Rules

Posted on January 22, 2008

BELOIT RIFLE CLUB

RULES AND POLICIES

1994/2007

I. GENERAL CLUB POLICIES

 

  1. As a member of the Club, you should wear your membership badge at all times when on the range. If you should see someone without a badge, ask to see his or her membership card.
  2. New Members:
    1. It will be necessary for an applicant to have two (2) sponsors. Sponsors may sponsor another candidate the following year, provided his current applicant is not called before the Board for any infraction during their probationary period. If this happens, sponsors will lose the right to sponsor a new member for 18 months from the date of the conviction of the above-mentioned infraction. Sponsors are required to attend any Board disciplinary actions involving the applicant. Sponsorship is limited to one (1) applicant per calendar year.
    2. All prospective members must belong to the National Rifle Association. This also applies to all current members of the Beloit Rifle Club.
    3. All new membership applications must be approved by the membership committee before acceptance.
    4. Initiation fee, to be determined on a yearly basis, will be paid upon acceptance, plus dues. National Rifle Association membership is required.
    5. New members will be sworn in at the May general club meeting following acceptance.
    6. Any member with two (2) years or more of active membership, can sponsor his/her children before their 19th birthday or if the child is in the service or school, up until their 23rd birthday, without paying the initiation fee. The waiver of the initiation fee also applies to the spouse of a member.
  3. Annual dues will be paid at the annual spaghetti dinner in February of each year. At that time new keys for the club facilities will be issued. If dues are not paid by the April general club meeting, it will be assumed that the member no longer desires to continue membership in the Club. If at a later date the member wishes to be reinstated in the Club, they will be treated as a new member and subject to conditions outlined in Paragraph #2 above.
  4. The amount of the annual dues is subject to change based upon operating cost of the Club during the preceding year. Any increase must have board approval.
  5. Alcoholic beverages will not be permitted on Club grounds at any time, except for special occasions, which must have prior Board approval. At such times, no firearms will be allowed on the range. Range officer, or their designated assistant, will control such functions. “No one, whether guest or member, who is under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or mood altering substances will be permitted on the firing line. Members who violate this rule shall be brought before the Board for disciplinary action and are subject to loss of their membership.“
  6. All Club equipment should be returned to its proper storage place. Any member borrowing or removing property from the premises must have Board approval.
  7. During the year, there will be competitive shooting matches for all Club members. For further information, contact individual Club range officers.
  8. Keep all gates padlocked while using range facilities except for sanctioned league shootings or special events approved by the Board. Secure all range buildings and lock all gates upon leaving.
  9. There is to be no shooting at any animal or bird on the Club grounds.
  10. Membership CARDS, KEYS, and BADGES WILL NOT BE LOANED! Members will not be allowed to transfer others work hours. Each member must work his or her own hours.
  11. Each member is responsible for their guest and their safety. Guest fee is $3.00 per guest. The fee is to be placed in the guest envelope and and deposited in the GUEST FEE BOX located at the Clubhouse entrance. Only one (1) guest is to be shooting at a time. Nonpaying guests shall be immediate family only. Immediate family is described as spouse, children or step-children to the age of 18, or 23 if full time student or first tour of duty in the military.
  12. Rule for the $3.00 Guest Fee: The $3.00 fee will be per guest until September 15, at such time it will be the same as the fee per deer firearm for Sight-In Days. This will be in effect until the last day of the gun deer season in Wisconsin. Note the following:
    1. Upon entering the premises, members with guests are required to enter the Name, Date, Time, and Intended Range use on the clipboard located in the main clubhouse entrance, near the guest fee box.
    2. This is to be done prior to the use of any range facility.
    3. Any applicable guest fees to be paid prior to their using any range. (Fill out an envelope and deposit it in the guest box).
    4. Before leaving the premises mark departure time on the clipboard.
  13. Violation of any club rule by a member, or their guest, should be reported to the Chief Range Officer (name and number are on your membership card). Disciplinary action will be taken by the Board of Directors against this person or persons that violate the rules.* Remember, we have a fantastic facility and it is everyone’s responsibility to protect it for the future. PLEASE BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS.

II. GENERAL RANGE RULES:

The following range rules apply to all range facilities including Silhouette, Black Powder, Trap, Indoor Pistol, 200 m range and the general shooting facilities located at the east end of grounds (see map located at the Bulletin Board). Special rules for each individual range will be covered under Section III.

  1. SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY SHOOTER!
  2. Confine all shooting directly into designated backstops and at paper targets only (this refers to general targets).
  3. Use of armor piercing, tracers, or incendiary ammunition is PROHIBITED.
  4. Full automatic or firing semi-automatic firearms to simulate automatic fire is PROHIBITED.
  5. No person shall advance in front of a firing line until a “cease fire” has been secured all along the firing line and all firearms racked with actions cleared, warning light and buzzer turned on. Firearms - “WILL NOT” – be handled until “COMMENCE FIRING“ is given. Warning lights are on General, Plinking and High Power Ranges only.
  6. Extreme care and caution must be exercised at all times. If in doubt DO NOT SHOOT!!
  7. The following are times that there will be no firing of firearms on the range facilities:
    1. After 10:00 PM or before 7:00 AM unless Board approval has been given.
    2. During a general Club meeting.
    3. During Work Days while work on the range is in progress unless approval is obtained from the chief of work crew. “Work” means any work for which hour credits are being given, and “range” means any range on club premises. This includes “Sight-In Days.”
    4. On general workdays which includes work activities on complete range facilities.
  8. After shooting, clean up target area and the firing line of ALL BRASS, USED TARGETS and SECURE RANGE.
  9. Shotgun slugs of any gauge may be shot into the general range backstops.
  10. Earmuffs or protectors are recommended at all times in the shooting areas. Club earmuffs are located in Club furnace room for your use. Please return them when finished.
  11. NO SMOKING in the indoor range.
  12. Firing stops at once on ” cease fire ” command by any person.
  13. Dry firing or aiming of firearms is NOT PERMITTED behind firing line.
  14. All loaded firearms are to be pointed down range at all times.
  15. Any special Club event such as but not limited to Monday night trap, Tuesday night pistol, Thursday night silhouette and the Wednesday morning league shall have control of the range. Any posting of targets shall be done with controlling range.
  16. When closing actions, all muzzles will be pointed at the backstop.
  17. The use of profane and or abusive language will not be tolerated on club grounds at any time.

III. RANGE RULES FOR EACH RANGE:

These rules apply to the individual ranges and are in addition to rules covered in section II.

  1. BLACK POWDER RANGE:
    1. Muzzle loading guns only. No Modern guns allowed on this range. Except for special events approved by the Board.
    2. No smoking or open flames near loading benches or firing line.
    3. No open powder containers, except during loading.
    4. Dry firing at firing line only; muzzle pointed down range.
    5. All loading, bench or pouch, to be done at loading bench.
    6. Loading directly from powder horn, flask, or any powder container is FORBIDDEN.
    7. Capping and priming to be done at the firing line only, muzzle pointed down range.
    8. All guns are carried muzzle up between loading bench and firing line.
    9. Black powder or black powder substitutes approved by the National Muzzleloading Association only.
    10. Lead mini- or maxi-balls, black powder shot shells, or lead black powder cartridge bullets only. Only round balls may be used on metal targets except for the black powder cartridge silhouettes where black powder cartridge bullets may be used.
    11. Blowing Down The Barrel – There will be NO blowing down the barrel of any firearm during NMLRA Matches.
    12. Loading Flintlock Firearms – All Flintlock firearms must be loaded with the frizzen up and hammer down.
    13. Swabbing Between Shots – Swabbing between shots with a damp patch to eliminate the possibility of glowing embers igniting the next powder charge is strongly recommended.
    14. False Muzzles – All false muzzles must be attached to the loading or shooting bench by a cord or similar device so that the firearm may not be placed in a firing position without first removing the false muzzle from the barrel. If loading from horn and pouch, the cord may be attached to the competitor’s belt.
    15. Loaded Firearm – No loaded firearm shall be taken from the firing line.
    16. Ignition – Ignition must be one of the following: (a) flint stone or substitute, excluding metal, striking frizzen; (b) old type percussion cap that fits on the nipple, (c) primers may be used in all slug guns and in-line actions; (d) frizzens must be faced with steel soles only; (e) also shot gun caps.
  2. SILHOUETTE RANGE:
    1. Only .22 cal rim fire rifles and .22 cal rim fire pistols allowed; no .22 magnums.
    2. Only .22 cal rim fire standard or high velocity ammo allowed; NO HYPER VELOCITY!
  3. TRAP RANGE: Two Club members must be in attendance when the trap is being used, other than Monday nights, to provide one member in the pit and one supervising the firing line.
    1. Only club members may load and operate the automatic thrower.
    2. No shells longer than 2-3/4 ” standard, except 410 ga.
    3. When shooting clay trap targets from hand trap, throw targets in the trap field only.
    4. No shooting from the top of the trap house.
    5. Leave the thrower in an unlocked position when leaving.
    6. Be sure the electric switches are all in the off position when leaving the range.
    7. No adjustments are to be made to the trap thrower, unless authorized by Board.
    8. There are to be no slugs fired on the trap range.
  4. PISTOL RANGE:
    1. All revolver or pistol competition held by the Club will be governed by the rules and regulations laid down by the National Rifle Association of America.
    2. All range rules from section II will apply.
  5. 200 METER RANGE:
    1. This is a limited use range.
    2. Range is limited because the firing line and target rack are in line directly through the center of the Black Powder range, with the firing line behind the Pistol range firing line. Therefore, the Black Powder range and the Pistol range will have priority over this range. When a member is using the 200-meter range, and a member arrives on site to use the Black Powder or Pistol range, all shooting on the 200-meter range must cease immediately, with firearms unloaded and removed from the firing area.
    3. The light on the pistol target house must be turned on and the cone/flag placed out at the center of the west edge of the west parking lot.
    4. This range is for Club members only. No guests allowed.
  6. INDOOR RANGE:
    1. a. Hearing and eye protection required at all times.
    2. No center fire rifles or shotguns.
    3. Target loads only; no “hard ball” ammunition, no Jacketed ammunition and all ammunition must have a muzzle velocity of less than 900 feet per second. For examples consult chart on indoor range door or check with Pistol Director, see you membership card.
    4. No one allowed beyond firing line when range is in use unless command is given to “cease fire”, clear and bench firearms, and the line is proven safe.
    5. All firing must be done from the 50-foot firing line.
    6. Secure range after completion: turn off lights, exhaust fans and heat control.
    7. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING!!
    8. Any misfires round, still live ammunition, should be put in the red “DUD” box in the center of the firing line.
    9. “Cross Lane Shooting” is PROHIBITED.
  7. PATTERNING RANGE:
    1. Shooters are to use shot only, NO SLUGS.
    2. Trap and Silhouette control this range and must be consulted when present, for target placement.
  8. ARCHERY RANGE:
    1. Archery range: Bows only. No rifles, pistols, etc.
    2. Confine all shooting directly into the bails or broad head pits.
    3. No broad heads to be shot into bails or 3D targets. Field tips only.
    4. Shooters only – on elevated stand. No children allowed on elevated stand unless shooting a bow and under adult supervision. Secure gate upon leaving stand.
    5. No one down range to retrieve arrows while another archer is shooting from different yardage.
    6. A small fee is required from all shooters using the 3D targets. Fee to be used to replace the vital area inserts. Fee will be posted in the archery target shed.
    7. There is an archery backstop for the indoor range. No shooting to be done ahead of the 50-foot firing line. Pistol and rifle shooters have priority over the indoor range. All other indoor rules apply.
    8. After shooting, take down and put away all targets, police and secure the range.
  9. PLINKING RANGE:
    1. Aluminum cans only, placed inside the sand boundary a distance of at least one foot. NO FIRING at any cans not completely WITHIN the sand pit.
    2. .22 rim fire firearms only. (NO CENTERFIRE OR .22 MAGNUM FIREARMS!)
  10. RULES FOR COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING:
    1. All loading and unloading will be done only in designated loading areas, under direct observation of a range officer. Percussion revolver shooters must maintain safe muzzle direction during loading and have fired or cleared all capped chambers before leaving the unloading area.
    2. A muzzle must not be allowed to “sweep” the other participants between stages and long guns will have actions open with the chamber and magazines empty. Muzzles will be pointed in a safe direction when carried to and from a loading and unloading areas. Chambers and magazines must be empty and actions must be pen for all firearms transported in gun carts.
    3. Six shot guns must be loaded with five (5) rounds, five (5) shot guns are to be loaded with four (4) rounds, the hammer is to be down on the empty chamber.
    4. No cocked revolvers may leave a shooters hand; a stage disqualification will result.
    5. No shooter will cock his revolver until the gun is pointed safely down range. Any accidental (premature) discharge of any firearm within ten (10) feet of any shooter could result in disqualification of ejection from the match.
    6. Rifles and magazines are loaded at a loading table. Actions are to be closed with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
    7. Shotguns are always staged open with magazines and chambers empty and are loaded on the clock, unless stage is started with shotgun in shooters hand.
    8. All shooters must show familiarity and proficiency with the firearms being used. Matches or SASS Matches should not be a forum to learn basic firearm handling.
    9. There will be no fast draw competition and no fanning of the six-gun. Slip hammering is not the same as fanning and is legal.
    10. When drawing from the cross-draw holster, the user must twist their body to ensure the muzzle never breaks the “170 degree” safety rule.
    11. Eye and ear protection is required for all shooters and spectators.
    12. Revolvers may be carried on the range in leather, but MUST be empty, except when carried to the line by a range officer.

IV. GENERAL INFORMATION:

  1. Spotting scopes can be obtained from the range officer. Name and phone number on your membership card.
  2. Board approval must be obtained for use of the Club facilities for special occasions.
  3. There is to be no Club property removed from the premises without Board approval.
  4. Check with Chief Range officer for other information on the use of the range.
  5. Check with Chief Range officer for other information on the use of the range.
  6. First aid kit located in the clubhouse on the west kitchen wall.
  7. Trap range hand/foot thrower is available – contact Trap Range Officer.

V. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE FOR RULES VIOLATIONS:

Any violations of the above Rules or Policies by any member or their guest, will require the member to appear before the Board, which may result in disciplinary action. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, revocation of membership could result. The person reporting the violation must be present at the time the violation is being reviewed by the Board.

VI. CONCLUSIONS:

The above rules and policies are subject to change by Board approval only. If any changes occur, Club members will be notified.

Your Club officers and the Rules committee have tried to set forth these Rules and Policies with SAFETY in the shooting and handling of firearms as their primary goal. In some cases you may not agree with the Rules and Policies set forth. If you are not in agreement, please contact any Board member or bring your questions and/or complaints before any General Meeting for further discussion. We are sure something can be worked out, or the reason for the rule or policy explained to you.

REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST!

BELOIT RIFLE CLUB RULES AND POLICIES

MARCH 1991

{Revised June 1994}

Re-Typed (with corrections) – January 2008