Your first trip to a gun range can feel like walking into a room where everyone else knows the rules. The good news is that range etiquette is simple, and almost all of it comes down to safety and respect. Follow these rules and you will look like a regular on your first visit.
Start with the four rules of gun safety
Every range rule grows out of the four basic rules of firearm safety. Know them by heart before you go:
- Treat every gun as if it is loaded. Even after you have checked it. Especially after you have checked it.
- Never point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy. At the range, that means the muzzle points downrange at all times.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target and you have decided to shoot. Rest it straight along the frame.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond it. Know where every round will stop.
12 range etiquette rules for your first visit
1. Read the range rules and listen to the safety officer
Every range posts its own rules, and many will ask you to read and sign them before you shoot. The range safety officer (RSO) has the final word on the line. If the RSO tells you to do something, do it first and ask questions later.
2. Wear eye and ear protection the whole time
Put your safety glasses and hearing protection on before you walk onto the line, and keep them on until you leave it. Guns next to you are just as loud as yours. See our guide to hearing protection for shooting if you are not sure what to buy.
3. Bring guns to the line cased and unloaded
Arrive with every firearm unloaded and in a case or bag. Only uncase it at the bench or firing point, with the muzzle pointed downrange. Never walk around the parking lot or lobby with an uncased gun.
4. Know what "cease fire" means
When anyone calls "cease fire," stop shooting immediately, even mid-string. Take your finger off the trigger, unload, open the action and step back from the bench. Anyone on the line can call a cease fire if they see a problem, and you should too.
5. Never handle a gun while people are downrange
When the range goes "cold" so shooters can hang targets, every gun stays on the bench, unloaded, with the action open, and nobody touches one. Many ranges ask you to put a chamber flag in each gun during cold periods so the RSO can see at a glance that it is empty. Step back behind the line until the range is called "hot" again.
6. Keep the muzzle downrange, always
This is the rule people break by accident: turning around to talk to a friend with a pistol still in hand, or sweeping the next lane while clearing a jam. If you need to turn around, set the gun down on the bench first, pointed downrange.
7. Shoot only your own target, in your own lane
Do not cross-fire at a neighbor's target, and do not shoot at the frames, stands or anything other than your target. At indoor ranges, keep your rounds inside your lane.
8. Check the ammunition rules
Many indoor ranges ban steel-core and steel-cased ammunition because it damages the backstop and can spark. Tracers and incendiary rounds are banned almost everywhere. Ask at the counter if you are not sure, and make sure the caliber on the box matches the gun.
9. Know the rapid fire and holster rules
Some ranges limit how fast you can shoot, often about one shot per second, and many do not allow drawing from a holster unless you have passed their qualification. Follow the local rule even if you shoot faster at home.
10. Ask before you touch someone else's gun
Never pick up another shooter's firearm without asking. When you hand a gun to someone, hand it over unloaded, with the action open and the muzzle pointed downrange.
11. Keep advice to yourself unless asked
Unsolicited coaching is one of the fastest ways to annoy a stranger at the range. The exception is safety: if you see something unsafe, tell the RSO or call a cease fire.
12. Clean up your lane
Take down your targets, throw away your trash and pick up your brass if the range allows it. Some ranges keep the brass, so ask first. Leave the lane cleaner than you found it.
What to bring on your first visit
- Your firearm, cased and unloaded, plus the right ammunition.
- Safety glasses and hearing protection.
- Your ID, and your membership card if the range has one.
- Targets, unless the range sells them.
- Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Here is what to wear to the shooting range.
For everything else, use our full range bag checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go to a gun range if I do not own a gun?
Yes. Many ranges rent guns and sell ammunition on site. Some require you to shoot with a friend or take a short safety briefing first, and many offer beginner classes.
Do I need to bring my own eye and ear protection?
Most ranges sell or rent basic glasses and foam plugs, but your own fit better and are more comfortable. If you plan to go more than once, buy your own.
What should I do if my gun jams?
Keep the muzzle pointed downrange and your finger off the trigger. If you know how to clear it safely, do so. If you do not, set the gun down pointed downrange and ask the RSO for help.
See you on the line
Good range etiquette is really just good manners plus the four safety rules. Follow them and you will be welcome at any range. When you want to rep the range in style, shop our range gear. Every order earns bonus entries in our live firearm prize drops whenever a drop is open.
