When you walk into the shooting range to get prepared to shoot some rounds off, you can feel the excitement is all around you. Getting your gear, targets, and firearms ready for action; your adrenaline is rising. You’re ready to join in on the fun. But before you can do that, there are a few steps you have to follow first.
Gun range safety is the top concern at any shooting range. If you don’t practice the fundamentals, it could lead to mishaps, or being asked to leave the range. Fortunately, these things can be avoided. Here are some safety guidelines you should follow when you visit the shooting range.
Whether your weapon of choice is a bow and arrow or a firearm, there are still rules you need to follow once you arrive at a range.
● Keep your finger off the trigger until your sight is on the target and you intend to shoot
● Never point a gun towards anything you don’t intend to shoot
● Treat all firearms as if they are loaded
● Know your target and what is beyond it
● Listen to your Range Safety Officer at all times (RSO)
● Look for and read the Range Rules at the facility that you are at, each facility will have its own, though they may be very similar to one another, you will want to familiarize yourself with the rules of the facility that you are in.
Why Should I Wear Eye Protection At The Shooting Range?
Eye protection is essential and must be worn at all times, even if you aren’t the one shooting.
Additionally, a good pair of glasses can improve your vision when shooting. Some glasses are able to provide a good contrast when target shooting. When selecting a pair of shooting glasses, consider getting glasses that are rated to at least the ANSI Z87.1 standard. Regular reading glasses or non-rated glasses can shatter upon impact, whereas polycarbonate is the strongest material that can be purchased for shooting glasses.
There are also several lenses you can choose from when selecting shooting glasses. Gray or gray-green glasses are good at blocking glare without affecting your overall perception. Yellow and orange lenses will provide more of a detailed vision and amber works well on cloudier days (which you won’t necessarily need if you visit our local indoor range but would be useful on an overcast day at an outdoor range).
Why Should I Wear Ear Protection at The Shooting Range?
Remember when you were younger and your parents would yell at you to stop listening to your music so loudly, or your hearing would diminish sooner? For similar reasons, you should wear ear protection when you are at the shooting range.
Sounds at 140 decibels or louder may cause issues for your hearing in the future. To put things in perspective, a whisper in your ear is around 20 decibels, traffic in a busy city is about 80 decibels, and an airplane is around 140 decibels. Prolonged exposure to any sound higher than 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. There are several different options for hearing protection available, be sure to try out several different types to decide which one works best for you. Each category below offers many different available options and choices. Below are just some of the available hearing protection options that are available:
Disposable Earplugs
Passive protection, such as traditional earmuffs
Electronic protection, which allows speech and other low decibel sounds to come through clearly
The choice is always highly individual and everyone has their own preference.
Hone Your Skills at Hot Brass Firearm and Bow Range
Stop by our range in West Springfield, Massachusetts for lane and firearm rentals. Compared to the average 50 to 70-foot lanes, we offer ten 90-foot rifle range lanes and five pistol range lanes that you and your friends can enjoy. Whether you’re a pro or new to the sport, we have the facilities, staff, and equipment you need to have a fun and safe time at the shooting range.