Range Commands

For everyone's safety, 

generally accepted shooting range commands will apply

For more details see below:

FOR PRACTICAL PISTOL THE FOLLOWING

STANDARD RANGE COMMANDS AND PROCEDURES SHALL APPLY

At Umzinto Shooting Club we practice what may be referred to as practical every day carry (P-EDC) shoots. Although competitive, that is not the main objective. Rather the shoots are designed to enhance every day carry proficiency. To maximise participation and safe shooting skills development in the local community the shoots are designed on the principle of low round count (30 rounds or less) in order to keep it affordable for as many as possible. Therefore although the shoots are based on IPSC rules, we do not follow the rules pedantically, but adapt them to serve the outcome of Practical EDC proficiency. Those who want to shoot IPSC or IDPA competitively will find the adjustment easy to other sporting clubs because at Umzinto we use the same basic set of commands and rules with minor simplifications to suit our needs.

The following are the basic IPSC commands and procedures for loading and unloading.

“Load and make ready”

“Are you ready?”

“Standby”

“If you are finished, unload and show clear”

“If clear, hammer down, holster”

“Range is clear”

Load and Make Ready

On the command of the Range Officer “Load and Make Ready” the shooter is on the firing line facing downrange.

*Upholsters the pistol.

*Immediately points it down range with the strong hand on the grip and the trigger finger well outside the trigger guard.

*When using magazines to maximum capacity, insert a magazine containing only one round with the weak hand.

*Locks the elbow, with the arm extended, muzzle pointed downrange.

*Turn the pistol slightly horizontal (toward the weak side).

*Grasps the slide between the thumb of the weak hand and index finger using the *rearmost slide serrations.

*With a push/pull motion assertively pulls back the slide all the way and releases it so that the cartridge in the magazine is chambered, always pointing down range.

*Immediately apply the safety, if there is one.

*Remove the empty magazine and store it in a pocket or drop it (it shouldn’t be put back in a magazine pouch where it could be later grabbed by mistake).

*Inserts a fully charged magazine, all the time keeping the trigger finger well outside the trigger guard.

*Holsters the pistol, always with the safety applied.

*The shooter now has a pistol in the holster which is cocked and locked with the safety on and loaded to full capacity (at all times the trigger finger is kept out of the trigger guard).

Are you Ready?

After loading and assuming the start position, the Ranger Officer will ask “Are you ready?” If you are ready you do not have to respond to this question. If you are not ready, indicate by saying, “not ready” in a loud clear voice.

Stand by

Stand by is the command to the competitor that the start signal will be forthcoming. This signal normally is the signal from the timer, the appearance of a target or some other form of audible or visible signal.

If You are Finished, Unload and Show Clear

Following the command of the Range Officer “If You are Finished, Unload and Show Clear” the shooter faces downrange. Wait for the RO before unloading the firearm.

Pistol

*Point the pistol down range with the strong hand and the trigger finger well outside of the trigger guard.

*Remove the magazine.

*Drop the magazine or put it somewhere other than a magazine pouch. Do not try to hold the magazine in the other hand.

*Move the safety off.

*Extend the arm, pointing the pistol always down range.

*With the other hand, pinch the rear slide serrations with thumb and first finger.

*Pull the slide back sharply to eject the chambered live round onto the ground.

*Hold the slide open until the Range Officer inspects the firearm by locking the slide back if necessary.

*This is done by turning slightly sideways and with the pistol always pointing down range, cup the weak hand on the slide, making sure never to pass the hand in front of the muzzle, then shift the right hand so that the thumb is under the slide-lock and exerting a slight upward pressure, rack the slide rearwards with a push/pull movement until the slide locks back into position.

*The shooter then stands for inspection, facing down range with the pistol pointing straight down range, the trigger finger always well outside the trigger guard, magazine out, slide (locked) back, and chamber exposed to view for Range Officer inspection.

Revolver

*Take the finger out of the trigger guard.

*Press the cylinder latch, open, and dump the cartridges on the ground.

*Continue to face down range with the cylinder open for inspection, always with the trigger finger well outside the trigger guard. The muzzle always pointed straight downrange.

If Clear, Hammer Down, Holster

Pistol

*This is the command after the Range Officer inspects the firearm making sure that there is no magazine in the magazine well and no cartridge in the chamber. Always with the trigger finger well outside the trigger guard.

*With the slide locked back, extend the pistol to arm’s length and apply the pinch grip at the back of the slide.

*Let the slide down easily, retaining the pinch grip until the action is closed.

*With the firearm always pointing straight down range, press the trigger so that the hammer falls.

*If, through inadvertence, there is a cartridge in the chamber, there will be a discharge down range in a safe direction. It should be stressed that the hammer must be dropped by pressing the trigger so that if there is a cartridge in the chamber, it will discharge. This will not damage the pistol and ensure that there is no possibility that the pistol will be holstered with a live cartridge in the chamber.

*Holster the empty pistol (always be careful with muzzle direction, never point the muzzle back to find the holster). Keep the muzzle down range and bring the pistol back until the muzzle will drop into the holster in a forward motion and insert into the holster.

Range Is Clear

When the Range Officer issues the command Range is Clear, it is safe to move and others to proceed down range.

Similar commands apply to shotgun and rifles

STANDARD COMMANDS COMMONLY USED ON VARIOUS SHOOTING RANGES

Range Officer’s Commands for Running/Controlling the Range

No shottists may move to or equipment may be taken to the firing line 

before the Range Office gives the relevant command:

1. “Has everyone paid their range fee?” .

2. “Has everyone put up their target?”

3. “Has everyone signed the range register?”

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

5. “The range is closed/hot”.

6. The Range Officer will visit each shottist individually and order 

“Unbag and show me a safe gun”. 

or alternately

“Shottists on the firing line. You may unpack and prepare yourself”

Firearm must be placed on the bench unloaded pointing down range.

Pistols must have slide locked back with magazine removed and empty.

Revolvers must have cylinder open and empty.

The Range Officer explains the shooting exercise and allocates a target to each shottist. “15 minutes shoot as you please” or whatever describes the shoot.

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 magazine/chamber of a single-shot firearm, bolt stays open). 

10. “Is everybody ready?” – shottists who are not ready to indicate. 

Or

“Ready on the line”.

11. “The detail is not ready” – if appropriate. 

12. “Everybody is ready – close bolts and stand by” – trigger finger to remain outside the trigger guard. 

13. “Blow whistle” or give command “fire” 

(during sighting-in, shottists may exchange firearms, within the time limit of the exercise). 

14. After the time is up: Blow whistle or give command “stop/cease fire”

15. “Unload and make safe” - After the process of unloading and making safe, the shottist may put his firearm down with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, but he/she must remain with the firearm and wait for inspection by the RO. Firearm must be left on the bench unloaded pointing down range.

Pistols must have slide locked back with magazine removed and empty.

Revolvers must have cylinder open and empty.

Inspect each firearm to ensure it is safe. 

16. In the case of the exercise requiring a change in position while the shottist remains at the same firing point, the commands are repeated from point 4 above. 

17. Before there may be moved to the next firing point, the Range Officer must move to each individual shottist in his area and command; “show safe/ show me a safe firearm”. After inspection, the Range Officer will then give the command: “You may bag your firearm”. The firearm may then be stowed in the bag/case with a safety flag inserted, or bolt removed; or bolt closed with firing pin released. 

18. After all the firearms have been inspected, the Range Officer declares: 

“The range is safe/clear, pick up cases/brass, patch targets and move to the next firing point” 

19. On successive firing points of the same exercise, the commands are repeated from point 4  above. 

20. After completion of the shooting exercise, all firearms must be safely holstered or stowed away in bags/cases, before scores are taken or shottists return to the initial firing point. 

At the end of the shoot anyone wishing to pack away or holster his/her weapon can do so at this time under supervision of the RO. Before a pistol is holstered or packed away, slide is to be released forward and trigger to be pressed. 

Notes: 

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

2. The Range Officer may indicate the time remaining if required.