Hello, and welcome to Panther Ridge! We look forward to working with you on your weapons and training experience.

Please read ALL of the information below in its entirety. It will keep you safe and ensure that you have an excellent shooting experience at Panther Ridge.

REQUIREMENTS TO SHOOT AT PANTHER RIDGE

  • Required Apparel
    • At a minimum a t-shirt
      • No tank tops
      • No low cut t-shirts or blouses (brass burns are NO fun)
    • Pants/Shorts
      • Full pants preferred
      • Cargo pants/shorts with pockets allows you to carry more items up and down range
    • Closed toed shoes
      • No flip flops or sandals
  • Required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    • Hat with a brim
      • Hats must have a brim to deflect ejected cases.
    • Eye protection
      • Eye protection will be wrap-around or side panels
    • Ear Protection
      • Ear protection will be plugs and/ or muffs

RANGE ORIENTATION AND SAFETY BRIEF

THE CORE SAFETY RULES:
  • Treat All Firearms as Loaded at all times
  • Muzzle Discipline: Always keep your muzzle pointed in the safest direction and never intentionally cross anything you are not prepared to shoot.
    • A safe direction is one where NO injury and only minor property damage could occur if an unintentional round is fired.
    • “Laser Rule”- Imagine your handgun has a laser beam extending from the muzzle and whatever it touches could be shot.
  • Trigger Finger: Always keep your trigger finger straight on the frame of the gun unless the muzzle is pointed at something you are prepared to shoot.
    • The trigger finger is only placed on the trigger when coming on target just before firing. When not firing, place your trigger finger straight on the frame of the weapon. If the trigger finger is held on the outside of the trigger guard, rather than on the frame a convulsive Hand Grip could cause the trigger finger to fire the gun.
  • Be Sure of your Target, the Surroundings, and Beyond: While targets on a square range are easily identifiable, threats on the street are often in close proximity or in front of innocent by standers.
OTHER RANGE SAFETY RULES:
  • Safety: It is everyone’s responsibility to keep themselves, and everyone else safe. Safety must be a personal commitment by everyone at all times.
  • Cease Fire: Anytime you observe a potentially unsafe condition developing, it is your responsibility to correct the matter or immediately call a CEASE FIRE. Upon hearing CEASE FIRE, immediately stop firing, remain in position, repeat the CEASE FIRE command, and await further instruction.
  • The Prime Directive: Keep your handgun secured in the holster and your long gun slung at all times unless specifically directed otherwise. This applies to the range and classroom environment and not on the street.
  • Personal Protective Equipment: Eye and ear protection and a hat are required by those on the firing line and those anywhere on the range or on its immediate vicinity.
  • Alcohol and and Drugs: Alcohol, drugs and firearms do not mix: Persons under the influence of alcohol will not be allowed to participate in any shooting exercises. Even non-prescription drugs can impair the shooter’s ability to safely handle or shoot a firearm. If you are taking any prescription or non-prescription drug or there is any physical condition/ problem that should be noted, you must advise an instructor in private before going to the range.
  • No Bending over on the Range: It presents the top of your head to fire, cuts down on your field of vision, and is a poor tactic. If you need something on the ground, take a step back and go into and upright kneeling position and reach for the item(s) while keeping behind the muzzles.
  • No Ammunition in the Chamber: No ammunition is allowed in the chamber of the weapon while you are off of the firing line.
  • Safe Actions: Various training actions (i.e. taking a step sideways after firing, moving to range cover, kneeling to reload) that are conducted on the range are acceptable provided they are safe.
  • Leaving the Firing Line: Advise a Panther Ridge Instructor if you are going to leave the firing line for any reason.
  • All Equipment on the Person: Come to the firing line with all of your equipment. Be as practical as you can.
  • Report Injuries: Report any injuries, no matter how minor, to a Firearm Instructor as soon as possible.
  • Weapons Handling and Receiving: A firearm must be unloaded with the weapon action open before handling a weapon or handing it to anyone or receiving it from anyone. If the weapon is magazine fed, the magazine must also be removed.
  • Smokers: Go outside the gates to smoke and utilize the butt can. If you chew or dip clean up your spit cups and do not keep them around the weapons.
  • Cleanliness: Please clean up the range and leave it better than you found it. Retrieve your targets when you are done for the day.
  • Brass Pickup: We do not expect you to pick up every shell casing, but retrieve what you can and place them in the blue buckets in the range shed.