Safety rules

Declaration regarding safety rules, liability, and the protection of life and health

1. Firearms must always be handled with the utmost caution, treating them as if they were loaded and ready to fire! Outside the firing point, all firearms must be unloaded! At the firing point within the range area, firearms must be in a safe condition after shooting has concluded or been interrupted. A firearm is considered to be in a safe condition when:
   • the magazine is removed from the automatic, semi-automatic, or repeating firearm, the action is open, and the chamber is empty; straps or slings are prohibited,
   • there are no cartridges in the revolver’s cylinder; the cylinder is swung out,
   • a firearm with a break-action breech — i.e., with a tilting barrel (or barrels) — is open, and the barrel’s chamber is empty,
   • in single-shot firearms, there is no cartridge in the barrel chamber; in muzzle-loaders, the projectile is not seated in the barrel,
   • when not actively shooting, a participant moves around the shooting range with the firearm in a holster or case, with no round in the chamber and no magazine inserted,
   • if a participant at the shooting range does not have a holster or gun case with them (e.g., the firearm is on loan), they must leave the firearm on the shooting table with the barrel pointing downrange and the slide locked in the rear position.
2. Firing without the permission or instruction of the range officer or shooting instructor is prohibited. Practicing firearm handling procedures without the use of ammunition or magazines must be carried out in the designated, clearly marked safety zone (Safety Area).
3. A firearm may only be loaded at the designated firing point within the respective shooting area, and only upon the command of the range officer or shooting instructor. While loading (or reloading), the shooter must face the targets from the firing point, keeping the firearm’s muzzle pointed in the primary direction of fire toward the backstop. During both training and competitions, every shooter must maintain the prescribed ready stance and shooting position.
4. A firearm may be aimed exclusively in the primary direction of fire toward the target(s) located at a designated distance from the firing line. During loading, reloading, and unloading, the axis of the barrel bore must constantly point toward the targets. Except when aiming and firing at the range or firing point, keeping a finger on the trigger is prohibited—particularly during loading, reloading, unloading, or clearing a malfunction, as well as when the shooter is moving within the range area.
5. Upon visiting the shooting range, every participant in shooting training must undergo a briefing on these safety and operational rules. Upon request, individuals must present either a valid firearms license and firearm registration certificate or, if they do not hold these, a valid identity document. Persons aged 15 and older may participate in shooting training, provided they are accompanied by someone over the age of 21 and have the consent of a legal guardian (e.g., a parent). Otherwise, anyone wishing to participate in shooting training at the range must be at least 18 years old.
6. Participants are obliged to follow all the instructions of the shooting instructor or  range officer. The participant is fully responsible for the damage to property and/or health if he/she violates the safety and operating rules stated in this document or in the internal documents of the shooting range or disobeys the regulations and instructions of the range officer or instructor.
7. The instructor or range officer is authorized to exclude from shooting activities any participant who fails to observe safety rules. In particular, they shall exclude any participant whose actions compromise the safety of range operations in any way. Violations of safety measures include, but are not limited to: dropping the firearm, an accidental discharge, firing before the range officer gives the command, aiming outside the target area, unsafe handling of the firearm, and failure to heed or follow the range officer’s instructions.
8. No person who has been validly convicted of a violent crime, or who is a member of an extremist organization or an organization that suppresses fundamental human rights and freedoms, may participate in shooting training.
9. In the interest of safety, the range officer or shooting instructor may halt firing at any time. Upon the command “CEASE FIRE” given by the range officer or shooting instructor, all shooters must immediately stop firing. Upon the command “UNLOAD WEAPON,” all shooters must unload their weapons and prepare them for a safety check. Firing may resume only upon the appropriate command from the range officer or shooting instructor.
10. No one may leave the firing line without permission from the range officer or shooting instructor.
11. You may touch another person’s weapon only with the consent of its owner or holder.
12. Shooters may approach the targets solely upon the instruction of the range officer or shooting instructor, and only after a safety check of the firearms and accessories has been performed.
13. The range officer or shooting instructor determines the method for a shooter to signal a firearm malfunction while on the firing line or at the shooting station (e.g., raising their free hand or loudly calling out “MALFUNCTION”), and the shooter must act in a manner that prevents any danger arising from the weapon. If the shooter is unable to clear the malfunction themselves while on the firing line or at the shooting station (ensuring the barrel axis remains pointed toward the targets and the finger off the trigger during the process), the range officer or shooting instructor will arrange for the malfunction to be cleared.
14. If it is not possible to unload a firearm following a malfunction, the range officer or shooting instructor shall implement appropriate safety measures; the shooter must not leave the firing line or shooting station with such a firearm. In the event of an ammunition misfire, a minimum of 15–20 seconds must elapse before the firearm is unloaded.
15. Shooters are required to alert the range officer or shooting instructor to any dangerous situation that could lead to personal injury or property damage.
16. While shooting is in progress, it is forbidden to smoke, talk, or otherwise distract other shooters within the shooting range area.
17. The area for non-shooters and onlookers—spectators—must be clearly marked and designated, located at a minimum distance of 5 meters behind the rear line of the firing range or the specific firing point. Bringing dogs or other pets onto the shooting range is prohibited.
18. Persons who handle or may handle firearms and ammunition are prohibited from consuming alcoholic beverages or other addictive substances.
19. Shooters and persons present at the shooting range or firing point are required to use functional hearing protection, such as ear muffs or earplugs; eye protection in the form of glasses is mandatory.
20. Maintain a minimum shooting distance of 2.5 m when shooting at targets made of paper, pasteboard, cardboard, OSB, or other non-ricocheting, easily penetrable materials.
21. Maintain a minimum shooting distance of 10 m from metal targets, regardless of their shape, dimensions, or construction.