A Day at the Range

Submitted by "The Well-Armed Woman,"

Sterling, CO chapter

After a long winter and a rainy spring, it’s finally feeling like summer, which means it’s time to get out to the gun range. While many of you readers may have been to the range before, a lot of you haven’t or perhaps it’s been a while since you’ve gone. Today, I’ll walk you through what it’s like to go to the range.

The first step to hitting the range is to pack. I like to use a small duffel bag as my range bag but there are many types of bags that work well. The essential things to pack are guns, ammunition, ear protection, and eye protection. Some other useful things to pack are a magazine loader, first aid kid, cleaning kit, extra set of clothes, and a training log. I’ll also pack targets and a staple gun if I’m shooting paper targets and not steel.

When I pull into the range I first observe the people who there (if there are any). If there is any horseplay or people appear to be breaking any basic firearm safety rules I’ll leave. There is no point in placing myself in danger if I can avoid it. Once I determine the range is safe I’ll try to find a spot that is furthest away from other people.

Once I find my spot I’ll put on my eye and ear protection and take my range bag to the firing line. I’ll take out my gun cases and ammunition and place them on the firing line, being sure to keep the guns pointed down range at all times. It is important to only case/uncase firearms at the firing line. Once I have my guns and ammunition ready I’ll put my range bag in a safe place behind the firing line so it’s not in my way.

If I’m at a range where there is a range safety officer I’ll ensure that the range is hot and that I can start loading my guns. Never handle weapons when there is a cease-fire. If there is no range safety officer and there are other people, it’s important that communication is clear between everyone about the range being hot or there being a cease-fire.

When it comes time to shoot, I find it helpful to have a detailed plan of what I want to accomplish that day, especially with ammunition being so scarce. Throughout my shooting practice I’ll focus on smooth trigger pulls, good sight alignment, and of course, having fun. In the next month or two I’ll write an article about ideas for shooting drills and how to maximize your training sessions on the range.

After I’m done shooting I’ll unload my firearms by making multiple visual and tactile checks to make sure they are clear. I’ll then put them in their cases while they are still on the firing line, still pointed downrange. Then, I’ll put all of my gear back into my range bag. Next, I’ll clean my area by sweeping and gathering any spent casings or trash. I always try to leave the range better than when I found it! Finally, I’ll use a wipe to clean the lead off of my hands.

When I get home, I’ll unpack my range bag and clean my guns. I’ll be honest, sometimes my guns have a few outings to the range before I clean them. As a side note, our TWAW chapter has our annual gun cleaning workshop in December but if anyone needs help cleaning their guns before this we are more than happy to help! After I’m done cleaning my guns I store them in a safe place and take a shower to wash off any lead or other particles from the range or cleaning process. Everyone’s range day experience may look a little different, but this is what works for me!

To find out more about shooting at the range, range etiquette, personal safety, gun ownership, and other methods of self-defense, please join us for The Well Armed Women (TWAW) Sterling chapter meeting on June 19th from 9 am to 11 am at Logan County Shooting Sports complex, 12515 Highway 61/2nd Amendment Way off Highway 61 Sterling, CO. Come join us for a fun day on the range!

TWAW Shooting Chapters exists to educate and empower women in a safe and non-threatening environment for their effective and responsible self-defense with a firearm. Prospective members are welcome to attend their first meeting before joining. If you would like to become a member, you can join online at www.twawshootingchapters.org. Women over 18 interested in learning more can contact Jennifer Everhart at [email protected] or visit TWAW Shooting Chapters, Inc. website at www.twawshootingchapters.org.  You can also like us on Facebook @twawsterlingcolorado or stop by Boondocks Army Surplus at 324 N 4th Street in Sterling and pick up a flyer.