Range Rules

SYWELL AIRGUN SPORTS CLUB
Est. 1983
(Revised July 2023)
RANGE RULES
1) Only airguns currently not requiring a Firearms Certificate are allowed on the airgun range.
2) It is the responsibility of the airgun owner to ensure all air rifles and pistols are within the legal
limitations of under 12 ft. lbs for rifles and under 6 ft. lbs for air pistols.
A chronograph can be made available if required. Please ask a Committee member.
3) All air pistols must stay within your bag/container until you reach the firing point on the pistol
range. No pistols are to be taken on to the rifle range.
4) During a Club Shoot, when a whistle is blown, calling for a cease-fire, the pistol range and the rifle range are
to be treated as ONE range.
5) There must be a minimum of two adults on the rifle range before shooting commences, one of whom must be
a Club member.
6) A duty range officer must be present before any shooting commences.
7) A duty range officer can be any adult member i.e. over 18 years of age.
8) The instructions of the duty range officer must be followed at all times.
9) No live quarry may be shot on the range.
10) Never cross a firing line except under ceasefire conditions, and when signalled by the range officer to do so.
RULES CONCERNING SAFETY
11) When moving between firing points your airgun must be disarmed at all times with the breech open and
empty. Multishot magazines must be removed. If the magazine system is fixed, only ever load one shot. Guns
must be carried muzzle down or pointed down range.
SPRING GUNS. If using a spring gun, whilst moving around the range, you must have the underlever unlatched,
or barrel broken. When cocking any spring gun you must hold the end of the barrel (or the underlever) when
inserting a pellet. This is to prevent accidental triggering of the firing mechanism, which will not only damage
your gun, but may injure yourself in the process.
12) Never point your airgun at anything other than a specified marked target. Only ever fire your gun in a
designated shooting area.
When shooting, make sure the muzzle of the gun is over the firing line, and the trigger is behind the firing line.
Do not shoot targets at acute angles unless they have been placed there on purpose as part of the course.
13) If handed an airgun, always check it is disarmed first.
14) Do not touch any other person’s airgun without their express permission.
15) If you have finished shooting, place your airgun either on the gun rack, in a gun bag or on a cushion with the
barrel pointing either over the firing line, or into the hedge or wood.
16) When moving to or from the airgun range all airguns must be bagged.
17) Compressed air cylinders are permitted in the upper assembly area, but not on the airgun shooting range
itself.
18) Dry firing is only permitted at the firing point.
19) If you have difficulty rising from a sitting or prone position, either put your rifle on the ground or a shooting
cushion, or ask another shooter to help by holding your gun. Avoid swinging your gun around in the air.
20) All participants and visitors should take adequate precautions to protect their hearing against
possible noise damage on the range.
CEASEFIRES
21) One blast of the safety whistle means you must stop shooting. If your airgun is armed, discharge it safely
into the ground at a safe distance over the firing line, and let the duty range officer know you are safe. Two
blasts of the whistle will indicate the all clear and shooting can recommence. During a ceasefire do not look
through the scope or sight of a target.
22) Never rest the muzzle of the gun on your foot.
RANGE ACCESS
23) Access to the airgun range requires crossing the small bore range. If this range is in use you may only enter
between sessions, or when small bore shooting has ceased completely, under the direction of the small bore
range officer. To leave the airgun range, it is only safe to do so IF there is no red “Traffic Light” light showing, OR
there is a flashing green light showing on a wall at the end of the footpath leading to the car park.
IF A RED LIGHT IS SHOWING, DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRGUN RANGE.
If the red light is showing and no shooting is heard, the blue flag at the end of the exit path of the airgun range
should be raised to alert the small bore Range Officer that airgun shooters wish to leave. He should then stop
their current detail at the earliest opportunity and change the “Traffic Light” to green. When this is done the blue
flag should be lowered before leaving the range.
24) Weekday shooting.
TO OBTAIN THE RIGHT TO USE THE RANGE DURING THE WEEK, YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW
YOU CAN RUN A RANGE AND KNOW THE SAFETY PROCEDURES. IF YOU ARE A NEW MEMBER
YOU WILL HAVE A PROBATIONARY PERIOD UNTIL THE COMMITTEE DECIDES THAT YOU ARE
SAFE TO DO SO.

There must be at least two adults at all times, and one of those must act as a Range Officer (RO). The RO
must be a paid-up member of SASC and be competent in running the range.
The named RO must sign the signing-in book with RO next to his (or her) name and will be responsible for
ensuring range rules and safety procedures are adhered to, also to ensure the Red Flag is raised prior to
shoot commencing, and lowered and secured after shooting ends. The RO is also responsible for ensuring
that any targets used are replaced in the shed and that the shed is locked. The RO should have their own
whistle to indicate that shooting may commence and stop for any interruptions and signal the end of
shooting.
In the event of an incident, the RO may be required to provide details of the incident.
To shoot on weekdays, you will have to book in on the online booking form and sign the “participant’s
book” on entering the range.
If the nominated RO has to leave for any reason, another adult member should take over the RO role.
When the RO leaves and this leaves only a member under “probation” or a single person, that person will
have to leave at the same time.
Upon arrival, if either of the other two ranges (Smallbore and Clay Pigeon) are open, you should notify
officials from these two groups that you are on site, in case they finish their business and lock up, locking you
in.
In case of an emergency there is a separate procedure for leaving the range. You will find this on our
notice board, along with a set of range rules. You will need to read this. The emergency horn is in the cupboard
with the signing-in book. If there is an emergency the RO (or another participant) should contact a Committee
member as soon as possible after the event.
When leaving our range, check around the café/office areas to see if there is anybody still on site before
you lock up, then shut and lock both gates as you leave, making sure you randomise the numbers on the
locks.

Emergency evacuation of range: See separate notice on site