I. General NRA Gun Safety: Rules When Handling A Firearm

  1. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Whether you are shooting or simply handling your gun, never point the muzzle at yourselfor others. Common sense should dictate which direction is the safest depending on your location and other conditions. When on the range, always point or firearm down range.
  2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. There is a natural tendency to place your finger on the trigger when holding agun. Avoid it!!! That is what trigger guards are made for, to enable you to hold the gun comfortably with your finger off the trigger.
  3. Keep the action open and gun unloaded until you are ready to shoot. Whenever you pick up any gun immediately open the action and check (visually if possible) to see that the chamber is unloaded. If the gun has a magazine, remove it and make sure it is empty. If you do not know how to open 

    When Shooting A Gun: 
  4. Know how the gun operates. Before handling any firearm, learn how it operates. Know the basic parts, how to open and close the action safely and how to safely remove ammunition from the gun or clip. Always remember, a gun's safety device is never foolproof. Nothing can replace safe gun handling.
  5. Be sure your gun and ammunition are compatible. Only BBs, pellets, cartridges or shells designed for a particular gun can be fired safely in that gun. Most guns have the ammunition type stamped on the barrel. Ammunition can be identified by information printed on the box and sometimes stamped on each cartridge. Do not shoot the gun if there is any question about the compatibility of the gun and ammunition.
  6. Carry only one gauge/caliber of ammunition when shooting. Smaller ammunition can be accidentally placed in a gun chamber designed for larger ammunition creating an obstruction and a hazard. Remove unfired ammunition from clothing when you are finished shooting in order to avoid accidentally mixing different ammunition the next time you shoot.
  7. Be sure of your target and what is beyond. Be positive you have identified your target beyond all doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area behind your target. This means observe your area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. THINK FIRST - SHOOT SECOND !
  8. Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate. Guns are loud. They can also emit debris and hot gas that could cause eye injury. Safety glasses and ear protection are MANDATORY. A bit of precaution may save your sight and hearing.
  9. Do not mix alcohol or drugs with shooting. Alcohol and drugs are likely to impair normal mental and physical bodily functions and must not be used before or while handling or shooting guns.
  10. Be aware that circumstances may require additional rules unique to a particular situation. The basic rules as listed above for safe handling and shooting of firearms may need to be supplemented with other rules. An example would be that different types of ranges, such as pistol or trap, may have specific rules that must be learned and followed. Remember, whether in the home, at the range, or in the field, you are the person that is responsible for gun safety. 
     
    Cleaning 
  11. Before cleaning your firearm, make absolutely sure that it is unloaded. All ammunition should be stored away from the cleaning area. The gun action should be open during the cleaning process. Regular cleaning is important. Your gun should be cleaned after each use. A gun brought out of prolonged storage should be cleaned before shooting. Accumulated moisture, dirt or greases can interfere with the gun’s safe operation. The cleaning of firearms on club property is permitted in designated areas only.

  12. Storage
  13. Several factors should be considered when you decide on where and how you intend to store your firearms. Your particular needs will be a major part of the consideration. Safe and secure storage requires that all untrained individuals (especially children) be denied access to your guns. Massachusetts Law (M.G.L. c. 140, s.131L) requires that all firearms be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper resistant lock.

II. General Regulations For Use of the Club

  1. All members are required to wear their club badges or identification in a visible manner while on club property.
  2. Members are responsible for signing guests in the log book upon arriving at the club. Guests must wear visitor’s badge while on club property. Return badges when done for the day. See Guest Policy.
  3. All persons on the range must wear hearing protection.
  4.  All persons on the range must wear eye protection.
  5. You must properly holster or have cased all firearms upon exiting your vehicle and/or firearms that are carried onto club property.
  6. When firearms are uncased or un-holstered, all actions must be open and the firearm unloaded, except when ready to shoot.
  7. Firearms are not to be un-holstered or uncased unless on a firing line.
  8. All firearms are assumed to be loaded and should be treated as such. All loading and/or unloading of firearms must be done on a designated range line only. Absolutely no loading or unloading of firearms in any clubhouse. 
  9. All doors and gates are to remain locked, unless otherwise posted, to prevent unauthorized use of club property.
  10. No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed on club property at any time, nor any person under the influence of same.  Violation of this rule will be cause for immediate dismissal. 
  11. No food or beverages are allowed on any firing line. 
  12. No smoking is allowed on any firing line. Special caution should be taken around black powder.
  13.  All ranges are to be kept policed in a reasonable decent manner. Trash receptacles are provided for your convenience. 
  14. Shooting is allowed on designated ranges only. 
  15. Only one gun and accompanying ammunition is allowed uncased at any time while shooting. 
  16. One shooter and coach are allowed per shooting station.
  17. All members are responsible for reading signs posted on ranges and adherence to same.
  18. Obey all firing line commands immediately.
  19. Persons shooting in organized club events take preference over individual shooters.
  20. The rules of the N.R.A. and CMP have preference.
  21. No member observing a rule infraction is allowed to let it go uncorrected.
  22. Every member is authorized to act as a Range Officer in order to enforce the range safety rules.
  23. All members are requested to help novice shooters,or new members, to explain the use of firearms,club range rules and advise and instruct when appropriate.
  24. Range officers will be responsible for coordination of the cease fire procedures and and enforcement of all rules and regulations.
  26. Targets are to be placed on designated target holders only. Do not raise firearm above the target line. Shoot only at target directly in front of shooting position. No cross firing allowed.
  27. All firearms must be raised from the shooting bench. No shooting from the hip or quick drawing.
  28. When moving from one shooting station to another, firearm must be unloaded and the action open. The firearm must be pointed up in a safe direction.
  29. No incendiary, tracer or armor piercing ammunition is to be used on any range.
  30. The use of exploding targets is strictly prohibited.
  31. It is recommended that members load and shoot no more than ten (10) rounds at a time. Extreme care should be taken when rapid firing.
  32. Always be certain that bullets hit the designated target impact area.
  33. The placing of objects or the walking on or disruption of any dirt berm or range backstop is prohibited.
  34. No vehicles are to be driven on any range. Vehicles are to be parked in designated areas only.
  35. Be courteous to assure that spent casings do not interfere with other shooters.
  36. The shooting of any wildlife on club property is strictly prohibited.
  37. When arriving at a range and you appear to be alone, be certain that no other person is down range before firing.
  38. If you are down range and someone arrives to shoot, make your presence known.
  39. In the event a malfunction prevents you from clearing and/or unloading your firearm, do not remove firearm from the firing line. Seek assistance.

IV. Indoor Range Rules

  1. Firearms
    1. Handguns.
    2. All rimfire rifles.
    3. Air pistols and air rifles (with Pellets only).
    4. No other rifles or shotguns are allowed.
    5. Black powder pistols are allowed with the consent of fellow shooters.
  2. Ammunition
    1. Lead, alloy, jacketed, semi-jacketed bullets are allowed.
    2. Handgun caliber ammunition only.
    3. Magnum loads are allowed
    4. Armor piercing, incendiary and tracer ammunition is prohibited
    5. No BB's are allowed. Pellets are allowed.
    6. No centerfire rifle ammunition, shotgun, shot shell or slugs are allowed.
  3. Targets
    1. Paper targets only
    2. No targets larger than 12"x 18". 
    3. The minimum distance from the shooting bench that targets may be set is 33' indicated by the yellow line (on walls).
  4. General Regulations
    1. The hours of operation are twenty-four (24) hours a day, 365 days a year, except during work details, scheduled shooting events and fifteen minutes prior to and during club meetings.
    2. Lights must be turned on when shooting unless match dictates otherwise.
    3. Exhaust fans must be turned on while any person is on the range.
    4. If you are the last person to leave the range/clubhouse, turn off all the lights and exhaust fans.
    5.No smoking or eating is allowed on the indoor range.
    6.All socializing is to be confined to the meeting area. The indoor range is for shooting only.
    7.All other general rules and regulations apply

III. Cease Fire Procedure (All Ranges)

  1. Any member observing an unsafe situation should immediately call a "cease fire".
  2. When the command "cease fire" is heard, immediately stop shooting, apply safety, place firearm on bench with muzzle pointed down range, step back behind the yellow line and await further instructions.
  3. Upon command, render your firearm safe by removing all ammunition/magazines/clips. (decap/remove primer on black powder guns).
  4. Place firearm on shooting bench with Muzzle pointed down range with action open.
  5. Once your firearm is rendered safe, step back away from shooting station, behind the yellow line.
  6. Do not handle any firearm or ammunition during a cease fire.
  7. No person is to go forward of any firing line until all firearms are determined to be in a safe mode.
  8. On all indoor and outdoor ranges, upon calling a cease fire, the cease fire light must be turned on before walking down range. No shooting is to recommence until the cease fire is concluded and the cease fire light turned off.
  9. When a cease fire is called on one of the outdoor range, shooters on the other ranges may continue shooting unless the situation dictates otherwise.
  11. For target change, the cease fire command should be coordinated with shooters on the line.
  12. When a target change is requested, shooters may continue normal course of shooting. Do not reload.
  13. If a range officer is present, he/she will be responsible for the coordination of the cease firer and target change procedures on the range.
  14. Once all shooters are certain that all firing lines are clear and safe, you may proceed down range to hang targets.
  16. You may use the target change procedure to retrieve brass in front of the shooting bench only. Brass behind the bench may only be retrieved during the regular course of fire.
  17. No one is allowed to touch or place anything on the bench during a cease fire.
  18. Targets and staple guns should be kept separate from gun case when on the firing line.
  19. You are not permitted to pack up and leave or unpack to prepare to shoot, during a cease fire or a target change procedure. You must wait until the cease fire has concluded.

V. Outdoor Rifle Range

  1. Firearms 
    1. Rifles and shotguns allowed.
    2.Handguns chambered for rifle caliber cartridges are allowed. No other handguns are allowed, except for hunting handguns.
    3. Fully automatic firearms are allowed with written permission of the chief range officer or the executive board. Proper possession of the appropriate license is necessary. This permission is for one time use only.
  2. Ammunition 
    1. All calibers; except 50 cal. BMG
    2. Lead, alloy, semi-jacketed, jacketed ammunition.
    3. Shotgun slugs. birdshot and buckshot is allowed.
  3. Targets 
    1. Paper targets only.
    2. Targets must be placed in the center of the target frame.
    3. Only one (1) target per frame at fifty (50) yards.
    4. A maximum of three (3) targets may be placed vertically in the center of the target frame at 100 yards.
    5. When target frames are no longer useful, any member may replace them. Be certain that the appropriate target frame goes at the appropriate distance.
    6. Use designated target only when patterning shotgun, and only under the supervision of a range officer when no one is shooting.
  4. General Rules 
    1. The hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. until sunset. [Sunset is defined by the National Weather Service and printed in the daily newspaper].
    2. On Sunday and Holidays only 22 rimfire cal. Shooting is allowed from 10:10 a.m until noon. No other shooting is allowed on any outdoor range before noon time.
    3. All other general rules and regulations apply.

VI. Outdoor Pistol Ranges

  1. Firearms 
    1. Handguns.
    2. Pellet and BB guns.
    3. No center fire rifles or shotguns are allowed.
    4. Fully automatic firearms are allowed with the written permission of the chief range officer or the executive board. Proper possession of the required license is necessary. This permission is for one time use only.
  2. Ammunition 
    1. All handgun calibers.
    2. Lead, alloy, semi-jacketed and jacketed ammunition is allowed.
    3. No rifle caliber(s). (See Rifle Range).
  3. Targets 
    1. Paper targets only.
    2. Targets must be placed in the center of the target frame.
    3. Only one (1) target per frame. No target larger than 24"x 24" inches is allowed.
    4. When target frames are no longer useful, any member may replace them. Be certain that the appropriate target frame goes at the appropriate distance.

VII. Middle Pistol Range General Regulations 

  1. The rules for the outdoor pistol range are applicable
  2. The range will be open for general club use, but this use may be restricted during club run events.
  3. .22 caliber rifles are allowed. Muzzle loading rifles may be used during club run events. No other rifles, or rifle caliber ammunition are allowed
  4. The patterning of shotguns is not allowed (see trap range).
  5. All other general rules and regulations apply.

VIII. Plinking Range

  1. Firearms
    1. 22 cal. Handguns and rifles.
    2. Pellet and BB guns.
    3. No machine guns are allowed.
  2. Ammunition
    1. .22 cal. Rimfire, pellets and BB’s only.
    2. No Centerfire ammunition is allowed.
  3. TARGETS
    1. Plastic bottles, jugs etc. or tin/aluminum cans only.
    2. No food, glass, hazardous materials (e.g. paint cans, batteries, aerosol cans etc.) are allowed.
    3. Paper targets with the use of designated frames are allowed at Fifty (50) yard only.
    4. Balloons may be used on designated frames only. Balloons may be hung on strings in the center of the frames
    5. No swinging or stationary metallic targets are allowed
    6. All targets are to be placed on the railroad ties in front of the berms. No targets are to be placed on the sand berms.
  4. General Rules
    1. You must dispose of all targets when shooting is completed.

IX. Trap Range

  1. Firearms 
    1. Shotguns only.
    2. No rifles, pistols or pellet guns are allowed.
  2. Ammunition
    1. Only, number 7 1/2, 8, and 9 Shotshell is allowed.
    2. No shotgun slugs allowed.
    3. No pistol or rifle ammunition allowed.
  3. Targets
  4. 1. Clay targets only are allowed.
  5. 2. No other targets are allowed except when patterning a shotgun. 
  6. General Rules
    1. The hours of operation are determined by the Executive Board.
    2. Shooting is not allowed on the trap range before noon time.
    3. The trap range is operated under the direct supervision of the trap committee on Sunday afternoons, year round, and Tuesday evenings during the summer.
    4. A mechanical throwers is available for member use.
    5. When on the firing line shotguns will be loaded singularly only. The loading of more than one round at a time is prohibited unless the course of fire dictates otherwise.
    6. Actions must remain open until it is your turn to fire.
    7. When changing positions, shotgun must be unloaded, actions opened and pointed in a safe direction.
    8. Patterning of shotguns is allowed on the trap field. All patterning must be conducted under the direct supervision of the trap committee.
    9. Empty hulls can be picked up only after the course of fire is completed.

X. Archery Range

Updated May 28, 2019

A. Bows

  1. All bows, including crossbows, re-curve and compound bows are allowed.
  2. No firearms of any kind allowed.

B. Arrows

  1. Target and field points only.
  2. Broadheads or hunting points are allowed on designated targets only.

C. Targets

  1. Paper targets only.
  2. Targets must be placed in the center of the frame.
  3. No glass, tin cans, bottles etc
  4. 3-D targets are not to be moved under any circumstances or they will be removed from the field.

D. General Rules

  1. No one is allowed down range until the range is declared all clear.
  2. No smoking is allowed on the archery range.
  3. Eye and ear protection is not required equipment on the archery range.
  4. No cutting or any tools are to be used on targets for the removal of arrows.
  5. The arrow points must be of the same diameter as the arrow shaft.
  6. No defacing of targets or any other property.
  7. No drawing of any bows with an arrow unless the bow is pointed down range.
  8. The range will be closed during work parties.
  9. No shooting arrows at the knife-throwing station
  10. Shooting across the road is prohibited. All archers are to shoot from the designated shooting stations only.

E. Ceasefire Procedures

  1. Contact all archers explain to them that you need to do a cease fire to retrieve arrows or fix a target etc.
  2. Make sure they understand and all shooting has stopped.
  3. There is to be no shooting during this time. When the stations are finished a red flag will be put up during a ceasefire until we get power to run a ceasefire light.

XI. Guest Policy

  1. Each member is allowed one (1) shooting guest per month. Exceptions can be made with prior permission of the chief range officer, assistant chief range officers or a member of the executive board. 
  2. The member must directly supervise and coach the guest at all times. No exceptions!
  3. No member is allowed to let more than one guest shoot at a time.
  4. A member and their guest are allowed use of one (1) shooting station only.
  5. Members are responsible for the actions of their guest. If the guest violates any club rule, the member will be held responsible.
  6. Arrangements can be made for special groups with the chief range officer, assistant chief range officers or a member of the executive board. A member's spouse and children under the age of 18 can come anytime, with the member

XII. Dues

The dues year is from January 1st to December 31st. Dues must be paid by March 31st, and if not paid the member will be suspended according to Article VI of the Constitution and By-Laws.

XIII. Disciplinary Action

  1. The violation of any club rule may result in disciplinary action.
  2. The executive board shall be responsible for all disciplinary actions.
  3. The executive board, having sole discretion, may suspend or terminate membership privileges.

XIV. Rule Changes

The executive committee shall administer and oversee the management of the club. The executive board shall promulgate, modify and/or change, as they deem necessary, the rules and regulations of the club to fulfill their obligation as set forth in the Constitution and By-Laws.