AAFTA Safety Rules

Reprinted from the 2007 AAFTA Clubs and Shooters Handbook

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These Safety Rules Will Be Strictly Enforced. Anyone Abusing These Rules May Be Expelled From The Shooting Range and Match Participation.

  1. All Airguns shall be kept unloaded until on the firing line, with the muzzle pointed downrange and ready to fire.
  2. Airgun muzzles will at all times be pointed away from all persons.
  3. When on the firing line, safe Airgun procedures will be observed including:
    1. No Airgun will be cocked or loaded until a shot is ready to be fired downrange.
    2. When an Airgun is cocked or loaded on the firing line, the SAFETY will not be released until the muzzle is pointed at the target and the shooter is ready to FIRE.
    3. When cocking Piston Airguns, the Shooter must hold the cocking lever or barrel while inserting a pellet, to prevent the accidental discharge of the gun and preventing injury to himself or other shooters.
    4. Safe spacing of shooters on the firing line is both judicious and courteous.
    5. Each shooter is responsible for his or her direction of fire, and safety toward other shooters.
    6. When the Range Safety Officer or Marshall declares the line "COLD" all Shooters will break the breech, open the loading port or bolt, or unlatch the cocking lever to signify a safe "COLD" line.
    7. The Range Safety Officer should be notified when a shooter wishes to put-up a new practice target. The Range Safety Officer will, at his discretion, call for a "COLD" line. At that time targets may be put up on his command. On the field target course the appointed marshalls will act as deputies of the Range Safety Officer (Chief Marshall).
    8. The Range Safety Officer or Marshall will have the final decision on matters of "Safety on the Range".
    9. Lead Pellets only may be used on the range.
  4. Safety must be encouraged and enforced. It is, therefore, important that all shooters strive to practice safe airgun handling. It is also important, that shooters remind anyone of unsafe airgun handling and, if necessary, report unsafe practices to the Range Safety Officer or Marshall.
  5. NO children shall be allowed on the firing line. Junior Shooters MUST be cleared by the Range Safety Officer by being instructed on RANGE SAFETY.
  6. No alcohol will be allowed on the sight-in range or field target course.