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McKeesport Sportsmen’s Association, Inc.

 

GROUND RULES

 

 

October 2017


 


 

Table of Contents

 

 

Page 2 - General Ground Rules

                Violations of Club Rules

                Range Hours

 

Page 3 - General Range Rules

 

Page 4 - Rifle Range Safety

                Outdoor Pistol Range Safety

 

Page 5 - Outdoor Rifle Range Rules (ORR)

 

Page 6 - Outdoor Pistol Range Rules (OPR)

 

Page 7 - Indoor Pistol Range Rules (IPR)

 

Page 8 - Bowling Pin Range

                Shotgun Patterning Board

                Archery Range

 

Page 9 - Black Powder

                Skeet Range

                Trap Range

                Hand Clay Bird Throwers

                               

Members must display their current membership ID badge when on club property.

 

 

General Ground Rules

 

The following are prohibited:

1.       Alcoholic beverages or drugs.

2.       Shooting at or killing wildlife.

3.       Use of abusive or profane language with respect to other shooters.

4.       Boisterous, threatening, aggressive, or indecent behavior.

5.       Fighting.

6.       Destroying or defacing club property.

7.       Removal of plants, flowers, fruit, or nuts from club property.

8.       Cutting or removal of trees or shrubs, including firewood.

9.       Shooting before or after range hours.

10.   Littering.

11.   Persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol on Association property.

Violations of Club Rules

 

All violations of club rules, including but not limited to violations of Safety Rules, will result in disciplinary action in accordance with MSA Bylaws.

 

Range Hours

 

Outdoor ranges - 8am until Sunset - Monday through Saturday and 10am until Sunset on Sundays. IR 50/50 matches on the rifle range may start earlier on Sundays under the direction of the Range Officer assigned to running the match.

 

Indoor Range - 8am until 10pm Sunday through Saturday.

Scheduled club shoots take precedence. Ranges will be shut down for scheduled work parties and maintenance. 

 

General Range Rules

 

Safety is a top priority of our Club for ALL members and guests. The following rules must be observed at all Club ranges. Specific rules for each individual range are listed on following pages.

Eye and ear protection is required for everyone on the firing line and those persons near the firing line.

·         ALWAYS keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction.

·         ALWAYS keep your firearm unloaded unless on the firing line and ready to shoot.

·         ALWAYS insure your firearm is unloaded with the chamber open when others are downrange. The use of an Empty Chamber Flag is recommended.

·         ALWAYS insure your firearm is unloaded when leaving the firing line or casing your firearm.

·         ALWAYS insure there are no others downrange before firing.

·         NEVER handle a firearm when others are downrange.

·         NEVER handle a firearm while physically or mentally impaired by drugs or alcohol. If on prescription medications, check with your physician.

·         Tracer rounds, incendiary rounds and exploding rounds are prohibited.  Armor piercing and steel core rounds are prohibited on the steel targets.

·         No eating or drinking or smoking while on the firing line.

·         Posted rules on the outdoor rifle and pistol ranges, regarding the Safety Lights/Horn, must be followed without exception.

·         Do not touch another member's or guest's firearm or equipment without their permission.

·         ALL guests must be accompanied by a Sustaining or Life member. All members are responsible for guests.

·         All guests under 18 years of age and those guests unfamiliar with firearms and safety rules must be closely monitored by the sponsoring member when shooting or handling firearms.

·         Only one guest per member is permitted on the firing line at a time.

·         Clear the range of empty shell casings and debris before leaving the range.

·         No unauthorized driving permitted on the range.

Rifle Range Safety

1.  Before advancing downrange for yourself and fellow shooters:

·         Request that fellow shooters "Make The Line Safe".

·         Ensure that the line is safe.

·         Sound buzzer and turn the red safety lights on.

·         Put the red safety flag out at designated 50 yard and 100 yard post base.

2.  All shooters and guests must be away from the shooting benches or stands and behind the yellow safety line when others are downrange.

3. Keep actions open, empty, and safe.  A safety indicator flag must be used if the action or slide does not lock back.

4.   NO ONE is permitted to handle any firearm for any reason while others are downrange and the red safety lights/flag are activated.

5.  The person that activated the red safety lights/flag is responsible for turning the red safety lights off/removing the flag after ALL others are back from going downrange. After turning the red lights off announce loudly "The Line is Hot".

 

Outdoor Pistol Range Safety

1.  Before advancing downrange:

·         Request that fellow shooters "Make The Line Safe".

·         Ensure that the line is safe.

·         Sound buzzer and turn the red safety lights on.

·         Put the red safety flag out if the red safety lights are not working or as appropriate.

2.  All shooters and guests must be away from the shooting benches or stands and behind the yellow safety line when others are downrange.

3.  Keep actions open, empty, and safe.  A safety indicator flag must be used if the action or slide does not lock back.

4.   NO ONE is permitted to handle any firearm for any reason while others are downrange and the red safety lights/flag are activated.

5.  The person that activated the red safety lights/flag is responsible for turning the red safety lights off/removing the flag after ALL others are back from going downrange. After turning the red lights off announce loudly "The Line is Hot".

 

ALL OTHER NRA GUN SAFETY RULES AND MSA GROUND RULES APPLY

 

Outdoor Rifle Range Rules (ORR)

 

Firearms that can be used on this range:

·         All Rimfire and Centerfire rifles and carbines chambered up to 50 BMG.  50 BMG rounds are prohibited on the steel targets.

·         Pellet rifles.

·         Black Powder rifles.

·         Shotgun slug rifles.

·         Single shot handguns, revolvers and semi-automatic pistols may be used at the 50, 100 and 200 yard ranges.

 

General Rifle Range Rules:

·         Posted information regarding the safety lights/horn and flag must be followed without exception!

·         Round Limit - Firearm magazines may be loaded with standard capacity magazines as usually purchased with that particular firearm.

·         NO RAPID FIRE - All fire must be aimed fire at paper targets or steel targets provided by the Club.

·         Automatic fire and slide fire stocks are prohibited.

·         All shooting is to be conducted at a stationary position.

·         No hip shooting, trick shooting, or shooting while moving with a firearm.

·         No shooting at clay birds, cans, bottles, shotgun shells, trash or other improvised targets. (Club matches may use targets other than paper targets during club matches.)

·         Commercial steel RIMFIRE targets provided by the member may be used but the target must be placed at least 25 yards from the firing line. No shooting tree targets.

·         Shotgun slugs may be fired at paper targets on the 50 yard target boards (NO Birdshot or Buckshot), and at the first two boards at 100 yards. (See skeet range rules.)

·         300 yard shooting is permitted as long as no one or vehicle is in front of the 300 yard firing line mound. The member must block the road leading to the rifle range parking lot with their vehicle and place a RANGE CLOSED sign on the road (sign is located inside of the outdoor pistol range building). (Shooting time is limited to one hour if others are waiting to use the range.)

Outdoor Pistol Range Rules (OPR)

 

Firearms that can be used on this range:

·         Single shot handguns, revolvers, semi-automatic pistols. Black powder pistols and revolvers. Pellet pistols.

o    Note- Pistols firing traditional AR15 and AK47 bottlenecked rifle rounds (7.62x39, 5.56/223 etc.) are not permitted to be used on this range. No full automatic fire.

 

General Outdoor Pistol Range Rules:

·         Round Limit - Firearms may be loaded with standard capacity magazines as usually purchased with that firearm. Revolvers may be loaded to capacity.

·         Stationary shooting only.

·         Only paper targets are to be posted on cardboard and attached to a target stand that is in front of the station that you are shooting from.

·         Shooters may shoot the Club’s metal swinging targets placed at 50 yards from the first 6 target stations.

·         No other targets are permitted on the outdoor pistol range (example - clay birds, balloons, cans, bottles, etc).  Club matches may use targets other than paper targets during club matches.

·         No cross draw, uncontrolled fast draw, hip shooting or trick shooting is permitted.

·         When re-holstering your carry firearm, do so when the range is hot and at the firing line.

 

Posted information regarding the safety lights/horn and flag must be followed without exception!

 


 

Indoor Pistol Range Rules (IPR)

 

Firearms that can be used on this range:

·         Centerfire and .22lr rimfire pistols and revolvers. 

o    (Note - .17 cal rimfires and .22 magnums cannot be used on the indoor range due to velocity restrictions.)

·         .22lr rifles. Pellet pistols/revolvers and rifles.

o    (Note - BBs are not permitted in the IPR.)

 

General Indoor Pistol Range Rules:

·         All members and guests must sign in and pay posted range fee before using the range.

·         Indoor range key is to be used by the member the key was issued to only - not transferable or loaned to anyone else.

·         All doors to the firing range must be closed when shooting.

·         There is a SIX round limit on all firearms inside the IPR.

·         Single projectile ammunition ONLY, with a velocity of less than 1,350 fps. No incendiary, no armor piercing, or tracer rounds. No multi-ball or shot loads allowed.

·         Black powder rounds are prohibited.

·         Targets must be placed on cardboard that is attached to the target holder.

·         Shooters must fire at the target that is directly in front of their firing station. Target stations and target lanes have corresponding numbers. NO cross shooting.

·         All shots fired must go through the rubber barrier/backstop at the end of the firing range. Note - Shooting at targets that are too close or placed too high or too low on the target holder may cause rounds to hit areas other than the backstop.

·         No cross draw, uncontrolled fast draw, hip shooting or trick shooting is permitted.

·         Shooting time is limited to one hour if others are waiting to use the range.

·         Clean the range of empty shell casings, targets, or other debris before leaving range.

·         Turn the thermostat down to 62 degrees and turn lights out before leaving the range.

·         No Smoking in the indoor Association facilities.

 

NOTE - Be aware that lead may be present due to the firing of firearms on ALL of the club ranges. You must take extra precautions on the IPR by cleaning the firing station prior to use and washing your hands after firing a firearm, especially before eating, drinking, or smoking.

 

Bowling Pin Range

 

·         Use handguns only.  Shotguns or rifles are not permitted.

·         Standard capacity magazines for bowling pins.

·         The bowling pin range cannot be used when either the skeet range or trap range is being used.

·         Before using the bowling pin range, you must place the "Bowling Pin Range in Use" sign up in the parking lot by the skeet range. The sign is located inside the indoor range.

 

Shotgun Patterning Board

 

·         Located in the back of the skeet range.

·         Place cardboard or paper target on the wire fencing between the two 4x4 upright posts. Insure that pellets do not strike the upright posts when firing.

·         Bird or buck shot only. NO slugs.

·         Shotgun patterning board cannot be used when skeet, trap or bowling pin range is in use.

 

Archery Range

 

·         Commercial targets ONLY. No bottles, cans, clay birds, or other trash may be used as targets.

·         Paper targets must be placed on the hay bales or hanging bag crossbow target.

·         Only field points or target points are to be used on the hay bales or hanging bag targets.

·         The use of broadhead tips is permitted.

o    They are permitted only if the shooter provides their own broadhead approved target.

·         Children under 10 years of age are not permitted on the elevated archery stand.  Children 11 to 14 years of age are permitted with adult supervision.

·         Use of tree stands is not permitted.

·         Shooting time is limited to one hour if others are waiting to use the archery range.

 

Black Powder

When using black powder arms on the outdoor rifle or pistol ranges, all range rules apply as well as the following:

·         Only black powder or black powder substitutes are to be used.

·         Keep all powder containers closed when shooting.

·         Do not load directly from the powder flask or horn directly into the barrel of the firearm.

·         Prime or cap at the firing line, only after loading is completed.

·         No loaded firearm can be taken from the firing line unless it is de-capped or the priming pan emptied.

·         Allow one empty firing bench/station between those firing black powder arms.

 

Skeet Range

·         Shotguns only.

·         Only approved target loads may be used. No shot larger than 7 1/2.

·         Load only one round each for single targets and two rounds for double targets and only when it is your turn to shoot and you are ready at the firing station.

·         Do not move with a loaded shotgun.

·         When not on the firing line shotguns must be unloaded, cased or racked.

·         Shooters must pay posted fee.

 

Trap Range

·         Shotguns only.

·         Only approved target loads may be used. No shot larger than 7 1/2.

·         Load only one round at a time, only when you are on the firing line and it is your turn to shoot.

·         Do not move with a loaded shotgun.

·         When not on the firing line shotguns must be unloaded, cased or racked.

·         Shooters must pay posted fee.

 

Hand Clay Bird Throwers

Hand or personally owned mechanical clay target throwers may only be placed/used in the designated area between the first green trap pit on the right side and the second trap pit.