RANGE RULES & REGULATIONS 

Safety is our foremost concern. Every club member shares in the duty and responsibility for the enforcement of these rules. These rules and regulations will be covered in its entirety during your Club Orientation.

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GENERAL RULES AND REGULATONS

• All shooters must be in compliance with New York state and federal laws.

• Unsafe handling or misuse of guns is cause for dismissal from membership and banning from use of Canandaigua Sportsmen’s Club facilities.

• There are no alcoholic beverages permitted on the property when any of the courses or ranges are open

• There are no illegal drugs, or illegal substance permitted on the property.

• Persons who appear to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicants who are on the property will be asked to leave, and may have their membership privileges suspended or revoked for failure to do so and risk possible legal action

• The Canandaigua Sportsmen’s Club Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse the use of any club facility to any individual or organization that in their opinion poses a risk to themselves or others.

• ALL family members, identified under a Family Membership, who intend to shoot at this facility, must attend a Safety Orientation with one of our Range Safety Officers before getting their badges.​

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FUNDAMENTALS OF SHOOTING SAFETY

• Eye and Ear Protection are required on all firing stations. This includes all guests.

• Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

• Always keep your firearm unloaded until your are ready to use it.

• Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.

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GUN HANDLING AND RANGE SHOOTING GUIDELINES

• The Canandaigua Sportsmen’s Club, Inc. is an operational facility that permits LIVE FIRE with guns at designated shooting stations on the property. All guns must be unloaded until the member and/or guest arrives at a specific shooting station​

  • Exceptions: A valid pistol or handgun permit holder may carry a loaded handgun on the premises as long as the handgun is holstered in a safe holster until in a shooting position or in a designated safe area.

• Those individuals who participate in the Summer Pistol League are specifically required to have their handguns secured, unloaded, and either safely holstered, bagged, boxed, or placed in a safe container when carried to and from the firing line.

• A RED flashing light has been installed on Range #1. The safety light must be activated when a shooter goes down range. Shooters not advancing down line must stand in back of the shooting benches to indicate that the firing line is safe. The actions on benched guns must be open and able to be viewed by other shooters. An IBC (Internal Breech Control) may be inserted in the breech, if designated. No one is to handle any gun during the exchange period.

• ​Guns may be handled only on the appropriate ranges or in the designated safe area(s) provided. Guns are not to be handled behind the ranges. When transporting guns from the vehicle they must be cased or holstered, carried with action open, or with IBC (Internal Breech Control in the chamber until you are on the range.

• Shotguns and rifles must remain unloaded, with the action open until they are safely on the range or in the confines of a sporting clays stand whether that be on the 5-Stand or Sporting Clay Course. Sporting clay shooters must not load more than two shells at any time. Maximum shot size is 7.5.

• Used cardboard targets and knockdown steel targets are available in the shed closest to the road. The combination to the lock will be provided to you through the CSC online portal. Paper targets and club authorized steel targets are the only targets that may be used on club ranges. This specifically excludes: glass of any kind, soda cans, clay pigeons, spent cases, and milk and water jugs, etc. Cardboard or paper targets may be used on any of the ranges. Wooden bases and uprights are available for use as movable target stands. Users must provide a stapler.​

• Shooting on all ranges must take place from a position forward of the rearmost end of the side berm(s)

• It is unsafe to place targets on any range in a manner that would cause a shot to ricochet to pass over the top of any berm. All targets should be placed as close to the rear berm as possible and the center of the target should be just below eye level.

• Such care taken in target placement should prevent rounds from passing over the top of any berm or ricocheting off the ground and (possibly) over a berm. Before shooting, assess where the round will impact after passing through the target. The impact area should be approximately half way up the berm. DO NOT place targets at ground level. Doing so could cause ricochets that might result in injury.

• Range #1, the range farthest to the west (closest to the clubhouse) is commonly known as the Rifle range and may be used for rifle, shotgun, or handgun. Only paper or cardboard targets may be used on this range except at 200 yards where steel gongs are available for member use.

• Range #2, the center range is commonly known as the Plates range. Either paper or steel targets may be used on this range. Paper or cardboard targets should be placed as previously described using wooden target bases and uprights. Steel targets may only be placed on the stationary plate racks and are only to be used for handguns.

• Range #3, the range farthest to the east (farthest from the clubhouse) is commonly known as the Mover range and is a handgun only range. Only paper or cardboard targets may be used on this range, placed as previously described.

• Steel targets in Range #2 may be shot with HANDGUNS ONLY. This specifically excludes all rifles and shotguns and also excludes handguns chambered for rifle cartridges (Thompson Contenders. etc.). Shooting steel plates with rifle rounds or shotgun slugs will damage the plate and could cause injury to the shooter.

• There are sets of steel knockdown targets that may be used. Sets consist of 8" plates that are intended to be used with center fire handguns. These can be used with .22 rim fire, but may not fall over with such a light load.

• The sets of plates that are 5" in diameter and are to be used with .22 rim fire only. Shooting these plates with center fire ammunition will damage the surface of the plates creating the possibility of injury to the shooter or bystanders.

• ABSOLUTELY NO armor-piercing or steel core ammo to be used on steel targets. LEAD ONLY.

• Distance markers (orange metal inserts) on the floor of the Plates range denote 10, 15, 20, and 25 yards from the plate racks. Under no circumstances should steel plates be engaged from closer than the 10-yard line. Doing so may cause injury to the shooter or bystanders.

• When using the rifle bench, targets may only be placed on the permanent target holders. Do not shoot any other targets from the bench. Placing single targets, centered on the holders, will prolong the life of these target holders. A bridge downrange allows access to the farthest target holders. Sandbags for rests are stored in the black container near the bench. Only benches #1 and #2 on Range #1 are to be used for the 200 yard targets.

• If this range is used from a position other than the rifle bench the targets should be placed as previously described using the/wooden target bases and uprights. EXTREME CAUTION must be used in target placement on this range due to the distance from the firing point to the back berm.

• Please keep the ranges free of trash and litter by completing the following​

• Return all equipment to its proper place after using.

• Remove paper targets after shooting and place in burn barrels.

• Pick up spent casings and either place in brass barrels or take them with you from the range.​

• All members and guests must adhere to the range opening and closing times. All ranges must be closed by one half hour before sundown. 

• All persons using the range must display a current club membership badge. Observed use by unauthorized persons or observed inappropriate use by members should be reported to the any Board Member of the club. Try to get the person' s name. If that is not possible, get a vehicle license number.

• When a NRA Certified Range Safety Officer is on the property, he or she has complete authority over the safe operation of all ranges including the handling of any safety issues on the premises.​