Range Rules, Commands, and Etiquette

Range rules and commands may vary from range to range. When you go to a new range, take the time to read the range rules, and learn the commands used at that range. The person giving the commands is called the range officer. Always obey the range officer. Failure to do so could result in loss of shooting privileges or possibly cause an accident.

Two typical and important range commands are:

• “Cease-fire” which means stop shooting, unload your firearm, put it down on the bench with the action open and the muzzle pointing down range, and step back behind the cease-fire line.
• “The range is active” (or “hot” or “live”) which means you can load and shoot your firearm.