HCGC Member Booklet, Club Orientation & Club Rules

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

MEMBER BOOKLET

CLUB ORIENTATION

AND

CLUB RULES

Effective 5/1/15
HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB RULES

  1. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

  • Sign in and sign out.  If you have guests, sign them in and sign them out.  This is for everyone’s safety!

  • If you see that someone is signed in, but not signed out, and you haven’t heard any activity, check on him or her before you leave.

  • If you are the last person to leave, turn off all the lights, be sure the coffeepot is unplugged (even if you didn’t use it) and lock the clubhouse doors & gate. 

  1. Lock the clubhouse doors if you are not going to be near the clubhouse.

  • Clean up after yourself and your group.  Clear trash from the tables and counters, wipe up spills, sweep the floor, and wash any dishes used.

  • Empty trashcans in the clubhouse, restrooms, or kitchen any time they are full or have anything in them that may leave an undesirable odor.  Marked bins opposite Field #2.

  • Replace paper towels and toilet paper as needed.

  • In cold weather, set the clubhouse thermostat on 55°F when you leave.  In warm weather, turn off the clubhouse air conditioner when you leave.

  • Pay for your sodas, rounds of skeet or trap, coffee, club hats and shirts.  NOT PAYING IS STEALING!

  1. If you get something from the clubhouse or on the range, put it back when you are finished.  If something breaks or doesn’t work correctly, leave a note and report it to a club officer or board member.

  1. If you see something that needs to be done while on the range, do it!  For example, if a trashcan needs to be emptied please empty it in the dumpster across from Field #2 and return it to the range.

  1. Make sure you read and follow the proper range equipment operations and rules.  The Trap and Skeet Machines can cause harm or break if misused!

  1. When finished using the skeet or trap equipment, refill & secure (turn the machines off when not in use.)

  1. On the pistol & 50 yard ranges, shoot rifles at paper or cardboard targets only, not steel.  AR (Abrasion Resistant) Steel targets for rifles are on the rifle ranges.  Do not use magnum pistol loads on steel targets in pistol & 50 yard ranges.

  1. 22 caliber rimfire & standard pistol calibers are allowable on all steel targets.

  1. Clean up the range when you finish shooting.  Police up trash & brass.  22 caliber rimfire is not considered brass.

  1. Do not use concrete blocks, bricks, cans, bottles, etc as targets.

  1. No loaded weapons in the clubhouse, only on the firing line. 

  1. The only exception is for those that have handgun carry permits, whose weapons are to remain securely holstered.

  1. At special events like IDPA, Silhouette, Vintage Rifle, 3-Gun, etc, the Safety Officer in charge will discuss safety rules required for that event.

  • Do not use target carriers or target frames as targets.

  • When changing targets, the range must be declared cold.  All weapons must be empty, actions opened, & grounded or racked. 

  1. Do not handle weapons while people are downrange.  If necessary, plan a target-changing break at regular intervals.

  • All shooters & observers on any hot range must use eye & ear protection.

  • Before using the skeet or trap equipment, you must have received training on their proper use.  Contact a club officer or board member for training.

  • We have to treat all HCGC property as if we own it, because as members, we do.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

SKEET SHOOTING SAFETY RULES

  1. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

  • Ear and eye protection shall be worn at all times while shooting.

  • Ensure no one is in the trap house before starting a round of skeet.

  • No gun shall be loaded until the shooter is on the shooting station.

  • The loaded gun shall be kept pointed in a safe direction at all times.

  • When not on the station, the gun shall be unloaded with the action left open.

  • Only one (1) shell shall be loaded at a time on station 8.

  • Never walk in front of an open trap house window.

  • Always observe targets.  Fragments of broken targets can be very dangerous.

  1.   Clean up the range when you’re finished shooting, police up shells, return score sheet pads and clipboards to clubhouse.

  1.   Dispose of trash in trash dumpster, put cardboard from target boxes in the cardboard bin.  Both bins are opposite Field #2.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

SKEET MACHINE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Check that the trap toggle switch is in the middle position (off) and that the trap arm is uncocked.

  • Open trap house window.

  • Load trap (if necessary).

  • Check power on strip (light on) and plug trap power cord into power strip.

  • Flip toggle switch on trap control box to the up (on) position.

  • Remove and unwind pull cord and plug into receptacle at Station 4. (Not required if using the wireless release device)

  • The wireless release device may be used instead of the pull cord if you have received instructions on proper use.

  • Ensure no one is in the trap house before starting a round of skeet.  Pushing the release button will cock the trap.  The trap is now ready to throw birds.

TO SHUT DOWN SKEET MACHINE

  1. Wind up pull cord if used and place in low house.

  • Push toggle switch down to release trap arm and throw a bird.  Move toggle switch to middle (off) position.  The release arm should be visible in front of the trap, if not then the trap is still armed.

  • Unplug trap power cord from power strip.

  • Turn off and store wireless release device in the low house if used.

  • Refill skeet machine for next user when finished.

  • Close trap house window.

  • Pick up empty hulls.

  • Remove cardboard boxes and trash from house, lock door, and place in marked bins opposite Field #2.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

TRAP SHOOTING SAFETY RULES

  1. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

  • Never walk in front of an energized (live) trap house 

  • While shooting eye and ear protection shall be worn at all times.

  • All guns must have the action open and contain no live or empty shell, except while the shooter is on the firing line. 

  1. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times.

  • The action may then be closed when it is the shooter’s turn to fire.

  • A contestant shall place a live shell in his gun only when at the firing station and facing the trap. 

  1. In singles shooting, he may place only one live shell in the gun at a time and must remove it or the empty shell before moving to the next station. 

  • In doubles shooting, he may place two live shells in the gun and must remove both live and/or empty shells before moving to the next station. 

  • While changing stations, the shooter leaving Station 5 shall not walk in front of the other shooters.

  • In handicap shooting, no more than two yards shall separate adjacent shooters and no squad may consist of a total difference of more than three yards.

  • Clean up the range when you’re finished shooting, police up shells, return score sheet pads and clipboards to clubhouse.

  • Dispose of trash and cardboard from target boxes in the marked bins opposite Field #2.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

TRAP HOUSE OPERATIONS PROCEDURE

WARNING:  Do not stand in front of the trap machine!  Always put the orange cone on the house whenever anyone is inside the house.

  1. Open front doors; roll roof back if applicable.

  • Unroll pull cord (not required if using voice-activated system). 

  1. Clear all people from the house area prior to proceeding. 

  • Plug the pull cord into receptacle.  Be sure to turn trap machine on and off from the side of the house.

  • If the voice release devices are preferred, they can be retrieved from the low skeet trap house and placed at the stations prior to being turned on at the station. 

  1. The power must also be on at the trap house receiver before use.

  • Push switches up.  Two switches on Field 1, two on Fields 2 and 3 (trap machine and hydraulic pump).

TO DECOCK TRAP MACHINE

WARNING:  Do not stand in front of the trap machine!  Always put the orange cone on the house whenever anyone is inside the house.

  1. While standing to the side of the house, push switches down to release arm and throw bird. The arm should be visible, if not the trap is still armed.

  • Remove pull cord from receptacle.

  • Roll up pull cord and hang reel on hook.

  • If the voice release devices were used, each unit must be turned off and returned to the low skeet trap house.

  • Load trap machine and remove all cardboard boxes.

  • Close and secure doors and roof.

  • Dispose of cardboard boxes and trash to marked bins opposite Field #2.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

PISTOL RANGE RULES

1.  Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

2.  All persons on the range must wear proper eye and ear protection.

3.  Use proper targets and target stands.  DO NOT use glass bottles, soda       cans, trash cans, barrels, range props, etc. as targets or target                              stands.

4.  Do not shoot steel targets on the pistol or 50 yard ranges with centerfire rifles, shotgun slugs, black powder guns, or magnum pistols. 

  1. Doing so represents an immediate danger to you,

others and ruins the targets.

5. Place targets no more than ten feet from the base of the berm. 

  1. Position targets so that all shots go into the berm and that no headshots could pass over the top of the berm.

  • Steel targets should not be engaged from less than 10 yards in order to minimize the possibility of ricochets and shrapnel injuring you or others.

7.  Keep all weapons pointed in a safe direction at all times.

8.  All weapons should be lying on a shooting bench, empty with actions      open, racked with actions open, or holstered before anyone goes         downrange.

9.  All weapons should be cleared while facing in a safe direction (toward the          berm).

10.  Clean up the range before leaving.  Place used targets, empty ammo      boxes, drink cans, etc in trash barrels.

11.  If barrels need to be emptied (1/2 full), take them to the dumpster    opposite Field #2, then return and secure them. 

12.  Place unusable cardboard silhouettes in marked bin opposite Field #2.

13.  Put away any target stands and range props you may have used. 

      14.  Keep the target shed clean and organized, and police up your brass.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

100/200 RIFLE RANGE RULES

     1.  Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

2.  Eye and ear protection are required for all persons when the range is hot.

3.  When transporting your weapon to and from your vehicle, it should be      unloaded.  If it is uncased, the action should be open and the muzzle pointed up until cased.  Storage on the line can be either on a shooting bench or rifle rack with the action open.

  • Prior to going downrange, the range shall be declared cold and acknowledged by all shooters present.  Place the orange cone on

the shooting bench to remind others that someone is downrange. 

5.  When the range is cold, all firearms should be unloaded, actions opened,   and magazines emptied or removed until everyone downrange has          returned.  Do not touch your weapons when someone is downrange.  The          line can then be declared hot by mutual agreement.

NOTE:

  • “Cold” means firearms are to be unloaded, actions opened, and racked or benched and not touched.
  • Unloaded means there is no round in the chamber or loaded magazine in the firearm.
  • A safe direction is one that, in the event the firearm discharged, the projectile would not cause damage or injury to persons or property.
  • “Hot” means firearms may be handled, loaded, and fired at will.

6.  During matches, the commands and instructions of the range officer

     must be followed.  The range commands vary from one shooting                      discipline to another.

7.  Targets, stands, frames, and cardboard are provided by the club for your use and convenience, are stored in the target shed on the     rifle range.  Targets are generally not provided except during matches.  Bring your own targets, staple gun, pasters, etc.

8.  All targets shall be placed so that all shots will impact the berm.

9.  All targets should be placed in the center of the frame to minimize the                  risk of damage to the frame by off-target shots.

10.  Fully automatic weapons should be fired in 3-5 round controlled burst to ensure that all shots will impact the berm.  (Tripod mounted weapons do not have to be shoulder fired.)

11.  Tripod mounted fully automatic weapons should be set up in line with                    the shooting benches or established firing line so that all shots will                  impact the berm.

12.  Reasonable care is expected when using range equipment, including, but not limited to, shelter, buildings, storage areas, benches, tables, target stands, and target frames.

13.  Do not fire at objects placed on the ground – This creates a possibility of ricochet.

14.  Shoot at paper targets on properly placed target frames or provided                 steel targets only.  Do not shoot at glass, concrete blocks, propane                      bottles, etc.

15. Only 22 caliber rim fire rifles or non-magnum pistols are allowed to shoot the steel animal silhouette targets.

NOTE:

Your firearm should always be pointed downrange when:

  • Loading
  • Unloading
  • Clearing malfunctions
  • When there is a round in the chamber
  • When the action is closed

(Performing maintenance on the firing line is highly discouraged and should   be done off of the line after the weapon has been cleared and deemed safe.)

16.  When finished shooting, dispose of all paper targets and cardboard    backings to the marked bins opposite Field #2.

17.  Store all target stands and frames properly in the target shed, keep the target shed organized.

18.  Police the range, i.e. pick up brass and shotgun shells.

HENRY COUNTY GUN CLUB

  • 600-YARD RIFLE RANGE RULES

  1. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment.  No shooter shall drink alcohol or use drugs prior to, during, or after shooting while on HCGC grounds.  No alcohol or drugs are allowed on HCGC grounds.

  • Only those HCGC members that have been qualified are permitted to shoot or supervise shooters at this range.

  • Automatic weapons are not allowed to be fired on the 600 yard range.

  • Sign in and sign out.  There is a sign in log book in an enclosure at the shooting pavilion.  If you have guests, sign them in and sign them out.  This is for everyone’s safety!

  • Eye and ear protection are required for all persons when the range is hot.

  • When transporting your weapon to and from your vehicle, it should be unloaded.  If it is uncased, the action should be open and the muzzle pointed up until cased.  Storage on the line can be either on a shooting bench or rifle rack with the action open.

  • Prior to going downrange, the range shall be declared cold and acknowledged by all shooters present. Place the orange cone in front of the firing line to remind others that someone is downrange. 

8.  When the range is cold, all firearms should be unloaded, actions opened,   and magazines emptied or removed until everyone downrange has          returned.  Do not touch your weapons when someone is downrange.  The          line can then be declared hot by mutual agreement.

NOTE:

  • “Cold” means firearms are to be unloaded, actions opened, and racked or benched and not touched.
  • Unloaded means there is no round in the chamber or loaded magazine in the firearm.
  • A safe direction is one that, in the event the firearm discharged, the projectile would not cause damage or injury to persons or property.
  • “Hot” means firearms may be handled, loaded, and fired at will.

9.  During matches, the commands and instructions of the range officer

     must be followed.  The range commands vary from one shooting                      discipline to another.

10.  All targets shall be placed so that all shots will remain within the confines of the range.

  1. All targets should be placed in the center of the frame to minimize the                risk of damage to the frame by off-target shots.

12.  Reasonable care is expected when using range equipment, including,  but not limited to, shelter, buildings, storage areas, benches, tables, target stands, and target frames.

13.  Do not fire at objects placed on the ground – This creates a possibility of ricochet.

14.  Shoot at paper targets on properly placed target frames or provided                 steel targets only.  Do not shoot at glass, concrete blocks, propane                       bottles, etc.

NOTE:

Your firearm should always be pointed downrange when:

  • Loading
  • Unloading
  • Clearing malfunctions
  • Performing maintenance
  • When there is a round in the chamber
  • When the action is closed

16.  When finished shooting, dispose of all paper targets and cardboard    backings properly.  Take trash and cardboard backing to the marked bins opposite Field #2 near the club house.

17.  Only instructors have access to the target shed at this range.  Store all target stands and frames properly in the target shed.  Help keep the target shed organized.

18.  Police the range, i.e. pick up brass and shotgun shells.

Henry County Gun Club Member Booklet

Club Orientation and Club Rules

Receipt

I, __________________________________________

Hereby acknowledge that I have received a copy of the HCGC Member Booklet and HCGC Bylaws, and that I will abide by all the rules therein.

Member Name: ________________________________

Member Signature: _____________________________

HCGC Board Witness: __________________________

HCGC Board Signature: _________________________

Date: ____________________