a rifle etiquette question.

My club range requires actions open until in firing position and range clear.
No mags or ammo in the gun until ready to fire.

What kind of shotgun or rifle can you not lock the action open?

I’d ask the RSO.

When at the range, my rifles are either on the bench or in a case. I don't see why adding an intermediate rack makes things simpler.

When the range is hot, actions are in use; when the range is cold, actions are flagged. Cased rifles don't count.

Can you open the action and put a flag in it that holds it open. Or just blocks it?

Seems like you could still open the action and insert a flag of some to prevent battery, could you not?

Rifle down, pointed down range, and hands off.

If there's a range safety officer, ask.

But it's generally not too complicated.

Biggest "tells" are people who won't quit messing with their guns when the range is cold.

jar said:

What about when there is no way to flag the action?

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Should still be able to shove a plastic flag in the ejection port. I do it all the time with my AKs.

My range requires that we install plastic flags during a cease-fire. Also we aren't allowed to the benches at this time. If we need something off the bench we have to ask them

Not being rude, I don't get it. I don't own a real range flag, but on my last trip, for some mysterious reason (I forgot about the button), my Winchester Wildcat .22 LR, a semi, would not hold opened. I used a cardboard piece taken from the ammunition box. Done. How is this not doable in your rifle or in which way does that not comply with the security requirements? I am missing something. Again, I don't mean to be rude, I simply don't understand.

Could be a problem in a muzzleloader.

The bolt may not locked open, but you can manually open the action. Otherwise, you couldn't unload a live round.

Open action, insert flag

If all you can do is manually open the action and put SOMETHING in it to hold it out of battery, please make sure it's something easily visible. Even a short piece of plastic string (grass trimmer stuff) shows that there's NO AMMO in the chamber. And you can do it with the Browning auto .22, just lay it on it's side so the bottom is visible. But when in doubt, ask the RSO.

Weedwacker replacement plastic line inserted thru action all the way out the barrel, with line sticking out both sides.

A couple of the KelTec bull pup designs would be really hard to flag as open.

jar said:

the 241 is a bottom eject and not sure a flag would be noticeable.

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Find a bit of red kydex, bend it into a U shape (fold one over triple thick if so desired). One end goes into the bottom ejection port with the other end wrapping itself around the side of the receiver - this makes a very obvious chamber flag for bottom eject actions. I use flags like these for Brownings.

I'm not sure what you mean. My range has always been my back yard.

So when you're not on the gun firing, you should leave the chamber open with some sort of flag in it? That seems over the top. I was always taught that the gun always stays down range with the safety on. Never heard of a "flag" to make other shooters more comfortable.

When I sell a gun, I always present it with the chamber open. But that's in a building. Is this normal on shooting ranges?

Mn Fats said:

I'm not sure what you mean. My range has always been my back yard.

So when you're not on the gun firing, you should leave the chamber open with some sort of flag in it? That seems over the top. I was always taught that the gun always stays down range with the safety on. Never heard of a "flag" to make other shooters more comfortable.

When I sell a gun, I always present it with the chamber open. But that's in a building. Is this normal on shooting ranges?

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I have a backyard range also. But, it is generally required at a public range to have the weapon pointed downrange, a flag or other device inserted into the chamber with action open. If the action cannot lock open then a piece of weed whacker line can be inserted into the chamber/action. Guns not on the line remain in a rack, muzzle up, action open and flagged or in a closed case. Various ranges might have different variations and many I have attended do not require a flag if the action is open. And stand behind the line when the range is down or cold for setting up or inspecting targets and never fiddle with the gun or a gun when the range is cold and you are not on the active line.

3C

Mn Fats said:

Is this normal on shooting ranges? (chamber flags)

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Yes, and for many competitions.
Makes the RO's job much faster.

Mn Fats said:

I'm not sure what you mean. My range has always been my back yard.

So when you're not on the gun firing, you should leave the chamber open with some sort of flag in it? That seems over the top. I was always taught that the gun always stays down range with the safety on. Never heard of a "flag" to make other shooters more comfortable.

When I sell a gun, I always present it with the chamber open. But that's in a building. Is this normal on shooting ranges?

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On outdoor ranges, yes because you must leave the guns on the bench pointing downrange then walk downrange to service your targets. The RSOs will walk down the firing line before allowing anyone to go forward to ensure that all the magazines are removed and the chambers are empty.
One of my local private ranges requires chamber flags, and will insert one in your gun if you dont. At the other (State park) range, the RSO will pick up any questionable guns, work the action several times and inspect the chamber until he is satisfied that it is clear- but flags themselves aren't actually required.
At the very least, using flags speeds up the process of clearing the range and (usually) precludes RSOs from manhandling your gun, lol.

At an indoor range, the targets go back and forth on ziplines so no one should ever (theoretically) be going downrange. Thus, I dont know of any that require flags since the RSOs dont normally go around inspecting guns anyway. The muzzles still need to be pointing generally downrange at all times and they will (rightly) yell at you if you walk away from the bench with an uncased gun, however.

jar said:

What about when there is no way to flag the action?

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Generally, whichever orifice you load it through gets a flag. If there are options, whichever orifice most obviously blocks the action from closing is best.

Even muzzle loaders have an orifice. . .

My local range is pretty informal. No range officers. You are supposed to have the action open with the rifle on the bench pointed down range or vertical in a rack when not actually firing

I've visited a range where they required you to have all rifles in a case. You had to place the cased rifle on the bench and open the case with the muzzle pointed downrange. At all times the muzzle was pointed downrange until you finished shooting. To remove the rifle from the bench you had to lay the case on the bench, place the rifle in the case, and close it before removing it.