STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Revision 10.0

Home , Burst mode (weapons), Direct impingement, Electronic firing, External ballistics, Muzzle energy, Plinking

Effective: November 10, 2020

Contents GTGC ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS ...... 2 GTGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS: ...... 2 GTGC CHIEF RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS: ...... 2 CLUB PHYSICAL ADDRESS: ...... 2 CLUB MAILING ADDRESS: ...... 2 CLUB CONTACT PHONE NUMBER ...... 2 CLUB EMAIL ADDRESS: ...... 2 CLUB WEB SITE: ...... 2 HOURS OF OPERATION ...... 2 OPERATIONS MANAGED BY ...... 3 SAFETY PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS ...... 3 911 INFORMATION ...... 3 1.0 CLUB RULES ...... 4 2.0 GENERAL RULES WHICH APPLY TO ALL RANGES ...... 6 3.0 SPECIFIC RANGE RULES ...... 9 3.1 ACTION RANGE...... 10 3.2 25/50 YARD HANDGUN & RIMFIRE RIFLE RANGE ...... 11 3.3 LTC RANGE (3/7/15 YARDS) ...... 12 3.4 100/200 YARD RANGE ...... 13 3.5 600-YARD RANGE ...... 14 3.6 SHOTGUN RANGE ...... 15 3.7 SILHOUETTE RANGE ...... 16 4.0 RULES FOR GTGC ORGANIZED MATCHES ...... 17 5.0 GTGC FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS ...... 18 6.0 GOLDEN TRIANGLE GUN CLUB STANDARD SAFETY BRIEF ...... 19 7.0 LOST AND FOUND POLICY ...... 20 DISPOSITION OF LOST AND FOUND ITEMS ...... 20 RETRIEVAL OF ITEMS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER ...... 20 APPENDIX A - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LIST ...... 21 APPENDIX B – RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS ...... 22 APPENDIX B-1 - PROCEDURES AND PENALITIES ...... 23 APPENDIX C – LIST OF APPROVED INSTRUCTORS ...... 25 APPENDIX D – RANGE VARIATIONS AND SAFETY PLANS ...... 27 GLOSSARY OF COMMON FIREARM TERMS ...... 28

GTGC ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS

The Golden Triangle Gun Club, Inc. (hereafter GTGC) is an IRS 501-(c)(7) corporation, chartered in the State of Texas, and dedicated to the use and promotion of safe Firearms Shooting Activities for its membership and, when allowed, the General Public.

GTGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

• President, Ron Page • Director of Women’s Programs, Heather Yvonne • Vice President, BJ Burton • Director at Large, David Cheshire • Secretary-Treasurer, Heather Yvonne • Director at Large, Wil Cole • Director of Media Relations, Stephen Watson • Director at Large, John Woods • Director of Safety & Training, Richard Worthey • Match Directors and Assistant Match Directors (See • Director of Security, Ben Wilcox Appendix A)

GTGC CHIEF RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS:

Richard Worthey, CRSO and the Director of Safety & Training, Overseeing the RSO Program

• Heather Yvonne, CRSO • Dave Powell, CRSO • Tommy Cruse, CRSO • Walter Haley, CRSO

CLUB PHYSICAL ADDRESS: CLUB CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: 7546 Erie Street (409) 729-4842 Beaumont, TX 77705 CLUB EMAIL ADDRESS: CLUB MAILING ADDRESS: [email protected] PO. Box 5305 Beaumont, TX 77726-5305 CLUB WEB SITE: www.goldentrianglegunclub.com

HOURS OF OPERATION

Every day, 30 minutes before SUNRISE until 30 minutes after SUNSET (as defined by the US Naval Observatory). Exception: GTGC Organized and Supervised activities. No shooting activities after 10:00 PM.

OPERATIONS MANAGED BY

Corporate Direction: GTGC Board of Directors

General Operation: GTGC President and Secretary-Treasurer

Daily Range Operations and Safety Activities: • Chief Range Safety Officers • Range Safety Officers

All GTGC Members have the responsibility and authority to insure a safe and lawful operation of the GTGC.

SAFETY PERSONNEL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Each Chief Range Safety Officer (CRSO) & Range Safety Officer (RSO) must successfully complete National Rifle Association (NRA) training courses and be Certified by the NRA as a CRSO or RSO. CRSO & RSO personnel will maintain NRA Certification as required by the NRA. In addition, all CRSO and RSO must receive the Club’s Range Specific Safety Orientation for Range Safety Officers conducted by the Director of Safety and Training.

GTGC CRSO’s & RSO’s will be certified and given authority by direction of the GTGC Board of Directors, under the supervision of the Director of Safety & Training. CRSO’s & RSO’s will serve in the capacity of GTGC Operations and Safety Personnel, enforce the GTGC SOP, act as necessary to provide for the safe operation of the GTGC, and insure the protection of persons and property at the GTGC.

911 INFORMATION In an emergency, Remain Calm. Call 911 and tell the Emergency Operator your location is: • The Golden Triangle Gun Club, 7546 Erie Street, Beaumont. • The entrance is located 2 miles south of Cardinal Drive with a large yellow sign at the entrance. • You will have someone meet emergency personnel at the gate to let them in and direct them to the location of the emergency. The 911 operator will first ask you the nature of your emergency. If the reason that you are calling involves an accidental gunshot wound, it is important to state the following: • There has been a firearms accident – gunshot wound. • All range activities have been halted. • Scene is safe and all firearms have been secured. Render first aid, if you can. As soon as possible, call the Club President to provide information regarding the emergency and the Director of Safety and Training. Document the incident, as best as you can and submit this information to an RSO and the Director of Safety & Training ASAP. Contact Phone Number Contact Phone Number EMS 911 Ron Page (President) (409) 724-2835 Fire District #4 (409) 735-2419 Richard Worthey (Safety) (409) 210-9333 Sheriff (409) 835-8631

1.0 CLUB RULES

1. All members must maintain their GTGC membership card, while at the range, either on their person or attached to their shooting gear, digital cards are also acceptable.

2. Any member who gives the gate combination to persons other than active club members in good standing shall immediately lose his/her membership with NO chance of reinstatement.

3. Any member found guilty of willfully damaging or stealing club property shall immediately lose his/her membership and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

4. Any dependent in a club member’s immediate family may accompany the club member to the range at any time. This Family Guest must always be under the member’s supervision and the member will be responsible for his or her Guest’s actions.

5. A member may take one non-family member guest to the range for a maximum of three (3) times only. After the third visit to the range, this guest is requested to join the Club. This guest must always be under the member’s supervision and the member will be responsible for his actions.

6. Physical or verbal abuse of persons or destruction of club property will not be tolerated. Discourteous acts will not be allowed. All members and guests must use common sense, courtesy and safety. It is the duty of each member to call these rules to the attention of any violator and to ask that he/she abide by these rules and regulations. Be courteous - not abusive. If the violator continues to disregard the rules, call this to the attention of the members present and inform a Board Member and/or RSO of the name(s) of the violator(s) and all witnesses. Abusive behavior including the use of extreme profanity will not be tolerated by anyone.

7. The use of pyrotechnics and fireworks is prohibited on GTGC property. This prohibition includes targets which explode upon bullet impact.

8. LTC Open or Concealed Carry by LTC holders is allowed but may be restricted by Match Competition Rules during authorized Matches or by Instructors. Please check ahead of attendance.

9. Hunting and trapping on GTGC property is by GTGC Board of Directors’ written Permit only, signed by the current President.

10. Don’t Bother Others or Touch Their Guns, without permission: Respect other shooters’ privacy, unless a safety issue arises. Do NOT engage other shooters to correct a perceived safety violation unless absolutely necessary – inform the RSO instead. Shooters have the right and responsibility to call for a cease fire should a SERIOUS safety event occur. Handling/touching another shooter’s firearm without their permission is a major breech of protocol. Offering unsolicited “training” or other instructional suggestions to other shooters is also impolite and can be intimidating.

11. Clean Up After Yourself: Remember to take down your old targets, sweep up brass, throw away your trash, and return any equipment/chairs, etc. Other people use the range too; no one wants to walk up to a dirty lane. Do not put live rounds in the trash cans. 12. THE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, DRUGS, OR A COMBINATION OF WILL NOT BE PERMITTED BY ANYONE ON THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE GUN CLUB PROPERTY AT ANY TIME. It is an offense to carry or operate a vehicle while intoxicated. Texas Penal Code §49.01 defines intoxicated as: a) not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol, a controlled substance, a drug, a dangerous drug, a combination of two or more of those substances, or any other substance into the body; or b) having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. The possession and/or use is prohibited at all times, and if suspected will be reported to the local police. Members are warned that some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can produce diminished capacity. If an RSO believes that someone is impaired, the RSO is empowered to ask the individual to stop shooting and leave the Club. 13. Illegal activity of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in immediate removal from the range, and loss of membership.

14. Smoking is prohibited on or within 20 feet of any firing line(s) or buildings at any time. This includes any form of tobacco or other substance including cigarettes, vapor cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc.

15. Vehicle speeds within the Club boundaries must not exceed 10 MPH. 16. OBEY all traffic, range closure, or other safety signs. 17. Do not climb on, dig into the impact or side safety berms, or any concrete safety walls. 18. Grass mowing personnel have priority – cease-fire and wait for them to finish.

19. Children under the age of 17 will not be allowed on the firing range without supervision from an adult member, parent, or guardian. Children will not be left unsupervised anywhere on Club property at any time. Children found unsupervised will be escorted to the adult parent or guardian and asked to leave the property for the safety of the children and others using the facility.

2.0 GENERAL RULES WHICH APPLY TO ALL RANGES

GTGC Members, Guests of GTGC Members, and Non-GTGC Members participating in GTGC Scheduled Competitions or Approved Events, must obey all commands issued by the GTGC Range Safety Officers while on Club property. This includes the requirement to display their GTGC Membership Card and/or State issued ID upon request by the Range Safety Officer.

Failure to obey the GTGC Range Safety Officer instructions will result in punitive action being taken against the violator. Punitive Actions may be, but not limited to: Immediate ejection from the GTGC property; Loss of GTGC Membership; and in the case of danger to persons or property, subject to emergency response by Law Enforcement Personnel.

FIRING LINE – A line from which gunfire is directed at targets on a range. Unless marked otherwise, the location of the firing line is along the front edge of the concrete and/or shooting bench at each range. It may also be identified by the presence of a 4-inch wide RED line painted on the concrete, or by RED signs with “FIRING LINE” stenciled in white on signs attached to the inside face of the metal or wooden support posts.

SAFETY LINE – Indicated by a 4-inch wide YELLOW line painted on the concrete located several feet behind the Firing Line. No one is allowed in front of this line when other people are downrange, and the line is “COLD”.

“LINE IS COLD” – Command and acknowledgment that all firearms are unloaded with the actions, bolts or cylinders opened and no handling of firearms is allowed.

“LINE IS HOT” – Command and acknowledgment that firearms may be handled, loaded and shooters may commence firing.

READ and OBEY all POSTED RANGE RULES. The POSTED RANGE RULES are specific to the range on which they are POSTED.

1. ALWAYS keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction, usually downrange. 2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot. 3. ALWAYS keep your firearm unloaded until ready to use. 4. ALWAYS keep the action open while people are downrange. 5. NEVER handle/touch a firearm while people are downrange checking or changing targets. 6. All firearms must be unloaded, ACTIONS OPEN (slides back and bolts or cylinders open), except when firing from the firing line. All firearms on the firing line must have the muzzle pointed downrange. No person is permitted downrange until all shooters on the firing line have made their firearms safe by unloading, leaving actions open, and have communicated and acknowledged to all others that the line is “COLD”. Shooters may now go downrange. 7. DO NOT HANDLE/TOUCH ANY FIREARMS WHILE PEOPLE ARE DOWNRANGE. This includes cleaning, adjusting sights, or moving gun rests. This also includes moving rifles or shotguns from the storage racks

at the back of the range to the benches or firing line. EVERYONE must step behind the YELLOW safety line while the range is “COLD” to ensure no firearms are being touched. 8. Ammunition and magazines may be handled BEHIND the YELLOW safety line while people are downrange. However, you MAY NOT approach the firing line to retrieve magazines or ammunition while people are downrange. Absolutely NO firearms may be handled behind the YELLOW safety line while people are downrange. 9. Once all shooters have returned from checking their targets downrange, and it has been visually confirmed that no one else is downrange or in front of a firing line, then shooters must communicate and acknowledge with all other shooters that the range is “HOT”. Shooters may now approach the firing line, handle their firearm to clean or make any necessary sight adjustments, load the firearm, and commence firing at their target. 10. Eye and hearing protection are required for everyone. Hats are encouraged but not required. 11. Know what to do during a CEASE FIRE: STOP, DO NOT MOVE! SERIOUSLY, STOP, as this may prevent a negligent discharge. When cleared to do so, set down your firearm, pointed downrange, and STEP AWAY from the shooting booth (or bench). If there is a Range Officer(s) on present, they will give instructions from that point and/or secure all firearms. Anyone can and should call CEASE FIRE when they see something that is unsafe. 12. Transport of Firearms: a. When possible, it is preferred that members and their guests use a gun case, range bag or gun rug to transport firearms. DO NOT bring your firearm to the range in a grocery sack. b. All uncased/unholstered firearms being transported to and from the parking area, to and from the shooting ranges, and at any other place on GTGC property shall be UNLOADED and have actions or cylinders opened (or blocked with a chamber empty flag), the safety engaged, and magazine removed (if applicable), and carried with the muzzle of rifles and shotguns pointed up. NO EXCEPTIONS! c. No uncased/unholstered firearms may be transported to or from the shooting ranges while the line is “COLD,” unless the designated Match Director or Range Safety Officer specifically allows it. Generally, this will only be allowed during extended “COLD” periods, and not while any member or guest is downrange. d. DEFINITION - LOADED FIREARM: All firearms are considered LOADED if any of the following are true; if a cartridge is within any part of the firearm; if a clip or magazine is inserted into the firearm; or if the ACTION is CLOSED WHETHER OR NOT ANY AMMUNITION IS IN IT. e. Pellet, BB Rifles and Pistols, at GTGC, are FIREARMS and are subject to the same rules. 13. Targets must be placed so that when shooting paper targets all projectiles die in the impact berm. Take the extra time to look at the height of the target, your height in relation to the berm; are they aligned correctly so the bullets impact the center of the berm? When shooting metal targets, all metal targets must be placed so that the deflected projectile does not present a hazard to persons or property. (Refer

to Range Specific requirements for minimum distances for steel). NO CROSS FIRING! - Shoot the target directly in front of you! 14. All firing must be done from a designated firing line for each range. NEVER fire from either in front of, or behind, a designated firing line. 15. At no time will trash shooting be permitted anywhere on the range. This includes tin cans, glass containers, ammo boxes, etc., and/or other types of trash.

16. Do not use standard target frames for patterning shotguns. Use specified marked area and shotgun target frames only. (See diagram for location to acquire targets.)

17. Unserviceable target frames should be removed from the target house and placed on the ground adjacent to that target house.

18. Only one (1) target frame per shooter if range is crowded (50% of shooting benches/stations being used).

19. The firing of handheld or shoulder fired firearms is permitted on the appropriate ranges (See Specific Range Rules). Fixtures such as the Ransom Rest and Free Recoil Benchrest Rifles are also allowed.

20. The firing of Paintball marker guns and Paintball pellet ammunition is prohibited. Paintball pellets may not be used as targets.

21. The firing of any type of Tracer, Armor Piercing, Incendiary, or Explosive Projectile is prohibited.

22. FIRING OF ANY FIREARM CAPABLE OF FULLY AUTOMATIC FIRE IS NOT PERMITTED. The use of any device that imitates full auto firing of rifles or pistols, such as burst fire, bump fire, binary triggers, hellfire triggers, etc., is not permitted. Also, any technique that simulates automatic fire is not permitted. Firearm Exception: Under the supervision of a GTGC Chief RSO, a military group, such as the United States Coast Guard, may shoot rifles capable of fully automatic fire provided that they are only fired in the semi-automatic mode during official training/qualification sessions.

23. Firing the 50 BMG, or any cartridge based on the 50 BMG cartridge case, is prohibited (includes .416 Barrett, .408 Cheyenne Tactical, .375 Cheyenne Tactical, .338 Talbot, etc.).

24. Per NRA recommendations, it is suggested that eating and drinking not be done on the firing line to avoid the possible ingestion of airborne particulate lead or other dangerous substances. 25. As a courtesy to others, smoking is prohibited on or within 20 feet of any firing line or building. 26. Any club sponsored match, event or training class requiring deviation from these SOPs must submit a written request for variance, including supporting rationale, for exception to the Director of Safety and Training two (2) weeks prior to the intended date of the match, event or class.

3.0 SPECIFIC RANGE RULES

General Range Rules are applicable to all ranges, Specific Range Rules goes into specific detail for the limitations and restrictions of each range.

600-Yard Range

Shotgun Range

100/200-Yard Range

Entrance Gate RSO Bldg Restrooms Action Range Activities Center

Handgun & Rimfire Range

LTC Range

Silhouette Range

3.1 ACTION RANGE PISTOLS, RIFLES, AND SHOTGUNS ARE ALLOWED ON THIS RANGE ______1. All rifle caliber firearms may be fired at paper target ONLY. a. Clay shotgun targets (pigeons) may be used as targets and must be placed on the face of the impact berm no higher than 48 inches measured from the ground to the top of the target. b. Under no circumstance is anyone to place clay pigeons on, or staple targets to the wooden cross ties that protect the metal target stands.

2. Single shot or lever action rifles of any caliber that utilize black powder or modern smokeless powder loads are allowed on the Action Range. 3. Side Berms are NO SHOOT Protection Berms! 4. No shots may be fired from under the sheltered cover. 5. All shots fired MUST BE within 30 yards of the Impact Berm. 6. Metal Swingers may only be placed at the base of the Impact Berm. a. Minimum distance between the shooter and the metal target is 25 yards! b. The top of metal swingers may not exceed 48” in height measured from the ground to the top of the metal. c. All shots fired at metal targets must be fired in a manner to avoid the possibility of ricochets. d. Rimfire or centerfire handgun caliber may be fired at metal targets on the Action Range. Firing of centerfire rifle caliber firearms at metal targets is PROHIBITED! 7. The Club provides target frames that have been shortened and are placed in the four steel target stand pipes located at the base of the berm in the center of the range. Members MAY NOT use target frames from the other ranges as they are too tall and do not ensure that all rounds come to rest in the impact berm. 8. Portable target frame holders may be placed at any position that: a. Are within 25 yards of the Impact Berm, and b. Ensures that all rounds fired will die in the Impact Berm.

9. All rounds fired must come to rest in the impact berm. 10. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases. Note: At Club approved matches, events, or training classes, you may see a deviation from the standard range rules. Please do not think that as a general member, you can mimic these actions as the Match Directors, Event Coordinator, or Instructor have taken additional safety precautions ensuring that the bullets die in the berm and the participants act in a safe manner whereby a Variance has been granted by the Board of Directors that is specific to that match, event or training class. At no time does this variance apply to the general membership or any other match or event.

3.2 25/50 YARD HANDGUN & RIMFIRE RIFLE RANGE ONLY HANDGUNS, PISTOL CALIBER CARBINES OR LEVERGUNS, AND RIMFIRE RIFLES ARE PERMITTED. NO CENTERFIRE RIFLES OR RIFLE CALIBER FIREARMS PERMITTED. ______1. All shooting shall be done from the firing line – no shooting in front of, or behind, this line for any reason at any time.

2. All shooting must be done from the standing or sitting position with the barrel above the shooting bench. Shooting from a prone position is PROHIBITED.

3. Shoot only at approved targets, which on this range are as follows:

a. Paper or cardboard targets mounted on club target stands, placed at 25 or 50 yards. No cans, bottles, boxes, etc. are permitted.

b. Clay shotgun targets (pigeons) may be used as targets and must be placed on the face of the impact berm, no higher than 48 inches measured from the ground to the top of the target.

c. Personal target stands made from wood or PVC may be used and must be placed at 25 or 50 yards only.

d. Metal swingers may be used as targets but must be placed no closer to the firing line than 50 yards for safety reasons (bullet splatter and ricochets). The top of metal swingers may not exceed 48” in height measured from the ground to the top of the metal.

4. All rounds fired must come to rest in the impact berm. 5. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases.

Note: At Club approved matches, events or training classes, you may see a deviation from the standard range rules. Please do not think that as a general member you can mimic these actions as the Match Directors, Event Coordinator, or Instructor have taken additional safety precautions ensuring that the bullets die in the berm and the participants act in a safe manner whereby a Variance has been granted by the Board of Directors that is specific to that match, event or training class. At no time does this variance apply to the general membership or any other match or event.

3.3 LTC RANGE (3/7/15 YARDS) HANDGUNS ONLY. NO RIFLES, RIFLE CALIBER FIREARMS, PISTOL CALIBER CARBINES, AR PISTOLS, LEVERGUNS, OR LONG GUNS OF ANY KIND. ______

1. All shooting shall be done from behind the firing line, and on this range, we provide a standing bench – no shooting in front of, or behind, this line for any reason at any time. Shooting from a kneeling, sitting or prone position is PROHIBITED.

2. DO NOT SHOOT THE BENCH! Be sure to watch your muzzle elevation when shooting.

3. Shoot only at approved targets, which on this range are as follows:

a. Paper or cardboard targets mounted on club target stands, placed at 3, 7, or 15 yards ONLY. No cans, bottles, boxes etc. are permitted. Use only the target frames stored in the concrete block closet next to the LTC range only. Place the target frames back in the LTC target closet when finished shooting.

b. Clay shotgun targets (pigeons) may be used as targets and must be placed on the face of the impact berm, no higher than 48 inches measured from the ground to the top of the target.

c. Under no circumstance is anyone to place or staple targets to the wooden cross ties that protect the metal target stand. This includes the berm retaining wall made from wooden cross ties.

4. Do not shoot the concrete block safety wall.

5. All rounds fired must come to rest in the impact berm. 6. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases.

3.4 100/200 YARD RANGE RIFLES, SHOTGUNS FIRING SLUGS, MUZZLELOADERS, AND HANDGUNS ARE PERMITTED ______

1. All shooting must be done from the standing or sitting position with the barrel above the shooting bench. Shooting from a kneeling or prone position is PROHIBITED between the shooting benches.

2. You may shoot from the standing, kneeling, or prone position at targets set on the firing line north of the concrete shooting benches. The individual shooting lanes in this area are marked by yellow striping.

3. Shoot only at approved targets, which on this range are as follows:

a) Paper or cardboard targets mounted on club target stands, placed at 25, 50, 75, 100 or 200 yards. No cans, bottles, boxes, etc. are permitted.

b) Clay shotgun targets (pigeons) may be used as targets and must be placed on the face of the impact berm, no higher than 48 inches measured from the ground to the top of the target.

c) Personal target stands made from wood or PVC may be used and must be placed at 25, 50, 75, 100 or 200 yards. Personal target stands MUST be the same height as club target stands so bullets will die in the impact berm.

d) Metal swingers may be used as targets but must be placed at the base of the 100-yard or 200- yard impact berm - no closer to the firing line than 100 yards for safety reasons (bullet splatter and ricochets), no exceptions. The top of metal swingers may not exceed 48” in height measured from the ground to the top of the metal. 4. All members must clearly communicate and receive acknowledgement of others when declaring the range COLD or HOT. The lead person declaring the range cold is responsible for turning the red lights on signaling that the range is COLD and its safe to go downrange. That same person remains the lead until until everyone is back behind the yellow safety line and the range is declared HOT and the red light turned off. 5. All UNCASED firearms must be transported to the firing line, shooting bench, or rifle racks UNLOADED with empty chamber flag inserted in the chamber, and pointed directly UP while the range is HOT only.

6. All rounds fired must come to rest in the impact berm. 7. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases. Note: At Club approved matches, events or training classes, you may see a deviation from the standard range rules. Please do not think that as a general member you can mimic these actions as the Match Directors, Event Coordinator, or Instructor have taken additional safety precautions ensuring that the bullets die in the berm and the participants act in a safe manner whereby a Variance has been granted by the Board of Directors that is specific to that match, event or training class. At no time does this variance apply to the general membership or any other match or event. 13

3.5 600-YARD RANGE This is a mid-range rifle range. For the safety of club members and other people, who may or may not be on range property, certain rules must be observed. If you do not understand these rules, ask one of the Match Directors or Range Safety Officers for help. The 100-yard rifle range is a better choice for most shooters. ______

1. All shooting shall be done from the elevated firing lines at 200, 300, 500 and 600 yards ONLY.

2. ONLY Rifles may be shot at this range. NO shotguns. NO handguns.

3. Single shot or lever action rifles of any caliber that utilize black powder or modern smokeless powder loads are allowed.

4. All members must ensure that they raise the red range flag located at the southern end of the 600- yard firing indicating that the range is active when anyone is anywhere on this range. The last person leaving the range is responsible for lowering the red range flag and stowing in the green PVC storage pipe indicating that the range is no longer active.

5. Shoot ONLY at approved targets, which on this range are paper or cardboard targets mounted near the center of the 6’ x 6’ target frames, with the target frame mounted in the steel target carrier in the pits ONLY. Targets may be bullseye, animal silhouette, human silhouette, etc., just so that they are paper or cardboard. No metal targets (swingers) are allowed nor are targets placed at any other location on this range.

6. DO NOT shoot at the target frame numbers placed on top of the impact berm!

7. Smoking is prohibited in the target pit area

8. All rounds fired must come to rest in the impact berm to the rear of the pit area.

9. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases.

3.6 SHOTGUN RANGE ONLY SHOTGUNS USING SHOTSHELLS OF #7-1/2 OR SMALLER SHOT MAY BE SHOT AT THIS RANGE. NO RIFLES, NO HANDGUNS. THERE ARE NO IMPACT BERMS ON THIS RANGE TO STOP BULLETS OR SLUGS ______1. Buckshot, sabots, slugs, and shot larger than #7-1/2 are prohibited due to the distance they may carry. Slugs and Buckshot may be shot on the Rifle Range or on the Action Range. 2. Shoot only at approved targets, which on this range are as follows: a. Clay targets b. Approved patterning target provided by the Club at the tree line 3. Shoot only in the proper direction, from designated shooting stations – not toward the rifle ranges or toward the roads. Erie Street is only about 400 feet away. 4. All shot must fall within the Safe Shot Fall Area (See diagram below). 5. Shooting at hand-thrown clay targets is approved if all other safety rules are obeyed and the safe firing area is adhered to. 6. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired shot shell hulls.

Safe Shot Fall Area

No Shoot

No Shoot N

Target House

Club Entrance Gate

3.7 SILHOUETTE RANGE THIS RANGE IS FOR .22 RIMFIRE AND CENTERFIRE PISTOL CALIBER FIREARMS ONLY (HUNTER ARCHERY ALLOWED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS) ______1. The firing of centerfire rifles, muzzle loading firearms or shotguns are PROHITED on this range.

2. Only Short/low hanging metal targets may be shot and at 50 meters, 100 meters, 150 meters, and 200 meters on this range (See diagram below).

3. Do not use target frames on this range as all rounds must die in the berms & they are only 3-4 feet high behind the target rails.

4. Pick up, and properly dispose of, all fired cartridge cases

5. Archery (includes Bow and Arrow, Crossbow, Compound, and Recurve Bows) is allowed on the North End of the Range but must coordinate with other shooters if present to observe standard hot/cold safety commands and hearing protection is required. Archers must provide their own target bales placed in the area indicated by 200 m blue on the diagram below. All arrows, cross bolts, etc. must stay within the range. Remove all target bales and clean up the area when finished. 150 m

Note: At Club approved matches, events or training classes, you may see a deviation from the standard 100 m Archery Targets range rules. Please do not think that as a general Allowed in This member you can mimic these actions as the Match Area Only Directors, Event Coordinator, or Instructor have taken additional safety precautions ensuring that the No Targets bullets die in the berm and the participants act in a Allowed in safe manner whereby a Variance has been granted by This Area the Board of Directors that is specific to that match, event or training class. At no time does this variance apply to the general membership or any other match or event. 50 m

Firing Line

4.0 RULES FOR GTGC ORGANIZED MATCHES CONDUCTED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A MATCH DIRECTOR OR GTGC RANGE SAFETY OFFICER

1. All Match Directors and Assistant Match Directors must be NRA certified Range Safety Officers and receive training on Club specific range safety and site limitations.

2. Direct Supervision by a Match Director/GTGC Range Safety Officer will allow for deviation from the General Club Rules and/or the Range Safety Rules. Any such deviation must have a written Match Variance approved by the Board of Directors that will then become a part of the SOP’s. Once approved, any further deviations will require Match Directors to submit a new request for approval of a Match Variance.

3. Match Directors/GTGC Range Safety Officers will follow the competition guidelines set forth by the sanctioning organization.

4. Failure to submit an approved range safety plan may result in the cancellation of said match.

5. At no time will any deviation from the General Club Rules and/or the Range Safety Rules compromise the safety of the match competitors or spectators!

5.0 GTGC FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS COMMERCIAL INSTRUCTORS AND PROGRAM LEADERS MUST FOLLOW THE MINIMUM GUIDELINES HEREIN AND FALL UNDER THE DIRECTOR OF SAFETY AND TRAINING FOR VERIFICATION AND RANGE LIMITATION TRAINING. FOR DETAILED REQUIREMENTS AND AN APPLICATION, REFER TO THE INSTRUCTOR PACKET.

All Instructors providing training and instruction to one or more students for compensation must submit an application to the Golden Triangle Gun Club (“the Club”) Board of Directors (“the Board”) for approval to use the Club’s facilities for training classes on an annual calendar year basis. Any Instructor who has not been approved by the Board in compliance with this policy and discovered to be providing such instruction at the Club, will be subject to having their Club Membership suspended or revoked (See Appendix B for List of Approved Instructors).

Instructor Requirements: ● Must be 21 years or older and be eligible to possess and use firearms in accordance with State and Federal Laws;

● Must be a Club member in good standing for a minimum of 5 years preceding the submittal of the application;

● Must have a demonstrated history of volunteering at the Range in support of the Club’s objectives and activities. This may include serving as a Match Director or Assistant Match Director, construction, maintenance and improving the Club facilities, mentoring of youths in the 4-H or Junior Rifle programs, serving as a Range Safety Officer in accordance with the Club Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and/or similar activities approved by the Board;

● Must be qualified in the discipline that they are teaching and provide written documentation of such qualifications including certifications by recognized bodies, organizations or institutions meeting Board approval;

● Must be a certified NRA Range Safety Officer per the Club’s SOP and received additional training on specific Club Range Safety Rules and Range Limitations;

● All Assistant Instructors or Safety Officers used during Range activities must also be a certified NRA Range Safety Officer and adhere to the Club’s SOP and have received training on specific Club Range Safety Rules and Range Limitations. The Assistant Instructor or RSO must also be 21 years or older and works under the responsible charge and supervision of the Board approved Instructor; and

● Must have and maintain Firearms Instructor Insurance acceptable to the Board and provide the Club with a certificate of insurance naming the Club as an additional insured per the minimum coverage limits (see Instructor packet for updated limits).

6.0 GOLDEN TRIANGLE GUN CLUB STANDARD SAFETY BRIEF #1 Treat all guns as if they are always loaded. Take the time to treat every firearm that you encounter as though it COULD be loaded. Take the time necessary to safely inspect the firearm yourself before moving on. #2 Never let the muzzle cover anything that you are not willing to destroy. Situational awareness is critical to firearm safety. It is your responsibility to ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction 100% of the time whether you are setting up, loading, reloading, shooting, showing clear, or laying the firearm down on the bench. When walking with or transporting a long gun muzzle is Up or Down and the firearm is unloaded. #3 Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to shoot. From the moment you make physical contact with the firearm your finger must be kept straight and rest along the side of the frame. Through all administrative actions, such as, but not limited to, picking up, loading, reloading, fixing malfunctions, unloading or resting in various ready positions your finger is in this indexed position along the frame. Only when it is appropriate to shoot that you can move your finger from its indexed position onto the trigger. #4 Be sure of your target and what lies beyond it. You are responsible for everything which a round you shoot comes in contact with. This means another big dose of situational awareness BEFORE you make the decision to shoot! Consider the height of your target and the angle at which you will shoot it. If the round would make an impact through you intended target and impact something other than a bullet safe berm, trap or safe zone then you are obligated not to take the shot. Additional Safety Rules The National Rifle Association (NRA) teaches additional rules to keep in mind:

• Know how to use the gun safely.

• Be sure the gun is safe to operate.

• Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.

• Wear eye and ear protection, as appropriate.

• Never use alcohol or prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.

• Be aware that certain types of guns and shooting activities require additional safety precautions.

• Frequently service and maintain your firearm.

Know Yourself If you feel confused, unsure, overwhelmed, or uncomfortable, choose to opt out of shooting. Not taking the shot is the best and safest thing to do. If you feel that the course of fire, target placement, or speed of the drill would result in your potentially breaking any of the Firearm Safety Rules, it is your obligation not to take the shot. If at any time during a class, event, or practice session you find that you are unsure that your actions could become unsafe give yourself permission to PAUSE! You and only you are in 100% control of the firearm in your possession. Know yourself and trust yourself enough to stay in control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions.

7.0 LOST AND FOUND POLICY

The Lost and Found Policy and procedures are intended to ensure that items reported lost or found on Club property are properly accounted for and, in the case of items found, returned to their rightful owner or disposed of by the Club. “Lost property” means any unattended, abandoned, misplaced, or forgotten item including but not limited to firearms, range bags, targets, equipment, cash, jewelry, phones, books, keys, documents, or personal identification papers (driver’s license, credit cards, etc.) which are found within the boundaries of the Club, pending the identification of the rightful owner or appropriate disposal thereof.

The Club assumes no responsibility whatsoever for the care and/or protection of any personal belonging left unattended on Club property and for loss, under any circumstances, including theft, vandalism, or malicious mischief of such belonging. The Club’s RSO building is designated as the central repository, and the Director of Safety and Training is responsible for lost and found property for the Club. All found items should be turned into the Club RSO on duty for identification of the rightful owner, if possible. If an RSO is not on duty, members should contact the Director of Safety and Training to make arrangements for the transfer of the property to the Club’s repository.

DISPOSITION OF LOST AND FOUND ITEMS

Firearms - Will be held for thirty (30) days. After thirty (30) days, firearms shall be turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Wallets/Credit Cards – Every effort will be made to contact the owner of the property shall be held for ninety (60) days. After ninety (60) days, any cash will be deposited into the Club’s account. Credit cards and other items will be destroyed.

Driver’s Licenses and Licenses to Carry – If the owner cannot be found or contacted within sixty (60) days, the cards will be delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

All Other Items – Items will be held for sixty (60) days, and then depending upon the type of item, will either be destroyed, discarded, or transferred to a Club program.

RETRIEVAL OF ITEMS TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER

Any individual requesting a lost item must present valid photographic identification and a description of the item before it will be returned to them. If the item has no identification on it, but the individual can describe it or open it (i.e. phone, tablet), the item will be returned once a transfer of ownership form has been completed.

APPENDIX A - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LIST Current as of November 10, 2020

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Ron Page President B.J. Burton Vice-president Heather Yvonne Secretary-Treasurer (appointed by the Board) Stephen "Doc" Watson Director of Media Relations Richard Worthey Director of Safety and Training Ben Wilcox Director of Security Heather Yvonne Director of Women's Programs David Cheshire Director-at-Large Wil Cole Director-at-Large John Woods Director-at-Large MATCH DIRECTORS vacant MD-Shotgun Sporting Clays vacant AMD-Shotgun Sporting Clays

Andre Rosales MD-International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA); AMD-Rimfire Challenge Shooting Association (RSCA) Ben Wilcox MD-Hi-Power 600-yard Cary Walker AMD-International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Charlie Shelton MD-.22 Caliber Silhouette Clay McIntyre MD-Rimfire Challenge Shooting Association (RSCA) Cody Ross MD-(NRA) Hunter Pistol & Cowboy Lever Action Rifle David Powell AMD- 4-H Program Farrell Murders AMD-Small Bore Pistol Silhouette; AMD-Large Bore Pistol Falling Plate Howard Maxwell MD- 4-H Program J.C. Verde MD-Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)

Jack Vick AMD-Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)

John “Al” Johnson MD-Small Bore Pistol Silhouette; MD-Large Bore Pistol Falling Plate

Melvin Moss AMD-Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) Kristen Morton AMD-Junior Service Rifle

Mike Hardy MD - Military Bolt Rifle; MD - M1 Garand; MD - 5th Saturday High-Power Rifle; MD - Military Rifle Match AMD-.22 Caliber Rifle Silhouette; AMD – (NRA) Hunter Pistol & Cowboy Lever Ron Page Action Silhouette Walt Haley MD-Junior Service Rifle

APPENDIX B – RANGE SAFETY OFFICERS Current as of November 12, 2020

The following Club members are NRA Certified Range Safety Officers and have received the GTGC Range Safety Officer orientation certifying them to act as Range Safety Officers for the Golden Triangle Gun Club in accordance with the GTGC Standard Operating Procedures:

Richard Worthey, CRSO Ronnie Dillon James Boykin

Heather Yvonne, CRSO Howard Maxwell Wayne Duerler

Walt Haley, CRSO J.C. Verde Albert Faggard

Tommy Cruse, CRSO Jack Vick James Mills

Dave Powell, CRSO John “Al” Johnson Terry Washburn

Ron Page Michael Mann Andrew Wilson

B.J. Burton Mike Hardy Chilton Miles, III

Andre Rosales Cheri L. Hampton Charles Sherman

Stephen "Doc" Watson Elizabeth Jelsma John LaFlamme

Ben Wilcox Diana Licatino Douglas Bryant

David Cheshire Dave L. Shows Richard Balsamo Wil Cole Jim Yates Dewey Erwin, III John Woods Steve May Gregory Nash Cary Walker Richard Pillsbury Tim Worthey Charlie Shelton Steve Derbyshire James Reaux Clay McIntyre Brian Devillier Kristen Morton Cody Ross Jon’d Potter Randall Gruver Steve Clegg

APPENDIX B-1 - PROCEDURES AND PENALITIES

PENALTY SCHEDULE

Violation Applicable Rules 1st 2nd 3rd Class 1.0.2 1.0.3 1.0.7 1.0.12 1.0.13 Immediate suspension A 2.0.21 pending final revocation 2.0.22 by the Board of Directors 2.0.23 3.5.5 3.5.6 5.0 Immediate suspension All except Class A B Verbal Warning Written Warning pending final revocation by violations the Board of Directors

The RSO that witnesses or investigates the report of Class B violations has 100% discretion in choosing between issuing violators a verbal warning, written warning, or removing the offending violator(s) from the Club based upon Club rules and the severity of the action or incident as it relates to the safety of members, guests, and the public at large, as well as the protection of club property. Violations that result in the issuance of a written warning or removal from Club property will forward a written report of the incident and any witness statements to the Director of Safety and Training for review. The Director of Safety and Training may upon his/her review initiate further action or refer the matter to the Range Safety and Rules Committee and the Board of Directors to determine the appropriate action. Violations may result in the following actions: CLUB MEMBERS

• Verbal Warning • Written Warning • Require additional training to be able to use a specific range or firearm • Immediate suspension pending revocation of membership by the Board of Directors • Barred from Club premises with Notice of Trespass Warrant • Trespass charges filed with Jefferson County LE/DA

NON-CLUB MEMBERS AS GUEST OF A MEMBER OR EVENT

• Verbal Warning • Removed from the Club Property • Trespass charge filed with Jefferson County LE/DA 23

NON-CLUB MEMBERS TRESPASSING

• Immediate removal from the Club Property • Trespass charge filed with Jefferson County LE/DA

The penalty for Class A violations is the member's immediate suspension by the RSO, who will confiscate the member’s printed card and remove them from the Club property. A written report with any witness statements and supporting evidence or documents will be submitted immediately to the Director of Range Safety and Training for further review and Board action. The Director of Range Safety and Training will notify the Club Secretary-Treasurer of said actions, which will suspend their membership in the Club’s management system. Acts Resulting in Immediate Removal, Suspension, and possible Loss of Membership Privileges:

• Careless, reckless acts without regard to persons or property • Threatening behavior • Irrational behavior • Physical or verbally abusive language or behavior • Under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or foreign substances • Trespassing • Destruction of club property • Giving gate code to a non-member

APPENDIX C – LIST OF APPROVED INSTRUCTORS (Expires December 31, 2021)

TOMMY G. CRUSE Instructor Qualifications: NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection In The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, USAF Small Arms Specialist, NRA Precision Rifle (Sniper) Certified Instructor Development, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Certified Firearms Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified School Safety InstructorCourses: All NRA disciplines certified to teach as well as Texas LTC and School Safety Certification.

WALTER A. HALEY Instructor Qualifications: NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Instructor in Home Firearm Safety, Metallic Cartridge Reloading, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Shotgun Shell Reloading, Personal Protection In The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, NRA Training Counselor, Civilian Marksmanship Program/United States Army Marksmanship Unity Military Service Rifle Instructor, Master Level I.

Courses: All NRA disciplines certified to teach, as well as Civilian Rifle and Pistol utilizing CMP/USAMU course materials.

STEPHEN E. WATSON Instructor Qualifications: NRA Certified Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor

Courses: Basic Handgun Safety

RICHARD L. WORTHEY Instructor Qualifications: NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Instructor in Home Firearm Safety, Advanced Pistol, CCW, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection In The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, Refuse To Be A Victim, Rangemaster Certified Master Pistol Instructor and Defensive Shotgun Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified School Safety Instructor, ALERRT Trainer, Deadly Force Instructor, Force-on-Force Instructor, and OC Spray Instructor. 25

Courses: All NRA disciplines certified to teach, Defensive Pistol, Defensive Shotgun, Texas License to Carry Handgun, Use of Force, School Safety Certification, and Response to Active Shooter Events.

Assistant Instructor and Range Safety Officer: Heather Yvonne NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Instructor in CCW, Refuse to Be A Victim, Basic Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun, Force-on-Force Instructor, Rangemaster Certified Defensive Shotgun Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor.

HEATHER YVONNE Instructor Qualifications: NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Instructor in CCW, Refuse to Be A Victim, Basic Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun, Force-on-Force Instructor, Rangemaster Certified Defensive Shotgun Instructor, Texas Department of Public Safety Certified License to Carry Handgun Instructor.

Courses: All NRA disciplines certified to teach, Defensive Shotgun, Texas License to Carry Handgun, Ladies Basic Pistol, Ladies How to Conceal Carry, Semi-Auto Pistol Fit, Shoot House Scenarios and Personal Lessons.

APPENDIX D – RANGE VARIATIONS AND SAFETY PLANS

NOTE: Approved safety plans are currently being developed for the Club sponsored or approved Matches and Programs listed below:

Silhouette Range • .22 Caliber Rifle Silhouette • (NRA) Hunter Pistol & Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette Action Range • International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) • Rimfire Challenge Shooting Association (RSCA) • Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) • LE Agency Range Qualification Events Pistol/Rimfire Range • Small Bore Pistol Silhouette • Large Bore Pistol Falling Plate Shotgun Range • Shotgun Sporting Clays 600 Yard Range • Junior Service Rifle • Military Bolt Rifle • M1 Garand • High-Power Rifle • Hi-Power 600-yard • Military Rifle Match Rifle Range • 4-H Program • Benchrest Rifle

Women’s Program • Meet-N-Greet Event 6-28-2019 (on file)

GLOSSARY OF COMMON FIREARM TERMS A • action: The physical mechanism that manipulates cartridges and/or seals the breech. The term refers to the method in which cartridges are loaded, locked, and extracted from the mechanism. Actions are generally categorized by the type of mechanism used. A firearm action is technically not present on muzzleloaders as all loading is done by hand. The mechanism that fires a muzzle-loader is called the lock. • ammunition or ammo: Gunpowder and artillery. Since the design of the cartridge, the meaning has been transferred to the assembly of a projectile and its propellant in a single package.

B • back bore, backbored barrel: A shotgun barrel whose internal diameter is greater than nominal for the gauge, but less than the SAAMI maximum. Done in an attempt to reduce felt recoil, improve patterning, or change the balance of the shotgun. • barrel: A tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released to propel a projectile out of the end at high velocity. • ballistic coefficient or BC: a measure of projectiles ability to overcome air resistance in flight. It is inversely proportional to the deceleration—a high number indicates a low deceleration. BC is a function of mass, diameter, and drag coefficient. In bullets, it refers to the amount that drop over distance and wind drift affects the bullet. • belt: ammunition belt is a device used to retain and feed cartridges into a firearm. • belted magnum or belt: Any caliber cartridge, generally rifles, using a shell casing with a pronounced "belt" around its base that continues 2-4mm past the extractor groove.[1] This design originated with the British gunmaker Holland & Holland for the purpose of headspace certain of their more powerful cartridges. Especially the non-shouldered (non- "bottlenecked") magnum rifle cartridges could be pushed too far into the chamber and thus cause catastrophic failure of the gun when fired with excessive headspace; the addition of the belt to the casing prevented this over-insertion. • berm: a mound or wall of earth of sand constructed to contain all fired bullets within the range. These berms may be designate an impact berm or a safety berm. The major difference is that impact berms are designed and constructed to take the impact of direct fire bullets and are typically taller and wider than safety berms. Safety berms are designed and constructed to contain errant or ricochet bullets and splatter within the range. • bipod: A support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. On firearms, bipods are commonly used on rifles to provide a forward rest and reduce motion. The bipod permits the operator to rest the weapon on the ground, a low wall, or other object, reducing operator fatigue and permitting increased accuracy. • black powder also called gunpowder: a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It burns rapidly, producing a volume of hot gas made up of carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen, and a solid residue of potassium sulfide.[2]Because of its burning properties and the amount of heat and gas volume that it generates, gunpowder has been widely used as a propellant in firearms and as a pyrotechnic composition in fireworks. Modern firearms do not use the traditional black powder described here, but instead use smokeless powder. • black-powder substitute: A firearm propellant that is designed to reproduce the burning rate and propellant properties of black powder (making it safe for use in black-powder firearms), while providing advantages in one or more areas such as reduced smoke, reduced corrosion, reduced cost, or decreased sensitivity to unintentional ignition. • blank: A type of cartridge for a firearm that contains gunpowder but no bullet or shot. When fired, the blank makes a flash and an explosive sound (report). Blanks are often used for simulation (such as in historical reenactments, theatre and movie special effects), training, and for signaling (see starting pistol). Blank cartridges differ from dummy cartridges, which are used for training or function testing firearms; these contain no primer or gunpowder and are inert.

• blowback: A system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains power from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gases created by the ignition of the powder charge.[3] • bluing or blueing: A passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. True gun bluing is an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an

oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface selectively forming magnetite (Fe3O4), the black oxide of iron, which occupies the same volume as metallic iron. Bluing is most commonly used by gun manufacturers, gunsmiths and gun owners to improve the cosmetic appearance of, and provide a measure of corrosion resistance to, their firearms. • bolt action: A type of firearm action in which the firearm's bolt is operated manually by the opening and closing of the breech (barrel) with a small handle. As the handle is operated, the bolt is unlocked, the breech is opened, the spent shell casing is withdrawn and ejected, the firing pin is cocked, and finally a new round/shell (if available) is placed into the breech and the bolt closed. • bolt thrust or breech pressure: The amount of rearward force exerted by the propellant gases on the bolt or breech of a firearm action or breech when a projectile is fired. The applied force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity. • bolt: The part of a repeating, breech-loading firearm that blocks the rear opening (breech) of the barrel chamber while the propellant burns and moves back and forward to facilitate loading/unloading of cartridges from the magazine. The extractor and firing pin are often integral parts of the bolt. • bore snake: A tool used to clean the barrel of a gun. • boresight: Crude adjustments made to an optical firearm sight, or iron sights, to align the firearm barrel and sights. This method is usually used to pre-align the sights, which makes zeroing (zero drop at XX distance) much faster. • brass: The empty cartridge case. • break-action: A firearm whose barrels are hinged and rotate perpendicular to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of ammunition. • breech pressure or bolt thrust: The amount of rearward force exerted by the propellant gases on the bolt or breech of a firearm action or breech when a projectile is fired. The applied force has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector quantity. • buffer: component that reduces the velocity of recoiling parts (such as the bolt). • bullpup: a firearm configuration in which both the action and magazine are located behind the trigger. • burst mode: a firing mode enabling the shooter to fire a predetermined number of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. C • caliber/calibre: in small arms, the internal diameter of a firearm's barrel or a cartridge's bullet, usually expressed in millimeters or hundredths of an inch; in measuring rifled barrels this may be measured across the lands (such as .303 British) or grooves (such as .308 Winchester) or; a specific cartridge for which a firearm is chambered, such as .44 Magnum. In artillery, the length of the barrel expressed in terms of the internal diameter. • carbine: a shortened version of a service rifle, often chambered in a less potent cartridge or; a shortened version of the infantryman's musket or rifle suited for use by cavalry. • cartridge: the assembly consisting of a bullet, gunpowder, shell casing, and primer. When counting, it is referred to as a "round". • caseless ammunition: a type of small arms ammunition that eliminates the cartridge case that typically holds the primer, propellant, and projectile together as a unit. • casket magazine: a quad stack box magazine. • centerfire: a cartridge in which the primer is located in the center of the cartridge case head. Unlike rimfire cartridges, the primer is a separate and replaceable component. The centerfire cartridge has replaced the rimfire in all but the smallest

cartridge sizes. Except for low-powered .22 and .17 caliber cartridges, and a handful of antiques, all modern pistol, rifle, and shotgun ammunition are centerfire. • chamber: the portion of the barrel or firing cylinder in which the cartridge is inserted prior to being fired. Rifles and pistols generally have a single chamber in their barrels, while revolvers have multiple chambers in their cylinders and no chamber in their barrel. • chamber flag: safety device inserted into the chamber of a firearm to indicate that the chamber is empty. These come in a variety of sizes and colors (usually red, orange or yellow). • chambering: inserting a round into the chamber, either manually or through the action of the weapon. • charger: a speedloader that holds several cartridges together in a single unit for easier loading of a firearm's magazine. A stripper clip is used only for loading the magazine and is not necessary for the firearm to function. • charging handle: device on a firearm which, when operated, results in the hammer or striker being cocked or moved to the ready position. • choke: a tapered constriction of a shotgun barrel's bore at the muzzle end. Chokes are almost always used with modern hunting and target shotguns, to improve performance • clip: a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm. This speeds up the process of loading and reloading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a time. • COL (cartridge overall length): Factory ammunition is loaded to a standard, SAAMI specified, Cartridge Overall Length so that the ammunition will reliably function in all firearms and action types. This specified O.A.L. has nothing to do with optimizing accuracy and is typically much shorter than the O.A.L. used by handloaders for the same cartridge. For the last several decades, the rule of thumb was the closer you seated the bullet to the lands, the better the accuracy. Currently, it is understood that this isn't always true. It is true that some bullets and some rifles perform best when bullets are seated out long enough to touch the lands, but other bullets perform best when they have a certain amount of “jump” to the lands. The only rule is: there is no rule.[4] • collateral damage: damage that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome.[5] The term originated in the United States military, but it has since expanded into broader use. • collimator sight: a type of optical "blind" sight that allows the user looking into it to see an illuminated aiming point aligned with the device the sight is attached to regardless of eye position (parallax free).[6] The user cannot see through the sight so it is used with both eyes open while one looks into the sight, with one eye open and moving the head to alternately see the sight and then at the target, or using one eye to partially see the sight and target at the same time.[7] (variant names/types: "collimating sight",[8]"occluded eye gunsight" (OEG).[9]) • combination gun: a shoulder-held firearm that has two barrels; one rifle barrel and one shotgun barrel. Most combination guns are of an over-under design (abbreviated as O/U), in which the two barrels are stacked vertically on top of each other, but some combination guns are of a side-by-side design (abbreviated as SxS), in which the two barrels sit beside each other.

A view of the break-action of a side-by-side double-barreled shotgun.

• damascus barrel or damascus twist: An obsolete method of manufacturing a firearm barrel made by twisting strips of metal around a mandrel and forge welding it into shape. See also Damascus steel. • direct impingement: A type of gas operation for a firearm that directs gas from a fired cartridge directly to the bolt carrier or slide assembly to cycle the action. • double-barreled shotgun: A shotgun with two barrels, usually of the same gauge or bore. The two types of double- barreled shotguns are over/under (abbreviated as O/U), in which the two barrels are stacked on top of each other, and side-by-side (abbreviated as SxS), in which the two barrels sit beside each other. See photo at right for example of side-by-side double-barreled shotgun. For double-barreled guns that use one shotgun barrel and one rifle barrel, see combination gun. • double rifle: A rifle that has two barrels, usually of the same caliber. The two types of double rifles are over/under (abbreviated as O/U), in which the two barrels are stacked on top of each other, and side-by- side (abbreviated as SxS), in which the two barrels sit beside each other. The photo at right is of a side-by-side shotgun, but a side-by-side rifle is very similar. For double-barreled guns that use one shotgun barrel and one rifle barrel, see combination gun. • drilling: a firearm with three barrels (from the German word drei for three). Typically, it has two barrels side by side on the top, with a third rifle barrel underneath. This provides a very versatile firearm capable of taking winged animals as well as big game. It also is useful in jurisdictions where a person is only allowed to own a single firearm. • drum magazine: a type of firearms magazine that is cylindrical in shape, similar to a drum. • dry fire: the practice of "firing" a firearm without ammunition. That is, to pull the trigger and allow the hammer or striker to drop on an empty chamber. • dum-dum: A bullet designed to expand on impact, increasing in diameter to limit penetration and/or produce a larger diameter wound. The two typical designs are the hollow point bullet and the soft point bullet. • dummy: A round of ammunition that is completely inert, i.e., contains no primer, propellant, or explosive charge. It is used to check weapon function, and for crew training.[11] Unlike a blank it contains no charge at all. • dust cover: a seal for the ejection port (which allows spent brass to exit the upper receiver after firing) from allowing contaminants such as sand, dirt, or other debris from entering the mechanism.

• electronic firing: The use of an electric current to fire a cartridge, instead of a percussion cap. In an electronic-fired firearm an electric current is used instead to ignite the propellant, which fires the cartridge as soon as the trigger is pulled. • eye relief: For optics such as binoculars or a rifle scope, eye relief is the distance from the eyepiece to the viewer's eye that matches the eyepiece exit pupil to the eye's entrance pupil. Short eye relief requires the observer to press their eye close to the eyepiece in order to see an un-vignetted image. For a shooter, eye relief is an important safety consideration. An optic with too short an eye relief can cut skin at the contact point between the optic and the shooter's eyebrow due to recoil. • expanding bullet: An expanding bullet is a bullet designed to expand on impact, increasing in diameter to limit penetration and/or produce a larger diameter wound. The two typical designs are the hollow point bullet and the soft point bullet. • extractor: A part in a firearm that serves to remove brass cases of fired ammunition after the ammunition has been fired. When the gun's action cycles, the extractor lifts or removes the spent brass casing from the firing chamber.

F • falling block action (also known as a sliding-block action) is a single-shot firearm action in which a solid metal breechblock slides vertically in grooves cut into the breech of the rifle and actuated by a lever. In the top position, it locks and resists recoil while sealing the chamber. In the lower position, it leaves the chamber open so the shooter can load a cartridge from the rear. • forward assist: A button, found commonly on M16 and AR-15-styled rifles, usually located near the bolt closure, that when hit, pushes the bolt carrier forward, ensuring that the bolt is locked. • fouling: The accumulation of unwanted material on solid surfaces. The fouling material can consist of either powder, lubrication residue, or bullet material such as lead or copper. • frangible: A bullet that is designed to disintegrate into tiny particles upon impact to minimize their penetration for reasons of range safety, to limit environmental impact, or to limit the danger behind the intended target. Examples are the Glaser Safety Slug and the breaching round.[15][16] • frizzen: an "L" shaped piece of steel hinged at the rear used in flintlock firearms. The flint scraping the steel throws a shower of sparks into the flash pan.

G • gas check is a device used in some types of firearms ammunition when non-jacketed bullets are used in high pressure cartridges, to prevent the buildup of lead in the barrel and aid in accuracy.[17] • gas-operated reloading: a system of operation used to provide energy to operate autoloading firearms. • gauge: The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. • grain is a unit of measurement of mass that is based upon the mass of a single seed of a typical cereal. Used in firearms to denote the amount of powder in a cartridge or the weight of a bullet. Traditionally it was based on the weight of a grain of wheat or barley, but since 1958, the grain (gr) measure has been redefined using the International System of Units as precisely 64.79891 mg.[18][19] There are 7,000 grains per avoirdupois pound in the Imperial and U.S. customary units. • grip safety: A safety mechanism, usually a lever on the rear of a pistol grip, that automatically unlocks the trigger mechanism of a firearm as pressure is applied by the shooter's hand.[13]

• gunpowder, also called black powder, is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate. It burns rapidly, producing a volume of hot gas made up of carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen, and a solid residue of potassium sulfide.[2]Because of its burning properties and the amount of heat and gas volume that it generates, gunpowder has been widely used as a propellant in firearms and as a pyrotechnic composition in fireworks. The term gunpowder also refers broadly to any propellant powder. Modern firearms do not use the traditional gunpowder (black powder) described here, but instead use smokeless powder.

H • hammer bite: The action of an external hammer pinching or poking the web of the operator's shooting hand between the thumb and fore-finger when the gun is fired. Some handguns prone to this are the M1911 pistol and the Browning Hi- Power.[20] • hang fire: An unexpected delay between the triggering of a firearm and the ignition of the propellant. This failure was common in firearm actions that relied on open primer pans, due to the poor or inconsistent quality of the powder. Modern weapons are susceptible, particularly if the ammunition has been stored in an environment outside of the design specifications. • half-cock: The position of the hammer where the hammer is partially but not completely cocked. Many firearms, particularly older firearms, had a notch cut into the hammer allowing half-cock, as this position would neither allow the gun to fire nor permit the hammer-mounted firing pin to rest on a live percussion cap or cartridge. The purpose of the half-cock position has variously been used both for loading a firearm, and as a safety-mechanism.

revolver hammer

• hammer: The function of the hammer is to strike the firing pin in a firearm, which in turn detonates the impact- sensitive cartridge primer. The hammer of a firearm was given its name for both resemblance and functional similarity to the common tool. • headspace: The distance measured from the part of the chamber that stops forward motion of the cartridge (the datum reference) to the face of the bolt. Used as a verb, headspace refers to the interference created between this part of the chamber and the feature of the cartridge that achieves the correct positioning.[21] • headstamp: A headstamp is the markings on the bottom of a cartridge case designed for a firearm. It usually tells who manufactured the case. If it is a civilian case it often also tells the caliber, if it is military, the year of manufacture is often added. • high brass: A shotgun shell for more powerful loads with the brass extended up further along the sides of the shell, while light loads use "low brass" shells. The brass does not provide significantly more strength, but the difference in appearance helps shooters quickly differentiate between high and low powered ammunition. • holographic weapon sight: a non-magnifying gun sight that allows the user to look through a glass optical window and see a cross hair reticle image superimposed at a distance on the field of view.[22] The hologram of the reticle is built into the window and is illuminated by a laser diode.

.243 Winchester Ackley Improved(left) and .243 Winchester (right)

• improved cartridge: A wildcat cartridge that is created by straightening out the sides of an existing case and making a sharper shoulder to maximize powder space. Frequently the neck length and shoulder position are altered as well. The caliber is NOT changed in the process. • IMR powder or Improved Military Rifle: A series of tubular nitrocellulose smokeless powders evolved from World War I through World War II for loading military and commercial ammunition and sold to private citizens for reloading rifle ammunition for hunting and target shooting. • improvised firearm: a firearm manufactured by someone who is not a regular maker of firearms. • internal ballistics: A subfield of ballistics, that is the study of a projectile's behavior from the time its propellant's igniter is initiated until it exits the gun barrel. The study of internal ballistics is important to designers and users of firearms of all types, from small-bore Olympic rifles and pistols, to high-tech artillery. • iron sights are a system of aligned markers used to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in a scope. Iron sights are typically composed of two component sights, formed by metal blades: a rear sight mounted perpendicular to the line of sight and consisting of some form of notch (open sight) or aperture (closed sight); and a front sight that is a post, bead, or ring. J

jacketed bullets

• jacket: A metal, usually copper, wrapped around a lead core to form a bullet. • jeweling: a cosmetic process to enhance the looks of firearm parts, such as the bolt. The look is created with an abrasive brush and compound that roughs the surface of the metal in a circular pattern.

K • keyhole or keyholing: Refers to the end-over-end tumbling of the bullet which will often leave an elongated or keyhole shaped hole in a paper target. This occurs when the bullet is insufficiently stabilized by the firearm's rifling, either because the rifling is too slow or long for a given bullet, also meaning that the bullet is too long or tail heavy for said rifling. Or else due to poor fit of an undersized bullet in the gun barrel. In these cases, the bullet has a natural tendency to wobble, and may start tumble end-over-end just encountering the resistance of the air. Keyholing can also occur in wounding (human or animal), when the bullet is sufficiently stabilized for penetrating the air only, but not for penetrating denser media such as bone or flesh. In these cases, tumbling starts at some point inside the victim's body, subsequently causing massive wounding. When using a bullet/rifling combination which is just sufficiently stabilized for 34

normal flight though free air, and so to easily produce massive keyhole wounds in the victim, then keyholing may occur quite easily in flight if any obstacle is encountered, be it a twig, leaf, even a blade of grass or a large rain-drop. • kick: The recoil or backward momentum of a firearm when it is discharged. Newton's third law suggests that the recoil of the arm should be exactly equal and opposite to forward momentum of the projectile(s). However, the muzzle blast will normally add its own momentum to that of the projectile, so too increasing total recoil of the arm – unless the muzzle blast's effect is (partially) neutralized, or even reversed, by means of a muzzle brake.

L • length of pull: The distance between the trigger and the butt end of the stock of a rifle or shotgun. • lever-action is a type of firearm action with a lever that encircles the trigger guard area, (often including the trigger guard itself) to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel when the lever is worked. • live fire exercise or LFX: Any exercise that simulates a realistic scenario for the use of specific equipment. In the popular lexicon this applies primarily to tests of weapons or weapon systems associated with a branch of a nation's armed forces, though the term can also apply to civilian activity. • lug: any piece that projects from a firearm for the purpose of attaching something to it. For example, barrel lugs are used to attach a break-action shotgun barrel to the action itself. If the firearm is a revolver, the term may also refer to a protrusion under the barrel that adds weight, thereby stabilizing the gun during aiming, mitigating recoil, and reducing muzzle flip. A full lug extends all the way to the muzzle, while a half lug extends only partially down the barrel. On a swing-out-cylinder revolver, the lug is slotted to accommodate the ejector rod.[13]

M • machine gun: a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm. • machine pistol: a handgun-style fully automatic or burst-mode firearm. • magazine: A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable). The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. • match grade: Firearm parts and ammunition that are suitable for a competitive match. This refers to parts that are designed and manufactured such that they have a relatively tight-tolerances and high level of accuracy. • muzzle: The part of a firearm at the end of the barrel from which the projectile exits. • muzzle brakes and recoil compensators: devices that are fitted to the muzzle of a firearm to redirect propellant gases with the effect of countering both recoil of the gun and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire. • muzzle energy is the kinetic energy of a bullet as it is expelled from the muzzle of a firearm. It is often used as a rough indication of the destructive potential of a given firearm or load. The heavier the bullet and the faster it moves, the higher its muzzle energy and the more damage it does. • muzzle velocity is the speed at which a projectile leaf the muzzle of the gun. Muzzle velocities range from approximately 800 ft/s (240 m/s) for some pistols and older cartridges to more than 4,000 ft/s (1,200 m/s) in modern cartridges such as the .220 Swift and .204 Ruger. In conventional guns, muzzle velocity is determined by the quality (burn speed, expansion) and quantity of the propellant, the mass of the projectile, and the length of the barrel.

N • necking down or necking up refers to shrinking or expanding the neck of an existing cartridge to make it use a bullet of a different caliber. A typical process used in the creation of wildcat cartridges.

• NRA or National Rifle Association of America is an American organization that lists its goals as the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection of hunting and self-defense in the United States. The NRA is also the sanctioning body for most marksmanship competition in the United States, from the local to the Olympic level (particularly bullseye style events). O • out-of-battery: The status of a weapon before the action has returned to the normal firing position. The term originates from artillery, referring to a gun that fires before it has been pulled back into its firing position in a gun battery. In firearms where there is an automatic loading mechanism, a condition in which a live round is at least partially in the firing chamber and capable of being fired but is not properly secured by the usual mechanism of that particular weapon can occur. • over-bore: Small caliber bullets being used in very large cases.[23] It is the relationship between the volume of powder that can fit in a case and the diameter of the inside of the barrel or bore.[24] • obturate: An ordnance word; to close (a hole or cavity) so as to prevent a flow of gas through it, especially the escape of explosive gas from a gun tube during firing. The process of obturation is where a recess in the base of a bullet allows for expanding gases to press against the base and inside skirt of the bullet creating a gas tight seal to the bore. See also swage. • offset mount: Is where it may not be practical to mount a telescopic sight directly above the receiver and barrel of a firearm. This was noted with many military and service arms where new ammunition must be fed from above along a similar path, in reverse, to the spent cartridge cases being ejected clear. Not often seen or used today, although complete or partial sets of offset mounts attract keen interest from restorers and collectors. • open Tip Match: The open tip design employs a precision deep drawn jacket with lead inserted from the front tip and ogival forming from the open tip mouth and originated strictly for competitive match.

P • parkerizing: A method of protecting a steel surface from corrosion and increasing its resistance to wear through the application of an electrochemical phosphate conversion coating. Also called phosphating and phosphatizing. • percussion cap: a small cylinder of copper or brass that was the crucial invention that enabled muzzle-loading firearms to fire reliably in any weather. The cap has one closed end. Inside the closed end is a small amount of a shock-sensitive explosive material such as fulminate of mercury. The percussion cap is placed over a hollow metal "nipple" at the rear end of the gun barrel. Pulling the trigger releases a hammer, which strikes the percussion cap and ignites the explosive primer. The flame travels through the hollow nipple to ignite the main powder charge. • picatinny rail: a bracket used on some firearms to provide a standardized mounting platform. • pinfire: an obsolete type of brass cartridge in which the priming compound is ignited by striking a small pin that protrudes radially from just above the base of the cartridge. • plinking: Informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water.[25] • POA: point of aim. • POI: point of impact. • powerhead or bang stick: a specialized firearm used underwater that is fired when in direct contact with the target. • pump-action: A rifle or shotgun in which the handgrip can be pumped back and forth to eject a spent round of ammunition and to chamber a fresh one. It is much faster than a bolt-action and somewhat faster than a lever-action, as it does not require that the shooter remove their trigger hand during reloading. In rifles, this action is also commonly called a slide action.

Q • quad-barrelled: A gun, typically artillery, with four barrels, such as the ZPU.

R • ramrod: a device used with early firearms to push the projectile up against the propellant (mainly gunpowder). • rate of fire: the frequency at which a firearm can fire its projectiles. • receiver: the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. • recoil: The backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile, according to Newton's third law. (often called kickback or simply kick) • recoil operation: Recoil operation is an operating mechanism used in locked-breech, autoloading firearms. As the name implies, these actions use the force of recoil to provide energy to cycle the action. • red dot sight a type of reflector (reflex) sight for firearms that gives the uses a red light-emitting diode as a reticle to create an aimpoint. • Reflector (reflex) sight: A generally non-magnifying optical device that has an optically collimated reticle, allowing the user to look through a partially reflecting glass element and see a parallax free cross hair or other projected aiming point superimposed on the field of view.[26] Invented in 1900 but not generally used on firearms until reliably illuminated versions were invented in the late 1970s (usually referred to by the abbreviation "reflex sight"). • revolver: a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. • ricochet: (/ˈrɪkəʃeɪ/ RIK-ə-shay) is a rebound, bounce or skip off a surface, particularly in the case of a projectile. • rifle bedding: a process of filling gaps between the action and the stock of a rifle with an epoxy-based material. • rifling: Helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis. This spin serves to gyroscopically stabilize the projectile, improving its aerodynamic stability and accuracy. • rimfire: A type of firearm cartridge that used a firing pin to strike the base's rim, instead of striking the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge to ignite it (as in a centerfire cartridge). The rim of the rimfire cartridge is essentially an extended and widened percussion cap that contains the priming compound, while the cartridge case itself contains the propellant powder and the projectile (bullet). • rolling block: A form of firearm action where the sealing of the breech is done with a circular shaped breechblock able to rotate on a pin. The breechblock is locked into place by the hammer, thus preventing the cartridge from moving backwards at the moment of firing. By cocking the hammer, the breechblock can be rotated freely to reload the weapon. • round: a single cartridge. S • sabot: a device used in a firearm to fire a projectile, such as a bullet, that is smaller than the bore diameter. • safety: A mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling. Safeties can generally be divided into sub-types such as internal safeties (which typically do not receive input from the user) and external safeties (which typically allow the user to give input, for example, toggling a lever from "on" to "off" or something similar). Sometimes these are called "passive" and "active" safeties (or "automatic" and "manual"), respectively. • sawed-off shotgun/short-barreled shotgun (SBS): a type of shotgun with a shorter gun barrel and often a shorter or deleted stock. • selective fire: A firearm that fires semi–automatically and at least one automatic mode by means of a selector depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in this mode. The most common limits are two or three rounds per pull of the trigger. 37

• semi-wadcutter or SWC: A type of all-purpose bullet commonly used in revolvers that combines features of the wadcutter target bullet and traditional round nosed revolver bullets and is used in both revolver and pistol cartridges for hunting, target shooting, and plinking. The basic SWC design consists of a roughly conical nose, truncated with a flat point, sitting on a cylinder. The flat nose punches a clean hole in the target, rather than tearing it like a round nose bullet would, and the sharp shoulder enlarges the hole neatly, allowing easy and accurate scoring of the target. The SWC design offers better external ballistics than the wadcutter, as its conical nose produces less drag than the flat cylinder. • shooting range: a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. • shooting sticks: are portable weapon mounts. • short-barreled rifle (SBR): a legal designation in the United States, referring to a shoulder-fired, rifled firearm with a barrel length of less than 16" (40.6 cm) or overall length of less than 26" (66.0 cm). • silhouette target: is a group of target shooting disciplines that involves shooting at steel targets representing game animals at varying distances, seeking to knock the metal target over. Metallic silhouette shooting can be done with airguns, black-powder firearms, modern handguns, or modern rifles. Examples of the targets used are rams, turkeys, pigs, and chickens, which are cut to different scales and set at certain distances from the shooter depending on the specific discipline. • single-action: Usually referring to a pistol or revolver, single-action is when the hammer is pulled back manually by the shooter (cocking it), after which the trigger is operated to fire the shot. See also double-action. • single-shot: A firearm that holds only a single round of ammunition and must be reloaded after each shot. • slamfire: a premature, unintended discharge of a firearm that occurs as a round is being loaded into the chamber. • sleeving: A method of using new tubes to replace a worn-out gun barrel.[27] • slide bite or snake bite: A phenomenon often grouped with hammer bite—in this case the web of the shooting hand is cut or abraded by the rearward motion of the semi-automatic pistol's slide, not by the gun's hammer. This most often occurs with small pistols like the Walther PPK and Walther TPH that have an abbreviated grip tang. This problem is exacerbated by the sharp machining found on many firearms. • sling: is a type of strap or harness designed to allow an operator to carry a firearm (usually a long gun such as a rifle, carbine, shotgun, or submachine gun) on his/her person and/or aid in greater hit probability with that firearm. • slug: a heavy projectile made of lead, copper, or other material and fired from a shotgun. Slugs are designed for hunting large game, self-defense, and other uses. • snub-nosed revolver: a revolver with a short barrel length. • speedloader: A device used for loading a firearm or firearm magazine with loose ammunition very quickly. Generally, speedloaders are used for loading all chambers of a revolver simultaneously, although speedloaders of different designs are also used for the loading of fixed tubular magazines of shotguns and rifles, or the loading of box or drum magazines. Revolver speedloaders are used for revolvers having either swing-out cylinders or top-break cylinders. • squib load, also known as squib round, pop and no kick, or just squib: A firearms malfunction in which a fired projectile does not have enough force behind it to exit the barrel, and thus becomes stuck. Squib loads make the firearm unsafe to shoot, unless the projectile can be removed. • stock: The part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. The stock provides a means for the shooter to firmly support the device and easily aim it. • stopping power: The ability of a firearm or other weapon to cause a penetrating ballistic injury to a target, human or animal, sufficient to incapacitate the target where it stands. • stripper clip: A speedloader that holds several cartridges together in a single unit for easier loading of a firearm's magazine. A stripper clip is used only for loading the magazine and is not necessary for the firearm to function. • silencer, suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or "hush puppy": A device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. 38

• swage: To reduce an item in size by forcing through a die. In internal ballistics, swaging refers to the process where bullets are swaged into the rifling of the barrel by the force of the expanding powder gases. • swaged bullet: A bullet that is formed by forcing the bullet into a die to assume its final form. • swaged choke: A constriction or choke in a shotgun barrel formed by a swaging process that compresses the outside of the barrel. • swaged rifling: Rifling in a firearm barrel formed by a swaging process, such as button rifling.

T • taylor KO Factor: mathematical approach for evaluating the stopping power of hunting cartridges. • telescoping stock or collapsing stock: A stock on a firearm that can telescope or fold in on itself to become more compact. Telescoping stocks are useful for storing a rifle or weapon in a space that it would not normally fit in. • terminal ballistics: A sub-field of ballistics, is the study of the behavior of a projectile when it hits its target.[28] • throat Erosion(firearms): The wearing of the portion of the barrel where the gas pressure and heat is highest as the projectile leaves the chamber. The greater the chamber pressure, the more rapid throat erosion occurs. This is compounded by rapid firing, which heats and weakens the steel. • trigger: A mechanism that actuates the firing sequence of a firearm. Triggers almost universally consist of levers or buttons actuated by the index finger. • trunnion: a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting and/or pivoting point. On firearms, the barrel is sometimes mounted in a trunnion, which in turn is mounted to the receiver. U • upset forging: A process that increases the diameter of a workpiece by compressing its length. • underlug: 1. The locking lugs on a break-action firearm that extend from the bottom of the barrels under the chamber(s) and connect into the receiver bottom.[29] 2. The metal shroud underneath the barrel of a revolver that surrounds and protects the extractor rod. The two types of underlugs include half-lug, meaning the shroud does not run the entire length of the barrel but instead is only as long as the extractor rod, and full-lug, meaning the shroud runs the full length of the barrel.

varmint rifle

• varmint rifle: A small-caliber firearm or high-powered air gun primarily used for varmint hunting — killing non-native or non-game animals such as rats, house sparrows, starling, crows, ground squirrels, gophers, jackrabbits, marmots, groundhogs, porcupine, opossum, coyote, skunks, weasels,[30] or feral cats, dogs, goats, pigs and other animals considered a nuisance vermin destructive to native or domestic plants and animals.[31] W • wadcutter: A special-purpose bullet specially designed for shooting paper targets, usually at close range and at subsonic velocities typically under 800 ft/s (240 m/s). They are often used in handgun and airgun competitions. A wadcutter has a 39

flat or nearly flat front that cuts a very clean hole through the paper target, making it easier to score and ideally reducing errors in scoring the target to the favor of the shooter. • WCF: An acronym for a family of cartridges designed by Winchester Repeating Arms Company, called Winchester Center Fire, as in the .30-30 WCF or .32 WCF.[32] • wheellock: an obsolete mechanism for firing a firearm. • wildcat cartridge or wildcat: A custom cartridge for which ammunition and firearms are not mass-produced. These cartridges are often created to optimize a certain performance characteristic (such as the power, size or efficiency) of an existing commercial cartridge. See improved cartridge. • windage: The side-to-side adjustment of a sight, used to change the horizontal component of the aiming point. See also Kentucky windage. X • x-ring: a circle in the middle of a shooting target bullseye used to determine winners in event of a tie.

Y • yaw: The heading of a bullet, used in external ballistics that refers to how the Magnus effect causes bullets to move out of a straight line based on their spin. Z

• zero-in or zeroing: The act of setting up a telescopic or other sighting system so that the point of impact of a bullet matches the sights at a specified distance.

References 1. ^ Reloading Belted Magnums by Larry Willis 2. ^ Jump up to: a b Benton, Captain James G. (1862), Ordnance and Gunnery (2nd ed.), West Point, New York: Thomas Publications, p. 8, ISBN 1- 57747-079-6 3. ^ Chinn, George M.: The Machine Gun, Volume IV: Design Analysis of Automatic Firing Mechanisms and Related Components, p. 3. Bureau of Ordnance, Department of the Navy, 1955. 4. ^ "Beyond the Basics: Developing Your Own Loads". Nosler - Bullets, Brass, Ammunition & Rifles. Retrieved 2018-03-07. 5. ^ "USAF Intelligence Targeting Guide — AIR FORCE PAMPHLET 14- 210 Intelligence". 1998-02-01. p. 180. Retrieved 2007-10-06. 6. ^ Elementary optics and application to fire control instruments By United States. Dept. of the Army, section 8-24 7. ^ Elementary optics and applications to fire control instruments: May 1921 By United States. Army. Ordnance Dept, page 84 8. ^ William C Farmer, Ordnance field guide, page 279 9. ^ Jan Kay, International Defense Directory, 1991–92, page 241 10. ^ "M922/M922A1 40mm Dummy Rounds". fas.org. 11. ^ Glenn Newick, "The Ultimate in Rifle Accuracy", Stroger Publishing Company, 1989. ISBN 0-88317-159-7 12. ^ "Frangible Ammunition". GlobalSecurity.org. 13. ^ "GunTec Dictionary, gas check". 14. ^ "NIST General Tables of Units of Measurement" (PDF). United States government. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-01. 15. ^ Barbrow, L.E.; Judson, L.V. (1976). Weights and measures standards of the United States – A brief history. 16. ^ James, Frank (2004). Effective Handgun Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry. Krause Publications. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-87349- 899-9. 17. ^ Davis, William C., Jr. Handloading (1981) National Rifle Association pp.67–69 ISBN 0-935998-34-9 18. ^ Red Dot Sights / Reflex Sights & Holosights Explained -Electronic Sights; A look at why they exist, how they work, and how you use them. 19. ^ Ackley, P.O. (1927) [1962]. Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders. vol I (12th Printing ed.). Salt Lake City, Utah: Plaza Publishing. p. 165. ISBN 978-99929-4-881-1. 20. ^ "Defining "Overbore" Cartridges Via Comparative Index". AccurateShooter.com. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 21. ^ "Plinking With Handguns". Retrieved 2007-09-24. 22. ^ Elementary optics and application to fire control instruments By United States. Dept. of the Army, page 8-27, 8-28 23. ^ Hadoke, Diggory (2008). Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot. Skyhorse Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-60239-198-7. 24. ^ Terminal Ballistics Test and Analysis Guidelines for the Penetration Mechanics Branch - BRL 25. ^ "Underlugs". Midway USA. Retrieved 2010-11-05. 26. ^ "Nongame Animals". California Fish and Game Commission. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 27. ^ Craige, John Houston, Captain The Practical Book of American Guns (1950) Bramhall House pp.211–222 28. ^ Chicoine, David (2005). Guns of the New West. Krause Publications. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-87349-768-8. • "SAAMI glossary". Archived from the original on 2003-10-11. Retrieved 2007-09-20. • "GunTec Dictionary of Shooting, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Hunting & Outdoor Terms". Retrieved 2007-10-01. • Hadoke, Diggory (2008). Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60239-198-7. • NRA Firearms Fact Book, Third Addition ISBN 0-0935998-55-1 • NRA Firearms Source Book, 2006, ISBN 0-935998-26-8 • NRA Range Source Book, 2012