Rules
Posted on January 22, 2008
BELOIT RIFLE CLUB
BELOIT RIFLE CLUB
RULES AND POLICIES
1994/2007/2010/2012
I. GENERAL CLUB RULES
1. As a member of the BELOIT RIFLE Club, you must wear your membership badge at all times when you are on the property. One of your duties as a Beloit Rifle Club member is to insure that anyone on the property is a Member, or a Guest accompanied by a Member. If you see someone without a badge, ask to see his or her membership card, and remind them of this rule. Violations should be recorded on a Red Violation Card located in the main clubhouse near the Guest Fee Box and reported to the Chief Range Officer (name and number are on your membership card).
2. New Members:
A. The Beloit Rifle Club may, but is not required to, accept as a Beloit Rifle Club Member any individual interested in the Shooting Sports, so long as the individual has properly and truthfully completed and filed a membership application, agreed to abide by the Beloit Rifle Club Rules and Regulations, pay the fee(s) prescribed for Membership, and meets the required qualifications. The Beloit Rifle Club is dedicated to the highest degree of professionalism, sportsmanship and safety in all shooting sports. For that reason the Beloit Rifle Club may reject the application of an otherwise qualified applicant in the interest of Shooting Safety or the Beloit Rifle Club. Among other things, participation or involvement by a Member or applicant in conduct detrimental to Our Second Amendment Rights, or the well being of the Beloit Rifle Club may result in rejection of membership by the Beloit Rifle Club. All new membership applications must be approved by the membership committee.
B. It is required that an applicant have two (2) sponsors.
a. Any member with at least two (2) years of active membership can sponsor one (1) applicant per calendar year, provided the current applicant has not been called before the Board for any infraction during their probationary period. If this happens, the 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.
C. All Beloit Rifle Club Members and new Applicants must be Members of the National Rifle Association.
D. Newly accepted members will be sworn in at the March general club meeting. The first years Dues and Initiation Fee must also be paid at this time.
E. During the first year of Probationary Membership, a new Member is required to do at least eight (8) hours of Club service, to be eligible for renewal their second year.
F. Any member with at least two (2) years of active membership can sponsor their Spouse, Children or Grand Children before their 19th birthday or if the child is in the Military or school, up until their 23rd birthday, without paying the initiation fee.
3. Beloit Rifle Club annual dues are to be paid at the Spaghetti Dinner in February. At that time new keys for the club facilities will be issued. If your dues are not paid by the April general club meeting, your Club membership will be terminated. If at a later date you wish to rejoin the Club, you will be treated as a new Applicant, and subject to the conditions outlined in Paragraph #2 above.
A. The amount of the annual dues is subject to change based on operating cost of the Club during the preceding year. Any increase must have board approval.
4. Membership CARDS, KEYS, and BADGES MUST NOT BE LOANED! Members are not allowed to transfer work hours. Each member must work his or her own hours.
5. Members Guest: The Member is responsible for their Guest and their safety. Guests are not allowed on the 200 Meter Range. The Guest Fee is $5.00 per Guest per visit.
A. Upon entering the premises and before any facility usage, Members with guests are required to enter their Guests Name, Date, Time, and Intended Range use on the clipboard located in the main clubhouse entrance, near the Guest Fee box.
B. Any applicable Guest Fees must be paid be fore using any range. Fill out a Guest envelope enclose the Fee and deposit it in the Guest Fee box, which is located at the Clubhouse entrance.
C. Only one (1) guest is allowed to be shooting at a time.
D. The only Non-paying Guests allowed are a Members immediate family. Immediate family is defined as a Member, spouse, children or step-children to the age of 18, or a full time student or first tour of duty in the military to the age of 23.
E. Before leaving the premises record your departure time on the clipboard
6. Time schedule for the $5.00 Guest Fee: A $5.00 Guest Fee is required for each Guest, per each visit, except from September 15 until the last day of the Wisconsin deer hunting gun season. During that time period the Guest Fee will be the same as the per firearm fee charged during Sight-In Days.
7. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on Club property at any time. The Board with prior approval may allow alcohol for a special occasion, during such times, no firearms are allowed on any range. The Range officer, or their designated assistant, will control such functions.
Beloit Rifle Club Members, or Members Guest can not use or be under the influence of any stimulants, depressants, tranquilizers or mood altering Prescription drugs on Club property… This includes alcoholic beverages, narcotics, etc. Members who violate this rule will be brought before the Board for disciplinary action and are subject to loss of their membership.”
8. All Club equipment must be returned to its proper storage place. Any member borrowing or removing property from the premises must have Board approval.
9. During the year, there will be competitive shooting matches for all Club Members. For further information, contact individual Club range officers.
10. Keep all gates closed while using range facilities except for sanctioned league events or special events approved by the Board. Secure all range buildings and close all gates upon leaving.
11. There is to be no shooting at any animal or bird on the Club grounds.
12. Violation of any club rule by a Member, or their Guest, should be recorded on a Red Violation Card located in the main clubhouse entrance near the Guest Fee Box and 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 anyone that violates the rules. Disciplinary action can include but is not limited to a monetary fine, restitution for damage, suspended or revoked membership.
13. All Beloit Rifle Club Members, including Officers, and Guest expressly agree that determinations by the Board of Directors, and or Club Officers, as to the applicability and interpretation of the Beloit Rifle Club rules are non-litigable, and they covenant that they will not initiate or maintain litigation of any kind against the Beloit Rifle Club or anyone acting on behalf of the Beloit Rifle Club, to reverse or modify such determinations or to recover damages or to seek any other kind of relief as a result of such determinations, if a Member, or a Members Guest, or Officers initiates or maintains litigation in violation of this covenant, that Member, or Members Guest, or Officers agrees to reimburse the Beloit Rifle Club for the cost of such litigation including attorneys’ fees, each Member, or a Members Guest, or Officers further covenants that in any litigation brought against the Beloit Rifle Club for any reason, if the litigation is not dismissed pursuant to this covenant, the matter will be tried before a Judge of competent jurisdiction and hereby waives any right to trial by jury in such action.
* 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:
a. After 10:00 PM or before 7:00 AM unless Board approval has been given.
b. During a general Club meeting.
c. 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.”
d. 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 the RANGE.
9. Shotgun slugs of any gauge may be shot into the general range backstops.
10. Shooting Glasses, Earmuffs and/or hearing protection is 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 must be pointed down range at the backstop.
- 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:
a. Muzzle loading guns only. No Modern guns allowed on this range. Except for special events approved by the Board
b. No smoking or open flames near loading benches or firing line.
c. No open powder containers, except during loading.
d. Dry firing at firing line only; muzzle pointed down range.
e. All loading, bench or pouch, to be done at loading bench.
f. Loading directly from powder horn, flask, or any powder container is FORBIDDEN.
g. Capping and priming to be done at the firing line only, muzzle pointed down range.
h. All guns must be carried muzzle up between the loading bench and firing line.
i. Only Black powder or black powder substitutes approved by the National Muzzleloading Association can be used.
j. 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.
k. Blowing Down The Barrel – There will be NO blowing down the barrel of any firearm during NMLRA Matches.
l. Loading Flintlock Firearms – All Flintlock firearms must be loaded with the frizzen up and hammer down.
m. 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.
n. 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.
o. Loaded Firearm – No loaded firearm shall be taken from the firing line.
p. 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:
a. Only .22 cal rim fire rifles and/or pistols allowed; No .22 magnum guns.
b. 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.
a. Only Club Members may load and operate the automatic thrower.
b. No shells longer than 2-3/4 inch standard, except 410 gauge, and shot larger than 7-1/2 is PROHIBITED.
c. When shooting clay trap targets from hand trap, throw targets in the trap field only.
d. No shooting from the top of the trap house.
e. Leave the thrower in an unlocked position when leaving.
f. Be sure the electric switches are all in the off position when leaving the range.
g. No adjustments are to be made to the trap thrower, unless authorized by Board.
h. There are to be no slugs fired on the trap range
4. PISTOL RANGE:
a. All revolver or pistol competition held by the Club will be governed by the rules and regulations of the National Rifle Association of America.
b. All General Range Rules from Section II will apply.
5. 200 METER RANGE:
a. This is a limited use range.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. This range is for Club Members only. No guests allowed.
6. INDOOR RANGE:
a. Hearing and eye protection required at all times.
b. No center fire rifles or shotguns.
c. 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.
d. 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.
e. All firing must be done from the 50-foot firing line.
f. Secure range after completion: turn off lights, exhaust fans and heat control.
g. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING!!
h. Any misfires round, still live ammunition, should be put in the red “DUD” box in the center of the firing line.
j. “Cross Lane Shooting” is PROHIBITED.
7. PATTERNING RANGE:
a. Shooters are to use shot only, NO SLUGS.
b. Trap and Silhouette control this range and must be consulted when present, for target placement.
8. ARCHERY RANGE:
a. Archery range: Bows only. No rifles, pistols, etc.
b. Confine all shooting directly into the bails or broad head pits.
c. No broad heads to be shot into bails or 3D targets. Field tips only.
d. Shooters only – on elevated stand. No children allowed on elevated stand unless shooting a bow and under adult supervision. Secure gate upon leaving stand.
e. No one down range to retrieve arrows while another archer is shooting from different yardage.
f. 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.
g. 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.
h. After shooting, take down and put away all targets, police and secure the range.
9. PLINKING RANGE:
a. 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.
b. .22 rim fire firearms only. (NO CENTERFIRE OR .22 MAGNUM FIREARMS!)
10. RULES FOR COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING:
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. No cocked revolvers may leave a shooters hand; a stage disqualification will result.
e. 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.
f. Rifles and magazines are loaded at a loading table. Actions are to be closed with the hammer down on an empty chamber.
g. 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.
h. 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.
i. 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.
j. When drawing from the cross-draw holster, the user must twist their body to ensure the muzzle never breaks the “170 degree” safety rule.
k. Eye and ear protection is required for all shooters and spectators.
l. 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. First aid kit located in the clubhouse on the west kitchen wall.
6. 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. Disciplinary action can include but is not limited to a monetary fine, restitution for damage, suspended or revoked membership. The person reporting the violation must be present at the time the violation is being reviewed by the Board.
VI. CONCLUSIONS:
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. If you do not understand the Beloit Rifle Club Rules and Policies feel free to contact any Board Member, or bring your questions and/or concerns before any General Meeting for explanation. The above rules and policies are subject to change by Board approval only. If any changes occur, Club members will be notified.
REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST!
BELOIT RIFLE CLUB RULES AND POLICIES
MARCH 1991
{Revised June 1994}