Club Policies & Procedures

Range Suitable Attire Policy

The primary goal of the Bankstown Chatswood Rifle Club (BCRC) is to maintain a safe, respectful, and professional sporting environment for all members while engaging in shooting activities. This attire policy is established to ensure that all members present themselves in a manner that aligns with the values and standards of our club and promotes a positive image within the broader community.

General

Safety First: All members must prioritise safety when selecting attire for the range. Clothing should not interfere with the safe handling of firearms, and members must adhere to the range safety rules at all times.

Appropriate Attire: Members are expected to wear clothing that is suitable for the shooting range environment. Inappropriate clothing is defined as any attire that, in the reasonable judgment of the BCRC Executive Committee, may bring the sport and/or the club into disrepute. This includes, but is not limited to, clothing with offensive language or images, provocative attire, or any clothing that goes against the values and principles of the club and the sport of target shooting.

Military-Style Clothing must not be worn unless you are a current or past member of the Australian Defence Forces. In consideration of our commitment to respect current and former servicemen and women, members must not wear military-style clothing, including but not limited to ghillie suits, surplus military uniforms (whether camouflage patterned or not), and any other item of clothing that a reasonable member of the public would consider is military related.

Promotion of a Positive Image: Members should strive to present a positive and responsible image to the public and fellow club members. Clothing choices should reflect a commitment to being a responsible and law-abiding citizen.

Special Considerations

Event-Specific Attire: Certain events or competitions may have specific dress code requirements. Members participating in such events should adhere to any additional attire guidelines communicated by the event organisers.

Enforcement & Consequences

Education First: The club will prioritise education and communication to ensure that all members are aware of and understand the attire policy.

Member Cooperation: Members are expected to cooperate with the attire policy and make adjustments to their clothing choices as needed.

Committee Discretion: The club committee reserves the right to address attire violations on a case-by-case basis. Consequences may include verbal reminders, temporary suspension, or expulsion from the club, depending on the severity and frequency of violations.

Review & Amendments

This policy will be subject to periodic review to ensure its continued effectiveness and relevance. Any proposed amendments will be communicated to the membership for feedback before being officially implemented.

Metropolitan District Rifle Association

Summary of Shooter’s Responsibilities

Shooters must be familiar with their responsibilities under the ANZAC Rifle Range Standing Orders and the NRAA Standard Shooting Rules. Below are some of the main points.

• Shooters are bound by the rules governing the licence conditions of the ANZAC Rifle Range, called the Range Standing Orders. A copy is kept on the mound, and you should familiarise yourself with them.
• Familiarise yourself with the firearms legislation: the Firearms Act 1996 and the Firearms Regulation 2017.
• Our peak body, the National Rifle Association of Australia, publishes the Standard Shooting Rules (SSRs), which detail how competitions are conducted and what equipment is used. Read the SSRs (PDF).
• The Fullbore Range is operated by the Metropolitan District Rifle Association (MDRA), with which your club is affiliated.
• Shooting commences around 9:30am and concludes at 4:30pm in winter and 4:45pm in summer. The ranges rotate each week between 300m, 500m, 600m, 700m and 800m. The current week’s range is on the MDRA website.
• Our range has a Reduced Danger Area Safety Trace, which means all projectiles must strike the back stop and Range Officers exercise a high degree of range discipline. If you do not have a known elevation for the distance you are shooting, use the zero range to establish correct elevation.
• A check scorer must be present before anyone can shoot, one per shooter. It is the shooter’s responsibility to ensure they have a check scorer. The check scorer oversees safety procedures and must be in the immediate vicinity, observing the shooter.
• Before starting the first stage of the day, a vigorous cycle test must be performed, witnessed by the check scorer.
• Bolts should only be closed when the rifle is on the shoulder and pointing towards the target.
• Rifles must be cleared by the check scorer or another third party before leaving the mound, and an empty chamber indicator (ECI) inserted. ECIs must be in place at all times when the rifle is not being used.
• Beginners and P650 shooters must be closely supervised, one on one. This is a legal requirement.
• Record your attendance in your club register before you shoot.
• If there is a rifle malfunction, call the Range Officer. Unfired rounds must not be removed with a cleaning rod. The RO will authorise the use of a stuck case remover, kept in the mound trailer.
• The range is closed when there is a red flag on the mound and the butts/mantlet flag is raised (next to the target shed). The range is open when the red mound flag is away from the shooting mound and the butts flag is down.
• When a cease fire is called, shooters must unload and wait for the Range Officer’s directions.
• Obey the Range Officer’s directions. Range Officers monitor compliance with these rules.
• Understand your legal obligations for ensuring safety, and your personal liability for failing to uphold them.
• The maximum permitted rifle calibre is 8mm. Magnum cartridges are not permitted. Muzzle brakes must not be used on the mound where other shooters are present; they may only be used on a target with no adjacent shooters.
• Magazines and bolts are not to be attached to rifles unless shooting. Magazines must be detached from the rifle when retiring from the mound.
• Only match grade ammunition is permitted. Hunting ammunition can damage the electronic targets.