Black Powder Range Rules

 

1. Safety glasses and hearing protection are recommended at all times.

 

2. Before handling any ammunition, opening any cased firearms, or preparing to load a firearm, shooters arriving at the Black Powder range must first verify that the range is not under a cease-fire condition on either the Black Powder Range alone or joint with the High Power Range.

 

3. A cease-fire must be called during all target changes.  During a cease-fire, firearms and ammunition shall NOT be handled and all cased firearms must remain in cases, all shooters must stand on the down-range side of the yellow line, (away from the loading bench).

 

4. All target changes must be made under a cease-fire.  Prior to crossing the firing line for any reason, a cease-fire must be coordinated between both the Black Powder and High Power ranges.  Once coordinated with the High Power range, the cease-fire warning light will be used to notify shooters on both the Black Powder and High Power ranges will be activated.

 

(Note: target changes made within the 25-yard Black Powder enclosed range can be conducted after calling a cease-fire on the Black Powder range only while under the direction of a Club Range Officer.  In this case, coordination of the cease-fire is not required with those on the High Power range; therefore the warning light will not be used.  It is the responsibility of the Club Range Officer and the people entering the 25-yard enclosed range to assure that the Black Powder range cease-fire has been confirmed before crossing the firing line.  This exception is only for target changes within the Black Powder 25-yard enclosed range and only under the direction of a Club Range Officer).

 

5. Shooters must use the target position that matches their shooting position.  Cross firing is NOT permitted.

 

6. Loading of muzzleloaders must be done at the loading bench.  Items such as chairs or tables may NOT be substituted for the loading bench.

 

7. Priming and capping of all muzzleloaders and black powder revolvers/pistols must be done at the firing line.

 

8. All firing must be done from the firing line, (behind the baffle system), or from the designated shooting bench.

 

9. Fouling shots must be made from the firing line with the firearm pointed in a safe direction down range.

 

10. Black powder revolvers/pistols may only be fired on the 25-yard enclosed range.  Black powder revolvers/pistols are only permitted to be loaded as single-shot unless under the direction of a Black Powder Range Officer.

 

11. Loading of cartridge rifles and cartridge revolvers/pistols must be done at the firing line.

 

12. Cartridge revolvers/pistols shooting reduced, lead, “cowboy” loads can be shot on the 25-yard enclosed range only during club events and under the direction of a Black Powder Range Officer.  General practicing with any cartridge revolver/pistol is NOT permitted at the Black Powder range.

 

13. Shooting at targets that are located at the specified 100-yard High Power Range backstop can only be done under the direction of a Black Powder Range Officer and only from behind the Black Powder baffle system.  The Black Powder Range Officer is responsible to close the High Power Range lanes that will be used prior to hanging targets.

 

14. Shotguns using only rifled slugs are permitted to be shot at paper targets from the bench position.  Shotgun slugs are NOT permitted to be shot at any steel targets including those permanently hung in the 75-yard backstop.

 

15. Sighting in of in-line rifles using jacketed ammunition must be done from the bench position and may only be done using paper targets.  Jacketed ammunition may NOT be shot from any other position and may NOT be shot at any steel targets including those permanently hung in the 75-yard backstop.

 

16. Standard paper targets like those sold in the clubhouse are permitted on this range.  The use of human silhouette targets is NOT permitted. Plinking of objects is NOT permitted.

 

17. Steel targets that are owned by Delaware County Field & Stream Assoc., (club targets), ONLY may be used on the Black Powder range.  Members may NOT bring their own steel targets for use on this range.  Use of steel targets must be under the direction of a Club Range Officer.  Steel targets that are damaged must be removed from service and NOT reused until repaired.  Club targets will be locked when not in use.

 

18. Shooters using any load or ammunition that a Club Range Officer deems too fast or to be damaging any targets, backers or club property will be stopped from shooting until the load can be determined safe.  Determination of a safe load may include the shooter being required to chronograph the load to determine the velocity.

 

19. During all cease-fires, all cap or flintlock firearms must be racked and free of all powder, priming caps or priming powder.  All cartridge revolvers/pistols must be emptied and placed on the loading bench and must have their actions opened.  All single-shot, lever or slide action rifles must be emptied and racked with actions opened.

 

20. Due to the use of open black powder containers and black powder residue, smoking is NOT permitted on the Black Powder range.

 

21. Multi barrel muzzleloaders must be loaded single barrel only.  Multi barrel loading is NOT permitted.

 

22. Each person is required to pick up all refuse and material; and to leave the area clean for the next persons use.

 

23. In addition to cap and flintlock muzzle loading rifles, single-shot black powder style cartridge rifles and lever or slide action cartridge rifles may be shot from a standing position on this range if all the following rules are followed. 

 

1. The use of copper jacketed ammunition is NOT permitted.

 

2. Lever and slide action rifles must be loaded with one round at a time unless under the direction of a Club Range Officer.

 

3. Ammunition used on steel targets does NOT exceed 1400 feet per second.

 

24. It is the intent of these rules to provide a safe shooting environment under general range use.  It is the responsibility of the shooter to ask any questions they have regarding these or any range rules prior to use of this range. Questions can be directed to any Club or Range Officer of Delaware County Field & Stream Association.  Specific range rules may be modified by the Black Powder Chief Range Officer on an individual basis or for specific club matches/events to meet a specific competitor or match/event; if made, these modifications shall NOT be interpreted as a general replacement of the rules listed in this book for anyone else or any other use.