Guelph Rod and Gun Club |
Guelph Rod and Gun Club
General Club Rules
Revised as of April 25, 2022
4877 Wellington County Road #29
RR#2 Guelph, Ontario N1H 6H8
Mailing Address:
Guelph
Rod & Gun Club
PO
Box 894 Rockwood PO
Rockwood,
Ontario N0B2K0
Executive
President: Frank McFarquhar indianfrank@hotmail.com
Vice President: Ken Rodd rotactraining@yahoo.ca
Secretary: Joe Szymczyk secretary@grgc.ca
Treasurer: Steve Hackel treasurer@grgc.ca
Directors
Safety Director: Craig Samuel safety@grgc.ca
Property Director: Jeff Anzil
Web Director: Andrew Vincent directors@grgc.ca
Membership Director: Blaise Buxton membership@grgc.ca
ATT Director: Ed Amr att.director@rocketmail.com
Past President: Borden Zazinsky
Hours of Operation
Indoor Ranges Open: 365 days per year
9am to 10pm
Outdoor Ranges Open: Monday to Thursday and Saturday
9am to 9pm or dusk (whichever is first)
Friday: 9am to 6pm
Outdoor Ranges Closed: All Sundays, Christmas Day, and Good Friday
*Excluding Sub500, Pellet Archery
SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT. NOTHING TAKES PRECEDENT OVER SAFETY.
Safety infractions are subject to disciplinary procedures by the Board of Directors, depending on the severity, up to and including permanent expulsion.
These range safety rules and regulations are designed to make our ranges, members, guests, neighbours, and community as Safe.
Duties of Members
Members shall:
Make Safety their number one priority while enjoying the Club.
treat fellow members, guests, and visitors with respect.
refrain from discriminatory, harassing, or bullying behaviour
ensure that personal and professional conduct does not negatively reflect upon the Guelph Rod and Gun Club, its executive or members
Range Safety Officers (RSO) are in charge of the ranges when you shoot. Do not argue with them and do what is asked of you.
Abusive or profane language directed at any Range Officer will result in a review of your suitability for membership
Final approval for membership shall rest with the Board of Directors which may include approved sign off forms.
All active members must pay annual dues by October 31st of each year to maintain their membership at GRGC. Only members may vote at general or annual meetings
Members may lose their membership by:
failing to pay their annual dues
failing to conform to the objectives or by-laws of the club as ruled by the Board
An associate member is:
a spouse
a family member between the ages of 8 and 18
ineligible to hold elected office with GRGC
ineligible to vote in the General Election
subject to all the requirements of full members and the sponsoring full member must be a fully paid-up member
Associate members that do not possess a valid PAL/RPAL or Minor’s Permit must be treated as a Guest (under a member’s supervision at arm’s length). They are ineligible to become an RSO and therefore do not qualify under the provisions of shooting alone (They may not shoot alone under any circumstance)
Associate members that possess a Minor’s Permit (have passed the CFSC but are under 18 without a PAL / RPAL) may shoot as a regular member (They do not need to be under arm’s length control). Copy of which must be on file with GRGC
Membership Fees
The board shall establish the dues or fees payable by members
Membership must be renewed by October 31st of each year
CSSA membership is mandatory and must be paid through the Club at the time of renewal
As of this writing the membership dues are $300 + $45 CSSA dues
Shooting Hours
Shooting hours at the outdoor and indoor ranges are as approved by the Board of Directors and shall be posted at the club.
Absolutely NO SHOOTING may occur outside of the posted hours without prior approval by the Board of Directors. If you are identified shooting outside of the posted hours, you will be subject to:
90-day suspension of your shooting privileges
Revocation of RSO status (if applicable)
The GRGC may notify the Township By-law Officer and you may be subject to paying the associated fine under the Township of Guelph/Eramosa #8/2010 – Clause 2.4 c)
ii) by-law (at the time of printing, the fine is $275)
On a second such offence your membership will be revoked
General Range Rules
Range usage have been approved and posted by the Board of Directors
Member's ID card must be worn and be visible at all times while on GRGC property. The card must have a current photo that matches the photo and information on file for the member
No person shall enter the club property while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or recreational marijuana
The consumption of recreational marijuana on club property is strictly prohibited
Eye and ear protection must be worn on the firing line at all times. This also applies to spectators
Transport your firearms to the club in compliance with the criminal code/firearms act. Have all the required documentation in your possession
Ensure that you have with you while on GRGC property, all appropriate legal documentation. This could include PAL / RPAL, registration slips for your Firearms, your GRGC membership card and CSSA card
Shooting alone is permitted on all ranges except Range 7 (Trap) and only if you are a GRGC qualified Range Safety Officer (RSO). No other Range Officer qualifications are accepted. Having someone available in the event of a medical emergency is advisable, but not required
Otherwise, all ranges must be supervised by a Range Safety Officer when one (1) or more members are actively engaged in a shooting activity.
Members and guests must sign the Range Book: First Name, GRGC Membership Number, Time In, Time Out and the name of any guest(s)
Members and guests shall obey all commands of the Range Safety Officer(s) and abide by his/her/their decision(s)
Red range flags must be raised, or the red / green lights must be activated and flip-up 'Range in Use' signs must be displayed prior to any live firing on a range. Members must change the flip-up 'Range in Use' sign back to 'Range Closed' and lower the red flag for that range when shooting is finished
Pistols & Long Guns (Rifle, Shotgun) must be carried from the Safety Table (unloaded) in a Muzzle Up (vertical) position to the shooting position. If you have a GRGC recognized Holster Qualification, you may holster your pistol at the safety table (unloaded of course). This is for specific Ranges.
Passing a handgun from person to person should be done by placing it on a table in a safe direction, and the recipient picking it up from there .
Firearms must always be pointed in a safe direction. The safe direction is to point the muzzle downrange at the backstop. If you are at a Firearms Safety Table (located on the side berm of an outdoor range) the safe backstop is the side berm behind the Firearms Safety table.
No Firearm is to be pointed over the backstop. Ever.
No person shall load any firearms at any area other than the designated firing line
No person shall touch or handle any firearms without the owner's consent
No person shall charge any magazines at any of the designated Firearms safety zones as these areas are for firearms only. Absolutely no ammunition, magazines or dummy rounds should ever be present in the Firearms Safety Areas.
Every member, when encountering difficulties with his/her firearm may call the Range Safety Officer for assistance
Trap
Only authorized members may operate the club trap equipment or the Sporting Clay Stand
Indoor Ranges
The indoor ranges are restricted to Board of Directors approved firearms and calibres and/or muzzle energies as listed and posted in the indoor ranges (Range 6 & 9)
The Red and Green range lights in the indoor range replace the Red and Green range flags on the outdoor ranges to indicate that the range is in use and when the line is safe. When all shooting activities have ceased, place the light switch in the neutral position with neither the red nor the green light is illuminated
Range Safety Rules
Food and drinks are not permitted in indoor ranges
No shooting steel plates or poppers without the Board's consent
The steel gong on Range 4 may be shot from positions 7, 8 or 9 from either the benches or the prone port
When you arrive at the range and there are shooters present, lay out your equipment if there is an available bench and wait for the line to be called and, when the line is declared safe hang your targets. All shooting must take place from the predefined shooting benches. Shooting forward of the line (applicable to ranges with fixed firing lines) is NOT permitted except at Board approved events by shooters with the appropriate training in such disciplines (such as 3 Gun, PPC, IPSC, CAS, ODPL, IDPA)
When the line is called the safe position of your handgun will be on the bench, muzzle pointing downrange, magazine removed, action open and chamber or all chambers empty. Rifles and shotguns shall be unloaded and made safe with magazines removed (if possible) and placed on the rifle racks provided. Long guns will be placed in wall racks with the top of their barrels towards the back of the rack for stability unless the gun’s design would make that unstable
The Range Safety Officer will inspect each firearm to ensure that it is unloaded and in a safe condition before allowing shooters to move ahead of the shooting line. Those who stay back will stand away from the shooting benches behind the firing line and away from the rifle racks also indicated by a yellow line in front of the racks
At the command “Cease fire!” all shooters shall immediately stop shooting, unload, prove their firearm safe, place it on the bench or rifle rack and step behind the firing line
After a misfire the shooter must hold the firearm muzzle pointing downrange for at least 60 seconds before unloading. Misfired ammunition must be placed in the appropriate container or taken with you
Wherever loaded guns are allowed, they must always be under your immediate control (in sight and within arm’s reach)
Smoking is prohibited in all GRGC buildings, the clubhouse patio and Range 4 (Rifle Range) or while using black powder muzzle loaders
Only targets which are approved by the Board may be used. No human targets are permitted
Approved targets for Range 4 are as follows (placed within the rubber matt area just like paper targets – NOT ON TOP OF THE TARGET FRAMES):
Paper
Plastic
Clay
Empty tin cans
For Range 5 (placed on the ground, shooting downrange):
Plastic
Clay
Empty Cans
Note: Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) have its own approved targets
Do not post targets on the wood baffles on Range 4
Ensure that the all Range are cleaned up when you are finished shooting, and for indoor ranges, turn off the red/green lights, and any interior lights.
If you are the last to leave the range, change all the range signs to the 'Range Closed' position and lower the red flags
Safety Infractions
Safety infractions are subject to disciplinary procedures by the Board of Directors, depending on the severity, up to and including permanent expulsion.
These range safety rules and regulations are designed to make our ranges, members, guest, neighbours, and community as safe as possible
Safety shall not be compromised. Any direct or indirect, intentional or unintentional safety violation will be subject to disciplinary action by the Board of Directors
Serious safety issues occurring on any range must be reported to the Safety Director or other member of the Board as soon as is practically possible
If you witness a safety infraction while at the club and you cannot correct it, you should complete a written report and contact the Safety Director immediately
Guests
Members may bring shooting guests (minimum 8 years of age) to the club; however, the shooting guest can visit no more than three (3) times before application for membership
All members are required to sign in their guests (shooting guests or spectators). These guests must be under the member's strict supervision and their conduct is the member's responsibility
An RSO bringing a shooting Guest must supervise the Guest while he/she is shooting and cannot be the RSO for the entire range during that time
Guest violations can result in cancellation of the sponsoring member's membership privileges. All guests must wear a “Guest” name tag and eye and ear protection
One (1) guest may shoot at a time and must be within arm’s reach of the member and the member may not shoot while the guest is shooting
Guests are not permitted to uncase firearms or move them between the racks and the firing line. All casing/uncasing and moving firearms about the range must be done by the accompanying Member
Carrying a Firearm on the Range
Moving an uncased firearm shall be done with the action open, magazine removed, chamber(s) empty, finger off the trigger and the muzzle pointed up
The appropriate muzzle direction for a shotgun while moving between the Trap House and the Trap field is muzzle up. For break action shotguns, they may be carried action open and muzzle pointing down in the hand or slung over the wrist, shoulder or crook of the arm
All firearms transported to the club must be done so in a case and must remain as such until they are uncased as follows:
Range 1: Handguns or Long guns on denoted firearms safety tables or firing line tables
Range 2: All firearms on denoted safety tables
Range 3: All firearms on denoted safety tables
Range 4: All firearms on firing line benches
Range 5: Shot shell shooters at denoted firing line table
Cowboy Actions shooters, all firearms on loading table
Range 6: Handguns and long guns at firing line or denoted safety tables
Range 7: Shotguns at the racks or at safety tables
Range 8: All firearms at firing line table
Range 9: Handguns and long guns at firing line or denoted safety tables
Holster Rules
Use of holsters is only allowed for qualified shooters. It is required that there be a GRGC qualified Range Safety Officer with the qualified holster wearing shooter at all times, unless shooting is taking place on a range where shooting alone is permitted for GRGC qualified RSOs and that RSO must have a GRGC Holster Qualification in the discipline being practiced.
When practicing from a holster on a range with a fixed firing line, once a firearm is loaded at the line, the shooter may not leave the firing line with the loaded firearm, it must be unloaded and PROVE safe
Firearms may be worn in a holster while moving between approved firing ranges only and must be done so unloaded and magazines removed. Holstered firearms are NOT permitted in the clubhouse
Probationary Period
As a new member you will be on probation with the Guelph Rod and Gun Club for six (6) months
You will be issued a Sign-off Sheet with twelve (12) supervised shoots to be signed by the RSO on duty. Notify the RSO that you are a probationary member requiring a signature before you begin shooting
You may have only one (1) sign-off per day
You may not become an RSO with GRGC or bring shooting Guests until you have your Sign-off Sheet completed and turned in to the Safety Director and been a member of GRGC for a minimum of six (6) months
CFO Specific Provisions
Any Antique Class Firearm brought to the club to shoot must be in a safe condition to do so and its ammunition must also be safe to shoot in the firearm
Any combination of a new scope or new rifle with a scope (new or used) being sighted in for the first time, must initially be sighted at the shortest yardage (e.g. 25 yards) of an applicable range
Approved Range Usage Basics
Range Flag and Range Sign must be displayed on outdoor ranges
It is mandatory that the Sign-in Books be used on all ranges
No vehicles allowed on wet range that would create ruts / unsafe conditions
The following outlines the approved day-to-day use for each of the GRGC ranges excluding special events approved by the Board:
RANGE RESTRICTION RULES
Range 1:
Practice, 3-Gun, PPC, IPSC, ODPL, IDPA, CAS by GRGC qualified shooters
Practice, general handgun and rifle shooting from a shooter supplied table within the designated shooting area
Signage for distances on Range 1
100 Yards Maximum distance for rifle shooting
50 Yards Maximum distance for handgun shooting
25 Metres Minimum distance from a steel target for rifle
10 Metres Minimum distance from a steel target for Handgun shooting
No targets placed on the range floor
Targets must be placed as close as “practical” to the backstop with bullets impacting the backstop midway up and NOT impacting the range floor
Range 2 & 3:
Practice, 3-Gun, IPSC, ODPL, CAS by qualified shooters
Signage for distances on Range 2 & 3
50 Yards Maximum distance to shoot any gun
25 Metres Minimum distance to shoot steel targets with a rifle)
10 Metres Minimum distance to shoot steel targets with a handgun
No targets placed on the range floor
Targets must be placed as close as “practical” to the backstop with bullets impacting the backstop midway up and NOT impacting the range floor
Range 4:
Practice, handgun, rifle and shotguns with slugs only from the designated points on the fixed firing line
NO shot loads
Range 5:
Practice, Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) by qualified shooter on the entire 100-yard range
Shotshell shooters may use the area when:
no CAS activities are being engaged
that is outside the “Restricted“ area (as signed) for shooting approved targets such as pattern board and steel plate machine with shot loads only
Range 6:
Practice, handgun, and rifle shooting in traditional handgun calibres as listed and posted on the range
No steel core ammunition
Range 7:
Practice, Trap Range and Sporting Clay Station when operated by designated personnel
Range 8:
Practice, handgun, and rifle shooting in traditional handgun calibres as listed and posted on Range 6
No steel core ammunition allowed
Range 9:
Practice, handgun and rifle calibres up to 3000 ft / lb of energy including .30-06
Shotgun with slugs only
NO shot loads
NO steel core ammunition
Target placement at 25 yards and 50 yards (backstop) only
NO shooting closer than 15 metres from the backstop during Board approved events when shooters go ahead of the fixed firing line
Revised as of April 25, 2022