Took NRA RSO Class today

[bigalexe]

I took my NRA RSO class today which is Range Safety Officer, passed it to. I have a few thoughts Post-Mortem.

This class is not going to make you a better shooter, it will not teach you much about firearms operation at a basic level because you are expected to know how a gun works. Also it will not teach you how to effectively teach others in the shooting sports, it is not an instructor class. The class IS for anyone that belongs to a shooting club and has some involvement in the policy making, and also those looking to oversee a range and do so in a safe manner.

The class centers in large part about how to keep a range safe, how to assist range users with mechanical issues in a safe manner and how to follow procedures. It deals very much with general policies regarding safety on the range facility and firing line, and how to respond properly to a medical incident and then how to document incidents involving rule violations or injuries.

Also a final note: If you are unsure about anything, the answer is "Refer to Standard Operating Procedure."

 

[Rembrandt]

Yup that's about it......were you expecting something different?

 

[alohachris]

I REALLY loved my RSO class. The instructor was an avid gun collector. We all learned how to load, unload, chamber check and FIRE every thing from a flintlock musket to a modern military rifle. I'm talking air rifles, cap & ball revolvers, break actions, pump actions, bolt actions, you name it. It was awesome!

I had never even heard of some of these guns before that class. I'd take it again just to play with the guns all day.

The sad part is that I rarely get to use my training because as the local city shooting range manager informed me: "We don't need any more volunteers right now - but give us your name & number and we'll call you if an opportunity arises." Which is Utah code for: "You're not Mormon and there's no way you're getting a slot reserved for my ward members."

 

[DasFriek]

Well i hope you end up being as good of an RSO as my local DNR range has.
Once you know his quirks he will bend over backwards to help anyone, Especially people like me who take their mothers and cant teach what they know and have no patience.
He helped so much i wished i would have tipped him.
Hes all about safety first and keeping people off his grass and on the concrete pathways second. His quirk, But its fun spotting people doing and i look around and see where hes at and how fast he gets there to inform them of this will all the "Stay off the grass" signs everywhere.
What im getting at is isn't full of himself nor power nuts. Just like another shooter who has to keep us all safe.

Ive been to indoor ranges and they may as well not even had an RSO with all the crap ive seen go on.
Good luck and pls be one of the good ones!

 

[bigalexe]

Yup that's about it......were you expecting something different?

No I was just posting what I experienced. I took the class to get the credential.

 

[sig228]

Also a final note: If you are unsure about anything, the answer is "Refer to Standard Operating Procedure."

You seem to be making a joke of this. Most people on this board would get the wrong impression from your reference.

Maybe you missed that part of the class that discussed what the "Standard Operating Procedure" is all about.

Let me refresh your memory in case you fell asleep during this part:

From the NRA coursebook:

"The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) include details such as the range's capabilities, how range operations are conducted, shooting range rules, and emergency response plans"

Sort of like the "Operating Manual" of the range.

Not a joke.

 

[bigalexe]

After doing a review in the class I get the idea, I am kinda joking because of the way some of the questions on the test were written.

Example: There was a question regarding necessity of Hearing and Eye Protection. Most of the class (75% at least) answered that this was Mandatory for Live firing because that is what we have done all our shooting lives. The Answer however is that this is regulated by SOP.

There were some other similar questions.

 

[rscalzo]

The Answer however is that this is regulated by SOP.

The NRA is not in a position to mandate anything at a privately owned facility. That is the reason for the SOP comments. While few would suggest not mandating those safety items, it is the club or range owner's responsibility to require them. Somewhat confusing, yes.


The course in my opinion is best taken by someone with experience in range operations.

 

[bigalexe]

Forgot to mention what I learned that people probably don't know:

After handling firearms for shooting or cleaning use COLD water to wash your hands. The reason is that guns produce lead residue that resides in the crap you get on your hands. Washing your hands with warm water will cause your skin pores to open up and so the lead residue can easily get into your system, doing this frequently is for obvious reasons not good.

Also they are firearms, not weapons. They are only weapons when discussing personal protection and combat specifically.

 

[docpadds]

Its really not a difficult test etc either. After I became certified in Pistol and Rifle instruction i just did the RSO one by mail. The practical side i get to experience regularly anyway when our group teaches, and we teach instructors how to do it etc...

Having handling knowledge of as many guns as possible is a great thing too though, its why i work on the safety check/tie table at one of our big gun shows, a few of those and you handle just about everything