NEW WESTERN RANGES AT RATTLESNAKE BLUFF
After 2 years of planning and hard work, we are happy to say the new western ranges at Rattlesnake Bluff are now open for limited use. We are still establishing plantings along the berms and grass, so they will be opened in phases as work is completed. Please respect all signage about where to drive and park and under no circumstances should anyone (people, kids, pets, etc.) climb up on the berms. Below are a description of the bays and rules for use.
INSTRUCTIONS ON USE OF THE NEW WESTERN RANGES AT RATTLESNAKE BLUFF
Description, Bays 1-10: 3-sided compacted dirt berm construction, various width bays with average depth of 25 yards for Bays 1-8 and 50 yards for Bays 9 & 10.
Capabilities: These Ranges are designed to be multi-purpose and may be used for pistol and rifles of all calibers, except .50 cal BMG which should only be shot from a controlled bench rest position at the main rifle pavilion. Shotguns may be used, but must be shot in such a manner that all projectiles (slugs, pellets, buckshot, etc.) impact safely within the center portion of berm backstops. AERIAL targets engaged above the level of the berm are limited to shot size of NO LARGER THAN 7.5. No exceptions! Any aerial shotgun targets used must be thrown so that muzzle is directed toward the rear berms of all bays when engaging targets and no fallout lands on any adjacent range bays.
RULES FOR USE OF THESE RANGES:
All firearms and ammunition used on BGC property and their owners shall be in compliance with state and federal BATFE laws. There is to be NO shooting of explosive or flammable targets (Tannerite, gas, propane, etc.). NO glass targets allowed. No armor-penetrating or tracer ammo is allowed.
- COLD RANGE RULES APPLY AT ALL TIMES. No firearms are to be loaded until the shooter is at an established firing line position with the muzzle pointed down range. No shooter may leave a firing line position with a loaded firearm. All firearms must be cleared of all ammunition before you leave the firing line position. .
- BAY #6 IS CURRENTLY RESERVED AS A “SAFE AREA” FOR DEALING WITH ANY GUN MALFUNTIONS. NO AMMO IS ALLOWED IN THIS SAFE AREA! .
- Portable metal staked target stands are located in each bay. Members must bring cardboard backers to staple between uprights and use paper targets stapled on the backer cardboard. Do not staple small targets directly to upright post supports or shoot at firring strips. Remove all backer cardboard and paper targets when you are done and leave target stands in the bay in which you found them.
- The standard “firing line” position is WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE SIDE BERMS on each bay, FORWARD of the upright orange painted PVC poles. You may shoot at targets from varying distances by positioning yourself closer to the rear and side berm backstops, but NO STAGGERED shooting positions within any one bay! All shooters must be on the same parallel firing line so that no one is forward of anyone else’s muzzle and no one’s line of fire crosses the path of another shooter’s line of fire.
- FOR ABOVE GROUND TARGETS: staple all targets up at a level so that bullet trajectory, muzzle angle and target position place the round POI (Point of Impact) centered within the main part of the berm (midpoint to lower 2/3 of total berm face surface area). SEE DIAGRAM BELOW. From a standard bench position or freestanding holding your firearm, on level ground this means target bullseye should be centered between 42”-72” above the ground. Trajectory, muzzle angle, elevation of the shooting position (if any) and Point of Impact must be checked during target set up for proper alignment with berm or backstop. NO ROUNDS SHOULD HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE GROUND ANYWHERE FORWARD OF THE BERM OR LAND IN THE TOP 1/3 OF THE BERM or above. (see target diagram on page 43 in Member’s Manual).
- For GROUND LEVEL TARGETS: No ground level targets (cans, jugs, etc.) are to be placed more than 3 feet forward of any berm. Do not place ANY targets forward of the berm at ground level in such a manner that rounds would be likely to impact the ground and thus risk ricocheting or skipping above the berm.
- ANYONE SHOOTING FULL- AUTOMATIC FIREARMS MUST MAINTAIN A FIRING LINE POSITION WITHIN 15 YARDS OF THE REAR BERM.
- NO ONE (INCLUDING CHILDREN AND PETS) IS TO CLIMB UP ONTO BERMS AT ANY TIME. These are new ranges and we are still establishing vegetation to anchor berms and prevent erosion. DO NOT DRIVE OR PARK ANYWHERE INSIDE THE CONFINES OF THE BAYS or on any areas with no parking signs or survey marking tape in place.
CORRECT PLACEMENT OF TARGETS: CENTER PICTURE SHOWS CORRECT BULLET TRAJECTORY ANGLE AND POINT OF IMPACT. DO NOT PLACE ANY TARGETS IN SUCH A WAY THAT BULLETS IMPACT IN THE GROUND IN FRONT OF BERMS (TOP DRAWING) OR IMPACT IN THE UPPER 1/3 OF BERM OR ABOVE (LOWER DRAWING) AND RISK SKIPPING OVER BERMS.
