The following range rules are in place for the safety and well being of all the customers and guests of the Texas Firing Line.
Range Rules 2023
1. SAFETY FIRST! Every shooter has the personal responsibility to make sure that each bullet fired impacts safely in a backstop or berm. Every Member has a DUTY to prevent and report rules violations and unsafe acts to Range management.
2. Range hours are from 8:00 am until sunset, 7 days a week. All shooting must cease at sunset. Note: Sunset does not mean “too dark to see”. Shooters who intend to shoot in the late afternoon are advised to check the Range website for actual Sunset times.
3. Access to the Range is gained through the main gate. Members must use the main gate and park in the designated parking Areas (See Annex A, Site Map). Vehicles must not block the Range Road. The main gate must remain locked while using the range. All members are responsible for maintaining the security of the gate at all times. The only exception to this rule is when there is a brightly colored tag hanging on the gate post notifying members to leave the gate open. These are used by Guns Plus staff & Instructors who are expecting a group. Whenever an Instructor Tag is present on the gate post, do not close the gate.
Members MAY drive to the ranges to unload equipment and MAY park in the Tactical Bays or the range that they are using IF THE GROUND IS DRY. Members may NOT drive to or park in Tactical Bays or ranges when the ground is wet. This is usually anytime within two (2) days following rain in the summer and seven (7) days following rain in the winter. Leaving ruts is a positive indication that the ground is too wet to support a vehicle. Members are advised to walk the road and intended Bay BEFORE driving on it if there has been any rain in the previous week. Members should be aware that their vehicle is considerably heavier than they are. This is especially true in the CHL/LTC Bay which is composed of rock on top of a clay base. Driving in this Bay after a rain will drive the rock down into the clay and render the Bay unusable. Leaving ruts on the Range Road or in any Bay or range will be considered a violation of the Range Use Agreement and will be dealt with accordingly. NOTE: The presence of Blue Barrels blocking the Range Road is a positive indication that the road or Bay is too wet to use. Members may not move or drive around such barrels.
Visitors & guests must always park in one of the two designated parking areas.
4. At no time should the gate be left unlocked while the property is unattended. The last member to leave the range at any time should secure and lock the gate.
5. Members should remember that the range entry road is shared with our neighbors and excess speeds raise a lot of dust and could endanger local children and pets living near the road.
6. All members must sign in upon entering the range and enter the date, time, member number, names of all guests and license number of your vehicle. It is not necessary to sign out. .
7. Eye and Ear Protection: Eye protection must be worn at all times on Range property, and hearing protection must be worn within 50 feet of an active (hot) firing line. (Hearing aids are NOT adequate hearing protection.)
8. Tobacco use is allowed on Firing Line Ranges. Members may use tobacco products in the
Parking area and on the ranges, but not on the actual firing line. Members must discard tobacco products into approved containers only. Anyone discarding cigar or cigarette butts on the ground will be asked to leave the range. In the event that Williamson
County issues a burn ban, smoking will be prohibited on the Range property and notice will be posted on the Range bulletin board.
9. All trash must be removed from the range. This includes ammunition cartons and used targets. Paper & cardboard targets must be removed from target stands. All target debris must be removed from the range. This includes the remnants of balloons, or other frangible materials. NOTE: Empty shotgun shells (hulls) ARE considered trash and must be picked up by the shooter. The ONLY exception to this rule is for the remnants of authorized clay targets.
10. Members may (but are NOT required to) recover their own fired cartridge cases (brass) and that of their guests, however, Members MAY NOT scavenge or harvest discarded brass from the ranges.
11. Firing Line Range Safety Officers (RSO’s) have complete authority over both shooters and spectators on all ranges.
12. Before anyone goes forward of the firing line, all firearms shall be made safe, firearm actions must be open and the firearm completely unloaded. All firearms must be grounded, tabled, racked, cased or holstered. FIREARMS SHALL NOT BE HANDLED when anyone is forward of the firing line. This rule may be superseded at the discretion of the RSO supervising that range.
13. All shooting shall be properly aimed, using a sight picture. There shall be no instinct or hip shooting. A pistol may be drawn from a holster and moved into a position where the sights can be properly aligned and fired. Controlled rapid fire is allowed and is defined as the rate a shooter can fire a firearm while correctly aligning the sights between each shot. This rule strongly supports rule #1.
14. Full auto fire is allowed on the Range, but must be controlled at all times. Sights must be aligned and all rounds must impact the berm. Full auto fire may only be used at distances of 25 yards or less from the impact area of a berm. This rule applies to all full auto firearms, including select fire, burst fire, and other full auto assist or simulation devices.
15. There shall be no use of intoxicants of any kind on Range property before or during shooting.
16. Use of The Firing Line facilities is limited to members and invited guests. Anyone on the property is subject to all Rules of the Range. NOTE: No more than three (3) guests (shooting or observing) per Full Member are permitted on Range property at any one time.
17. Each Full Member shall display his or her Membership Badge while on the range.
18. Guests whether shooting or observing, MUST fully complete and sign a Liability Waiver for each visit to the range. Waivers must be completed and signed and placed, together with guest fee, in the appropriate box PRIOR to entering the range bays.
19. Members under the age of 18 (Associates or Juniors) and guests of any age may fire on the range only when under the direct supervision of a Full member. No more than three adult guests, or more than three Juniors (8-18) may be shooting at any one time under the
supervision of one adult Full member. Children under 8 may not shoot on the range at any
time. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted access to the range property at
any time .
20. Children under 18 are not allowed on the Range premises unless they are under the direct supervision of a Full Member who shall be responsible for them and keep them behind the firing line and out of danger zones.
21. Anyone causing any damage to Range equipment or facilities shall be personally and monetarily liable for such damage. The host Member is liable for damage caused by a guest.
22. The Range shall not be responsible for personal property or equipment left on the Range property.
23. Weapons firing .50 caliber BMG rounds are not allowed to be fired on the range.
24. Armor piercing ammunition should not be fired at steel targets.
25. Shotguns may be not be fired at targets placed on Range owned wooden stands or in the LTC/CHL bay at any time. Shooters wishing to shoot shotguns must provide their own target stands.
26. Fireworks may not be exploded, ignited, burned or otherwise used at the range.
27. Incendiary devices and/or tracer ammunition may be used on Range property only with prior approval of Range management.
28. Target stands must be placed within three (3) feet of the base of a berm. Targets may NOT be placed on the berms, in the range lanes between the firing line and the target area. Targets cannot be angled, but rather must be placed parallel to berms. NO TARGETS MAY BE PLACED DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND ANYWHERE. Shooters wishing to shoot shorter distances must establish and maintain a firing line closer to the targets, do not move the targets away from the berms. Please Note:
Violation of this rule is considered a safety hazard and therefore will be treated as a MAJOR violation in accordance with the Range Use Agreement, paragraph 8.
29. Targets must be paper or cardboard and placed on appropriate backers and stands. Glass bottles, aluminum cans and other such items may not be used as targets. Water filled plastic jugs may be used if placed on a table or other stand. Targets may not be placed directly on the ground in any case. ALL target debris (Jugs, Cardboard, etc) MUST BE REMOVED from the range.
30. Clay Skeet/Trap targets (commonly called clay pigeons) may be used in all Tac Bays except the CHL/LTC Bay. Clay targets may be tossed onto the designated shooting berms, between
target stands and behind the target stand line approximately waist high from the base of the berm and in no case higher than the shooter’s chest. Targets must be tossed from in front of the target stands, and in no case may shooters climb unto the berms to place or remove the targets. Clay targets may only be engaged after they have come to rest on the berm and in no case may be engaged while moving or in the air. Clay target debris should be left on the berm.
31. Members wishing to “sight-in” rifles are required to begin at 25 yards (see rule 28 above). Shooters must establish a “zero” by firing a minimum of one (1), 3-shot group that impacts
the target at a range of 25 yards or closer. This is designed to ensure that follow-on shots at greater distances will impact berms.
32. Juicy fruit, such as pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupe, etc, MAY NOT be used as targets at any time as the residue draws fire ants, flies & bees.
33. All rounds fired must impact into the topsoil or sand areas of the berms. Shooters
may not fire into limestone/caliche areas of the side berms. Shooters may not climb on, dig in, or otherwise disturb the berms. Members are responsible to keep guests and children off of the berms. Rock, regardless of size, should not be moved or relocated.
34. Tannerite or other such BATFE exploding targets have the potential to damage the berms, and therefore may NOT be used on the Range in any amount without prior approval of range management. If approved, such targets must be positioned not less than forty (40) yards from the actual firing line.
35. Personally owned steel targets may be used only with prior approval of Range owners. All such targets must be inspected and bear a “Firing Line Approved” sticker on the rear of the target. Prior to arranging for an inspection, shooters should ensure that the target is of the following type:
a.) Targets must be “Fixed”, i.e. no chains or swivels and incapable of swinging, moving or turning;
b.) Targets must be “constructed” with a 22º angle of incidence to the ground, i.e. the 22º angle must be built in; no propping tilting, swinging, or moving;
c.) Targets must be positioned at least 24 inches above the ground.
36. Steel targets may normally only be used on Ranges C, D & E on the west berm only. All steel targets shall be shot at a distance of 40 meters or more for rifles and 7 meters or more for handguns unless using frangible ammunition.
37. Target residue of any type must be picked up and removed from the range at the conclusion of shooting activities.
38. Range property of any type shall not be removed from the range. This specifically includes, but is not limited to, the white plastic tables located on the CHL/ LTC range. Additionally, these
tables should NOT be moved out of that Bay to any other location on the range. All other tables and chairs should remain behind the firing line and should NOT be used as targets or to hold or prop targets.
39. All Members are herewith notified that the fence surrounding the range, along the road and the parking area is electrified. Members should avoid contact with it at all times. In the event that the cattle contained inside the electric fence should inadvertently enter the range, members are asked, but not required, to contact range management to expedite their return to their designated pasturage.
40. No firing from a prone position on the ground is permitted at any time.
41. In the event of an Emergency immediately take the following steps:
a. Immediately call a cease fire on the range. Ensure that all firearms are unloaded and clear.
b. If qualified to do so, render first aid.
c. Call 911. Inform the dispatcher of your location. Specifically advise them of the address (2560 FM 972) and that the road to the range runs south off of FM 972, 2.5 miles from I-35. Note: Address is printed on the Member Badge.
d. If possible, send someone to FM 972 to wave down emergency vehicles and point them to the location.
e. If helicopter evacuation becomes necessary, use the field west of the 100 yd. range as a Landing Zone area.
f. Fill out and submit an Incident report.
42. In the absence of a Firing Line RSO, shooters are responsible for cooperating to run a safe and efficient range and to obey and enforce all published Range Rules.
43. These Rules may be changed or modified by Range Management at any time. In that event, Members will be notified by email, by posting on the Range web site, and by written
notification posted on the Range bulletin board. Members are advised to check their email
regularly for news, updates & changes. Changes and modifications are effective upon posting.
Members who object to or disagree with changes or modifications, may withdraw from
membership and their annual fees will be pro-rated and returned.