Malta Allied Airgunners Club

(MAAC)

Safety and Range Rules

Version 1 2008

1
1. Introduction.
1.1. The following are basic rules that will be followed by MAAC
members and non-MAAC members attending the Victoria Shooting
Range.

1.2. The scope of insisting on safety on the range is to ensure

them a safe environment and enjoyment of their sport.

1.3. The Safety Officers and the Range Officers on the range are
there to ensure your maximum safety. Their job is not to police you
but to make you understand the importance of safe gun handling
and procedures on the range. If you have difficulties in
understanding a safety procedure, make sure that you ask the
Safety Officer or Range Officer assigned on the range.

1.4 The supreme authority of the Victoria Airgun Range is the

Victoria Shooters Range Director. The Victoria Airgun Range
management is delegated by VSR Director to the MAAC Club
Administrative Committee.

1.5 The MAAC is the home Airgun club of VSR.

2. BASIC SAFE PROCEDURES

2.1 The following are basic safe handling techniques that one must
observe on the Airgun shooting range.

2.2 Understand the operation of your air rifle or air pistol.

2.3 NEVER hold the air rifle or air pistol in any position other then
muzzle down and facing downrange until you are ready to fire
adjacent to the firing line.

2.4 Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

2.5 NEVER look directly into rifle muzzle.

2.6 NEVER load pellets and magazines in your air rifle or air pistol
until you are ready to aim and fire.

2.7 NEVER touch or handle equipment that is not yours.

2.8 ALWAYS consider an air rifles and air pistols as loaded at all
times.

2
2.9 NEVER point the air rifle or air pistol to anything you are not
intended to shoot.

2.10 BE AWARE of what is beyond the target before pressing the

trigger.
2.11 If you notice any irregularity, inform your safety officer or
range officer at once.

2.12 The use of shooting safety glasses is encouraged by MAAC

for ALL MAAC events.

2.13 The use of shooting safety glasses is a requirement for MAAC

- Air Pistol Practical Shooting events (APPS).

3. Transportation of Airguns
3.1 Carry you air rifle or air pistol in an appropriate carry case.

3.2 Hold your pellets and accessories in a different carry bag

away from the air rifle or air pistol.

3.3 If possible keep Airguns in the trunk of your car.

3.4 Always carry a copy of the TS-B license, Insurance policy

and your Club membership card with you, in a separate
pouch.

3.5 Do not carry more then three (3) Airguns in your car
independent from the number of other members traveling
with you to the range in the same car.

4. The Range Layout.

4.1 The range is divided in areas as described below.

1. Visitors area.
This is the general area were visitor or shooters discuss or view
MAAC activities. The Visitors area is out of bounds for exposed
Airguns. The Airguns must be enclosed in case and unloaded in
this area,

2. Shooting area.

3
The shooting area separated the shooters from visitors. The
shooting area is dedicated only for shooters and activity officers
and staff. Entry to the shooting area during competitions is
restricted to shooters that are undergoing their rounds and the
Range Officers, Safety Officer and Counting Marshalls only. All
must wear an identification badge. All other persons such as staff
or helpers might be allowed but also require an ID pass. In the
Shooting Area Airguns can be exposed out of their cases. Air filling
cylinders are allowed in a dedicated area inside the shooting area.
This area must show the following signs:

A. SHOOTING AREA ID REQUIRED.

B. EYE PROTECTION REQUIRED

C. STRONG BOOTS

4
D. NO SCUBA TANKS

E. ZEROING LANE.

F. Filling Station.
(The filling station is an area assigned for storing all the High
Pressure scuba tanks. Shooters are allowed to walk with their
Airguns to the filling area for filling purpose only. Airguns must be
unloaded when going to or from a Filling Station. Ideally in
competitions the Filling station is within the Shooting area away
from the Firing Line. This area must show the following signs.
FILLING STATION)

5
G. Eye Protection REQUIRED

H.NO NAKED FLAMES

I. Firing line.
The firing line is a physical line set at ground level, separating the
shooting area from the range. The line is of red color and is fixed
across the length of the range. All the shooters will stand behind
the firing line during air-rifle shooting and pistol shooting in normal
practice sessions. In ARFT and ARBR all shooting is done from
behind the firing line. In APPS the firing line is still present but the
actual shooting is done from behind this line. In APPS the firing
line separates competitors on shooting round and the others
waiting.

6
Please see individual regulations for different disciplines re the
firing line rules. As a general rule NO one is allowed to exit the
firing line unless the range is declared clear by the Safety Officer
or the Range Officer on duty. Just between the firing line and the
range the area must show the following sign:

4.2 The range is the area where the targets are set up.

4.3 The range must be indicated as active by means of the Red

Flag.

4.4 The range is out of bounds to all unless declared clear by the
Safety Officer or Range Officer.

4.5 The range is always out of bounds for visitors.

4.6 No one is allowed to enter and shoot in the range unless he is

authourized by MAAC or the Victoria Shooters Range Director.

4.7 It is important that members and non members keep the area
clean area and store targets after use.

4.8 Do not shoot at anything except the Targets provided by MAAC

and VSR.

4.9 One can bring along his own targets.

7
4.10 Glass targets and other frangible targets are not permitted.

4.11 Any breach of these regulation and those of the Malta Arms
Act regulations using Airguns will be a case of dismissal from
MAAC and from the Victoria Shooters Range Director.

5. Range practice procedure.

5.1 Transport your air rifle or air pistol and other equipment from
your car to the firing line in appropriate case and bags to the
shooting area.

5.2 Layout your equipment in an orderly method.

5.3 Open the gun case and if the muzzle is not facing down
range close the case again and turn the case facing
downrange. Check clear.

5.4 Open the case and remove the air rifle or air pistol and place
it on mat /cushion or bipod facing down range

.
5.5 Before loading your gun with a pellet or a magazine ask if
shooting is allowed.

6. Movement on the range.

6.1 If you need to move with your air rifle from point A to point B in
the shooting area, always make sure the rifle or gun is unloaded
and free from magazines.

6.2 Always move with rifle muzzle pointing down. For air pistols the
use of a holster is recommended.

6.3 When going from a standing position to a sitting or prone

position.
1. Place down the air rifle or air pistol on the shooting mat or
cushion, muzzle facing down range.
2. Take your position on the shooting mat.
3. Pick up the air rifle or air pistol, position yourself, load pellet
or magazine, aim and shoot.

6.4 To stand up from or sitting position after your shot.

1. Place the air rifle or air pistol to your side on mat or cushion
facing down range.

8
 2. Get up.
3. Pick up the air rifle or air pistol, position yourself, load pellet
or magazine, aim and shoot.

6.5 When you call it a day.

1. Ensure that the air rifle or air pistol is empty without pellets or
magazines. If in doubt load and shoot one pellet. Pack the
gun in its case and the rest of you equipment then load them
in your car.
2. Make sure that you do not leave any items behind you
including your garbage.

7. Other Range Rules.

7.1 Infants under the age of 14 are not allowed on the range
shooting area even if supervised by their parents or guardians.
Young teenagers from the age of 14 are allowed in the shooting
area only if accompanied by their guardian only.

7.2. Junior licensed members between the age of 14 and under the
age of 16 must be accompanied by his parent or guardian to shoot.

MAAC- 2008