Why bring rifles to the line uncased?

[Nowhere Man]

I know many ranges have different rules. Why would they want a rifle to be uncased before bringing to the line? What's the reasoning behind it?

I would think it would be safer/smarter to uncase your rifle at the line.

 

[bobinpa]

How would the rifle being in a case make it safer? If it's in a case nobody can see it, so it could be loaded. If it's out of the case everyone can see if the bolt (or action) is open or closed or even if it is in the rifle.... Out of a case where it can be seen is safer to me. Also, I doubt that anyone would want to deal with a case at the firing line.

 

[Greyfox]

A local commercial range near here has the uncased rule. He does not allow and rifle to be removed from a vehicle inside a case. I was puzzled and asked about it. He told me that they had multiple incidents where folks had brought cased rifles to the line that not only had the bolt in place, but were fully loaded with a round in the chamber. Obviously, a very unsafe situation. By requiring the rifle to be brought to the line uncased it is easy to observe that the bolt has been removed (safety requirement) or not. We have incorporated a similar rule at our new range. Firearms may only be removed from a vehicle and brought to the firing line when the range is hot.

Rick

 

[rkittine]

Interesting as one of the private clubs I belong to requires you to have your rifle in a case all the way to the bench, with the muzzle end marked and pointed down range at all times. And you don't want to be caught having the bolt in the rifle even before you take it out of the case.

Bob

 

[Nowhere Man]

How would the rifle being in a case make it safer? If it's in a case nobody can see it, so it could be loaded. If it's out of the case everyone can see if the bolt (or action) is open or closed or even if it is in the rifle.... Out of a case where it can be seen is safer to me. Also, I doubt that anyone would want to deal with a case at the firing line.

I know and understand we work using "Darwins Theory" but do you want the same guy unloading his gun in the parking lot not knowing which way the barrel is pointed or worse yet, carrying across the parking lot loaded. I'd think it would be safest on the line with the barrel pointed down range.

As far as cases on the line goes, remove the case once the gun is on the line and in a safe condition.

 

[hpshooter]

"Interesting as one of the private clubs I belong to requires you to have your rifle in a case all the way to the bench, with the muzzle end marked and pointed down range at all times. And you don't want to be caught having the bolt in the rifle even before you take it out of the case."

Our range requires guns to be uncased on the line, no gun handling is allowed behind the line. Idea is to prevent negligent discharges from "unloaded" guns behind the line. Most clubs, ours included, only have a small percentage of members who actively compete or shoot on a weekly basis. Many members only fire their firearms a few time a year during hunting season. Have seen many guns come to the range for sighting in prior to hunting season that were cased loaded the previous year, including muzzle loaders.

 

[rammac]

I ran a major gun range for a few years in Utah and I honestly don't see where it's the business of range personnel how a person brings their firearm from their PRIVATE vehicle to the ready bench. Once the weapon is at the ready bench/line the RSO has every authority to control weapon handling to ensure safety on the line. Those that advocate having a say how the weapon is carried from the vehicle to the line are simply trying to create a false sense of fear for frivolous reasons or they are drama queens that need some false concern to make themselves the center of attention.

 

[kzin]

How would the rifle being in a case make it safer? If it's in a case nobody can see it, so it could be loaded. If it's out of the case everyone can see if the bolt (or action) is open or closed or even if it is in the rifle.... Out of a case where it can be seen is safer to me. Also, I doubt that anyone would want to deal with a case at the firing line.

The rifle could be loaded either way.
At least the case acts as a pretty effective trigger guard.

Uncasing at the line leaves the shooter with a conscious decision of what to do with the case.
Hopefully not leave it in everybody else's way.

When I joined I thought uncasing only at the line, pointed down range was a crazy strict rule. After a couple of years of seeing what people do otherwise, I think I like it.

 

[swd]

I prefer the rife cased. If it does happen to loaded and in battery it generally keeps the trigger unavailable. At least it hopefully would be on a bench and pointed down range when it gets uncased.

 

[AndyTaber]

I ran a major gun range for a few years in Utah and I honestly don't see where it's the business of range personnel how a person brings their firearm from their PRIVATE vehicle to the ready bench. Once the weapon is at the ready bench/line the RSO has every authority to control weapon handling to ensure safety on the line. Those that advocate having a say how the weapon is carried from the vehicle to the line are simply trying to create a false sense of fear for frivolous reasons or they are drama queens that need some false concern to make themselves the center of attention.

Wow! I can’t disagree with this more. I belonged to a club that had ONE round leave their range and were shut down for several years while they fought to reopen. They eventually did open up but are no longer allowed to shoot any kind of rifle or pistol outside. They are now strictly a shotgun range. Their membership fell from near a thousand members to less than 40 and struggle financially to remain open.
That so called PRIVATE vehicle is on YOUR property and therefore under your control and responsibility. To characterize any kind of safety concern as frivolous or a drama queen is irresponsible.

 

[jmcgowe]

My club requires that the rifle may not be removed from the car and brought to the line during a cold range. When the range goes hot, you may bring your CASED rifle, with the muzzle end pointing downrange at all times, to the firing line.

This has several advantages. As mentioned, the case acts as a type of trigger guard while the rifle is being moved to the line. Secondly, the rifle is always pointed downrange while being transported from the car to the line. Third, the rifle is only moved and handled during a hot range, and is uncased in plain view of any adjacent shooters (as opposed to fiddling around in the trunk of the car behind the firing line). Makes sense to me.

 

[Liven The Dream]

I shoot NRA Type Prone Matches Sling or F-Class .

You leave your Rifle behind the Firing Point .Case or No case chamber open with safety Flag in Chamber ..
With the Two minute waring you bring your Rifle to the Firing line. Chamber open flag in. In your three minute Prep time , remove the
Flag and Dry Fire. When done firing the flag goes in the open chamber.
At some Matches the score keeper signs the score card as to the rifle being SAFE before it is removed from the line..

All about Safety.. Not pot Luck

Don

 

[bobinpa]

I know and understand we work using "Darwins Theory" but do you want the same guy unloading his gun in the parking lot not knowing which way the barrel is pointed or worse yet, carrying across the parking lot loaded. I'd think it would be safest on the line with the barrel pointed down range.

As far as cases on the line goes, remove the case once the gun is on the line and in a safe condition.

Since you posted this in the competition, I was under the impression that you were referring to shoots.... Since we are talking about all/any range, I can see the validity in the different opinions given. Since I was thinking "shoots" I was also thinking that they were bolts guns, but now we are talking about any/all actions too. The clubs that I go to don't have a rule in place, that I know of as to how to get your rifle from the vehicle to the bench. I have done it a couple of ways when practicing. 1. I take the case to the bench and leave it sitting on the ground next to me. 2. If I take multiple guns in a case, I usually take the rifle out at the vehicle with the action open and carry it to the bench.
My biggest concern when I am at any range is being able to see if someone is acting safe. I'm not against questioning someone. I haven't really thought about it until now, so I'm not sure how I feel about other's opinions.

I'm not sure that I like the idea of a guy carrying a loaded gun to the bench in a case.... If that person is negligent enough to think it is ok to do so, I'm not sure I would have confidence in his ability to unload it at the bench. OTOH, I'm not sure I want him unloading it behind me at his vehicle either.
I guess I am fortunate in that I have never seen that before, but now you have me thinking.

 

[ED3]

I know and understand we work using "Darwins Theory" but do you want the same guy unloading his gun in the parking lot not knowing which way the barrel is pointed or worse yet, carrying across the parking lot loaded. I'd think it would be safest on the line with the barrel pointed down range.

As far as cases on the line goes, remove the case once the gun is on the line and in a safe condition.

"...unloading his gun in the parking lot..."

How, and why would it ever occur that one would remove a loaded rifle from a firing line?

At least with an uncased rifle, the empty chamber indicator (or lack thereof) is readily apparent.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Every range can and will be different. I abide by the rules, whatever they may be, at any range I visit. I believe it is the shooters responsibly to be aware of the range rules first and foremost. Safety is our first and main concern, always, it doesn't stop once the firearm is on the bench or grounded. On the contrary, just the beginning.

 

[ED3]

Every range can and will be different. I abide by the rules, whatever they may be, at any range I visit. I believe it is the shooters responsibly to be aware of the range rules first and foremost. Safety is our first and main concern, always, it doesn't stop once the firearm is on the bench or grounded. On the contrary, just the beginning.

Various clubs and ranges do indeed have different rules. However, given you posted in the 'Competition' forum, it is important to note that while generic range rules may vary. The safety of rules of competition are uniform, an all guns are verified safe before the line is called safe.
I would guess if one cased a rifle on the line, the line officer might well ask the case be opened so that the chamber flag could be observed.

 

[ED3]

I ran a major gun range for a few years in Utah and I honestly don't see where it's the business of range personnel how a person brings their firearm from their PRIVATE vehicle to the ready bench. Once the weapon is at the ready bench/line the RSO has every authority to control weapon handling to ensure safety on the line. Those that advocate having a say how the weapon is carried from the vehicle to the line are simply trying to create a false sense of fear for frivolous reasons or they are drama queens that need some false concern to make themselves the center of attention.

Unless you personally own the range, and are the only one present, it is someone/ everyone else's business how guns are handled.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Various clubs and ranges do indeed have different rules. However, given you posted in the 'Competition' forum, it is important to note that while generic range rules may vary. The safety of rules of competition are uniform, an all guns are verified safe before the line is called safe.
I would guess if one cased a rifle on the line, the line officer might well ask the case be opened so that the chamber flag could be observed.

You sir are correct. Also you are the second one to point this out. I took note of it on the first. However I am following the thread regardless of the forum it was started in. I too shoot competition and know the rules.

 

[wkdickinson]

In my opinion chamber flags are by far the safest and most expedient way of verifying that a rifle is "safe". It allows all participants to police one another.

 

[dkhunt14]

Our range requires bolts to be out of rifles before being removed from car. Nothing safer then a bolt out the gun. Alot of guys use wagons to bring their guns, rests and other equipment to the line. It can be a little hard to case and carry a 80 to 100 pound gun to the line. Matt