Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-4-9-.02 - Firing Ranges
(1)
Permissible Firearms and Ammunition on Ranges Owned or Operated by the Wildlife
Resources Division:
(a) Only firearms
utilizing single projectile ammunition may be used on firing ranges, except
that shotguns utilizing multiple projectile ammunition may be fired at
stationary targets positioned such that discharged pellets will strike between
the base and halfway up the backstop.
(b) Sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles,
machine guns, dangerous weapons, and silenced weapons as defined in O.C.G.A.
§
16-11-121, and any weapon firing
more than once with a single trigger pull are prohibited on firing ranges
unless approved by the department in advance for special events. However,
sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles and silenced weapons may be used by any
person provided that such person has in possession proof of registration of
such sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle and silencer consistent with the
National Firearms Act and such person is in compliance with O.C.G.A. §
16-11-124(4).
(c) Rifles using centerfire cartridges .50
caliber or larger are prohibited.
(2) General Range Rules:
(a) Alcoholic beverages as defined in
O.C.G.A. 3-1-2 are prohibited on firing
ranges.
(b) No person under the
influence of alcohol or drugs is permitted on a firing range.
(c) Smoking is prohibited on firing
ranges.
(d) Non-shooters shall
remain at least six feet behind the firing line when a shooter is at the firing
line, except a coach or instructor aged eighteen (18) years or older while
directly advising the shooter at the firing line.
(e) Tracer, incendiary or explosive
ammunition is prohibited.
(f)
Targets shall be constructed of materials that will not cause bullet ricochet.
Metal targets are prohibited unless approved by the department in writing prior
to use.
(g) Targets shall be
positioned such that bullets will strike between the base and halfway up the
backstop.
(h) Shooting at flying or
thrown objects is prohibited except with shotguns and shot shells in areas
specifically designated by the department for such shooting
activities.
(i) Any person under
eighteen (18) years of age shall be directly supervised by an adult eighteen
(18) years old or older.
(j) All
objects, trash, targets, and spent cartridge hulls must be removed by firing
range users when leaving the range.
(k) Range use is allowed only in accordance
with range hours and dates posted at the firing range.
(l) Shooters shall fire only at the target
directly down range of that person's position.
(m) A person at or near the firing line shall
wear hearing and eye protection when firearms are being discharged.
(n) Double tapping and rapid fire are
prohibited. Shooters shall allow at least one second between shots.
(o) No person shall shoot a firearm or
archery tackle when any other person is down range or otherwise between the
shooter and the target.
(3) Handling of firearms:
(a) In the event of a firearm malfunction,
hang-fire, misfire or squib load, the shooter shall keep the firearm pointed
down range, advise all persons at the firing line of the malfunction, and
unload as soon as possible. If the firearm cannot be cleared it must be removed
from the range.
(b) In the event of
a firearm malfunction, all firearms at the firing line shall be unloaded with
actions open for the duration of the malfunction.
(c) All firearms on the firing line shall be
grounded and unloaded with actions open whenever anyone is downrange.
(d) The muzzle of any firearm on the firing
line shall be pointed down range at all times.
(e) The muzzle of a firearm in the firing
position shall be in front of the front edge of the bench upon which it
rests.
(f) Muzzle loading firearms
shall be loaded only with single charge dispensers; pouring powder from larger
containers directly into a muzzleloader is prohibited.
(g) Loading muzzleloaders must be done at
least six (6) feet behind the firing line whenever another muzzle loading
firearm is on the firing line.
(h)
Shooters must be at the firing line and the muzzle pointed downrange before
capping or priming muzzle loading firearms.
(i) Containers of muzzleloader propellant
shall remain closed except when filling a single charge dispenser.
(4) Range Safety Officers:
(a) Any person on the range shall obey the
range commands of department Range Safety Officers. This includes, but is not
limited to: Begin Fire commands, Cease Fire commands, and Resume Fire
commands.
(b) Range Safety Officers
may call a Cease Fire any time an unsafe condition is recognized on the range.
Any person on the range shall immediately obey a Cease Fire command by
grounding all firearms with actions open.
(c) It is unlawful for any person on the
range to disregard safety related instructions issued by a Range Safety
Officer.
(5) Shotgun
Ranges:
(a) Shooting is permitted only from
designated shooting stations on trap, skeet and 5-stand ranges, in a safe
direction down range.
(b) Firearms
shall be unloaded with the action open until the shooter is at the designated
shooting stations on the trap, skeet or 5-stand range.
(c) No more than two (2) shells shall be
loaded in a shotgun at any time.
(d) Waiting shooters shall remain a minimum
of 3 feet behind the shooter at the shooting station, except that a person aged
eighteen (18) years or older who is coaching or pulling may stand directly
behind the shooter.
(e) Shot sizes
larger than 7 1/2 are prohibited.
(f) No one is permitted down-range from the
shooting stations at any time for any reason, except for Range Safety Officers
in accordance with normal duties.
(g) First time shotgun range users must
undergo a safety briefing and range orientation by the Range Safety
Officer.
(h) Shotguns capable of
holding 2 different gauge shells at the same time are prohibited.
(6) Archery Ranges:
(a) Arrows shall only be nocked onto the
bowstring when standing on the shooting line and preparing to shoot.
(b) Archers must shoot directly down
range.
(c) Archers shall keep
nocked arrows pointed down range at all times. Pointing the arrow upward while
drawing (sky drawing) is prohibited.
(d) An archer may release an arrow only from
the shooting line or position.
(e)
Bows must be hung on the bowhanger behind the shooting line when waiting to
shoot or any person is down range retrieving arrows.
(f) A person may place a paper face on an
existing target provided that all paper is removed from the range or placed in
a trash receptacle immediately after use. Personal targets are not allowed on
range.
(g) Shooting at flying or
thrown objects is prohibited.
(h)
Non-shooters must remain at least six feet behind the archery line/post
whenever any archer is shooting, except that a person aged eighteen (18) years
or older who is coaching may stand immediately behind the pupil.
(i) Only arrows with field or target points
shall be used or possessed on range.
Notes
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