Watch the ERGC Range Safety Video

For the complete list of rules, requirements, and restrictions, please download the ERGC Standard Operating Procedure by clicking this text.

The Following Items/Behaviors are Strictly Prohibited on ERGC Property

1. No shooting at wildlife.
2. Shooting that results in impacts on side berms or protective barriers.
3. Shooters may not be under the effect/influence of or consume alcoholic beverages or drugs including prescription and over-the-counter medications that will affect his or her ability to participate with a maximum state of awareness and in a completely safe manner, before or during live fire activities. The RSO will deny range access to anyone that is or appears to be in violation.
4. Fully Automatic Firearms are prohibited.
5. Slide-fire stocks or any other device that mimics automatic fire is prohibited.
6. 50 BMG caliber firearms are prohibited.
7. Firing of tracer ammunition is prohibited.
8. Tannerite or any other binary explosive is prohibited.
9. No bullet impacts off the range, into buildings, signs, storage containers, sheds, or any other structure or range feature not an Escambia River Gun Club approved impact area.
10. No repeated misses of the target or bullet strikes that ricochet causing a danger of bullets leaving the range.
11. No disruptive activities, such as loud music or children that are not supervised properly. Children are welcome; however, they MUST stay at the sponsors shooting point and they MUST have hearing and eye protection at all times.
12. Long Guns – No loaded rifles or shotguns are allowed on the Escambia River Gun Club property other than on the Firing Line under a Hot Range condition. Handguns – Loaded open or concealed carry handguns are allowed but will remain holstered and can only be unholstered on a range firing line during a hot range status or under the direction of an RSO.
    1. Open Carry – Handgun remains holstered with safety on if the gun has a safety. NOTE: no shoulder, cross-draw, or small of the back carry allowed.
    2. Concealed Carry – Handguns for CCW permit holders remains holstered with safety on if the gun has a safety.
13. No gun handling before 8 AM – Every morning the RSO’s conduct surveys of the ranges to ensure they are safe to use and need to be able to travel downrange without having to coordinate a cold range status at each range. For this reason, a cold range exists until 8 AM. Activities other than gun handling such as setting up targets, moving cased firearms to the benches etc. are allowed same as a cold range.

For the complete list of rules, requirements, and restrictions, please download the ERGC Standard Operating Procedure by clicking this text.

General Range Rules

All range users are required to abide by and help enforce these rules. All users are expected to politely point out to any other member in violation of these rules, the nature of the violation, request they stop and, if continues violation occurs, report the incident along with the violators name, if possible, to the Range Safety Officer (RSO) on duty.

1. Everyone is required to adhere to the written Range Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), which is available for download by clicking this link.
2. Range is to be used as posted, or as directed by the RSO (Range Safety Officer) on duty.
3. Escambia River Gun Club members must sign in at the Range Office prior to using the range and must have their membership card worn above the waist and visible while on the range to allow the RSO on duty to identify them as a member while on the range.
4. Members will ensure their guests and spectators sign in at the Range Office and sign a Liability Waiver form. Guests will pay their guest fee and be issued a wrist band. The wrist band identifies the person as authorized to shoot under member supervision.
5. Target type – Personal targets may be used. Targets and target stands other than the typical metal base holding up pieces or a piece of wood and a cardboard backer to hold the target must be approved for use by the RSO.
   1. Targets may be purchased at the store and target stands may be rented by the day.
   2. Exceptions – NO plastic bottles, glass targets, tin or aluminum cans, explosive targets, and any other exotic item may not be used as targets at any time without the permission of the Escambia River Gun Club management and/RSO on duty. When in doubt, ask the RSO.
6. Clean up – Each shooter on the range must clean up their bench, targets, and shell casings prior to leaving – this will be enforced by the RSO on duty. Exercise caution not to negligently discharge guns in the direction of range property, range signs, and stationary furniture.
7. Cross range firing – Cross range firing is allowed only as necessary to impact the various plates on the steel racks. Targets may be placed side by side not to exceed the same width as the steel plate racks. In all cases, the rounds must NOT impact the side berms/barriers. All rounds must impact the rear berm. The individual shooter is responsible for insuring the proper target height and positioning of targets so rounds will impact correctly.
8. Hearing and Eye protection – Hearing protection and eye must be worn while at the firing line. While on range property all members, guests and spectators are encouraged to wear eye protection. Safety ear and eye protection are available for sale within the range office.
9. Live-fire times are designated at the top and bottom of this page and in the SOP.
10. Transporting Firearms –
    1. Uncased or unholstered – Transporting an uncased or unholstered firearm requires a hot range. When transporting an uncased rifle or shotgun, it will be griped as high on the barrel as possible in order to minimize unintended sweeping. The safe direction is up when transporting or down range while on the firing line.
    2. Holstered/concealed – Holstered or concealed firearms will remain holstered until at the firing line and unholstered only during a hot range.
    3. Uncasing – Uncasing a firearm requires a hot range. Place the case on a front bench so the firearm will be pointed downrange when the case is opened.
11. Cease Fire – The call to cease fire is a command and can be called by anyone observing an unsafe condition or action or during and emergency. When a cease fire is called:
    1. Stop all shooting. CAUTION – Do not unload or take any other action with the firearm as it may cause a further unsafe condition.
    2. Ground your firearm (set it down) with the safety on.
    3. Wait for further instructions. When firing is stopped due to a Cease Fire call, the range is made a cold range until the reason for the cease fire is resolved and a hot range is coordinated.
12. No firearms are to be handled or moved until the range has been declared a “Hot Range”.
13. Cleaning or repairing – All firearms in need of cleaning or repair may only be handled under Hot Range conditions. Only exception is for muzzle loaders.
14. Shoot at your target only. Do not shoot at any elevation that will allow a bullet to travel over the backstop berm. Any bullet strikes to facility equipment, structures, or the like other than a designated target carry a fine/fee to cover costs of replacement and/or repairs. Those individuals determined by the RSO to be acting unsafe MAY BE dismissed from the range for the rest of the day. A Safety Incident Report will be filled out by the RSO and will be reported to the Escambia River Gun Club Board of Directors for further review.
15. No foul or abusive language allowed on the range.
16. RSO commands and range rules must be followed at all times. Challenges to any rule or RSO command may be made in writing or in person to the Escambia River Gun Club Board of Directors.
17. The minimum age to shoot on the range by one’s self is 18 years old.
18. Keep your area clean – the RSO will enforce this. Please respect the equipment and clean up your area when you are through shooting. If you move something, put it back. If you break something, report it so it can be repaired for future use. If you make a mess, clean it up.
19. RANGE SAFETY RULES
    1. MUZZLE MUST ALWAYS POINTED DOWN RANGE or UP.
    2. KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF OF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE.
    3. KNOW WHAT IS BEYOND YOUR TARGET.
    4. NEVER POINT A FIREARM AT SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DESTROY.
20. Authorized Instructors (AI) – AI’s are allowed more than 2 guests per visit. However no more than 2 students per AI may be on the firing line at the time and only one student may fire at a time. The AI must place himself/herself in a position and reach to stop the student from acting in an unsafe manner. This restriction may be waived or conditioned in a Safety Committee approved Course of Fire. Maximum students load for each instructor is 4 students on ranges 1-5.

For the complete list of rules, requirements, and restrictions, please download the ERGC Standard Operating Procedure by clicking this text.