dmazur
Member
Our range tried to address all of your concerns by having the following in place -
At the normal ranges, the rules in effect are concealed carry is permitted but the gun must remain holstered at all times. So far, there has been no complaint of violating this rule as violations mean loss of membership.
At the action pistol range, additional training beyond orientation is required, and then a combination to a separate gated area is provided. This area has extra high banks, providing 270° protection, and is the club's venue for CAS and their local equivalent of IDPA.
In this area, drawing from a holster is part of sanctioned events and is also permitted for practice. The range rules are stricter, and you are expected to act as RSO if one is not present. (You are practicing by yourself).
Regardless of which area is in use, guns must always be transported unloaded and muzzle discipline observed when the range is hot.
For action pistol, the gun is not supposed to be loaded until the participant is at the stage and the command is given. Loading magazines on a table well behind the firing line is permitted at any time.
As to the terms "Hot" vs. "Cold", I'm sure there isn't a universal term for what you are describing, but these have been used for quite a while to indicate the status of the range -- that is, is it safe to proceed downrange and service targets? Only if the range is Cold.
By the way, our club observes very strict rules about Cold range status, as do many others I've read about. Bolts out, actions open, no touching uncased rifle / pistol while range is cold. It is essentially a "time out", where you can just sit there if you do not also need to go downrange and service targets with the others. In other words, everyone has to feel really comfortable with walking directly in front of a line of muzzles aimed at their back. Gun disabled + nobody allowed to touch it = no violation of The Four Rules. At least that's how we interpret it.
- Normal ranges (pistol, rifle, rimfire)
- Action pistol range
At the normal ranges, the rules in effect are concealed carry is permitted but the gun must remain holstered at all times. So far, there has been no complaint of violating this rule as violations mean loss of membership.
At the action pistol range, additional training beyond orientation is required, and then a combination to a separate gated area is provided. This area has extra high banks, providing 270° protection, and is the club's venue for CAS and their local equivalent of IDPA.
In this area, drawing from a holster is part of sanctioned events and is also permitted for practice. The range rules are stricter, and you are expected to act as RSO if one is not present. (You are practicing by yourself).
Regardless of which area is in use, guns must always be transported unloaded and muzzle discipline observed when the range is hot.
For action pistol, the gun is not supposed to be loaded until the participant is at the stage and the command is given. Loading magazines on a table well behind the firing line is permitted at any time.
As to the terms "Hot" vs. "Cold", I'm sure there isn't a universal term for what you are describing, but these have been used for quite a while to indicate the status of the range -- that is, is it safe to proceed downrange and service targets? Only if the range is Cold.
By the way, our club observes very strict rules about Cold range status, as do many others I've read about. Bolts out, actions open, no touching uncased rifle / pistol while range is cold. It is essentially a "time out", where you can just sit there if you do not also need to go downrange and service targets with the others. In other words, everyone has to feel really comfortable with walking directly in front of a line of muzzles aimed at their back. Gun disabled + nobody allowed to touch it = no violation of The Four Rules. At least that's how we interpret it.