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DeSoto Rifle & Pistol Club Member Safety Orientation Briefing (eff. 11/2025 CS)
A. Fundamental Firearms Safety
1. Always treat every gun as if it is loaded
2. Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
3. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
4. Never point your gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
5. Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use it. (Action open, cased, or holstered.)
B. Safety and Operational Rules for Range Usage1. Desoto Rifle & Pistol Club is a private club and is accessible to members and guests only. Always keep the gate closed and locked. During scheduled matches open to non—members, and on days when the Range Safety Officer is on site, the club may elect to leave the gates open, unlocked.
2. In case of an accident call 911, send someone to unlock the front gate to direct EMS. Our address is 7171 Compress Rd., Como, MS. 38619. A bleed kit is on the left wall of club house; an AED is on the right wall just outside the RO Office.
3. The Club’s facilities are operated as a “cold range”. All exposed firearms may not contain any ammunition except when they are actively being used on a “hot” firing line or shooting bay.
4. Before a firing line or shooting bay is “cold,” all shooters on the firing line or shooting bay must acknowledge the “cold” call. As shooters wearing hearing protection may not hear the command, double check to assure that all shooters on the firing line or shooting bay acknowledge the “cold” command. The firing line or shooting bay, however, is not fully “cold” until all shooters have properly secured their firearms by unloading them, removing all ammunition, leaving the breech open, engaging the safety, and then placing the firearm down (pistols may be holstered, bagged or boxed) on a shooting bench or shooting mat and stepping away from the firearms. Chamber safety flags should be used if available.
a When the firearm is properly secured and the shooter is away from the firearm, each shooter must call, “line clear.” When all shooters acknowledge “line clear”, the firing line or shooting bay is “cold” and shooters may proceed downrange to set or change targets.
b When the range is “cold” all non-shooters must remain behind yellow line away from firearms, shooting benches must remain forward of yellow line, blue shooting bench is for handicap shooters
c Firearms may not be touched or handled during “cold” range periods, no exceptions. Cased firearms may be unloaded from a vehicle at these times but must remain cased until the firing line or shooting bay goes “hot.”
d When a shooter returns to the firing line or shooting bay area, he or she should shout “range clear” to indicate they are out of the active firing area. When all shooters are “range clear”, it is “range hot.” At this point, shooters may return to their firing positions and resume handling firearms.
5. Targets must be directly north of the shooter. No cross-firing.
a Arrange targets so that bullets strike the North impact berms after hitting the target. ALL SHOTS FIRED MUST REMAIN ON CLUB PROPERTY.
b Club target frames are provided for member convenience. Targets should be mounted to the frames so that bullets impacting the targets do not also impact the target frames. Target frames should be at sufficient height so that rounds passing through the target impact the berm at the far end of the range. Use the PVC pipe sections (if provided) to raise target frames as necessary to achieve the desired height to assure bullets strike the impact berm.
c Only Club owned target frames should be stored in Club facilities. If you bring a target frame, you must take it with you when you leave. Set up your target frame so the target area height ensures the bullet impacts the North Berm.
C. GENERAL RULES FOR ALL AREAS1. The RSO has final authority over the application of these rules. Continued violation of these rules will be assessed by the Board of Directors in accordance with VIOLATION OF RULES below.
2. The DeSoto Rifle & Pistol Club Como range facility is a private club and is accessible to members and guests only. Always keep the gate closed and locked when a Range Officer is not on site.
a. Exception: Authorized organizers of scheduled training or other events open to the public may choose to leave the gate open and unlocked during the period in which the training or other event is occurring.
3. All firing lines and shooting bays will be kept open and available for usage by Club members in good standing, and their guests, as much of the time as is practical.
a. Areas may be closed for special events and maintenance. These closures will be published on the club’s web site and Facebook page in as far in advance as is reasonably possible.
b. During competitive matches or other similar events, one or more qualified Club members must serve as a Match Director / Safety Officer. Specific range rules may be modified by the Match Director as required for the event.
c. Shooters must always be considerate of others using the range.
d. If there are multiple shooters using a firing line or shooting bay at the same time, each shooter is limited to one bench and one lane, and no shooter may discharge a firearm from a distance further than other shooters in the same bay.
4. Members must wear their membership cards in a manner that is always visible to other members when on the range.
5. Hours of operation are Sunrise to Sunset, Como time, every day of the year. The top of the Home Page of the Club website shows the approved hours for shooting for each day of the year.
6. The following are always specifically prohibited at the range:
a. Use or consumption of alcoholic beverages.
1. Exception: The Board of Directors may allow the consumption of light alcoholic beverages (beer or wine) in specific areas during special, scheduled events by people participating in those events.
b. Possession of illegal or recreational drugs.
c. Usage of fully automatic firearms, bump stocks, Force Reset Trigger (FRT), and binary triggers.
1. Exception: The Board of Directors may allow fully automatic firearms with specific approval (demo, match, etc..)
d. Tracer, incendiary ammunition, armor piercing or penetrator rounds.
e. Tannerite or any other type of exploding, reactive or moving target.
f. "Bump, quick draw/fast draw, instinct firing (firing without aiming)” or drawing from a shoulder holster; drawing from a drop-leg holster or waist holster is permissible providing the gun is not discharged until the pistol is completely out of the holster and finger off the trigger until a proper sight picture is established, with the muzzle pointed at the target.h. .338 Lapua and larger centerfire cartridges (Very High Energy rounds) are prohibited eff Nov 2023.
NOTE: examples: 35 Whelen, 45-70, 50 cal black powder etc.. are acceptable. The RO has a list in the office of acceptable calibers. Contact board@desotogunrange if you have questions. eff Nov 2023.
i. “Horseplay” of any kind at any time.
j. Any comments or behaviors a member may reasonably interpret as belligerent, hostile or threatening.k. Offensive targets such as those depicting pictures or images of elected officials and/or prominent people, religious or ethnic imagery, etc.
7. The only steel or reactive targets permitted on ranges are those belonging to the Club. Member owned metal or reactive targets are not permitted.
8. No hunting is allowed on range property.
9. Members may bring as many as two (2) non-member shooting guests each visit. The member assumes responsibility for the actions of their guests while at the Club.
10. Driving on the Range:
a. Small vehicles such as Golf Carts, ATVs, and similar may be driven into any “downrange” area. Do not drive down range if the range or bay is still wet from recent rain/snow.
b. Personal vehicles must always remain on designated drive lanes and parking areas. They may never be driven onto the range firing areas except as authorized by an event organizer to facilitate event setup or teardown.
c. Anyone driving on club property must have a valid driver's license, and adhere to 17 mph
11. Two range flags must be flying before firing may commence. The range flag at the northeast corner of the 600-yard Long Distance Range must be up and a range flag must be raised on the pole nearest the firing line or shooting bay to be used before any firing may begin.
12. Eye and ear protection are required for all minor children under the age of 18.
13. Every member and guest is responsible for cleaning up his or her area after firing. All centerfire metallic cartridges and shotshells must be picked up as well as any other trash such as empty food packaging, beverage containers, ammunition boxes, etc. Please be sure the lid is properly secured to the container when you put it back on.
14. When not actively shooting, secure and store your firearm(s) so they are not accessible to anyone else.
15. No firearm training without board approval. Proof of insurance and range use fee must be provided.
16. WHERE PERMITTED – In Pistol Bays ONLY, No shooting from standing position, greater than 25 yards.
D. SPECIFIC RULES FOR PISTOL BAYS1. DRPC is not a Tactical Training range. One second between shots or a reasonable rate of fire is required. The RSO will monitor rate of fire and may ask the member/guest to slow the rate of fire down.
2. The RO will ask you to move to the 50 yd GP range if you plan to sit and shoot a rifle from the back of any of the pistol bays.
3. No rifles larger than a .22LR allowed in pistol bays 1 & 2 – RO approval is required to use an AR15 in pistol pays 1 & 2 but only when Bay 3 is occupied, and the member wants to stand and shoot.
4. Bay 3 is 50 yds deep. Standing and shooting must be from 25yds or closer. ABSOLUTELY no shooting while standing beyond 25 yds.
5. Pistol Bay 3 may be used for all calibers of pistols and rifles, not to exceed .30 caliber for rifles.
6. In addition to the Sporting Clays course, shotguns are only approved in pistol bay #3 and only approved on the approved backer. Steel & all other heavy metal shot/Turkey loads may be used on the target frame – Bring your own cardboard and remove it once done patterning your loads.
E. SPECIFIC RULES FOR 200/50 YARD GP RIFLE RANGE1. The only allowable distances to install target frames on the 200/50 Yard GP Rifle Range are 100, 150 & 200 yards. 50 yds GP range will have permanent target backs
2. No crossfire into the 200 yds GP while seated at 50 GP, and no crossfire while seated at 50 yds GP into 200 yds GP.
3. When the 200 yds GP range goes cold, the 50 yd GP range must go cold also, and when the 50 yds GP goes cold the 200 yds
must go cold also. When the range is “cold” all non-shooters must remain behind yellow line away from firearms, shooting benches must remain forward of yellow line on the 200 yds GP, on the 50 yds GP, shooters must remain at the rear of the covered firing line.
4. When using 200 yds shot marker, the 2 left benches will be designated for shot marker use
5. No pistols or shotguns are to be used on the 200/50 Yard GP Rifle Range. RO approval is required to use a marksman’s pistol on the 50 yds GP range, but it must be shot while seated, using a rest, and not freehand.
6. No shots may be made on the 200/50 Yard GP Rifle Range while standing. All shots must be made sitting, kneeling, or prone.
7. Rapid fire shooting on the 200/50 Yard GP Rifle Range is not allowed. There must be a minimum of a 3 second gap between each shot.
F. SPECIFIC RULES FOR 600 YARD RIFLE RANGE
2. The 600-yard Long Distance Rifle Range is open only to members who are qualified.
a. Exception: Non-Certified Shooters are permitted to use the area during club sanctioned matchesb. Active Members - Please see an RSO or 600 qualified Match Director for certification
3. The 100 yds and 50 yds sighter boards on the left and right of the 600 yds range are for MATCH PURPOSES ONLY. These sighter boards are not for the general 600 yds qualified membership to use for load development. Damage incurred, disobeying this rule will be assessed by the Board of Directors in accordance with VIOLATION OF RULES below.
4. Only qualified 600 yds members who are also qualified for the Shot Marker and/or the Mover may check out and utilize these systems. Training for these systems is on the range website. Once training is reviewed, get with an RO to get checked out. Deliberate abuse of and damage to either of these systems will be assessed by the Board of Directors in accordance with VIOLATION OF RULES below.
5. Going down range to shoot from the 300 & 400 yds berms is strictly prohibited to the general 600 yds qualified members; you must shoot from the 600 yds firing line. Exception to this is during competitive matches or other similar events, as required for the event.
6. Shooting freehand, standing is strictly prohibited. The rifle must be supported on a prop or bench.
7. Pistols are strictly prohibited on the 600 yds range – See the Pistol Bays and the 200/50 GP rules for pistol shooting rules.
8. Shotguns are strictly prohibited on the 600 yds range.
G. SPECIFIC RULES FOR SPORTING CLAYS RANGE
1. Eye and ear protection is required for all minor children under the age of 18.
2. The Shotgun patterning board is located to the left and behind the 5-Stand – Steel Shot is Absolutely prohibited.
3. Do not shoot at any Clay Thrower, Battery, or Shooting Stand.
4. Do not touch any thrower ever! – the throwers are spring loaded under high tension and can cause extreme damage or even death if they actuate while near the thrower.
5. Every member and guest is responsible for cleaning up his or her area after firing. All shotshells must be picked up as well as any other trash such as empty food packaging, beverage containers, ammunition boxes, etc.
6. All shooters must shoot from within the shooting stations, to include the 5 Stand.
1. Violation of these rules may subject the violator to disciplinary action as decided by the Club’s Board of Directors, who act on behalf of the Club’s Membership. This may include fines, expulsion from the DeSoto Rifle & Pistol Club and/or criminal charges could result if the situation dictates and where appropriate.