Safety & Etiquette: What to Do at a Shooting Range

Here's what everyone else is doing at the shooting range, why they're doing it, and how to blend right in.

posted on August 12, 2021

Smith & Wesson's Ken Scott has been shooting and training shooters for a long time, and he knows as well as anyone that one of the most intimidating things for beginners is that first trip to the shooting range. We can read all of the articles and fully understand how gun safety works, but we still walk onto that public range for the first time and realize that we don't really know what to do next. 

In this video from S&W's GUNSMARTS series, which was created specifically to support new shooters in their journeys, Scott will walk you through the sequence of events that should take place when you arrive on the range. From when to put on your eye and ear protection, to how to set your gun down correctly, to how to communicate with your fellow shooters, this video has the step-by-step order of activity that will have you blending right in with the rest of the range in no time flat. 

Latest

Ruger 1022 Carbon Fiber 4
Ruger 1022 Carbon Fiber 4

Ruger Releases Ultra Lightweight 10/22 with Carbon Fiber Barrel Sleeve

Manufactured in Ruger’s Newport, N.H., facility, the rifle features a custom look and feel, and is the lightest 10/22 in the Ruger line.

Javelina: America’s Newest Big Game Animal

In December 2024, the Boone and Crockett Club announced it was creating a new big game category for javelina.

How to Make the Shots You Never Want to Take

There are some shots you hope you never have to make but are sometimes forced to—like follow-up shots in hunting. This is how you pull them off.

Mindfulness and Safety

Follow these strategies to build consistent habits, which will make you and those around you us safer.

Is the .32 ACP Cartridge Making a Comeback?

Although it’s not a powerhouse round, the .32 ACP offers distinct advantages when compared to pocket-sized rimfire pistols.

Kick Off the 2025 GAOS with the NRA Foundation Sportsmen's Auction

Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 NRA Great American Outdoor Show. Here's a great way to get this event started!

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.