The Range Officer is working for everyone’s safety. Under their direction, you will hear these commands:
"STOP!": This is the most important command. At any time, any Range Officer assigned to a stage may issue this command. The competitor must immediately cease firing, stop moving and wait for further instruction from the Range Officer.
"MAKE READY!": This command signifies the start of “the course of fire”. Under the direct supervision of the Range Officer, the competitor must face down range and prepare the firearm in accordance with the defined start condition for the stage and the start condition for firearm division. Except when in a designated safety area, you should NEVER handle your firearm without hearing this command.
"ARE YOU READY?" A positive response is not required and the lack of a negative response from the competitor indicates understanding of the course of fire thus allowing the Range Officer to proceed.
"STAND BY!": This command should be followed by the start signal within 1 to 4 seconds.
<START SIGNAL> (Beep from Timer, Visual Start, or Self Start): The signal for the competitor to begin their attempt at the course of fire. If a competitor fails to react to a start signal, for any reason, the Range Officer will confirm that the competitor is ready to attempt the course of fire, and will resume the range commands from “Are You Ready?”.
"IF YOU ARE FINISHED, UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR": If the competitor has finished shooting, he must present the firearm for inspection by the Range Officer with the muzzle pointed down range, magazine removed, slide locked or held open, and chamber empty. Revolvers must be presented with the cylinder swung out and empty.
IF CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, HOLSTER*: While continuing to point the firearm safely downrange, the competitor must perform a final safety check of the firearm as follows:
Self-loaders – release the slide and pull the trigger (without touching the hammer or decocker, if any).
Revolvers – close the empty cylinder (without touching the hammer, if any).
If the gun proves to be clear, the competitor must holster their firearm.
If the gun does not prove to be clear, the Range Officer will resume the commands from “IF
Finished …”
* For Revolver, “IF CLEAR, CYLINDER CLOSED, HOLSTER.”
* For PCC, “IF CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, FLAG” . Also see additional considerations below for PCC.
"RANGE IS CLEAR": This declaration signifies the end of the course of fire. Once the declaration is made, officials and competitors may move forward to score, patch, reset targets, etc.