GENERAL
- The use of alcohol or drugs including “medical marijuana” is prohibited.
- This includes any medication that affects judgement or coordination.
- Anyone appearing to be under the influence or impaired will be instructed to leave.
- ALL GUNS USED AT THE RANGE MUST ENTER AND LEAVE UNLOADED.
- Unloading or loading of guns in the parking lot or elsewhere other than at the shooting positions is prohibited.
- Concealed carry of loaded handguns is allowed, but they must remain concealed at all times and may not be taken out for use at the range.
- “Open carry” of holstered guns is NOT PERMITTED on the premises.
- This includes empty “open carry” holsters.
- All persons must comply with the instructions of the Range Safety Officer (“RSO”).
- The use of tracer, incendiary or explosive ammunition is not allowed.
- Binary triggers, other trigger accelerator or enhanced rate of fire devices are not permitted.
- Clean up your spent brass, used targets and any trash before leaving.
- Black powder/muzzle loader shooters see the black powder supplement.
- Trap shooters see the trap range supplement.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING, PLEASE ASK US!
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE RANGE HOUSE
- All persons entering the range must check in at the control booth before entering the shooting area.
- Uncased guns entering and leaving the range building must be carried with the ACTION OPEN and MUZZLE POINTED UP while inside the building.
- Uncased guns MAY NOT enter or leave the shooting area of the range building during “COLD RANGE”.
- All persons entering the shooting area must sign the liability waiver and review the safety procedures.
- This includes children and non-shooters.
- All persons entering the shooting area must have eye and hearing protection.
“HOT RANGE” and “COLD RANGE”
- Cowlitz Public Shooting Range cycles between “HOT RANGE” and “COLD RANGE” conditions.
- “HOT RANGE” means shooting is permitted and guns may be uncased, cased, handled and moved between the
shooting positions and storage racks. - “COLD RANGE” means shooting or gun handling is NOT permitted because people are down range of the
shooting line setting up or retrieving targets and picking up spent brass forward of the red line.
- “HOT RANGE” means shooting is permitted and guns may be uncased, cased, handled and moved between the
SAFETY LINES & CONDITION LIGHTS
- There are two safety lines painted on the floor of the shooting building; a RED LINE at the front of the shooting positions and a YELLOW LINE behind the shooting positions.
- There are three amber colored flashing lights located above the shooting benches to indicate “HOT” or “COLD” range condition.
RANGE CONDITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
- During transitions between “HOT RANGE” and “COLD RANGE”, an RSO will make announcements over the P.A. system.
- A copy of the standard announcements is available for information.
- When range condition announcements are made, please look at the control booth so the RSO knows you are paying attention, and respond to questions with a visual signal such as raising your hand.
- For COLD RANGE, DO NOT cross the RED LINE until the RSO gives BOTH verbal permission AND turns the amber flashing lights ON.
- For HOT RANGE, DO NOT go forward of the YELLOW LINE or handle anything on the shooting benches until the RSO gives BOTH verbal permission AND turns the amber flashing lights OFF.
COLD RANGE PROCEDURES
- During COLD RANGE, all guns on the shooting benches must be completely unloaded with the action fully open and a range Chamber Flag properly inserted in the gun’s chamber area.
Any removable ammunition magazine must be removed from the gun even if it is empty. - If a gun is not completely unloaded, or if the action cannot be locked open with the chamber exposed, it must be safely placed in a wall rack behind the shooting line.
- All guns with tube fed magazines must be placed in a rear rack when the range transitions to COLD RANGE.
- During COLD RANGE the handling or touching of guns or gun related items, (magazines, ammunition, accessories, etc.), is NOT permitted.
- During COLD RANGE nothing may be placed on or removed from the shooting benches, and guns may NOT be uncased, cased, carried or otherwise handled in any way.
- During COLD RANGE, everyone must remain behind the YELLOW LINE except to go forward of the RED LINE to manage targets and pick up brass forward of the RED LINE/Shooting Positions.
- Persons entering or leaving the range building during COLD RANGE may do so with CASED GUNS, but everything must remain behind the YELLOW LINE while the range is cold.
HOT RANGE PROCEDURES
- DO NOT go forward of the RED LINE/Shooting Positions for ANY REASON during HOT RANGE.
- All persons inside the shooting building must wear appropriate eye and hearing protection at ALL TIMES during HOT RANGE.
- Uncasing and casing of guns is to be done ONLY at the shooting benches and the muzzle end must be kept pointed downrange.
- Reposition the case as necessary to do this before moving the gun out of or into the case.
- Keep the gun muzzle pointed in a safe direction at ALL TIMES. At the shooting positions this means DOWN RANGE, never toward the floor or the sides.
- Handgun shooters must pay particular attention to muzzle direction awareness.
- When moving guns to or from the rear gun racks or between shooting positions, the muzzle must be pointed UP and the action open.
- Keep your finger OFF THE TRIGGER unless the sights are on target and you are actually ready to shoot. Take your finger OFF THE TRIGGER when the muzzle comes off target.
- Only one gun per shooter, and the ammunition for that gun, may be out on the shooting bench at a time.
- Guns not in active use must be cased, in the rack, or on the lower shelf of the pistol bench.
- Be aware that hot brass can enter loose clothing. Reacting to it may result in unsafe gun handling. You must keep the gun under safe control at all times.
CEASE FIRE COMMAND – SAFETY HAZARDS – MALFUNCTIONS
- If you hear a “Cease Fire” command, you must IMMEDIATELY stop shooting, place your gun on the bench and step back away from the bench.
- Repeat the cease fire command in a loud voice so everyone hears it.
- ANYONE on the range may (and should) yell Cease Fire if they observe a hazardous safety issue.
- If you suspect a gun malfunction, set the gun down, step back and call for RSO assistance.
PISTOL RANGE PROCEDURES
- Pistol shooters must be especially careful of their muzzle direction, particularly when operating the slide and inserting or removing magazines of semi-auto pistols.
- Turn your body as needed, not the gun, in order to keep the muzzle pointed downrange at all times.
- Additional handguns not in active use may be placed on the shelf below the shooting bench.
- If uncased, they must be completely unloaded with the action open and a Chamber Flag inserted.
- Drawing and shooting from a holster or simulated holster draw position (muzzle pointed down) is NOT PERMITTED.
RIFLE RANGE PROCEDURES
- Shooting from the prone position or anything below bench level must be approved by the duty RSO.
- If you need an exception to the standard procedures to set up a chronograph, ask an RSO for assistance.
RAPID FIRE AND SHOT SHELL LOADS
- Rapid fire is anything faster than one shot per second. If you want to shoot faster than once per second ask an RSO for permission. It is at RSO discretion.
- Shotguns and shot shell firing guns may use slugs ONLY at the rifle/pistol range.
- Use of other loads is at the discretion of the duty RSO, who must be present during any such use.
TARGET PLACEMENT PROCEDURES
- All shooting must be done at a target placed downrange.
- The use of anything other than standard paper targets is at the discretion of the duty RSO.
- This includes water jugs and similar objects.
- DO NOT shoot at rocks or any hard object.
- If you shoot at it, clean it up afterward.
- Place targets at a distance that you know you will be “on paper”.
- Begin closer to the shooting line to confirm you are on paper before moving a target out to a greater distance.
- There are fixed rifle target stands at 100, 200 and 300 yards.
- Portable target stands are provided for pistol and rifle shooting at distances less than 100 yards.
- DO NOT use rocks or similar hard objects to anchor or stabilize target stands.
- When going downrange to the 200 or 300 yard targets, use the red downrange flags located next to the drive path.
- Going downrange, position the flag to vertical.
- Return it to horizontal when coming back.
- Wear a high visibility safety vest when going beyond the 100 yard target line.
- A golf cart is provided speed up access to the 200 and 300 yard targets and for shooters with disabilities.
- Use the provided push pins for target placement. DO NOT use staples or tape.
- Center the targets on the backers, away from the uprights and any cross bars.
- Do not double set targets side by side on the stand backers.
- Remove targets from the target stands and return the push pins and portable stands when you are finished.
- Reactive (Tannerite) type targets are NOT allowed. Targets with recognizable facial features of actual persons are not permitted.
RANGE ETIQUETTE & HOUSEKEEPING
- No smoking, vaping or other tobacco use is allowed in the shooting building – including chewing tobacco.
- There are smoking areas outside – please use the butt disposal cans. They are not for trash.
- No food or drinks allowed on the shooting benches.
- Clean up spent brass and deposit it in the designated containers.
- Do not put any live rounds in the brass barrels.
- There are special containers for “duds” and live rounds. Ask an RSO.
- Do not scavenge brass from the brass containers. You may keep your own brass or any left on the floor or ground.
- Please put trash and recycling in the designated bins.
- We are “Family Friendly” – please mind your language and behavior accordingly.
- Report all injuries to an RSO, even if minor. Band-Aids and basic first aid items are available.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE NOT SURE ABOUT SOMETHING, PLEASE ASK US!
BLACK POWDER USE – MUZZLE LOADERS SPECIAL PROCEDURES
- All black powder must be of commercial manufacture and suitable for the type of gun.
- No “homemade” powders are allowed.
- No open containers of powder or primers are allowed on the shooting bench. Any powder charges and primers on the bench must be in closed containers.
- Load the gun from a measured container or with pellets.
- Load only at the shooting position during HOT RANGE.
- During COLD RANGE muzzle loaders must be uncapped and placed in a rack along the back wall.
- Cap & ball revolvers must use “bore butter” or a wad on top of the loaded chambers to prevent chain firing.
- Flintlock frizzens must be open during cold range.
TRAP RANGE & SHOTGUN PATTERNING BOARD SAFETY PROCEDURES
- No ammunition with shot larger than #7 1⁄2, loads exceeding 1 1/8 oz., or velocity exceeding 1290 fps for 1 1/8 oz., or 1325 fps for 1 oz. loads.
- This includes shooting at the patterning board.
- Keep the action open and muzzle in a safe direction until in firing position.
- Safe direction is muzzle up while on the concrete pad.
- On the shooting pad, place your barrel on the barrel rest pad between shots.
- If you are the lead shooter, do not call for a clay until all shooters are in position and announce ready.
- Load and close the action only when it is your turn to shoot.
- Load one round only unless shooting doubles.
- Do not raise your barrel until after the prior shooter fires.
- Never load a round before changing stations.
- Do not move from your position until position 5 has fired and begins the position changes.
- When moving from position 5 to position 1, turn to the right away from position 4 and walk behind the line with muzzle up.
- At the end of a round, do not move from your position until the last shooter has fired.
- Keep enough rounds (5) on your person to shoot a position.
- Do not bend over to pick up live rounds between shots at a single position.
- Restock if necessary during position changes.
- It is a good practice to have a couple extra rounds on you in case you need them.
- void letting your ejected shells hit another shooter.
- Do not pick up spent shells until shooting has ceased, but do clean them up before leaving.