What are the safety rules on a shotgun range?
Officials' detail · Penalties, safety and equipment · 2 of 4A shotgun must be carried open and empty at all times off the shooting station. It may be loaded only on the station, facing the target area, when it is the athlete's turn. On "STOP" everyone unloads at once. Athletes must wear hearing protection and shatterproof glasses.
How it works
- Carrying: all shotguns, even when empty, must be handled with maximum care and must be open. The penalty for a breach can be disqualification.
- Loading: only on the shooting station, facing the machines, with the gun pointed towards the target flight area, after the referee has given permission.
- Turning round: no athlete may turn from the station before the gun is open and empty.
- Interruptions: when shooting is interrupted the gun must be opened and emptied.
- "STOP": shooting stops immediately, all athletes unload and make their guns safe, and no gun may be closed until "START" or "READY". Handling a closed gun after "STOP" without permission may bring disqualification.
- Aiming: only on a station with the referee's permission or in a dry firing area. Aiming or shooting at another athlete's targets, or at birds and animals, is prohibited.
- Shooting: only when it is the athlete's turn and the target has been thrown.
- Test shots: up to two, with permission, before the first round of the day. Not into the ground.
- Ears: athletes and everyone near the firing line must wear hearing protection.
- Eyes: athletes, referees and officials must wear shatterproof shooting glasses or similar.
- Commands: in English.
Tricky cases
The gun is empty. Can the athlete carry it closed?
No. Shotguns must be open even when empty.
An athlete steps on to the station and loads before the athlete ahead has finished. Is that allowed?
No. Once the round has started an athlete may close the shotgun only after the previous athlete has completed their turn.
An athlete forgets their ear plugs. Are they sent off?
No, not the first time. A first violation brings a yellow card and a second costs one target.
It is raining hard and glasses are fogging. Must athletes keep them on?
It depends on the officials. If the chairperson of the juries declares it because of bad weather, athletes may shoot without the required glasses.
Why the rule exists
An open gun cannot fire, and anyone on the range can see at a glance that it is open. That single habit removes most of the danger of carrying firearms among other people. The rule book opens the section plainly: "Safety is of Paramount importance."
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 9.2 |
| Hearing aids | Sound-enhancing devices are banned, except for hearing-impaired athletes with the jury's approval | ISSF 9.2.7 (b) |
| Loaded gun between stations | A warning, then possible disqualification | ISSF 9.8.1.1 (j) |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), Shotgun Rules, rules 9.2 and 9.8.1.1. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).