Range Rules

Texarkana Gun Club
Texarkana Gun Club, Inc. Range Rules

TGC Range Rules

1. The range is for the exclusive use by the club members, their guests and other authorized organizations. Members are responsible for the behavior of guests and must remain with them at all times while on the range.

2. Each member is provided with a key to the range for the member’s own use and convenience and must not have the key duplicated or loan it to non-members.

3. Except at such times when a match or other organized activity is in progress, each member is responsible for locking the gate when entering or leaving the range.

4. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs shall be permitted on the range, nor shall any person, member, or guest under the influence of such a beverage or drug be permitted to remain upon the range.

5.  Facilities are provided for various types of guns, and guns should be used only on the portion of the range or facility designated for such types of guns.

6. TGC range is a cold range and no gun shall be in a loaded condition except when on the firing line, and after loading, it shall be pointed downrange toward the backstop at all times until fired or unloaded. The exception to this rule shall be during matches requiring holstered guns, which are loaded on order of the range officer. (Any person who has a legal concealed carry permit and is not participating in the match is exempt from the above.)

7. Firing at tin cans, bottles, rocks, birds, animals, or any other object other than paper targets, or other authorized targets is strictly forbidden. Under no circumstances should the falling plates or steel targets be shot with anything other than handguns or shotguns with shot, nor should range improvements, props or barricades be used as target frames. (Exception -SASS Cowboy rifles can be used on steel targets per stage description.)

8. Organized competitive shooting and scheduled events shall take precedence over all other activities. During such times, the range shall be under management and control of the event director. The range will be closed during all scheduled events. Exceptions may be made only with the consent of the event director.

9. NRA and USPSA safety rules will be observed at all times. No dangerous gun handling will be allowed.

1. Each shooter must police his or her firing area and deposit all used targets and trash in the proper receptacles before leaving the range. All club equipment must be properly stored after use.11. The club will make the range available for use by members, guest and affiliated groups including but not limited to the United State Practical Shooting Association, the Single Action Shooters Society and the American Rimfire Association, as well as law enforcement and other governmental agencies. Affiliated groups who schedule the range for periodic use may have their events published in the annual Club match schedule. Other events may be announced via the Club newsletter, website, e-mail notification or other method of communication. Any group or agency using the range and club facilities may be required to provide such information as the Club may request, provide the Club with a Release of Liability form, and to pay the required range fees as listed with the Range Scheduler. Revised:  October 2006.12. Hearing and eye protection are required by all shooters and are recommended for spectators or guests.13. Para-military clothing or shirts with controversial slogans or statements will not be allowed.

   14. During a match, shooters may gear up at their vehicle, after which ALL gun handling must be done on the firing line or in a designated safe area.

   15. All shooting will be toward the west wall of the range and specific direction of shots fired will be in compliance with the USPSA 180-degree rule. (i.e. shots fired may not be more than 90 degrees to the right or left of the west wall.)

   16. Vehicles are prohibited from the grassy area of the range. The only vehicles authorized for use in these areas are those being used for maintenance of the range or for the preparation or operation of a match. Revised: May 6, 2002

RANGE HOURS AND RESTRICTIONS – The range is available for use from 8:00 a.m. until sunset, seven days a week. There are no exceptions to these shooting hours.

NRA Rules for Safe Firearm Handling

ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.

When using or storing a gun, always follow these NRA rules:
* Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
* Know how to use the gun safely. Before handling a gun, learn how it operates. Know its basic parts, how to safely open and close the action and remove any ammunition from the gun or magazine. Remember, a gun’s mechanical safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can ever replace safe gun handling.
* Be sure the gun is safe to operate. Just like other tools, guns need regular maintenance to remain operable. Regular cleaning and proper storage are a part of the gun’s general upkeep. If there is any question concerning a gun’s ability to function, a knowledgeable gunsmith should look at it.
* Use only the correct ammunition for your gun. Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on the cartridge. Do not shoot the gun unless you know you have the proper ammunition.
* Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud and the noise can cause hearing damage. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. For these reasons, shooting glasses and hearing protectors should be worn by shooters and spectators.
* Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting. Alcohol, as well as any other substance likely to impair normal mental or physical bodily functions, must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
* Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. Many factors must be considered when deciding where and how to store guns. A person’s particular situation will be a major part of the consideration. Dozens of gun storage devices, as well as locking devices that attach directly to the gun, are available. However, mechanical locking devices, like the mechanical safeties built into guns, can fail and should not be used as a substitute for safe gun handling and the observance of all gun safety rules.
* Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions

Pistol Bay Rules

Please properly dispose of any trash, there are trash barrels provided on each bay.
NOTICE PLEASE READ

Our range has several items that remain in the pistol bays that are there for the use of our members. These include the steel targets, plate racks, barricades, target stands and other items. Access to these items will enhance your personal training time. Target stands for several targets at different distances, practice on steel plate racks to overcome that stomach wrenching moment in a pistol match, barricades to shoot around for building defensive strategy for concealed carry and home defense practice.

Our club chooses to leave these items for our use, not for abuse!!! Through discussion with other shooters, we have determined that not all abuse is intentional. For example, most members may not realize that the large, plywood portable walls are not target stands – these “barricades” are used in competition for shooters to use as walls, corners and barriers to shoot AROUND and from behind. Please do not attach targets to these barricades and shoot at them. We have recently had to disassemble many of these because of weathering and damage.

Speaking of behind, one of the foremost rules of safe shooting is “know your target and what lies beyond.”  In the pistol bays we have “target stands” that hold two sticks to which we staple a target.  These stands are low to the ground and fabricated of steel. When setting up an area to shoot, look behind your targets and identify any other extra target stands, steel targets or plates. When a bullet travels through the paper/cardboard target it is only slightly slowed, it will damage whatever is behind the target. Steel targets stands that are hit and dented can be rendered useless because the dent will dimple the inside cavity and pin the wooden stick so it can not be removed or replaced. So, when shooting, clear the area behind of any extra items.