Range Rules – May 2024
Overall Rules
• The Canadian Firearms Act must be followed at all times while on WRPA property. This includes transportation of ammunition, firearms, licensing and paperwork requirements,
etc.
• If you are unsure or in doubt of the rules or terminology on any range, please contact any member of the Board for further direction.
• Please refer to the videos on the WRPA website for direction on how to use the ranges and any related signs, flags and controls.
• Refer to posted photos and diagrams for direction as to how targets are to be posted and placed on range.
• Eye and hearing protection is mandatory during all shooting sessions.
• While shooting, all members must sign in to the correct range logbook and wear their valid membership card in open view.
• Muzzle control must be practiced at all times. Guns being transported out of case must be unloaded and have the action open and the muzzle pointed straight up.
• No shooter may fire at a rate that precludes their ability to aim each shot and strike the designated target.
• Members are to indicate the status of the range property via the Range Facility Status Sign, either Range Closed or Range in Use. As well, use the individual range toggles at
the top to indicate which range you are using. See the [Video]
• All users of the range must sign in at each range they are using. Printed name and membership number are required.
This is a requirement under the Firearms Act.
• Guest shooting (to a limit of 2 visits per guest) is permitted in the indoor range only. In special circumstances, guest use of outside ranges may be granted by the club
president. Prior approval must be sought out and granted.
• No shooting at anything placed on the ground.
• Red crosshatched lines as marked are “no shoot areas” of
the firing line. Move to areas without these markings.
• The use of binary exploding targets (such as Tannerite) or any other exploding device/targets is prohibited on WRPA property.
• No food is allowed on the firing line.
• No smoking is allowed in club buildings, on the firing line, or anywhere near the designated loading line for black powder.
• Please report any damage or faulty equipment as soon as possible.
• Common courtesy shall be practiced at all times.
• Safe gun handling is required at all times.
• All firearms are to be made safe on the firing line when not actively being used. Actions should be open and firearms unloaded.
• Firearms must never be pointed over the backstop. Shooters must bring their aim up to the target, not down.
• Misfires and damaged ammunition must be retained by the owner and removed from WRPA property.
• Shooters are responsible for policing the range at the end of their shooting session. Target backer boards must be returned to under the covered firing points on applicable outdoor ranges and all garbage placed in the trash receptacles.
• All people on the range will communicate with each other and one person will assume the duty of range officer.
• Damage to any WPRA property may result in immediate termination of your membership.
• Outdoor ranges except for the Barry Pearson West Rifle Range are open from 10:00am to 8:00pm or dusk, whichever is earlier.
• The Barry Pearson West Rifle Range is open from 10:00am to 8:00pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 4:00pm on weekends.
• The use of holsters is allowed only on the Barry Pearson West Rifle range and the Multipurpose range.
• Holstered firearms are only permitted on the shooting line. When leaving the active shooting area, the firearm is to be unloaded with magazine removed.
• Holstered firearms must be indexed on an empty cylinder or an empty chamber except as allowed by shooting discipline.
• Holster restrictions do not apply to law enforcement or other qualified rental contracts during training exercises or training.
• The WRPA board of directors reserves the right to change the safety rules as instructed by the Chief Firearms Office or when deemed necessary.
Standard Pistol Range – 25 metres
• Refer to posted photos and diagrams for direction as to how targets are to be posted and placed on range.
• All shooters using the Standard Pistol Range must sign the logbook at the range.
• Use of the flag system is mandatory when the range is in use.
• Green – No handling of firearms
• Red – Safe to shoot
• Handgun calibers in the template group .22 long rifle, 9mm Parabellum and .357 S & W magnum only. Hot loads, magnum loads and rifles are allowed.
• Firing may only take place from shooting bays and firing points that employ physical limitations to elevation.
• There is to be no shooting of reactive-type targets on this range.
• Easternmost lanes numbered 1-7 are not to be used for shooting.
• One target per backboard, all shots must be kept on the paper.
• Targets must be posted on the top half of the backboard only.
• No hand guns in centrefire rifle caliber can be used. No shooter may fire at a rate that precludes their ability to aim each shot and strike the designated target.
• All areas of the pistol range are to be controlled by flag system as one for target resetting or posting targets.
Plate Shooting Ranges: Knock Down and Hanging Targets – 25 metres
• Firing may only take place from shooting bays and firing points that employ physical limitations to elevation.
• Use of the flag system is mandatory when the range is in use.
• Green – No handling of firearms
• Red – Safe to shoot
• All shooters using the Plate Shooting Range must sign the logbook at the range.
• Handgun calibers in the template groups .22 long rifle, 9mm Parabellum and .357 magnum only. Hot loads, magnum loads and rifles in the handgun calibres are allowed.
• No hand guns in centrefire rifle caliber can be used.
• No military hard ball, steel core ammo allowed.
• Steel targets must be placed at least 25 metres from the firing point.
• Only club-supplied steel targets may be used. No outside targets or objects may be fired at.
• Where applicable, pick up plates after shooting.
• All areas of the pistol range are to be controlled as one for target resetting or posting targets.
Multipurpose Range
• Use of the flag system is mandatory when the range is in use.
• Green – No handling of firearms
• Red – Safe to shoot
• All shooters using the Multipurpose Range must sign the logbook at the range.
• Pistol caliber handgun and smallbore (rimfire) rifles only. Hot loads and magnum loads are allowed.
• All targets are to be posted at the backstop.
• All shooters using the range and their equipment must share a single firing line for safety.
• All pistol shooting will be conducted from the marked 25-metre firing line or closer to the backstop only. This firing line is marked by a gravel path, stakes at the east end and
painted line on the west wall.
• Smallbore rifle shooting will be conducted from the marked 25-metre firing line or from the 50-metre covered firing line only. All targets are to be posted at the backstop.
• Smallbore rifle shooting at the 50-metre covered firing line: rifles are to be used in marked lanes 1 through 10. No shooting from red hashmarked areas of the 50m firing line.
• Be sure to use the gates with warning signs to close off the walk ways before shooting when shooting from the 50m line. See the [Video]
Barry Pearson Range – West Rifle Range
• Use of the flag system is mandatory when the range is in use.
• Green – No handling of firearms
• Red – Safe to shoot Refer to posted photos and diagrams for direction as to how targets are to be posted and placed on range.
• All shooters using the West Rifle Range must sign the logbook at the range.
• Rifle, pistol and shotgun use permitted.
• 50 BMG is not permitted to be used on the range.
• The range is equipped with overhead baffles at 4, 15 and 39 metres from the covered firing point, to prevent shots from leaving the range.
• To reduce deterioration of the baffles, ensure that your shots will hit the backstop. To achieve this, ensure that all targets are posted on the upper half of the backboard, at least 1.5 metres above ground, as close as possible to the backstop, least 40 metres from the firing point. Post your targets so that your firearm”s muzzle is pointed toward the backstop when firing, and not toward the ground.
• Targets must be placed at a range and a direction in which the shooter is able to hit the target paper and not the steel frames or baffle uprights.
• Return target boards and target frames back under the canopy after use.
• Shooting can only be done from under the canopy. Forward shooting can only be done under Range Officer control.
• No shooting water bottles or cans or other trash items.
• Steel target use is limited to the .22 long rifle calibre and Cowboy Action Shooting activities only.
• Rimfire rifles are permitted with the use of silhouette targets.
• Muzzleloaders must ensure loading area is away from the firing line. Do not prime or insert percussion caps until on the firing line.
Indoor Pistol Range
• Range is open to membership Mondays and Thursday beginning at 7PM. All shooters using the Indoor Pistol Range must sign the logbook at the range.
• No one may approach the firing line or handle any firearm when a cease fire is in operation.
• Handguns and rifles chambered in pistol calibres in the .22 long rifle, 9mm Parabellum and .357 S&W magnum template groups, with mid-range loads, and 22 calibre rifles may be used.
• No military steel core or specialty factory loads are to be used.
• Factory jacketed ammo such as 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP can be used however all shots must be on the paper.
• No magnum or hot reloads.
• No double action shooting is permitted.
Shotgun Range
• Use of the flag system is mandatory when the range is in use.
• Green – No handling of firearms
• Red – Safe to shoot
• Limited to shotgun use only. No shot larger than 7 1/2, and no slugs, or buckshot, etc. are permitted to be used.
• Hand clay pigeon throwers are permitted if used safely as are manually or electronically operated trap throwers.
• All shooters using the shotgun range must sign the logbook at the range.