Noob question: range etiquette

[gaseousclay]

I plan on making some trips to the range to work on my grip, but my question is in regards to gun etiquette upon arrival. I’ve watched a few videos on the do’ and dont’s when on the range but very little on how to arrive with your gun.

Obviously, your weapon should be unloaded. But, is it ok to have a loaded magazine so long as it’s not in the gun itself? I have a Pelican pistol case and I’m guessing they’ll check my gun to make sure it’s unloaded when I arrive. Is it common practice to have empty mags in the case with the firearm and to just load the magazine when you’re at your shooting lane? Or do some people keep loaded magazines in a separate bag?

Sorry for the long drawn out question. I don’t want to break any range rules and get kicked out

 

[Nathan]

IMO, my gun should be unloaded and cased. If I know an inspection of such is likely, I like to have a chamber flag in the gun to remove all doubt....or have it slide locked back.

Additional mags loaded or unloaded are meaningless to an RSO that knows their stuff. Now, if local/state laws require gun and ammo separate, it iss as not good to show up looking like you broke a law whether you did or not.

I have never been checked.

 

[Rangerrich99]

Empty gun cased, loaded mags is fine.

 

[DaleA]

Ask. That's the best way to find out what the range wants you to do.

I go to Bill's in the Twin Cities and they are fine with having magazines loaded up and not in the gun. What they REALLY want you to do though is keep the gun in the case until you go up to the line then take it out of the case pointing down range. When you're done shooting clear the gun, bring the case up to the line and put the gun away. This, and the four rules, are the BEST gun control points I agree with.

But again, that's the range I shoot at, ask ahead of time at the range you'll be shooting at.

 

[Mike38]

Another little "tip" is to know, or mark your pistol bag / box as to which end is the muzzle end. That way when to put your bag / box on the bench and open it, the muzzle will be pointed down range. Then make sure you bag up the pistol the same way every time.

I had a pistol box that the way it was made, it held two pistols facing opposite directions. So no matter how you opened it, one pistol was pointed down range, the other was pointed back towards the "spectator area". It didn't dawn on me that I was doing that until a RSO pointed it out. He was very nice about it, just doing his job, and I appreciated him pointing it out to me.

 

[Pahoo]

The learning curve !!!

Ask. That's the best way to find out what the range wants you to do.

Not only ask but read the posted rules/instructions. Every private range posts them. As well as having an Range-Safety-Officer. We are all on a learning curve in this great adventure. So there is always something to learn and share ......

Be Safe !!!

 

[Rangerrich99]

Here's a tip:

When loading/unloading your weapon on the firing line, don't do what a lot of people do and inadvertently point your gun down the line.

Become comfortable keeping the gun pointed down and downrange (we call this "low ready"), or just downrange if there's one of those shelves there, while inserting a mag or unloading the gun. Drives me crazy to see people pointing their guns perpendicular to the line and basically at everyone that happens to be on the firing line to the left/right of them.

the easiest way to deal with this is to simply turn 90 degrees so that your shoulders are lined up downrange, bring the gun back towards your torso about mid- to low-ribcage height and conduct your load/unload procedure.

However you do it, just don't point the gun along the firing line and at potential other shooters.

Thx.

 

[darkgael]

Yep.ALL gun handling done on the shooting point. I run a small private range in Brooklyn, NY.....that is the rule. If there is a need to go down range, all guns are made safe....magazines out, slides back cylinders open and empty. Points are vacated and guns checked by an RSO.
Eye and ear Protection is mandatory.

 

[imp]

My personal opinion, unless you plan on firing more than 300 rounds or have difficulty loading magazines, I would suggest loading magazines at the firing line.

Its a mundane task that seems to settle anxiety. Especially for newer shooters, the irregular sound environment, the observation of range officers, and the potential hazards of live fire seems to create a little anxiety.

Not much mind you, but just a little, where a persons confidence in safe manipulation of their weapon might not be as high as it is at home. The little tasks like unpacking your equipment, setting up targets, and loading magazines allows you to adjust to the sound and feel of the environment and steady the nerves.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

My personal opinion, unless you plan on firing more than 300 rounds or have difficulty loading magazines, I would suggest loading magazines at the firing line.

Its a mundane task that seems to settle anxiety. Especially for newer shooters, the irregular sound environment, the observation of range officers, and the potential hazards of live fire seems to create a little anxiety.

If you're shooting at a commercial range where you pay by the hour -- and an hour is all you get if there are other shooters waiting -- then time spent loading magazines is time NOT spent shooting. We can load magazines at home. We go to the range to shoot.

 

[stephen426]

Some ranges inspect guns. Others prefer you don’t even remove them from the case until you are IN your lane amd ready to shoot. Here are a few obvious ones since you mentioned you are a noob. No offense if you know this already.

1. No loaded weapons (loaded mags are usually okay, but not in the gun).
2. All weapons should be encased (preferably in a range bag or hard case)
3. No concealed weapons on you unless the range allows for it (most do not)
4. Do NOT handle your firearm outside the shooting area unless you are talking with staff and they approve doing so.
5. Do NOT cover or sweep anyone with the muzzle of your weapon. If the gun is locked back and there is a chamber flag, people are less worried about that, but never point a semi-auto that has the slide forward even if the gun is unloaded and there is no mag inserted. Same goes for revolvers with closed cylinders.

I went to a range where they clearly posted that no loaded weapons were allowed. The douche bag I was going with (didn’t know him very well) decided to ignore the sign and went in with the gun loaded. They almost threw him out, and probably should have.

Call ahead and ask about their rules. It is far better to know the specific rules of the range you are planning to go to. They will appreciate you taking the time to know the etiquette.

 

[stinkeypete]

Ask the range officer or representative at the desk as to the rules.

At a public open range- shudders... I am lucky I have a great club range.

 

[imp]

If you're shooting at a commercial range where you pay by the hour -- and an hour is all you get if there are other shooters waiting -- then time spent loading magazines is time NOT spent shooting. We can load magazines at home. We go to the range to shoot.

Definitely a fair point.

 

[ballardw]

Really reinforce the "ask first". Partially so you can follow the rules and partially so you know what to expect from others.

I know one indoor range that will accept handguns that are loaded if if holstered and worn but want cased weapons unloaded. (NO handling off the firing line for such) If you didn't know that you might feel surprised when seeing the holstered weapons headed into the range.

 

[Double K]

I would second post #11

 

[zoo]

Nice to see someone asking rather than just going to the range and being obnoxious.

 

[LeverGunFan]

Ideally you should go to the range with someone who's been there before and is familiar with the rules. They can guide you through the range process and keep you out of trouble.

If you don't know any of the range regulars, spend some time before your first range session observing range activity and how the RSO and the shooters act. Watch a complete cycle from a cold range to hot range/live fire back to cold range. In particular watch for how and when the weapons are handled and when targets are posted or changed.

If you decide to jump right in to a range session, make sure you have all the required safety equipment - hearing and eye protection, chamber flags, etc. Be observant and watch what everyone around you is doing. Don't be the first person to do something until you are familiar with the range procedures; if you are the only person heading downrange when everyone else is standing back you may be doing something wrong. Always ask if you are unsure of what you can do when.

 

[Nathan]

Ask. That's the best way to find out what the range wants you to do.

Generally I strongly agree to ask first. I have. I’ve heard back:

Don’t be an idiot with your gun
Point it down range....and then saw staff not enforcing that at all.


So, now my advice would be to really dig into the 4 rules and how you can apply them in this situation. I like the idea of marking my bag muzzle end.
Bring unloaded guns in a case. Ask if you can unholster, shoot, reload and rehiletero your CCW. Don’t assume.
Use chamber flags when you need to show unloaded.
Uncase in the booth.
Keep barrel pointed at the back stop indoors. Not up, down, at walls, but at the bullet trap. Nothing else is bulletproof.
Never assume a range will allow drawing practice without asking.
Never exceed the capability of the backstop....steel bullets and magnums can be an issue.
Never accept bad gun handling at the range. Tell the rso or leave or address it yourself. There are many bad gun handlers. Always look for them and address issues.
When making a gun clear to take home, always pull trigger pointed at the back stop.
Always follow the rules.
Always ask about rules which are unclear or seem wrong.
Always refuse to follow an unsafe policy...just leave.

 

[T. O'Heir]

On a range, be that commercial or club, there will most likely be posted range rules that tells you everything you need to know. Usually not a good idea to use the word 'weapon' though.
"...they’ll check my gun..." Not likely. Target shooters are expected to know and follow Federal, State and, if there are any, municipal firearms laws. In some places, your State hunting regs will apply too.
Having a loaded magazine in a case might be one of those. Up here, 'Loaded" is defined as the mag being in the firearm.
Keep in mind that the only stupid question is the one not asked. Most shooters will go out of their way to help a new shooter too.
What do you mean by "work on my grip"?

 

[TailGator]

"...they’ll check my gun..." Not likely.

Not rare at all. There is a county owned range here where the RSOs check guns when they come out of the bag, and a private range near my daughter and SIL's place that does it, too.