DAPS Safety Briefing

Cold Range

• At no time may you handle your firearm on any part of the range, except as specified below.  Failure to follow this rule may lead to your expulsion from the range, and possible exclusion from future activities with DAPS.
• NO loaded guns on the range.  Please do NOT show up with a loaded gun in your holster or bag.  If you must, find a range officer to safely instruct you on unloading your firearm. 
• Guns are to remain unloaded and in a holster or bag at all times.
• You may handle your unloaded gun only in the designated safe areas, or under the direction of a Range Officer.
• Do not handle or load ammunition in the safe area.
• Ammunition can be handled and loaded anywhere except for the safe area.
• Your car is NOT a Safe Area.  Please holster/unholster your gun in the safe area.
• Please don't bring your gun into the business office of the Elm Fork Range.  Please leave your gun, with the slide locked back, in the safe area.  We'll keep an eye on it for you.
• If you need to fire your gun as part of a functional or safety check, find a Range Officer to assist you.  You may NOT load and/or shoot your gun without RO supervision.  This rule is inviolate.

Important Range Commands:

Stop

• This command may be given because of a range equipment failure, shooter equipment failure, or safety issue.
• You should cease fire with your finger off the trigger and muzzle pointed down range.
• Wait for instructions from the safety officer.

Muzzle

• This command is given because your muzzle is approaching an unsafe direction, and is only a courtesy call.  If you break 180 degrees in an USPSA match, you will be disqualified from the match.
• Unless you hear, "STOP," you should point your muzzle down range and continue shooting the stage.
• A gross muzzle violation such as sweeping yourself or somebody else will result in disqualification from the match.
• Your muzzle should be pointed at the targets AT ALL TIMES.  Not at the sky, ground, or match participants.  

Finger

• This command is given in an IDPA match because your finger is on the trigger when it should not be. For either USPSA or IDPA, your finger should not be on the trigger when moving to or from cover, reloading or drawing from the holster.
• For USPSA matches, having your finger on the trigger while not engaging a target will result in a match disqualification.  No "finger" warning need be given.
• You should remove your finger from the trigger and place it parallel to the slide or cylinder of the gun.

Cover (IDPA ONLY)

• This command is given when you are not properly using the cover provided by a barricade, barrel or wall.
• You should correct your shooting position so you are not exposed and continue the stage. Not correcting your position will result in a procedural penalty.
• Proper cover is defined as having both feet behind the barricade and only 50% of your upper body exposed to the threat target.
• The cover command is a courtesy.  You can still earn a procedural even if you don’t hear the Range Officer call cover.

"Load and make ready"

• This command is given when the range is clear and you are standing at the starting line for your turn to shoot.
• You should ask any questions before loading your gun.
• You should face down range to draw your gun, keeping your finger off the trigger and the muzzle down range.
• Load your gun to legal capacity for your division, unless otherwise specified in the COF.
• Re-holster the gun and wait for further instructions.

"Are you ready?"

• This question is asked by the Range Officer when you are at the starting position.
• The lack of a negative response will indicate your readiness.

“Stand by”

• You may start shooting the stage when you hear the BEEP from the timer.

"If you are finished, unload and show clear"

• This command is given when you have finished a course of fire. Your finger remains off the trigger with the muzzle down range.
• For semi auto guns you will remove the magazine and pull the slide to the rear. For revolvers, open the cylinder and remove the cases and remaining rounds.
• The Range Officer will inspect for a clear chamber!  Don't be in a hurry.

"If clear, hammer down, holster"

• You should drop the slide, pull the trigger and re-holster your gun. For revolvers, close the cylinder and holster.
• Do not do anything until your gun is holstered!

"Range is clear"

• This is the final command given when your gun is clear and holstered.
• Nobody on the range must advance for scoring and/or taping until this command is given.
• Now the targets may be scored and taped for the next shooter.

Scoring and Taping

• The Range Officer, the scorekeeper, and the shooter may approach targets for scoring and taping. 
• The Range Officer will call out scores to the scorekeeper.
• Once a target has been scored, then it may be taped.
• Everyone helps with taping.

Have fun!

• We do this for the joy of the sport.
• Ask questions; the experienced shooters can help you stay safe and avoid some of the common pitfalls of beginning this sport.
• Matches run faster and smoother if we all help out with set up, tear down, scoring and taping targets. Your participation makes all the difference!

Reloading your gun; see page 41 in the IDPA rule book for a more detailed explanation. Two basic types of reloads are IDPA legal to use during the match;

• Reload with retention (Tac Load); in this type of reload the gun is not empty so the magazine ejected from the gun must be retained in a pocket or tucked in your belt.
• Slide lock reload; the gun is empty so the magazine can be dropped on the ground.
• All reloads must be started and completed behind cover.
• A reload starts when the magazine is ejected from the gun.
• A reload is completed when the magazine is inserted and the slide is closed.
• A procedural penalty is assessed for improper or improperly done reloads.

USPSA reloads are different

• Cover is not required
• The standard reload is commonly referred to as the "speed" reload.  You can drop the magazine, and stuff a new one in at any time. 
• Yes, you can leave a magazine with bullets behind, and still have a round in the chamber.
• Slide lock reloads are permitted.  However, they're not very fast, so make sure you keep count!