Safety Rules for Air Rifle Shooting Ranges
Safety Rules for Air Rifle Shooting Ranges
• The most important rules to follow in any range or
target shooting activity are safety rules.
• This applies equally for air rifles as well as for any
type of firearm.
• There are basic safety rules that must be followed at
all shooting ranges by all shooters. Instructors and
range officers will strictly enforce these rules.
Obeying Commands & Instructions
A JROTC Instructor or Range Officer will be in
charge of all range firing activities. I will listen
to and immediately obey all commands and
instructions given by the Instructor or Range
Officer.
Muzzle
Whenever I handle an air rifle, or guns of any kind, I
will always maintain control of the muzzle so that it
points in a safe direction. I will take special care to be
sure I never point the muzzle at another person or
myself.
MUZZLE. Always keep rifle muzzles pointed in a
safe direction. Rifle muzzles should never be
pointed at other persons under any circumstances.
On a range, the safest directions to point a rifle
muzzle are usually up or downrange towards the
target.
When I pick up or receive an air rifle from someone else, the first thing
I must do is:
a. Engage the safety
b. Release the trigger
c. Open the action/bolt
d. Control the muzzle (point it in a safe direction)
Action
Whenever I handle an air rifle, or guns of any kind, I will immediately
open the gun action (bolt or operating mechanism), or visually check to
be sure the action is open and a CBI is inserted. I will remove the CBI
and close a gun action only when I am on the firing line of a range and
am authorized to do so by the Range Officer or Instructor.
RIFLE ACTION. Always keep rifle actions open except when the rifle is on the firing
line and the command to LOAD has been given. When shooting is finished or the rifle
is placed down for a break, the action must be open and unloaded, even when the rifle
is on the firing line. The rifle action may be closed when it is placed in a gun case or
arms room, but the action must be opened when it is removed from the case or
storage.
After I pick up or receive a gun and have made sure the muzzle is pointing in
a safe direction, the second thing that I must do to make sure it is safe is:
a. Check the action/bolt to be sure it is open and has a CBI inserted
b. Dry fire the gun to see if it works
c. Give the gun to an adult
d. Take it to the range
Trigger
Whenever I handle guns, I will do so without
placing my finger on the trigger. I will place my
finger on the trigger only when I am on the firing
line, after I have placed my air rifle in a firing
position and have begun to aim at the target.
TRIGGER. Keep your finger off of the trigger until
after placing the rifle in the shooting position and
preparing to fire a shot. It is especially important to
keep the finger outside of the trigger guard when
loading the rifle and placing it in the shooting
position.
The proper time to place the index finger on the trigger is:
a. After I start to aim at my target.
b. After loading the rifle
c. When I start to put the rifle in position on my shoulder
d. Whenever it feels right
Range Commands
I understand what the range commands LOAD,
START, STOP and UNLOAD mean. I will
respond properly to those commands
whenever they are given.
RANGE OFFICER. A range officer or designated person is in charge
of firing at every range. The commands and instructions of the range
officer or person in charge of firing must be obeyed.
Range officers must check rifles brought to the range to be sure
actions are open and unloaded.
When shooting is finished, range officers must check rifles to be sure
actions are open and unloaded.
Safe Loading
I will charge and load my air rifle only when I am on a
designated firing point and have been given instructions
or commands to do so. When I cock and load my air rifle
I will take special care to keep the muzzle pointed up or
downrange towards the targets.
The safest and correct way to load a pneumatic air rifle is
open the action, charge air, then insert a pellet.
The safest and correct way to load a pneumatic air rifle is:
a. Open the action, charge air, then insert a pellet
b. Open the action, insert a pellet, then charge air
c. Whichever way works for me
d. Charge air, open the action, then insert a pellet
Target
When I am firing on a range, I will fire only at my
designated targets. I will not fire at anyone
else’s target or at any other objects on the range.
TARGET. Shoot only at the target designated for
you. Be sure the target is properly placed in front of
a safe backstop. Shooting at any object on a range
besides your own target is strictly forbidden.
On target ranges, the safest direction to point
a gun muzzle is downrange or up towards the
ceiling.
T or F
Malfunction
If, when I am on the firing line attempting to load or fire
my air rifle, my air rifle fails to fire or malfunctions, I will
remain in position, keep the muzzle pointed downrange
and raise my hand so the Range Officer can see it. I will
wait for the Range Officer to give me instructions or help
clear the malfunction.
When my air rifle malfunctions (fails to fire), I must:
a. Keep the muzzle pointed downrange
b. Raise my hand so the Range Officer can see it
c. Wait for instructions from the Range Officer
d. All of the above
Loaded Rifle after Firing
If I still have a loaded rifle (pellet in barrel) after the
Range Officer gives the command stop I must remain in
position and keep my air rifle muzzle pointed
downrange, raise my hand for range officer, Follow
range officer instructions.
If I still have a loaded rifle (pellet in barrel) after the Range Officer gives the
command STOP, I must:
a. Remain in position and keep my air rifle muzzle pointed downrange
b. Raise my hand so the Range Officer can see it
c. Follow the Range Officer’s instructions
d. All of the above
Firing Completed
Whenever I have fired my last shot in a firing
exercise, I will immediately:
 Open the action on my air rifle,
 Ground the rifle
 Insert a CBI in it so the Range Officer can check
it.
An air rifle is considered “unloaded” if:
a. Its action is open
b. The firer is done shooting
c. The action is open, there is no pellet in the
barrel and a CBI is inserted
d. The muzzle is pointed in a safe direction
Loaded Air Rifle
If I have a loaded air rifle after the command STOP is given, or
even if I think there may still be a pellet in my rifle,
 I will keep the muzzle pointed downrange,
 raise my hand so the Range Officer can see it and
announce “Loaded Rifle.”
 I will wait for the Range Officer to give instructions for
unloading the rifle.
Going Downrange
I understand that whenever anyone must go downrange to
hang targets or for any other reason,
 That all air rifles must be unloaded,
 Grounded with CBIs inserted and checked.
 I may not handle my air rifle while anyone is forward of
the firing line
Before anyone can go downrange to change targets or
for any other purpose:
a. Everyone must open their rifle actions and point their
rifle muzzles up
b. No one can go downrange until guns are placed in safe
storage
c. All air rifles must be unloaded, grounded with CBIs
inserted and checked
d. All firers must finish firing
Hygiene
I will protect my health by not bringing
food or open drink containers to the
range. I will always wash my hands
immediately after I finish firing on the
range.
Everyone who handles air rifle pellets should
wash their hands immediately after they
leave the range.
T or F
I Am A Safety Officer Too
I am also responsible for making sure everyone around me handles
guns safely. If I observe someone:
 Pointing a gun muzzle at another person,
 Handling a gun with a closed action or
 Handling a gun with their finger on the trigger,
I will immediately advise or assist that person to safely control the
muzzle, open the action or take their finger off of the trigger.
If I am with someone else who is handling a gun behind the firing line
with the action closed, I should:
a. Wait for an adult to show up
b. Mind my own business and hope nothing bad happens
c. Tell that person to put the gun away
d. Ask that person to open the action of the gun immediately
Self-Discipline and Focus
I recognize that gun safety is possible
only if I and my fellow cadets apply the
self-discipline and focus to continually
think safety every time we handle guns
or shoot on the range.
The most important component of rifle safety is:
a. The trigger
b. The action
c. The muzzle
d. The person holding the rifle
Safety Goal
The safety goal for our JROTC
unit is zero accidents.
Safety rules are not as important in being safe
with air guns because air rifles are not very
powerful.
T or F
M-A-T
The primary gun parts, the muzzle (M), action
(A) and trigger (T), are the keys to leaning the
rules for safe gun handling. Everyone must
know these gun parts, whether they ever do
any target shooting or not.
3. Trigger 2. Action 1. Muzzle
The “Rules for Safe Gun Handling” apply only
to air rifle shooting and not to other types of
guns.
T or F
Basic Range Commands
LOAD
 OK to charge gas
mechanism
 OK to insert pellet
 OK to close action
Not OK to shoot
The command LOAD means:
a. I can load my air rifle and start
shooting
b. It may occasionally be violated if
accidents do not occur
c. I can charge (pump or cock) my air
rifle and load a pellet in it
d. I can start getting ready to shoot
START
 OK to begin firing
 OK to continue firing
 When last shot is fired—open action,
insert CBI, ground rifle
No one is authorized to fire a shot until the
command START is given, even if the
command LOAD has already been given
T or F
When I am shooting after the commands to
LOAD and START have been given, it’s OK to
lay a loaded air rifle on my shooting mat or
bench and step away from the firing line.
T or F
Basic Range Commands
STOP
 Immediately stop attempting to
fire shot (finger off trigger!)
 Firing no longer authorized
The command STOP means:
UNLOAD
 Open action and ground rifle
 Notify RO if rifle remains loaded
 RO must confirm unloaded
condition--RO assistance is
required to unload loaded rifles
An air rifle is considered “unloaded” if:
a. Complete the shot I am
attempting to fire
b. Quickly complete the shot I am
attempting to fire
c. Immediately take my finger off
the trigger and do not fire any
more shots
d. Tell the Range Officer I am not
done
a. Its action is open
b. The firer is done shooting
c. The action is open, there is no pellet in
the barrel and a CBI is inserted
d. The muzzle is pointed in a safe direction
Clear Barrel Indicators or
CBIs are used to demonstrate
that air rifles are not loaded
with a pellet and that their
actions are open. CBIs are
made from bright-colored
monofilament line. CBIs are
inserted in air rifle barrels from
the breech (action) end of the
barrel and extend out both
ends of the barrel.
When I finish firing my shots on a target, I should
lay my rifle down, but I don’t have to open the
action or insert a CBI until the Range Officer tells
me to do that.
T or F
(U7C1L3:F2)
What part of a target rifle is shown in this image?
A)
B)
C)
D)
front sight
kneeling roll
sling swivel
butt plate
Gather Phase
Inquire Phase
QUESTIONS?
Inquire Phase