CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION When you pick up or receive an air rifle from someone else, the first thing you must do is control the muzzle (point it in a safe direction). The command LOAD means you can charge (pull bolt handle back) your air rifle and load a pellet in it. When your air rifle malfunctions (fails to fire), you must keep the muzzle pointed downrange, raise your hand so the Range Officer can see it and wait for instructions from the Range Officer. Before anyone can go downrange to change targets or for any other purpose; all air rifles must be unloaded, grounded, with CBIs inserted, and checked. Range Safety

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety If you still have a loaded rifle (pellet in barrel) after the Range Officer gives the command STOP; you must remain in position and keep your air rifle muzzle pointed downrange, raise your hand so the Range Officer can see it and then follow the Range Officer’s instructions. After you pick up or receive an air rifle and have made sure the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction, the second thing that you must do; in order to make sure it is safe, is check the action/bolt to be sure it is open and has a CBI inserted.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety The command STOP means you immediately take your finger off the trigger and do not fire any more shots. The safest and correct way to load a pneumatic air rifle is to open the action, charge air, then insert a pellet. The most important component of rifle safety is the person holding the rifle. If you are with someone else who is handling an air rifle (gun) behind the firing line with the action closed, you should ask that person to open the action of the gun immediately.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety When a rifle is grounded, it must be lying on the floor (or bench) with its action open and a CBI inserted. The proper time to place the index finger on the trigger is after you start to aim at your target. An air rifle is considered “unloaded” if the action is open, there is no pellet in the barrel and a CBI is inserted. The only place you can close the bolt/action of your rifle to dry fire it or to load and fire it is on your designated firing point after the Range Officer begins a PREPARATION period or gives the command LOAD.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety When you are on the firing line and the Range Officer begins a PREPARATION period, you may remove the CBI, close the action and dry fire. The “Rules for Safe Gun Handling” do not only apply to air rifle shooting and they also apply to other types of guns. On target ranges, the safest direction to point a gun muzzle is downrange or up towards the ceiling. No one is authorized to fire a shot until the command START is given, even if the command LOAD has already been given.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety When you are shooting after the commands to LOAD and START have been given, it is not OK to lay a loaded air rifle on your shooting mat (or bench) and step away from the firing line. Everyone who handles air rifle pellets should wash their hands immediately after they leave the range. Safety rules are important in being safe with air guns because air rifles are still very powerful. After you finish firing, you may not put your rifle down without opening the action first regardless if it has just been fired.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety Once an air rifle is unloaded and checked by a Range Officer, it is still not OK to point it in any direction. When you finish firing your shots on a target; you should lay your rifle down, and open the action or insert a CBI without the Range Officer telling you to do so. To dry fire your air rifle, you do not need to charge air in your air rifle.

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Rules Range Officer: In charge of range, RO must be an adult, adult RO must be present Firing Point: One for each shooter Target Holder/Backstop: One for each firing point Firing Line: No part of the body may touch the firing line or the floor ahead of line Ready Line: Persons waiting to fire & spectators must remain behind line

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Range Safety Conditions Unloaded Rifle: –Action open –No pellet in barrel –CBI inserted Grounded Rifle: –On floor or bench –Unloaded w/CBI inserted Line is Clear: –Rifles are unloaded, grounded and checked –No one handles rifles Line is “Hot”: –No one is forward of firing line –Line is ready for firing Call to Firing Line: –OK to move rifle and equipment to firing line –Handling rifles may be permitted, CBIs remain in Preparation Period: –OK to remove CBIs, close bolts and dry-fire or do aiming exercises –Charging gas or loading is not authorized

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Basic Range Commands LOAD –OK to charge gas mechanism –OK to insert pellet –OK to close action –Not OK to shoot START – OK to begin firing – OK to continue firing – When last shot is fired—open action, insert CBI, ground rifle STOP –Immediately stop attempting to fire shot (finger off trigger!) –Firing no longer authorized 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

CHAPTER 1: CADET SAFETY AND CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM LESSON 2: FIREARM SAFETY AND SAFE RANGE OPERATION Safe Loading Procedure 1.Open Action 2.Charge Air 3.Insert Pellet 4.Close Action 5.Place rifle in position and fire shot 6.Open action--repeat