Shooting Range Helpful Tips
First time to the shooting range and not sure what to expect? We'll cover rules, what to do, and indoor/outdoor ranges to make your trip safe and a little less intimidating.
PPT Founder. NRA Pistol Instructor. USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 Competitor. 250+ articles
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Well, you bought your new gun.
You’ve done a bunch of dry fire practice and have a good handle on how your gun works. There’s only one thing left to do...off to the gun range!
But you might be a little unsure of what to expect, etiquette, and how to keep safe. That's where we come in!
Table of Contents
Mindset
There are a few things you should know before you head out to the range. Your very first trip to a range can be a bit intimidating, if not outright scary. I fully admit to having some cold sweats...
Don’t hesitate to ask one of the employees any questions you might have. Trust me, they’d rather answer a beginner’s question than have to worry about the repercussions of a mistake.
Even if you're out on the range already!
Whether you’re renting, accompanying someone, or bringing your own guns, here’s some information to make your trip to the shooting range a little more enjoyable.
General Shooting Range Tips
Every shooting range has its own set of rules, but here are some general tips.
- Listen to the Range Officer (RO).
- Follow the 4 Firearm Safety Rules:
- Bring eye and ear protection. You can get started with our Best Hearing Protection article!
Our favorite beginner electronic ear pro is our very own ShellShock Protection EXO PRO with gel cups, developed from our years of experience on the range.
- Sunglasses and prescription glasses are generally ok, but check out our Best Shooting Glasses to find some excellent dedicated options.
Just like we did for ear pro, we developed our own ShellShock Protection SWITCH glasses based on our collective shooting experience. These glasses sport a proprietary fog-resistant coating and are ANSI Z87.1+ Safety rated.
- Most will allow you to bring in your own ammunition for your own guns only. If you're renting a gun, you'll probably have to purchase the marked-up ammunition the range sells. Check out our Best Places to Buy Ammo Online for some savings.
- Some ranges have additional restrictions, such as no steel-core, tracer, or armor-piercing ammo. These types of rounds can cause fire hazards or ruin targets and backstops.
- If you aren’t shooting, stand 1 to 2 yards behind the shooter.
- There will usually be a bright red/yellow line in front of the shooting table. Do not cross it unless the RO says it is ok during a ceasefire.
- There might also be firing rate restrictions, such as no rapid fire or rapid fire that is limited to double-taps only.
- Most will also allow small children who can physically handle a firearm. Please keep an eye on your kids at all times!
- Pregnant women are advised not to go since there’s no hearing protection for the unborn, in addition to lead exposure risks.
- Check the range’s rules for spent brass casings. Some will not allow you to keep them since they collect and sell them.
- Costs can vary, too. Some places charge one price for all day while others charge hourly.
For more on specific gear to bring to the range, check out our Essential Range Gear list.
Phew, that's a lot of tips --- get ready for some more!
Gun Rentals
Some shooting ranges offer rentals of guns. However, there might be some age limits (18 for shotguns and rifles and 21 for handguns).
Renting is a great way to check out different styles and calibers.
Even before you ever buy your first gun, see if any of your local ranges rent guns and go give it a shot.
Keep in mind that these guns are usually maintained just enough to keep them working (if that). They are going to be a bit on the dirty and abused side. Still, it’s a cheap way to try some different guns out.
If you aren’t 100% sure how the gun operates, ask an employee. On the range with live ammo is not the time to figure out how it works.
In the meantime, you can start with our Beginner's Guide to Guns.
Curious Case of Gun Cases
You'll want some sort of case for your gun --- don't just carry it in out in the open!
While the original manufacturer box or plastic case is fine, you may want something a bit nicer that can fit different guns or multiple guns. We've got you covered in our Best Gun Cases and Gun Bags.
Also, I’m going to type this slowly and in bold letters to make absolutely sure the point is made...do not, under any circumstances, carry a loaded gun into the range.
Unload your gun; make sure it’s unloaded. Double and triple-check that it’s unloaded before you put it into the case before you leave your house.
Gun ranges don’t mess around with this type of thing.
Go With The Flow
Here’s a high-level walk-through of what to expect from the moment you walk through the front door.
Some things might be different depending on your range, but this is essentially what is going to happen on your first trip:
- Make sure you have your gun unloaded and cased before you go in.
- Go up to the counter and pay the range fee. You can also buy some paper targets and ammo if you need it. You may also have to sign a liability waiver.
- Put on your ear and eye protection, and then head into the range itself. Some places will walk you in and usher you to a bay. Other ones just hand you your receipt for the fees, point to the door, and tell you, “have a good time."
- Set your stuff down on an empty bay. Go ahead and unpack your guns and mags and supplies. Keep your gun pointed downrange (“down range” means “towards the far side of the range where everyone is aiming and shooting their guns").
- Somewhere, usually by the door, will be a big stack of cardboard sheets and a staple gun. Take one of your targets and staple it to one of those sheets. You only need one staple per corner. It’s ok to leave your stuff in your bay while you do this. Trust me, no one is going to mess with it. It’s amazing how polite and trustworthy people are when they’re in a small room where everyone is carrying multiple firearms.
- Most indoor ranges have electric target hanger...thingies. They are operated by a switch located inside your bay. Pull the switch in one direction, and the carrier will come towards you. Push it in the other direction, and it goes further away.
- Reel it in, clip your target up, then move it down range. Distances are usually marked on the walls or floor. If it’s your first trip, swallow your pride and start with the 7-yard mark. Work your way to the back of the room over several trips. Outdoor ranges may have specific break times where everyone unloads their guns and walks out to place their targets.
- This is the fun part: Load up your magazines, load up your gun, and shoot.
- When you’re all done, remove your target from the cardboard backing and put it back on the stack you got it from. You can either save or throw away your target; I like to save mine so I can track my progress. Throw away the empty box your ammo came in. Toss off any brass that may have landed on the counter.
- Finally, most ranges have signs saying “sweep spent brass forward” or something to that effect. If you look around, there are usually two or three brooms lying around. Take one and sweep the spent brass to the other side of the counter and away from the area where people are walking. Essentially, leave your bay cleaner than when you found it.
Range Commands
Again, each range varies, but they usually focus on letting you know when it is ok to shoot.
A “hot” range means it is ok to shoot.
For ranges that have “cold” or “ceasefire” range time, the Range Safety Officer (a.k.a RO or RSO) will let you know how much time is left during the “hot” phase. Some ranges will have red lights that turn on to indicate the range is cold.
On ranges that have that have RSOs, that person is your king/queen/emperor/god.
What they say goes, and you are not allowed to argue with them. These people aren’t on some kind of power trip.
Their job, their sole purpose for existing, is to make sure that you and everyone else in the room are as safe as humanly possible. It is a difficult job and one they don’t take lightly. If they make a mistake, if they miss one detail, there’s a chance that someone can get hurt or worse.
Keep that in mind when they’re telling you to do something. That range is their world, and they graciously allow you to shoot in it.
During the transition time when you can go mess with your target set up at outdoor ranges, you will need to unload and lock your actions open.
This means locking your pistol slides or bolt back. Then, step back and have the RSO double-check. He will then allow everyone to go downrange to put up or fix targets.
Some range will also require you to use "chamber flags" which are plastic indicators that show there's nothing in the chamber.
Never handle your guns when the range is cold or when people are downrange! Not even if it is empty!
Indoor Shooting Range Specific Tips
Indoor ranges are usually only around 25 to 50 yards and cater mainly to pistols. Some will allow rifle and shotgun rounds but may have additional ammo restrictions.
You can see above that there are many shooting stations separated by panels. Try to move toward your bench so that your flying brass hits the panels instead of the person next to you.
For just about every gun range, the bays are first come, first serve.
Once you’re there, that bay belongs to you, and the only people who can tell you to leave are the employees. That said, don’t be a jerk about it.
Don’t just set your stuff down, then go for a walk --- claim your bay, prep your target, load up, and fire your ammo.
When you’re all done, pack up, clean up, and exit as quickly as possible so that other fellow gun owners who are waiting may enjoy themselves. Most ranges only have a dozen or so bays so everyone needs to be considerate about things.
If you’re with a large group, try not to bother the shooter. I’ve seen it too many times where the shooter turns around to answer someone and accidentally “sweeps” people with the muzzle of their gun.
There’s also some sort of mechanism for moving paper targets back and forth.
Usually, you don’t have to wait for a cold session. I’ve seen everything from drawstrings to high-end electronic systems. It is usually pretty self-explanatory, but if you are confused, just ask the RSO.
Outdoor Shooting Range Specific Tips
Outdoor ranges tend to be longer than indoor ranges (100 to 1,000+ yards), which allows you to stretch out the legs of your rifles.
Fewer outdoor ranges have rentals since the larger, open area makes it easier for people to leave without something that is theirs.
Outdoor ranges also usually don’t have closed partitions but rather benches or individual stations. Targets can also vary a lot based on the range, but they can include metal targets (ting!) and places to put up paper targets.
Check out the review of my old go-to outdoor ranges (Angeles Shooting Range in Sylmar, CA) to see how they do it.
Pro Tip: Flattery Will Get You Everywhere
There’s something unique about gun owners. We are a very proud group.
We love our guns and love to show them off.
We’re also, for the most part, a generous lot. I’ll give you an example: I was at the range one day, and between magazines, I noticed that the person in the next bay over had a very nice pistol.
He happened to be reloading his mags at the same time, so I complimented him on it.
His reply threw me completely off guard, “Thanks! I love this thing. I’ve got a bunch of others but I usually wind up just shooting this one. Would you like to take a couple of shots?”
This complete stranger was offering me an opportunity to shoot his gun and his ammo.
I politely declined, as I was still new to shooting and was afraid I’d somehow damage his gun. The thing is, this wasn’t an isolated incident.
I’ve had numerous people offer the use of their gun after I’ve complimented their pistol or made friendly conversation. That’s never happened to me with any of my other hobbies.
Final Thoughts
Heading to the range can seem a little overwhelming at times, especially if it's your first time. But it doesn't have to be intimidating.
Make sure your gun is unloaded beforehand, gather your supplies, and just show up and be respectful and you will have a good time.
Want to learn more so you're truly confident at the shooting range? Check out our video Beginner Handgun Course that covers the important stuff, and without the attitude! Love gear? Check out our Essential Gun Range Gear article.
February 2025: Changed top safety glasses recommendation from Wiley-X to the ShellShock Protection SWITCH.