At Hartford Gun Club, we feel that it is the job of everyone on the ranges and fields to keep our sport safe. Please review the General Safety Rules and the Range-Specific Safety Rules below to be sure you understand what is expected of Hartford Gun Club members and theirs guests.

GENERAL SAFETY RULES
"ALL GUNS ARE ALWAYS LOADED"

1. Always point the muzzle of any gun you are handling in a safe direction.
2. Don't touch the trigger until you have the gun pointed at a safe target and are ready to fire.
3. Treat every gun as if it is loaded.
4. Adequate eye and ear protection must be worn when on all ranges.
5. If a chambered round or shell does not fire when you press the trigger, point the gun down range, take your finger off the trigger and wait for 30 seconds. If it still hasn't ignited, remove it from the chamber and set it aside for destruction. (There are "Dud Boxes" at each range where you may leave these dud rounds for pickup and destruction by HGC staff.)
6. When loading or unloading a gun, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
7. If you are cleaning a gun on HGC property, always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Cleaning firearms and gun handling is allowed at designated areas in the Main Club House and the Pistol Club House.
8. When unloading semi-automatic guns, remove the magazine first, rack the slide twice, lock it open and inspect the chamber to be sure no live round is present.
9. Commands from a Range Officer must be obeyed immediately.
10. With the exception of concealed carry of handguns, no loaded guns are allowed in the Main Club House or the Club House at the indoor pistol range.
11. Concealed carry of handguns is allowed on HGC property. Open carry of handguns is only allowed on the bullet ranges.
12. No full-auto or burst-fire weapons are allowed on any range.
13. No explosive targets are allowed on any range.
14. All uncased firearms are to be put on the bench and not handled, with actions opened, when shooters are down-range attending to targets.
15. Please use and observe all range closure signals.
16. The destruction of foliage, property or wildlife on any range is strictly prohibited.
17. These rules may be temporarily amended by the HGC Board or Management for HGC-sanctioned events.

Shooting sports require all of us to be sure of a safe environment at all times. Accidents or negligent discharges must be prevented.

RANGE-SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES

Indoor Pistol Range

• For pistols and revolvers, the maximum allowable caliber is .44 magnum.
• Only rimfire rifles are allowed on the indoor pistol range.
• Only paper targets, mounted on the frames provided at each port, may be used.
• Shoot only at targets directly in front of your position. Shooting at an angle may create a ricochet from the steel backstop which would be a serious problem.

Outdoor Pistol Range

• Never shoot across the range at any target.
• All pistol and revolver calibers are allowed.
• No centerfire rifles are allowed on the pistol ranges. Pistol-caliber rifles may be used, with targets at an appropriate distance.
• No magnums or handgun calibers over .45 may be used on the metal plates.
• Steel Plate Targets; No ammunition exceeding 1500 fps. in velocity and no steel core, jacketed bullets can be used since higher velocities/jacketed bullets will damage the plates and craters promote a dangerous ricochet hazard. Use lead or copper-plated ammunition only. When shooting on steel targets, the line of fire must be perpendicular to the target, insuring that bullet spatter or fragments will be limited to a safe area. Shooting plates on an angle can result in ricochets/splatter returning to the firing line, endangering the shooter and others.
• Paper targets must be attached to appropriate frames. Bowling pins must be on frames or racks.
• No targets may be placed on the ground. This will help prevent the danger of ricochets, which can result in overshooting the berms or injury.
• No "Junk" targets are allowed. Examples would be propane tanks, rocks, bricks or concrete blocks, appliances or electrical equipment or any object made of glass.
• Certain "Novelty Targets" are acceptable. These would include plastic jugs, blocks of wood, etc. No metal, glass, rocks, bricks, concrete blocks, or any item that could create the possibility of a ricochet, is allowed. If you have a question about what a Novelty Target is, please ask the Manager.
• Novelty targets must be placed on an appropriate frame or stand. Please clean up any mess when you are finished shooting.
• Before going down range to set or check targets, request a cease-fire on the range. Be considerate of other shooters and make your request when they have finished a string.
• When practicing defensive shooting, it is permissible to shoot in front of the bench. However, if another shooter wants to shoot from behind the bench, you must also shoot from behind the bench or move to another range.
• No one may shoot or handle a weapon when anyone is in front of the bench.
• Shoot only at targets directly in front of your position. Shooting at targets at an angle may result in bullets going outside the berms or create the chance for a ricochet, especially on steel targets. Both are serious safety problems.
• Often, on the day before an organized shoot (Cowboy, IDPA etc.) targets will be set up on those ranges. Please do not shoot these targets. Shoot only on targets you have placed.
• Special rules may be applied by the HGC Board or Management for any HGC–sanctioned shoots such as SASS or IDPA.

Outdoor Rifle Range

• Never shoot across the range at any target.
• All rifle and pistol calibers are acceptable.
• Any shotgun gauge is acceptable – only slugs can be fired on this range, no shot of any size.
• Paper targets must be on appropriate frames.
• Hanging or swinging metal plates and bowling pins must be on proper racks or frames.
• Steel Plate Targets: For rifles, no steel core, jacketed bullets can be used since higher velocities/jacketed bullets will damage the plates and craters promote a dangerous ricochet hazard. For pistols, refer to the Steel Plate Target regulations noted in the Outdoor Pistol Range section above. When shooting on steel targets, the line of fire must be perpendicular to the target, insuring that bullet spatter or fragments will be limited to a safe area. Shooting plates on an angle can result in ricochets/splatter returning to the firing line, endangering the shooter and others.
• No targets may be placed on the ground.
• No "Junk Targets" (see above definition) are allowed.
• Novelty Targets (see above definition) are allowed. Please clean up any mess.
• The minimum distance from the firing line to the target, for any centerfire rifle, must be 25 yards.
• Shoot only at targets directly in front of your position. Shooting at targets at an angle may result in bullets going outside of the protective berms, or increase the chance for a ricochet. Both are serious safety problems.
• Before going down range to set or attend to targets, the entire line must be shut down, including the 200-yard range. Request a cease-fire and be considerate of other shooters by waiting for them to finish a string.
• The 200-yard range requires special caution and observation. When going down range on the 200 yard positions, always put up the red/orange flag to note that you are down there. When first arriving on the rifle range, and before you begin to shoot, make sure that no one is down range on the 200-yard positions.
• All uncased firearms must be on the bench and not handled, with actions opened, when shooters are down range attending targets.
• Special rules may be applied by the HGC Board or Management for HGC-sanctioned events.

A safe and enjoyable day on the range is what we all want. We simply cannot tolerate anyone, Member or Guest, who is not shooting safely and complying with our safety rules at all times. Please take it upon yourself to make sure that you, and shooters around you, are practicing safe gun handling. Any unsafe practices should be reported immediately to Staff or a Club Officer to be dealt with quickly. If you have any questions about these rules, or gun safety in general, please talk to a Club Officer, a Staff member or another Club Member. They will all be glad to help you.

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Hartford Gun Club • 157 South Main Street, East Granby, CT 06026 • 860-658-1614

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