What are the safety rules on a shooting range?
Officials' detail · Penalties, safety and equipment · 1 of 4A gun may be loaded only on the firing point and only after the command "LOAD" or "START". At every other time it must be unloaded with a safety flag in it, a bright orange marker that shows the barrel or chamber is empty. Refusing to use one after a warning means disqualification.
How it works
- Safety flags: made of fluorescent orange or a similar bright material. In an air gun the flag is a line long enough to run through the whole barrel. In other guns it has a probe that sits in the chamber.
- When flags are in: before athletes are called to the line, when leaving a firing point, when firing is finished and whenever anyone has to go forward of the firing line.
- Pointing: on the firing point a gun must always point in a safe direction. The action may not be closed until the gun points down the range.
- Loading: only on the firing point, after "LOAD", "START" or "READY". A gun counts as loaded as soon as a cartridge, pellet or filled magazine touches it.
- One at a time: only one cartridge may be loaded in a rifle, even if it has a magazine.
- "STOP" and "UNLOAD": shooting stops immediately on "STOP". On "UNLOAD" every athlete unloads and makes the gun safe.
- A shot outside the commands: an athlete who fires before "LOAD" or "START", or after "STOP" or "UNLOAD", "may be disqualified if safety is involved".
- Leaving the point: the gun is unloaded with the action open and a flag in, and a range officer verifies it. Casing a gun without that inspection may bring disqualification.
- Dry firing: allowed only on the firing line or in an area set aside for it.
- Hearing: everyone near the 25 m, 50 m and 300 m firing lines must wear ear protection. Athletes and coaches may not wear protection with sound-enhancing or receiving devices.
- Stopping the shooting: a jury member or range officer may stop shooting at any time in the interest of safety.
- Dangerous handling: an athlete who handles a gun dangerously must be disqualified.
The commands are the range commands of the glossary. Dry firing means releasing the trigger of an unloaded gun.
Tricky cases
An athlete forgets to put the safety flag in. Are they disqualified?
No, not for forgetting. A jury member gives a warning with the instruction to insert it. Disqualification follows if the athlete refuses after being warned.
Is ear protection required on a 10 m air gun range?
No. The rule names the 25 m, 50 m and 300 m firing lines and the shotgun ranges.
Can an athlete practise their aim with an empty gun behind the firing line?
No, unless that place has been set aside for it. Dry firing and aiming exercises are allowed only on the firing line or in a designated area, and doing it elsewhere may bring disqualification.
Does touching a cartridge to the gun before "LOAD" count as loading?
Yes. A gun is considered loaded when a cartridge, pellet or filled magazine contacts it.
Why the rule exists
Nobody can see from across a range whether a gun is loaded, but anyone can see an orange flag. Tying every stage of handling to a spoken command means all the guns on a line are in the same state at the same moment, and the officials know which.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 6.2 |
| Finals | Flags stay in until the preparation and sighting time starts and go back in when an athlete is eliminated | ISSF 6.17.1.14 (d, n) |
| Air guns | The athlete asks the range officer for permission to unload. The gun's air cylinder must be within its validity date | ISSF 6.2.3.6; ISSF 6.2.4.2 |
| Local rules | Organisers may add safety rules required in their country | ISSF 6.2.1.2 |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), General Technical Rules 6.2 and 6.12.6.3. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).