Target Shooting

Range etiquette & commands

A firing line runs on a few shared words. Two of them matter most — 'cease fire' and 'cold range' / 'hot range.' Learn those first; the rest is good manners that keeps everyone safe.

Whether you're at a staffed range, an unstaffed range, or shooting informally on private or forest land, everyone on the line has to mean the same thing by the same words. The two commands below come first because they stop people from getting hurt. Learn them before you load.

The command that stops everything

"Cease fire!"

'Cease fire!' means stop shooting instantly — finger straight off the trigger, stop all movement, keep the muzzle pointed downrange (or safely benched), and do NOT load, unload, or keep handling the firearm until the all-clear is given. Step back and wait. Anyone can and should call it the instant something looks wrong — you never need a reason or permission.

Anyone can — and should — call a cease-fire the moment something looks wrong. You never need permission to stop the line.

The command that decides hands-on or hands-off

"Cold range" and "hot range"

'Cold range' means the line stops and every firearm is made safe FIRST — unloaded, magazine out, action open, chamber empty (use a chamber flag if you have one), and set down pointing downrange. Only after all guns are confirmed clear does anyone step in front of the line to change targets. While the range is cold, no one touches, handles, or stands behind a firearm — not even to case it or adjust a scope.

'Hot range' means shooting is allowed again — everyone behind the firing line.

Who runs the calls at a staffed range

At a staffed range, a Range Safety Officer (RSO) runs these calls — follow them without argument.

At an unstaffed range, the shooters agree

At an unstaffed range, the shooters present have to agree on cease-fires and confirm 'is everyone clear?' before anyone goes downrange. Talk to each other; never assume.

Manners on the line

Manners: muzzle pointed in a safe direction (downrange on a range) always, finger off the trigger, never step in front of the firing line while it's hot, don't shoot anyone else's targets or holders, take turns, clean up your brass and targets, no alcohol, and keep kids and new shooters supervised.

Shooting informally? Same spirit

Shooting informally on private or forest land? Same spirit: agree on a safe direction and a cease-fire signal, make sure everyone is clear before going downrange, and keep guns benched with actions open when no one is shooting.

Before you shoot

Official sources and current guidance

The law and the landowner both set limits.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Firearm law is serious and changes by city and county — and ranges, fees, and fire restrictions change too. Check the current rule for where you're standing, lead with safety, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range.

This is a summary — not legal advice. Firearm law carries serious penalties and varies by city and county. Check your local ordinance and current state law, and when in doubt, use a staffed MDC range. In an emergency, call 911.

Heads up: A 'cease fire' is never an argument — when it's called, everyone stops first and sorts out why second. At an unstaffed range there's no one in charge, so confirm out loud that everyone is clear before anyone steps downrange.

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