Command/Action Step

Procedure

Range Officer Notes

Before firing begins: 

Step 1--Range and Equipment Preparation:  Before firing, the Range Officer must prepare or supervise the preparation of the range for firing.  Check to be sure target holders and backstops are in place and that the necessary supplies such as shooting mats, pellets and targets are available.  Cadets may be assigned to bring these items from the storage area to the range.  Cadets should not take positions on the firing line until they are called to their firing points by the Range Officer.

Before firing begins: 

Step 2--Assign Firing Points:  Divide cadets who will be firing into groups or relays with one cadet assigned to each available firing point in each relay that is required.

RELAY NUMBER 1, MOVE TO THE FIRING LINE or (MOVE YOUR RIFLES AND EQUIPMENT TO THE FIRING LINE)

Step 3—Call Relay to the Line:  Call the cadets who will fire next to the firing line.  Give the cadets on that relay an opportunity to move their rifles and equipment to the firing line if the necessary equipment is not already there.  Be sure that all air rifle actions are open before moving rifles to the firing line. 

GROUND YOUR RIFLES.  GO FORWARD AND HANG YOUR TARGETS

Step 4—Hang Targets:  After firers are on their firing points, instruct them to ground their rifles (place them on the shooting mats or floor).  Issue targets to each cadet and instruct them to go downrange and hang their targets.

THE LINE IS HOT.  YOU MAY HANDLE YOUR RIFLES AND GET INTO THE (PRONE, STANDING, KNEELING) POSITION

Step 5—Preparation for Firing:  When all cadets on that relay have returned from downrange, the Range Officer announces the beginning of a preparation period.  During this period, cadets may handle their rifles and assume their firing positions.  Help any cadets who need assistance in getting into a correct firing position.  Once the cadets are in position, you may instruct them to dry fire by closing the bolts on their rifles (without charging them with air) so that they can practice the technique of firing before actually loading their air rifles.  Later, if the cadets enter competitions, they will be given a formal “Preparation Period” of ten or five minutes when they may get into position, close their rifle actions and dry fire.

IN THIS FIRING EXERCISE YOU WILL FIRE (Describe the firing exercise).  LOAD, START

Step 6—Start Firing:  At the end of the preparation period, after all cadets on that relay are ready and have been given a short opportunity to dry fire, the Range Officer describes the firing exercise (how many shots—whether shots may be fired at the practice/sighting targets, whether there is a time limit, etc.) and gives the commands that formally authorize cadets to load and begin firing.  Be sure no cadet cocks or charges the rifle and/or places a pellet in the rifle until after the command LOAD is given.  Be sure no cadet fires a shot until after the command START is given.  If the firing exercise is timed, the time begins when the command START is given. 

During the shooting time:

Step 7—Monitor Firing:  While cadets are firing, the Range Officer must constantly observe them to be sure muzzles remain pointed in a safe direction (up or downrange), especially during loading, and to assist, answer questions, deal with malfunctions and resolve any problems.

During the shooting time (if required by a malfunction):

Step 8—Malfunctions:  If at any time during firing, a rifle used by a cadet fails to fire or malfunctions, the cadet must inform the Range Officer immediately by raising his/her hand and declaring: “Malfunction.”

The Range Officer will then take control of the air rifle while keeping the muzzle pointed downrange.  The Range Officer must examine the rifle to determine the cause of the malfunction (Was the safety engaged?  Was the bolt/action fully closed?  Was the air chamber charged?  Has a part in the mechanism broken?).  The Range Officer may then direct the cadet to attempt to fire another shot.  Or, if the rifle cannot be used, it must be unloaded before it can be removed from the firing line.  If the rifle can be fired, discharge the rifle into a pellet discharge container.  If it cannot be fired, open the bolt/action and release the gas pressure by opening the cocking lever or unscrewing the gas cylinder.  Then use a cleaning rod to remove the pellet from the barrel.  The Range Officer must retain control of the malfunctioning air rifle until it can be taken to the storage area and repaired.

DOES ANYONE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME?

Step 9—Confirm Completion of Firing:  When cadets finish firing, they must open their rifle actions.  Then they must ground their rifles (place them on the floor or mat with the action open) after the Range Officer checks the action to be sure it is open.  Cadets who finish firing must step back from the firing line without disturbing other cadets, but they may not remove their rifles or equipment from the line until instructed to do so by the Range Officer. 

STOP, UNLOAD

Step 10—Stop Firing:  When all cadets complete firing that exercise or if firing must be stopped for any other reason, the Range Officer gives the commands to stop firing and unload rifles.  Any cadet who is still firing must stop immediately, open the bolt or action on his/her air rifle and hold the rifle so it is clearly visible to the Range Officer.  Cadets must ground or set the rifle down with the muzzle pointing downrange after it has been cleared by a Range Officer.

If there is still a loaded air rifle:

Step 11—Clear Loaded Rifles:  If a cadet has a loaded air rifle with a charged gas/air chamber and/or with a pellet still in the barrel when the command STOP is given, the cadet must inform the Range Officer immediately by raising his/her hand and declaring: “Loaded Rifle”

The Range Officer will direct the cadet to discharge the rifle into a pellet discharge container or to fire the rifle at a safe area of the backstop where there are no targets.  The rifle can then be grounded after the Range Office confirms that the bolt/action is open.

THE LINE IS SAFE, GO FORWARD AND REPLACE (or REMOVE) YOUR TARGETS

Step 12—Retrieve and Hang Targets:  After the Range Officer(s) confirms that all air rifles are unloaded and grounded, the Range Officer instructs cadets to change targets.

If the last relay/group of cadets has completed firing, go directly to Step 14.

RELAY 1, MOVE BACK TO THE READY AREA, RELAY 2, YOU MAY MOVE TO THE FIRING LINE

Step 13—Change to Next Relay:  When targets for the next position are hung and the Range Officer confirms that the line is safe (all cadets are behind the firing line and all air rifles remain grounded), the Range Officer calls the next relay (group) to the firing line.  The Range Officer then repeats Steps 5-12 until that relay completes the same firing exercise.

CADETS, REMOVE YOUR EQUIPMENT FROM THE FIRING LINE

Step 14—Close Range:  When all firing is complete, the Range Officer must confirm that all rifles are unloaded before they can be safely placed in storage.  To confirm that air rifles are in an unloaded condition, with no pellet in the barrel and no gas charge in the operating mechanism, instruct each cadet in the last group of firers to cock their air rifles without loading pellets.  Then have each one, in turn, close the bolt/action and release the trigger while they point the muzzle into a pellet discharge container held by the Range Officer.  If a pellet was accidentally left in the barrel or a gas charge in the mechanism, this will assure that the air rifle is unloaded before it is returned to storage.  Cadets may then be instructed to take air rifles and other equipment from the range to the storage area.