10. RANGE COMMANDS, CONTROL, AND OPERATIONS

10.1 Discipline - The safety of competitors, range personnel and spectators requires continuous attention by all to the careful handling of firearms and caution in moving about the range. Self-discipline is necessary on the part of all. Where such self-discipline is lacking it is the duty of range personnel to enforce discipline and it is the duty of competitors to assist in such enforcement

10.1.1 Action Open - Unless Pistols are holstered or cased, cylinders must be open or slides back and the magazine removed at all times until the competitor is in position at his firing point and the command, "THE PREPARATION PERIOD STARTS NOW", has been given.

10.1.2 Pistols Unloaded - Pistols will not be loaded until the competitor has taken position at the firing point the pistols pointed toward the targets and the command "LOAD" has been given.

10.1.3 Loaded Pistols - A pistol or revolver that has a cartridge in the cylinder or in a magazine which has been inserted shall be considered as being loaded. No pistol will be loaded until competitor has taken the assigned place at the firing point and the command "LOAD" has been given by the range officer. Loaded pistols shall be pointed in the direction of the targets at all times.

10.1.4 Cease Firing - Any person will immediately command "CEASE FIRING" if any incident occurs which indicates possible injury to some living thing should firing continue. In all other cases commands will originate with the Chief Range Officer, (See Rules 10.7 and 18.10.)

10.1.5 Not Ready - It is the duty of competitors to notify the Range Officer if not ready to fire at the time the Chief Range Officer asks, "IS THE LINE READY?" Should the Chief Range Officer cause firing to proceed, the competitor concerned will be given an opportunity to fire a score In the earliest possible relay or by time extension. Failure of competitor to notify the Range Officer "not ready" forfeits the right to fire. (See Rule 10.7).

10.1.6 to 10.1.8 - BLANK

10.1.9 Ranges with Target Carriers - When a range is equipped with a carrier system permitting the changing of targets from the firing line without suspending firing, competitors may be issued the targets necessary to complete the match. Each competitor will be responsible for hanging the target properly on the target carrier. Fired targets will be gathered by the Range Officer as soon as each stage is completed.

10.2 Range Courtesy
(a) Loud Language - loud or abusive language will not be permitted. Competitors, scorers, and Range Officers will limit their conversation directly behind the firing line to official business.

(b) Smoking - As a courtesy to competitors, smoking is prohibited forward of the "ready line."

10.3 Delaying a Match - No competitor may delay the start of a match through tardiness in reporting or undue delay in preparing to fire.

10.3.1 Preparation Period - In all cases competitors will be allowed 3 minutes to take their places at their firing points and prepare to fire after the relay is called to the firing line. Dry firing will be permitted during this period.

10.4 Policing Range - It is the duty of competitors to police the firing points after the completion of each match or stage. The Range Officer will supervise such policing and see that the firing points are kept clean.

10.5 Competitors Will Score - Competitors will act as scorers when requested to do so by the Executive Officer or Chief Range Officer, except that competitors will not score their own targets.

10.6 Repeating Commands - A Range Officer will repeat the Chief Range Officer's commands only when those commands cannot be clearly heard by competitors.

10.7 Firing Line Procedures and Commands - When ready to start the firing of a match the Range Officer commands "RELAY NO. 1, MATCH NO. (or naming the match), ON THE FIRING LINE." The competitors in that relay immediately take their assigned places at their firing points and prepare to fire but do not load. The Range Officer then states "THE PREPARATION PERIOD STARTS NOW." Range Officers check the location of each competitor as to correct firing point by comparing the number of each competitor's firing point with the relay and target number on the score card or on the range assignment card. At the end of the 3 minute preparation period the Range Officer states "THE PREPARATION PERIOD HAS ENDED."

The Range Officer having made sure that the range is clear (in timed and rapid fire the targets must be turned out of firing position) then commands "WITH 5 ROUNDS LOAD."

Note: In slowfire events, which are scored after 10 shots, the command should be "10 SHOTS SLOW FIRE, 10 SHOTS IN 10 MINUTES, LOAD." (The number of rounds to be loaded by the competitor in slowfire stages will be determined by the competitor.)

The Range Officer then asks, "IS THE LINE READY?" Any competitor who is not ready or whose target is not in order will immediately raise the nonshooting arm and call, "Not ready on target....

The Range Officer will immediately state, "THE LINE IS NOT READY:' and the Range Officer will immediately investigate the difficulty and assist in correcting it. When the difficulty has been corrected, the Range Officer calls. "THE LINE IS READY."

When the Range Officer asks "IS THE LINE READY?" and the line is ready, he then calls, "THE LINE IS READY."

The Range Officer then commands, "READY ON THE RIGHT. READY ON THE LEFT." Competitors may point their guns toward the target after the command, "Ready on the right." The Range Officer will then command, "READY ON THE FIRING LINE." In approximately 3 seconds the targets will be exposed, or the signal to commence firing will be given.

The Range Officer then commands "COMMENCE FIRING" which means to start without delay as timing of the string is started with this command. "COMMENCE FIRING" may be signaled verbally, or by a short sharp blast on a whistle or by moving the targets into view.

"CEASE FIRING" is the command given by the Range Officer at the end of time limit for each string or at any other time all firing is to cease. FIRING MUST CEASE IMMEDIATELY, Even if a competitor is about to let off a carefully aimed shot the competitor must not fire and open the action of the gun. Failure to immediately obey this command is one of the worst infractions the next command of the Range Officer. "Cease Firing" may be signaled verbally, or by a short sharp blast on a whistle or by moving the targets out of view.

When the command to cease firing is given at the end of a string the command is "CEASE FIRING- UNLOAD- CYLINDERS OPEN- MAGAZINES OUT- SLIDES BACK- GUNS ON THE TABLE. ARE THERE ANY REFIRES? The Range Officer than asks "IS THE LINE SAFE ON THE RIGHT? IS THE LINE SAFE ON THE LEFT?" On this command all Assistant Range Officers and scorers check their competitors to make sure each one obeys the command before signaling the Range Officer that their portion of the firing line is safe. When all Assistant Range Officers and scorers have given a signal that the range is safe the Range Officer commands "THE LINE IS SAFE, GO FORWARD, SCORE TARGETS AND PASTE" (or "CHANGE").

When the Range Officer has ascertained that all personnel have returned to the firing line after scoring or changing targets, the command "THE RANGE IS CLEAR, YOU MAY HANDLE YOUR GUNS" will be given.

Other commands used less frequently are:

"POLICE FIRING POINTS" means pick up fired cartridge cases, empty cartridge cartons and "tidy-up" the firing line.

"AS YOU WERE" means disregard the command just given. For example, if the commands were given "READY ON THE RIGHT' followed by "AS YOU WERE" it would mean someone was not ready.

"CARRY ON" means proceed with whatever was being done before some interruption occurred.

Should a target blow out of the frame or otherwise become unserviceable the Range Officer will report the condition immediately to the Chief range Officer who will issue such commands and directions as seem advisable.

Note: Commands controlling the start of the firing sequence commencing with "Ready on the Right" should have approximately a 3 second interval between firing line commands.

10.8 BLANK

10.9 Procedure in Case of Defective Cartridge, Disabled Pistol In Slow Fire - If a cartridge fails to fire or a pistol fails to function in slow fire the competitor may replace the unfired cartridge or clear the jam and continue firing. Additional time may be allowed any competitor, equal to the time lost because of the defective cartridge, disabled pistol or malfunction, if the Range Officer has been notified at the time of the malfunction. (For refiring privileges see Rule 9.14(B). It is not required that the Range Officer attempt to fire a cartridge before it is declared defective. In case of malfunction where a pistol or revolver is disabled and must be replaced requiring a refire, the competitor will call the Range Officer.

10.10 Procedure in Case of Defective Cartridge, Disabled Pistol or Malfunction in Timed and Rapid Fire - In the event of a defective cartridge (Rule 9.4), disabled pistol (Rule 9.5), or malfunction (Rule 9.6), before a suing is completed in timed or rapid fire, the competitor shall be privileged to fire another five shot string, provided he assumes the "Ready" position and calls the Range Officer by holding up the non-shooting hand at the end of the time period. The Range Officer will inspect the pistol, if satisfied that there the pistol or bullets that have failed to leave the barrel. The competitor will then fire another complete five shot string on the same target.

When scoring is after each 5 shot string, the competitor will be charged with firing 10 shots minus whatever number of cartridges were found unfired or bullets that failed to leave the barrel in the original string and will be scored the 5 shots of lowest value.

When scoring after 10 shots, the competitor will be charged with firing 15 shots minus whatever number of cartridges were found unfired or bullets that failed to leave the barrel in the original string and will be scored the 10 shots of lowest value.

Unfired shots in the refire string will be scored as misses. Failure of the competitor to notify the Range Officer of the malfunction, or the opening or clearing or attempting to clear the pistol by the competitor before the Range Officer has inspected the pistol forfeits the right of the competitor to refire. (For refiring privileges see Rule 9.14c).

Example - In timed or rapid fire a competitor has a misfire on the fourth shot. The Ready Position will be assumed and at the end of the time limit calls the Range Officer. The Range Officer inspects the gun, finds conditions as claimed, and finds 2 unfired cartridges in the gun. The competitor is then given orders to "LOAD 5 ROUNDS" and fires another 5 shot string on the same target.

When scoring is after 5 shot string - In the first string there are 2 10's and a 9, in the second string there are 5 10's. The score is the 5 shots of lowest value or 49. However, if in the first string there are 2 10's and a 9 and at the end of the second string the only other visible hits were 2 additional 10's and another 9 the competitor would be scored 2 misses in the second string and the score would be 28.

When scoring is after 10 shots - In the first string there are 2 10's and a 9, in the second string there are 5 10's and in the third suing there are 5 10's, the score is the value of the lowest 10 shots of the 13 shots fired or a 99. However, if in the first string there are 2 10's and a 9 and at the end of the third string the only other visible hits were 7 additional 10's and another is 9, there would be scored 2 misses and the score would be 78.

10.11 to 10.17- Blank