10 COMMANDMENTS OF SHOOTING SAFETY

Treat every gun as if it were loaded. Keep Muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Never point a gun at anything you do not want to shoot. Always be sure of your target before you shoot. Unload guns when not in use. Never cross a fence or jump a ditch with a loaded gun. Be sure barrel is clear of obstructions. Never shoot a bullet at water or a flat hard surface. Store guns and ammunition separately and in a safe place. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Any time you are on or near the firing line during live fire you will have to have two safety items in place:

Safety glasses Hearing protection

EYE DOMINANCE
Nearly everyone has a dominant eye, just as they have a dominant hand or dominant foot. Select a partner and stand squarely facing that partner two to three arm-lengths apart. One member of each pair needs to be an observer. The other member will be the shooter. Shooters should extend their arms forward with the hands in front of the waist and place one thumb on top of the other one. Keeping the thumbs in place, cross the fingers of the top hand over the fingers of the bottom hand to form a small triangle. Now with both eyes open, extend the arms to eye height and look at the observers nose through the opening. The observer should note which eye they see looking back through the triangular opening. Then, keeping the nose centered in the opening, the shooter should slowly bring the hands back to his or her face. The opening will come to the dominant eye. The observer should watch for switching between the eyes as the hands move toward the face. The shooter should stand square to the observer without leaning, canting the head or squinting one eye. Try it a couple times to confirm you observation, then switch roles and repeat the process.

SIGHT PICTURE & SIGHT ALIGNMENT

Proper sight alignment is obtained by alignment of the front sight and the rear sight. The top of the post on the front sight must be at the same level as the top of the rear sight. The placement of the front sight post shall be in the middle of the opening of the rear sight.

Proper sight picture is the alignment of the front and rear sights in relation to the target. Proper sight alignment is essential for developing a sight picture. Throughout the sighting sequence the eye should remain focused on the front sight. The rear sight and the target will be slightly out of focus. You will also have to learn to position your body to the target so that you are aligned properly when relaxed. This is called the natural point of aim. The instructors will go into more detail at practice.

POSITIONS
There are three positions that are used in 4-H Shooting Sports. Prone Position (laying on the ground) - This is the most stable one. Sitting or Kneeling - Most people use the sitting position because it is more stable. Standing - This is the most difficult one.

RIFLE SPECIFICATIONS (SPORTING CLASS)

Rifles must be a bolt action rifle. Rifles must be capable of leading one round at a time. Rifles must have open sights only. (No micrometer or peep

sights allowed)
Rifles must have an uncovered front post sight. Rifles can have adjustable stocks for length of pull only. No shooting jackets or vest, slings, gloves, mitts, barrel

weights, or similar shooting aids.

TRIGGER CONTROL
Trigger control simply means learning to squeeze or press the trigger without disturbing the sight alignment. Proper trigger control requires that the only change in hand pressure be the straight-back pull of the trigger finger on the trigger. Adjusting the trigger finger placement on the trigger can aid in achieving a straight-back pressure. Proper finger placement on the trigger is important for proper trigger control. An exercise that can help you find the proper placement of the finger on the trigger is, to take a pencil and hold between the finger and thumb of the hand not used to pull the trigger. Wrap the trigger finger around the pencil like it was the trigger. Pull the pencil like it was a trigger. Note the direction the pencil travels. If you have too much finger on the trigger it causes the rifle to pull to one side. If the finger is too close to the fingertip, the rifle will push off to the other side. The proper placement is about half way between the fingertip and the first joint. Once proper placement is achieved you will have to learn to apply slow constant pressure to the trigger so as not to move the rifle off the target. Do not get in a habit of jerking the trigger. You will also learn proper breathing while having proper trigger control. When the sight picture is correct you will take a deep breath, let out about half and hold while you squeeze the trigger. Patience will have to be learned to know when to wait n a shot and try again later.

Rim Fire Rifle Bolt Action

OTHER INFORMATION
TYPES OF AMMUNITION THAT CAN BE USED"
a Rimfire cartridge .22 short long or long rifle b Overall length not more than 1.1 inches c Hollow points, tracer incendiary, or explosive are

not permitted

 d Factory load required

Rifles must be brought to and taken away from the range or to and from automobiles in a case, blanket case, box or other object that completely encases the firearm. A mat may be used to lay and sit on during the shooting event. No horseplay of any kind will be tolerated around the range, at any time, by anyone. Disqualification may occur as the result.

Rim-Fire Cartridge

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