Bath Rod and Gun Club

Range Standard Operating Procedures

Bath Rod and Gun Club

7771 Telegraph Road

Bath, New York 14810

Revisions: May 2022

1.     General. Live firing conducted at the Bath Rod Range Complex is designed to provide authorized personnel access to a facility where they can become proficient in the safe use of firearms.

2.     Facilitates for use. Range availability is at the discretion of the President and Board of Directors. Live fire shooting is normally limited to the following ranges and equipment:

a.     200-yard outdoor range--rifles, pistols, air guns and shotguns of any caliber or gauge may be used. No tracer ammo is allowed. Shotguns firing shot may be patterned on this range, but the user must provide their own target frame.  Shooting hours are between 8:00AM and 9:00 PM, except for the Law Enforcement range.

b.     50-foot indoor range – archery equipment with target points, BB guns, air rifles, air pistols, .22 RF rifles, handguns of any caliber may be used. Lead alloy or plated bullets may be used. No ammunition with a muzzle velocity over I 000 fps, jacketed bullets, guns loaded with black powder, or a black powder substitute, tracers or armor piercing ammo is allowed.

c.      Trap and Skeet ranges, Sporting Clays course – shotguns only. Targets loads with shot no larger than #7 can be used. Slugs, hunting loads are not allowed.

d.     Police Range – fully automatic firearms are authorized only for law enforcement officers. The clubs law enforcement liaison must approve weapons prior to the live fire event. The law enforcement liaison can deny automatic fire during shooting for any reason. The use of flash-bangs and other pyrotechnics must be approved by the law enforcement liaison. Groups of members may request the use of the police range for other activities with the permission of the police liaison.

3.      Range Limitations and Safety Requirements. Live-fire shooters will:

a.     Ensure all projectiles impact within the established range safety limits.

b.     Wear appropriate eye and ear protection; this also applies to trappers and Range Officers (RO) and Range Safety Officers (RSO's).

c.      Anyone can call "cease fire " and "make safe all firearms" when a person moves forward of the firing line or for any unsafe condition.

d.     Notify the RO or RSO of any unsafe condition or infraction of the rules.

e.     Scheduled events will have an RSO or experienced RO present.

f.       Members may fire on the outdoor rifle range when it doesn't disturb a scheduled event. No one will handle a firearm when someone has gone forward of the firing line, actions will be opened, and firearms grounded or benched.

g.      Pick up all brass, paper cups, and other debris that accumulates on the range.  Dispose of them in the containers provided.  Target frames will be returned to the pavilion and repaired.

4.    Authorized Personnel. The following persons are allowed to fire:

a.     Current members of Bath Rod and Gun Club.

b.     Competitors invited to a competitive event.

c.      Invited guests of members, provided the member is present and assumes full responsibility for the conduct of his or her guests. No individual can be a guest for a live fire event more than three times in one year.

d.     Immediate members of the club members' household until they reach 18yrs old. Children of members are also exempted if they are active-duty military or in college.

e.     Personnel approved by club officers on a case-by-case basis.

5.     Personnel Responsibilities.

a.     Club Officers and Board of Directors:

i.      Maintain the ranges facilities with the help of members and contractors as needed.

 ii.      Periodically review club procedures with an eye towards making improvements

iii.      Periodically see that RSO and Chief RSO training is held.

b.     Shooting club RSO's or experienced club activity chairmen (range officers) will oversee live fire events. They will check in at least one-half hour before the event begins and obtain the necessary keys, targets, change etc. for their event. Conduct a quick range inspection before the event and periodically do a detailed inspection using the checklist, (1) Outdoor Range Appendix; (2) Indoor Range; or (3) Shotgun Range Appendix.  The police range will be inspected by the Law Enforcement Liaison.

i.      Conduct range safety briefing for new shooters and give updates and reminders for experienced shooters.

ii.      Conduct live fire in accordance with section 5c of this document. Failure of shooters to abide by the procedures listed in 5c will result in in immediate eviction from the range and possible suspension of future shooting privileges. Report all incidents to the CRSO or president.

iii.      Turn in all gear, put money in the safe, leave the range in a neat and clean condition.

 c.      Shooting club Members at organized events

  i.      All shooters must check in with the RSO or event chairman.

ii.      Shooters will always conduct themselves in an orderly manner and will be responsible for the conduct of any guests they bring.

iii.      All shooters are responsible for their guns, ammunition, and gear while on the Club's property. Except for law enforcement officers, only unloaded guns with the actions open can be brought into the Clubhouse.

iv.      Firearms that are out of the case and are not being fired must be benched. Actions open and facing up, chambers empty, muzzles pointed downrange.

v.      Only load firearms on the firing line after the RSO has given the command to load.

vi.      Do not point firearms at anything other than authorized targets.

vii.      Fire at your own target only.

viii.      Give the command "cease firing" if any unsafe condition occurs.

ix.      Follow all instructions from the RSO.

x.      Assist in picking up cases and other debris.

xi.      No pets are allowed to run free on the range complex during live firing.

6.     Scheduling events. The president develops a schedule based on requests received and posts them on the club calendar and in the newsletter. This is generally based on a first come first served basis. If an event chairperson wishes to reschedule someone else's event for good cause, please contact the president who will take up the problem with all the concerned parties and decide on the use of the facility.

7.     Hours of Operation. The outdoor ranges are open for live fire from 8:00 AM till 9:00 PM (this is a county noise ordinance.)

8.     Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs. Shooters cannot consume alcoholic beverages or intoxicating drugs before or during live firing.  The event chairmen or RSO will deny range access to anyone in violation. After firing, shooters may consume alcoholic beverages in the following locations:

a.     The pavilion (only after all firearms and ammunition have been properly secured).

b.     The clubhouse.

 9.     Medical emergency, call 911, start first aid as appropriate. Have someone guide the ambulance or helicopter, take names of witnesses and what they saw. Notify the President or an officer as soon as possible.

10. Penalties for disregarding the directions of an RSO or event chairmen on a safety issue will include expulsion from the ranges for the day of the event, to expulsion from the club after a review