PLEASE FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH 

THESE STANDARD COMMANDS 

ON SHOOTING RANGES

Note that the Range Officer will inspect your 

firearm, equipment and clothes to see if they are suitable and safe

Range Officer’s Commands for Running/Controlling the Range

Standard Range Commands for Practical Pistol

These are the standard commands for loading, unloading, and clearing firearms during practical pistol exercises (usually individual shooters on the line):

1. “Load and Make Ready”(+“to safe carry condition”)

• Shooter faces downrange and unholsters the pistol.
  
  

• Points pistol downrange, finger off trigger.
  
  

• Inserts a magazine with one round.
  
  

• Chambers round using a firm push-pull slide action.
  
  

• Applies safety.
  
  

• Removes empty magazine, stores or drops it.
  
  

• Inserts full magazine.
  
  

• Holsters pistol cocked, locked, and with safety on.
  
  

2. “Are You Ready?” or “Shooter Ready?”

• RO asks shooter if ready.
  
  

• Shooter does not need to reply unless not ready – respond with “Not Ready” clearly and loudly.
  
  

3. “Standby”

• Prepares shooter for the start signal, usually via timer, audible or visual cue.
  
  

4. “If You Are Finished, Unload and Show Clear”

Pistol Procedure:

• Finger off trigger, point downrange.
  
  

• Remove and drop magazine.
  
  

• Disengage safety.
  
  

• Rack slide to eject chambered round.
  
  

• Lock slide open and hold for inspection.
  
  

Revolver Procedure:

• Open cylinder, dump rounds, keep finger off trigger.
  
  

• Maintain muzzle downrange for inspection.
  
  

5. “If Clear, Slide Forward/Down, Hammer Down, Holster”

Pistol:

• RO confirms firearm is empty.
  
  

• Shooter releases slide gently, then points downrange and presses trigger.
  
  

• Holsters pistol safely, muzzle always downrange.
  
  

6. “Range is Clear/Safe”

• Indicates the firing line is now safe for movement and downrange activity.

When there are Multiple Shooters on the line

Pre-Firing Line Procedures
No shooters may approach or place equipment on the firing line until the following checks are complete:

1. “Has everyone paid their range fee?”
   
   

2. “Has everyone put up their target?”
   
   

3. “Has everyone signed the range register?”
   
   

4. “Shooters/shooters to the firing line. Firearms to remain bagged or cased until further commands.”
   
   

Range Activation
5. “The range is closed/hot.”

Firearm Unbagging and Safety Check
6. The Range Officer will inspect each shooter individually, issuing one of the following:

• “Unbag and show me a safe gun.”
  
  

• or “shooters on the firing line. You may unpack and prepare yourself.”
  
  

• Firearms must be unloaded and placed on the bench pointed downrange.
  
  

  • Pistols: Slide locked back, magazine removed, chamber empty.
    
    

  • Revolvers: Cylinder open and empty.
    
    

The Range Officer explains the exercise and assigns a target:

• e.g., “15 minutes shoot as you please.”
  
  

Preparation to Fire
7. “Take up your shooting position and adjust your sights/scopes.”
8. “Eye and ear protection on” or “Eyes and ears on.”
9. “Load and make ready” or “5 rounds load and make ready.”

• Load firearm; bolt remains open for single-shot firearms.
  
  

Readiness Check and Fire Command
10. “Is everybody ready?” or “Ready on the line?”
- Shooters not ready should indicate.
11. “The detail is not ready” (if applicable).
12. “Everybody is ready – close bolts and stand by.”
- Trigger finger must remain outside the trigger guard.
13. “Blow whistle” or give command “fire.”
- Firearms may be shared during sighting-in within time limits.

Cease Fire and Unload
14. “Stop/Cease fire” – whistle blown or command given.
15. “Unload and make safe.”
- Shooters remain at the bench with firearm pointed downrange for inspection.
- Pistols: Slide locked back, magazine removed, empty chamber.
- Revolvers: Cylinder open and empty.

Changing Firing Positions
16. For a position change at the same firing point, repeat from step 4.
17. To move to a new firing point:
- RO inspects each firearm: “Show safe/show me a safe firearm.”
- After inspection: “You may bag your firearm.”
- Firearm may be bagged with safety flag inserted or bolt removed/closed and firing pin released.

Range Clearance
18. Once all firearms are cleared and bagged, RO commands:
- “The range is safe/clear, pick up cases/brass, patch targets and move to the next firing point.”

19. On successive firing points, commands are repeated from step 4.
    
    

20. After the session ends, all firearms must be safely holstered or bagged before scores are taken or shooters return to the original point.
    
    

End-of-Day Firearm Procedure

• Anyone wishing to pack away or holster their firearm may do so under RO supervision.
  
  

• Pistols must have the slide released forward and the trigger pressed before holstering or bagging.
  
  

Emergency Protocol

• In case of emergency: “CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE!” or a long whistle blast.
  
  

• The RO may call out remaining time if necessary.