Safety

Safety with any type of firearm is everyone's responsibility. Shooting is one of the safest of all sports. The reason for this is that there are safety rules that MUST be observed at all times.

The two most fundamental of these are:

• Never point a gun at anyone
• Always treat a gun as if it were loaded

The majority of the other rules arise from the application of these two rules in different circumstances.

Handling guns

• When you get out your gun check it is unloaded and that it is not cocked
• Show that the gun is unloaded before handing it to another person
• When you put your gun away check it is unloaded and that it is not cocked. Never put a gun away that is loaded
• Never pick up a gun without the permission of the owner
• Remove magazine between lanes/ pegs if it's a multi-shot if it's a fixed mag system only load one pellet.
• NEVER rest the Muzzle on your foot

Remember it is better to check your gun is unloaded 100 times too often than once not enough.

Operating the gun

• Keep the gun pointing downrange when in use
• Load the gun pointing downrange
• If you are using break barrel rifles or underlevers where the breach could snap shut on you fingers, keep hold of the barrel/cocking lever when inserting the pellet

Moving around with guns

• Never move between lanes with a loaded gun
• When moving between lanes open the breach and remove any magazine from the rifle
• When carrying a gun it must not be cocked, the breach must be open, the magazine removed and the gun carried with the muzzle pointing down at all times.

Range commands

• If you hear a single note on a whistle or the command STOP, stop immediately.
• On hearing one blast on a whistle or klaxon if your air rifle is loaded discharge across the firing line into the ground at a safe distance and stop shooting, everybody else stop and if at a peg point your gun at the ground not downrange (don't proceed to look through the scope or site the gun).
• Always obey instructions from the range officials immediately
• Never go forward of the firing line without permission of the range official
• When you hear 2 blasts of the Klaxon or Whistle it means that it is safe to continue shooting.

General

• Don't rely on safety catches to keep you or your companions safe
• Don't attract people's attention when they are shooting as it may cause them to turn around
• Observe all the usual safety rules when dry firing.

Safety with Compressed Air

Many modern air rifles use compressed air as a power source. It provides for convenient an effortless shooting but we must never underestimate the amount of energy that is stored up inside a cylinder. A compressed air cylinder is a potential bomb if handled incorrectly.

• Store bottles away from sources of heat
• Avoid dropping bottles and hard knocks to the cylinder or decanting set
• Do not use any bottle or fittings that appear to be damaged
• Always check the charge pressure of unknown bottles
• Make sure your bottle is in test
• When tightening bottle fittings use a minimum of pressure, hand tight is generally enough
• When using buddy bottles or other removable cylinders never stand in front of the bottle as it is charged
• Always keep control of buddy bottles and hoses when charging
• Avoid looking directly at gauges as you fill cylinders
• Always charge your gun slowly, don't put full pressure onto the gun
• Avoid contact between skin and high pressure air
• Avoid getting oils and greases in the high pressure air system