate safety rules for the shooting range are applied that are consistent with the nature of the shooting activities that may take place and the type and calibre of firearms that may be used there;

(d) the safety rules are posted in a conspicuous place on the shooting range; and

(e) if more than one person is simultaneously engaged in shooting activities on the shooting range, a person acts as the range officer.


<https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-212/page-1.html#h-1020324>
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Shooting Clubs and Shooting Ranges Regulations (SOR/98-212)
<https://www.laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-212/index.html>
 
I belong to a couple of local clubs.
One has a range that goes back to 100. Back and forth to targets, 100 is close enough for a spotting scope to be effective. Obviously there must be a structured cease fire before anyone can venture downrange.
The other facility has a 100m range with firing points at 100, 75, 50 and 25 and closer. Operating procedures basically as above. This facility also has another range with firing points going back to 600m. It also has concrete shelters for target markers. Obviously routines are well established for safe operation. I believe this is the only privately owned range in the province with military style butts. Going back and forth to inspect and patch targets on a longer range gets old really fast.
There are also electronic options for longer ranges without butts, either using cameras or sensors. I suspect that if a longer range is being built from scratch, the electronic option might be less costly than concrete butts.
 
Usually not a problem. Even when all benches are in use and someone new comes just call a cease fire and head down range to check or switch out targets. Another excellent tool is this.


I've been using this for a year and still learning.

Excellent imo
 
I find that, generally, if there's a number of people shooting the breaks for patching targets come pretty naturally. Guys that are just plinking at gongs need to be aware of what their fellow club members are doing and volunteer to stop after reasonable strings have been shot. At my Swiss club there has been a push to use the club "shotmarker" system at the 300m targets but lots of guys (including myself) still prefer to walk back and forth. Good range "etiquette" needs to be promoted and enforced.

milsurpo
 
steamy teabag said:
Usually not a problem. Even when all benches are in use and someone new comes just call a cease fire and head down range to check or switch out targets. Another excellent tool is this.


I've been using this for a year and still learning.

Excellent imo
Click to expand...

This looks pretty cool, but what do you have to do every time you go to the range? bring a big wooden frame with you? or does this more or less stay in place at a private range.
 
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