This YouTube video by National Shooting Sports Foundation explains common safety and etiquette rules at a shooting range. Shooting ranges are important places to practice. Many will let you rent or otherwise try out different gun models before you commit to buying one. It’s helpful to know how a gun model feels in your hands and if it’s comfortable; everyone is different.
The video starts with universal gun safety rules. I have shared these in a previous post, but they can never be overstated. Safety is especially important around other people who are practicing shooting.
- Keep the gun pointed in a safe direction: Never point the gun at anything you don’t want to shoot.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot.
- Keep your gun completely unloaded until you’re ready to shoot.
- Every gun range has different rules, so read them thoroughly before you begin shooting: Ask for help and guidance up front before you’re in a noisy shooting area. Safety is the staff’s number one concern, so they’ll be happy to answer questions.
Next, the hosts demonstrate how to safely set down both a semiautomatic handgun and a revolver. They have different parts, but they should both be pointed downrange at all times. A gun should be in this position whenever you’re inspecting the target or changing shooters in the booth.
At indoor gun ranges, you can automatically bring the target close to you for inspection. At an outdoor range, you must wait for the range officer to give the all clear signal to walk up and inspect.
The video then goes through the rules specific to the range where it was filmed. You should follow all instructions by the range officer on duty. Anyone at the range can call a cease fire, and the officer will respond to your concerns. The video wraps up with some common sense tips.
