Safety is of paramount importance in our activities at Pinewood Pistol Club. In all walks of life, safety is increasingly important however when handling firearms, the consequences of not following safety rules and guidelines can result in a fatality or very serious injury either to you, or to another person at the club.

To ensure the safety of all, we all need to think actively about safety at all times. In signing the Range book (required for Insurance purposes) you are agreeing to abide by the safety rules of Pinewood Pistol Club at all times.

Because it is all too easy for a person to fire a firearm accidentally or in the wrong direction it is of paramount importance that everyone taking part in this sport keeps the need to act in a safe manner and keep safety in the forefront of their minds at all times. Safety must become a natural habit.

In all shooting, safety is of prime importance, but in pistol shooting (which now means Black Powder pistols, Long Barrel Pistols and Air Pistols) even greater care has to be taken as it is easier for a person with a short barrelled firearm to turn with the firearm so that it might be fired in a direction other than at the target.

Proving means examining a firearm to ensure it is unloaded, not only to your satisfaction, but also to the Range Officer /Detail Supervisor and/or other persons at the club.

Part A - General Club Firearm Safety Rules

1. Until your understanding of our Firearms and Range Safety procedures have been assessed, you may only handle a Club firearm on the range itself or in the gun room under the control of either the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor.
2. Until you have been signed off by a Club Range Officer or Club Member to shoot unattended you must be supervised by a Club Member at all times.
3. Always prove the firearm to the Range Officer when you return the firearm to the Office.
4. Ammunition purchased at the Club may not be legally taken off the premises unless it is entered on a firearms certificate. If you do not have a firearms certificate, or the ammunition is not entered on your firearms certificate, it must be returned to the Range Officer who will store it for you in the gun room safe. It is your responsibility to mark the ammunition box with your name and date.
5. The Range Officers and Detail Supervisors are there for your safety. Listen carefully to what Range Officers and Detail Supervisors say and follow their instructions at all times.
6. You will receive safety instructions in the handling and use of Club firearms.
7. If in doubt about anything at all - please ask.
8. The wearing of ear protectors is mandatory and the use of safety glasses is strongly recommended when shooting or observing.
9. Finally, you must familiarise yourself with the Club's Rules and Regulations and Bye-Laws.

Part B- Firearm Safety Procedures in the Clubroom (or off the range)

1. Always prove a firearm whenever it is handed from one person to another.
2. Always prove a firearm when taking it from the safe or its box, case or cover.
3. Always carry firearms with the action open or with breech flag fitted and visible.
4. Always carry uncovered firearms by the barrel (if practical) with the barrel pointing upwards.
5. Keep firearms and ammunition separately if at all possible.
6. If the firearm is not covered/ boxed/ cased, it should be placed in the rack on the clubroom wall.
7. Never handle any firearm without the permission of its owner.
8. Never handle a long barrelled pistol or revolver unless you are a firearms certificate holder with an entry to allow you to own a firearm of that type. Contravention of this is against UK Firearms Laws.
9. Never dry-fire an unloaded firearm without the permission of the Range
10. Officer or firearm owner, and the firearm must always be pointed in a safe direction.
11. Never load a firearm in the clubroom or off the range.
12. Never insert an unloaded magazine into a firearm in the clubroom or off the range unless under instruction on the use of the firearm by an authorised club member.
13. Magazines may be loaded prior to going on the range provided they are kept separate from the firearm and not inserted into the firearm.
14. Never point a firearm at anyone, even in fun!

Part C- Firearm Safety on the Range

Because we only have a 6-lane indoor range, we do not follow the convention of having a Range Conducting Officer (RCO) supervising all our shooting activities.
The Detail Supervisor (a Full Member in the left-most occupied lane) controls procedures at the beginning and end of each detail, but they cannot supervise whilst shooting.
The Range Officer (RO) is responsible for administration, ammunition sales, probationers, issuing of club guns, etc., so it cannot be assumed that they are supervising the range at any point in time. It is therefore each shooters responsibility to monitor other shooters on the line. Minor infractions should be brought to the attention of the offending shooter, either directly or via the Detail Supervisor or the Range Officer.
If necessary, any shooter may call for an Emergency Stop ("Stop, Stop, Stop"), at which point all shooters will cease fire, point their guns in a safe direction, and await further instructions.

1. Only enter the range between details once the detail change has been called.
2. Upon entering the range firearms should be either covered (by bag / box / case) or if uncovered, carried by the barrel (if practical) with the barrel pointing upwards, breech open and / or fitted with a safety flag.
3. If persons are forward of the firing point firearms must be either be put in the rack on the back wall of the range, or if covered, placed towards the back of the range, remaining covered.
4. No firearm should be placed at a firing point when entering the range unless expressly instructed to do so by the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor.
5. On entering the range for the first time, check with the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor if it is clear to proceed forward of the firing point to put up a target. Only proceed forward of the firing point after this permission has been sought.
6. After putting up a target and returning behind the firing point, and once all other persons are behind the firing point, permission should be requested from the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor to bring firearms forward to the duty point either from the rack or its cover. If the firearm is covered, as it is assumed to be safe and unloaded
7. Whilst people are forward of the firing point, do not handle firearms and stand 1 metre back from the bench.
8. Never handle any firearm without the permission of its owner, and only then when the range is clear with all persons behind the firing point.
9. Do not load firearm until told to do so by the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor.
10. Do not proceed to fire until told to do so by the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor.
11. Unload the firearm immediately when told to do so.
12. When the firearm is loaded it must be kept pointing down the range.
13. After completing your course of fire, prove the firearm to yourself and leave it with the breach open. Ensure any magazines are empty. Put the firearm down at the firing point with the barrel pointing down range towards the targets.
14. If the firearm malfunctions or jams, never attempt to clear the malfunction or jam yourself unless you are confident you can do so without endangering your own safety or the safety of others around you. If you cannot clear the malfunction or jam, put the firearm down at the firing point with the barrel pointing down range towards the targets and seek assistance from the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor - preferably at the end of the detail.
15. If you have to leave the firing point, or if there is a disturbance, UNLOAD the firearm, put the firearm down with the barrel pointing down range towards the targets and stand back from the firearm.
16. Once all persons have completed their course of fire, the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor will check all firearms to prove they are safe. He/she may request you to prove the firearm to them.
17. Should you have completed all details booked, you must request the permission of the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor to remove your firearm from the firing point. Once granted the firearm should be returned to the rack at the back of the range, or put in its cover, or removed from the range completely.
18. Only after the Range Officer or Detail Supervisor has proved all firearms at the firing point, and/or firearms have been removed from the firing point will the command be given that it is safe to proceed forward of the firing point and change/collect targets. Until this command is given, no person should move forward of the firing point, for whatever purpose.