Erratta Sheet To Unit 7 11 Jan 05

Unit 7 – Air Rifle and Safety
Marksmanship
Errata Sheet
Chapter 1: Air Rifle Safety and Marksmanship
Lesson 2: Firearm Safety and Safe Range Operation
Rules for Safe Gun Handling
Some MCJROTC units still conduct rifle marksmanship training

with smallbore rifles like the one shown here. (Army and Navy
JROTC units are not allowed to use smallbore rifles.) These
rifles have bolt actions that are opened by lifting a bolt and
pulling it to the rear (right).

Shooting Ranges
1. READY AREA. Most ranges also have an area behind the firing line that
is designated as a preparation or ready area. If there are other shooters
who are waiting their turn to fire, this is the area where they should
remain. If there are spectators, this also is the area where they should
stand or sit. Individuals in the Ready Area must remain in that area and
not go forward to the firing line until instructed to do so by the Range
Officer.
Firing Procedures and Commands
SAFE LOADING PROCEDURE
To load an air rifle while maintaining the highest level of safety, follow these steps:
1. Start with the bolt (action) open. After firing a shot, always open the bolt
(action) as the first step in loading. Do not cock (charge) an air rifle with a
closed action.
2. Cock (operate) the charging lever to charge the rifle with air.
3. Insert pellet in the loading port or breech end of the barrel.
4. Close the bolt (action).
5. Lift the air rifle into position to prepare to fire the next shot. Keep the index
finger on the outside of the trigger guard while bringing the rifle into the firing
position.
SAFETIES
A safety is a mechanical device that blocks the trigger or firing mechanism from
working when it is engaged (safety is on). Many air rifles used in JROTC
marksmanship programs have safeties, but many other target air rifles do not have
safeties. Safeties are made for general purpose guns where there is a possibility that
a gun may be carried loaded. For example, hunters use safeties when they carry a
loaded rifle or shotgun in the field or woods. Safeties are not normally used in target
shooting because the primary ‘safety’ in target shooting is the open action. More
importantly, rifles on target ranges are loaded only on the firing line and only when
they are to be fired at a target so there is never any reason to carry a loaded rifle to
any other location on a range.
Even though engaging and disengaging the safety is not part of normal air rifle loading
procedures on target ranges, your instructor may wish to have you practice with the
safety so you will be familiar with safeties and how they work. However if you do this,
you must understand that engaging a safety does not relieve you of the responsibility
for following all of the rules for safe gun handling.
Additional Safety Rules
1. MALFUNCTIONS. If at any time during a firing exercise, your air rifle fails
to fire or does not function properly, keep the muzzle pointed downrange,
raise your hand so the Range Officer can see it and announce
Malfunction. The Range Officer will then give instructions on what to do
with the air rifle. If the air rifle has a charge of air or is loaded with a pellet,
the air charge must be released and the pellet cleared from the barrel
before the air rifle may be removed from the firing line. Even if the air
charge cannot be released, the bolt (action) must still be opened and the
pellet removed from the barrel. The Range Officer may use a .177 cal.
cleaning rod to remove the pellet from the barrel before the air rifle is
taken off of the firing line.
2. LOADED RIFLE. A loaded air rifle is an air rifle that has either a charged
gas chamber and/or a pellet in the barrel. Your rifle’s air charge must be
discharged and any pellet that is the barrel must be removed before the
air rifle may be grounded or removed from the range. If you still have a
loaded air rifle after the command STOP is given, keep the muzzle pointed
downrange, raise your hand and announce Loaded Rifle. The Range Offi-
cer will give you instructions for discharging your air rifle to unload it. This
may be done by instructing you to fire into an open target backstop or to
fire into a pellet discharge container (PDC).
3. GROUNDED RIFLE. When you bring your rifle to the firing line, you may
be instructed to “ground” it. You may also be instructed to ground your rifle
after you finish firing and it is checked by the Range Officer. Rifles are
grounded so that no one will be handling them while people go downrange
or while relays of firers change. To ground a rifle, be sure the action is
open and that the air rifle is not cocked, does not have a pellet in the bar-
rel and was checked by a Range Officer. The rifle must then be placed on
the floor, shooting mat or a bench at the firing line with the muzzle
remaining pointed downrange.
4. LINE IS HOT/LINE IS SAFE. When conducting firing, the Range Officer

will alternately describe the firing line as being “hot” or “safe.” A firing line
is hot when all persons on the range are in proper locations behind the
firing line and the line is prepared for live firing. A firing line is safe when
all firing has been completed and all rifles are unloaded, checked and
grounded. No one can move forward of the firing line until it is safe.
5. PERSONAL HYGIENE. Lead is a toxic substance that must not be

ingested. Medical research conducted at the U. S. Olympic Training
Center confirms that simple hygiene precautions effectively prevent
individuals who shoot air rifles from ingesting any lead. The rules are
simple: Do not bring any food into the range or consume any food on the
range. Do not bring any drinks into the range unless they are bottled and
can be closed. Wash your hands after handling air rifle pellets (preferably
in cold water). Cleaning the backstop area of spent lead pellets must be
done only by the instructor or another adult.
6. GUN CASES. Air rifles are often brought to the ranges in gun cases that
can be locked for security and are used to transport the rifles. When an air
rifle is taken from its case, the first thing that must be done when the case
is opened is to open the bolt (action) of the rifle. Even if the rifle is lying in
an open case, the action must be open. When the Range Officer gives
instructions for taking air rifles and equipment to the firing line, remove the
rifle from the case with the muzzle pointing in a safe direction. Immediately
control the rifle so that the muzzle points up, then take it to the firing line.
When firing is completed, after your air rifle is checked by the Range
Officer, you may replace it in the case. Only after the gun is in the case
and the case is ready to close, can you close the action.
7. AIR RIFLE STORAGE. After a shooting session is completed the air rifles
must be stored in secure, locked storage. When firing is completed and
your air rifle is checked by the Range Officer, you may be instructed to
bring the rifle to the storage area where your instructor will be in charge of
accounting for and locking up the rifle. Whenever you carry your rifle from
the range to the storage area, be sure to keep the muzzle pointed up and
in a safe direction.
8. AIR OR CO2 CYLINDERS. Some air rifles used in JROTC marksmanship

activities utilize air or CO2 cylinders as a means of propulsion. These
cylinders are safe if handled properly, but proper safety precautions must
be taken. When screwing filled cylinders into air rifles, hand-tighten the
cylinders; do not use a wrench or other tools to tighten them. When filling
cylinders from a master tank, always stand to the side of the cylinder; do
not allow its end or base to point at you or another person. Tighten the
cylinder only tight enough to prevent gas leakage; never over-tighten it.
High pressure air or gas cylinders come with factory recommendations for
periodic inspections; these must be followed.

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Unit 7 – Air Rifle and Safety

Some MCJROTC units still conduct rifle marksmanship training

Chapter 1: Air Rifle Safety and Marksmanship

SAFE LOADING PROCEDURE

3. Insert pellet in the loading port or breech end of the barrel.

4. Close the bolt (action).

4. LINE IS HOT/LINE IS SAFE. When conducting firing, the Range Officer

5. PERSONAL HYGIENE. Lead is a toxic substance that must not be

8. AIR OR CO2 CYLINDERS. Some air rifles used in JROTC marksmanship

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