Top 3 Safety Measures to Remember at the Firing Range

Going to your local firing range is about more than simply enjoying your experience — it also requires a level of responsibility that takes into account your safety and the safety of the people around you. No matter your level of experience, all range members must do their part to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

Common sense is the key component to a successful firing range experience — without it, you may risk your health and safety as well as that of those around you.

With the following three safety measures in mind, you’ll be in the best possible position to fully enjoy your time at the firing range.

Staying Safe and Socially Distanced

In addition to wearing protective shooting glasses and earplugs to avoid damage to your hearing, your chosen shooting range should be equipped with the necessary resources and protocols to protect its members against COVID-19.

Ideally, this would include sanitization stations at every entry point, temperature scanning, and questionnaires to determine symptoms before members may begin prepping their equipment. If you have additional PPE equipment at home, you may wish to bring those items with you.

To ensure you’re looking out for other range enthusiasts, rifle users must ensure they’re keeping a safe distance between themselves and those around them — your specific region will provide updated guidelines to ensure you’re able to enjoy your range experience safely.

Keeping Up with Rifle Maintenance

Your rifle will only perform at its highest level if it’s properly taken care of. Rifle maintenance involves a handful of important components — ensuring your barrel and receiver have been cleaned and re-oiling the metal surfaces will ensure your ammunition expels safely. Treat your optics with the utmost respect, and ensure they’re regularly cleaned — without this measure, you risk a clear sightline.

The ammunition you select will likely determine how successful your rifle is at reaching your target. Your buffer weight plays an important part in this discussion. While it is one of the more tenuous parts of the rifle — tucked away in the receiver extension — it can be customized to your benefit.

A rifle’s cyclic action is dependent on the buffer and buffer spring — since many rifles come over-gassed, standard buffers are often heavier than necessary. Upgrading your AR recoil buffer with a tungsten option from Agescan International offers more possibilities when it comes to your rifle’s performance — including reducing the felt recoil and improving muzzle movement.

We’ve talked here before about the importance of AR customization and maintenance. Rifle owners need stable, reliable equipment, no matter what level they’re on — that’s where a custom-tuned tungsten buffer comes in. Tungsten buffers are made from highly durable tungsten alloy. Replacing the three steel buffers found inside with tungsten — with the option to replace one, two or all three — offers a fully customizable experience that is designed to provide you with the best AR buffer for the highest-quality firing range experience.

The Three As of Range Safety

If you’re hutting up the range this winter, be sure to keep some important safety tips in mind.

1. Always keep your firearms pointed in a safe direction

This is one of the most basic yet most important aspects of range safety. Keep your muzzle away from anything you don’t intend to shoot. A safe direction refers to a direction in which your bullet cannot intrude on anyone else and stays directed at your target. You should have a firm handle on where your muzzle is pointed whenever your rifle is in use. When every rifle owner considers this, the risk of injuries is significantly reduced.

2. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot

This takes discipline no matter how experienced you are. Adhering to this principle will help avoid negligent discharge and unintentionally firing when your target isn’t in your sight-lines.

3. Always keep your gun unloaded when entering or exiting the range

Unless you are in the field or on the target range, your rifle shouldn’t have any ammunition inside — a loaded gun should not come in close contact with persons or objects outside of the range. If you need to hand your firearm to someone, practice opening the action and inspecting the chamber and receiver to ensure there is no ammunition inside. Never assume the firearm is unloaded — always check for yourself.

When you practice common sense and continuously monitor your surroundings, you put yourself and those around you in the best possible position to enjoy their time at their local firing range. Maximizing your safety and the safety of those around you is the most important part of the experience, and ensures you’re able to enjoy the range as a responsible gun owner.