Proper range etiquette.

Seriously, folks, there are a few basic principles that apply universally.

1. Follow all of the local rules scrupulously and without exception. If you think a rule is stupid, fine, discuss it with the RO but follow it while you're there.

2. NEVER point your weapon in any direction except downrange. No exceptions to this rule. If you put it down while you're hanging a new target, leave it pointed downrange. If you need to take a bathroom break and you put your gun down, leave it pointed downrange. Do it even if the slide is locked open and the magazine is out and you've checked to see that nothing's in the chamber. Or, if it's a revolver, do it even if the cylinder is open and you've made certain that there are no rounds in the chambers.

3. ALWAYS clear your weapon when you're not using it.

4. Be courteous to your fellow shooters.

5. Assume the worst. When you're on the line don't assume that your fellow shooters are following the rules. Assume that they're not. Increase your personal margin of safety by being wary at all times. Remember, the other people there are armed with loaded weapons and some of them are likely, unfortunately, to be pretty clueless about what they have in their hands.

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to shoot at the Smith & Wesson public range at their headquarters in Springfield, Mass. It's a beautiful facility and really well run. The rules there are much stricter than the rules at my local range. For example, they require every shooter to wear a hat. I was a bit mystified by that one until I thought about what it would feel like to have some hot brass fall on my nearly bald scalp. Since then I wear a hat when I shoot, at least when I'm shooting my semiautos. I'd thought I was a model shooter with many years' experience but, to my chagrin, I was caught breaking the local rules when I put my empty gun down momentarily with the barrel facing me. The RO was almost instantly on me like white on rice, as he should have been. Lesson learned, and I've never forgotten it.
 
I think everyone has pretty much covered everything. Make sure your read and understand the rules that your rage has posted. Also, I will reiterate “pick up your spent shells” it can be annoying to everyone else that has to pass your both if brass is all over the floor and it can be hazardous. I have seen more then a few people slip on them, some on their own brass.
 
General safety and common sense (which seems less commonly found these days, doesn't it?) are the most important.

I like indoor ranges because weather is not as big an issue but I guess it is all preference and familiarity.

I leave brass for reloaders/range staff because they will use it. If you rent a gun plan on buying their ammo. Have fun and be safe.
 
To be more clear the range said not to pick up any brass and put in the trash can. Just sweep forward onto the range.
 
Yes, I've seen a couple of indoor ranges that tell you not to pick up ANY of your brass and claim that all spent brass is theirs. My advice is only shoot wolf steel cased ammo or CCI alluminum ammo at those places.:D
 
The range I frequent asks what caliber you will be shooting hoping to group the heavy hitters together so that everybody is not flinching when the artillery goes off.

Last trip, the dudes in the next lane claimed to be shooting 9mm, but half an hour later they broke out the .454 Casull and pretty quickly had the range to themselves and were insulted when the rangemaster asked them to abide by their original intent.

Before you guys that like the heavy hardware get all exercised, I like it too, but I would never, and I mean never, inflict such torture on 11 other lanes on a busy range.
 
I always wondered why im never allowed in the pistol range and have to use the rifle range at my local indoor place.
.45 and and previously 10mm could be the reason.But i hate being in there myself as rifle rounds make me flinch and screw up my time also.
A few times i had to look and see who was shooting what i thought was a .50 BMG since it made my teeth rattle when it went off.

I did get a tad upset when i was told i couldn't shoot the steel cased Brown Bear 9mm i had.I was under the impression the issue was steel core bullets,not the cases.I was told it messes up their recycling program which imo is them making even more money off me.
 
One indoor range I go to has a limit on what you can shoot with .44 Mag being a no no.

I have been surfing the net for brass catchers, esp. for my 1911s. They look clunky, but I thought I would give them a try.
 
I did get a tad upset when i was told i couldn't shoot the steel cased Brown Bear 9mm i had.I was under the impression the issue was steel core bullets,not the cases.I was told it messes up their recycling program which imo is them making even more money off me.
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Save your Remington boxes.:D:D:D
 
Don't EVER pretend to be an expert and tell someone else that he's not holding the gun properly, not standing correctly, not shooting properly, or that his gun is no good or junky
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Well I do my best to stay out of other shooter's business, but there has been a time or two when I step in to correct a new shooter about their thumb being in the way of the slide. Saved a young lady from a cut on her knuckle, would really have ruined the whole hobby for her.
I get what you are saying though, the last thing the range needs is a bunch of guru's walking around and pestering us.
 
range rules

Great thread.
A couple more thoughts:
About scrounging brass. Before picking up spent brass from near or in another shooter's point, ask them if it is OK for you to take the stuff. I've had scroungers show up behind me - outdoors especially - and start to pick up spent brass from my AR.
One rule that we have at our indoor range is that all gun handling - uncasing the pistol or rifle and casing it when done - is done in the point, not near it or behind it, in it. It's so tempting to take a gun that you know is safe and turn around to drop it in the gun case.
Pete
 
IMO, the only time you should be brass scrounging is when the other person has left the range. At that point they have shown they have no interest in taking the spent cases with them. Walking up behind someone and cleaning up their brass is stealing, plain and simple.
 
Each ranges has their own rules....some make sense, some don't. Your best bet is to ask the range officer at that particular range.
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This says most of it as there are bound to be rule variables from range to range.

However, regardless of which range you visit, the following condiderations should obviously be at the forefront of your mind: a). do not allow the barrel of your weapon to "laser" (point at) either yourself or those around you, b). if you encounter a jam and cannot remedy the situation yourself, ask one of the range attendants to help you, c.) when not shooting, if applicable, engage any safety devices and try to keep the slide locked back, cylinder open or action open (all depending on your weapons platform of course), d.) if you see someone acting in a stupid and careless manner, dont feel bad about politely making them aware of their potentially dangerous actions and e). above all else, as an extension of point "A," just make sure to keep that barrel pointed downrange at all times.

In terms of gathering brass (per cleanup), I generally just try to clean up the immediate area(s) upon which the next guy/gal is likely to stand. I dont worry about each and every spent casing as, after several hundred rounds or so, this can become hard to keep track of.

As a side note- After you are done shooting for the day, I would recommend wiping the gun off with a clean rag as there will be quite a bit of residue left on a fired weapon. No sense in transferring that stuff to your range bag, holster or whatever you used to transport your weapon. In addition, I highly recommend you thoroughly wash your hands immediately after your shooting session (if you can), due to a decent amount of lead exposure. Ditto if you bothered handling a bunch of spent brass.

Im sure Im leaving some things out. But, thats all I have for now.
 
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At indoor ranges - I try to be respectful of people in adjoining lanes. I try not to move my target - when other people are shooting.

I do police up my own brass - and I've never seen a range that didn't allow a shooter to do that. Picking up your share of brass that bounces around is reasonable - or asking the guys beside you if they are saving brass as you sweep up the area ( concrete floors, brass bounces all over ...).

I don't have a problem with people carrying concealed to and from the range. I try to shoot in / among more experienced shooters if I can - and I usually watch the folks in the lanes around me for a few minutes to see what they're doing / how they are handling their weapons.
 
The indoor range that I go to prohibits members from carrying loaded firearms outside of the range itself. But it doesn't prohibit members from carrying unloaded firearms concealed (provided they have a Permit).

The rule is strange to me, because the employees are all carrying open and loaded.
 
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