PSSA General Range Commands

Penticton Shooting Sports Association has designated Range Officers (RO) who are responsible for coordinating activity on the shooting range. The RO can shoot along with the others, but will play the RO role whenever it is commonsense to do so. A fairly standard set of range commands are used at the PSSA to keep everyone safe. Here are the commands, in the order they will likely be encountered by arriving shooters:

Note: All shooters must begin at the Cease Fire Line.

Range is Active!

Once the range has been declared active, the handling of firearms is allowed.

Shooters to the Line!

Step up from behind the cease fire line to the firing line.

Hearing Protection On!

Need we say more?

Load Firearms and Shoot at Your Own Time!

At this time the RO can issue other commands. These deal with the number of rounds to be loaded and duration of shooting period. Also the present course of fire, and scoring instructions.

The range is clear! You may go downrange and check targets!

All firearms not in use must have actions open and magazines removed, or be kept cased or holstered, at all times.

Now is the time to go down and place targets at the distances you desire to shoot. If you are preparing to leave, now is the time to pick up your empty brass and collect old targets.

When you return from downrange, step to the rear of the shooting area!

The RO is trying to keep people away from firearms while people are downrange. Also, this often gives the RO a better field of view. Stay behind the cease-fire line so you're not tempted to handle any firearms laid on the benches.

Has everyone returned from downrange?

At this point, the RO is basically asking you to confirm what he already believes, that everyone is indeed back from downrange. Take a look downrange, and make eye contact with the RO.

From here, the basic process repeats itself.

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Cease fire!

This command may be used by anyone at any time to ensure everyone's safety.

Stop shooting immediately. Remove magazines and open the actions on your firearms. When you have done so, step to the rear of the shooting area! You have just entered a cease-fire period, during which no firearms may be handled. Should you wish to leave the range, you must wait until the cease-fire period is over.