Range Commands
In general, group shooting activities have three stages:
- Preparing the range for live fire
- The firing period
- Stopping fire and declaring the range safe
The following commands can be called at ANY time, by ANYONE, during ANY stage, to indicate EMERGENCY or HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS
| Command: | Cease Fire |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To stop all shooting |
| Action: | Participants immediately stop shooting, continue to keep the muzzle pointed downrange, remove finger from inside the trigger guard, unload and clear the firearm, and wait for further instructions from the range safety officer. |
| Command: | Misfire |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To notify the range safety officer and other participants that a round did not fire when the trigger was pulled and to alert other shooters along the line that a hazardous condition may exist |
| Action: |
(1) The shooter experiencing the misfire continues to keep the firearm pointed downrange, removes finger from inside the trigger guard, and waits for further instructions from a range safety officer.
(2) All shooters in the same relay as the shooter with the misfire should cease fire, unload, open and bench their firearms, and step back from the line. |
The following commands are listed in the general order they will be used during any shooting event. These commands will be issued by the range safety officer.
Stage 1: Preparing the range for live fire
| Command: | Load your firearm |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To notify participants that they can load the prescribed number of rounds. |
| Action: | Participants will load the prescribed number of rounds and stand ready for the next command. |
| Command: | Is the line ready? |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To determine if all shooters along the line are ready |
| Action: | All shooters not ready should indicate their status to the range safety officer. Sufficient time will be allowed for the shooter to complete her preparation. |
| Command: | Ready on the right |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To declare that the shooters to the right of the range safety officer have indicated they are ready |
| Action: | Any shooter not ready at the command should alert the range safety officer that she is not ready |
| Command: | Ready on the left |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To declare that the shooters to the left of the range safety officer have indicated they are ready |
| Action: | Any shooter not ready at the command should alert the range safety officer that she is not ready. |
| Command: | Ready on the firing line |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To notify all participants the range is about to be under live fire |
| Action: | Any shooter not ready at the command should alert the range safety officer immediately that she is not ready. |
| Command: | Commence firing |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To declare the range is formally open for live fire |
| Action: | The participants may commence the prescribed course of fire. |
Stage 2: Firing Period
Firing shall continue until a predetermined time period has lapsed, or until all participants have completed the prescribed course of fire. During informal shooting events, participants, when finished firing, should simply open the action, unload the firearm, bench the firearm, step back away from the bench, and wait until all shooters have completed the event. After this, a mutually agreed-upon CEASE FIRE is called.
Stage 3: Stop Fire and Declare the Range Safe
| Command: | Cease fire |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To stop all firing |
| Action: | All participants should stop firing, open actions, unload and bench all firearms. Range safety officers will inspect each firearm to be sure it is UNLOADED and action is open before the shooter leaves the bench with their firearm and ammunition placed in their range bag. |
| Command: | Range is clear |
|---|---|
| Purpose: | To alert all shooters along the line that travel beyond the firing line for purposes of target change or retrieval, and the removal of brass and trash, is approved |
| Action: | Participants may move downrange as directed to change or remove targets, or to clean up. The next relay shall not take up positions on the firing line until told to do so. Participants not going downrange are to stand back from the firing line and away from firearms. NO firearm will be handled while others are downrange. |