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Friday Night Steel is intended to be a safe, fun and relaxing way to spend your Friday night. This competition is in its 9th year now and has been growing in popularity every year. Anything that draws away from the goal of having fun in a safe manner is discouraged. To this end, we have summarized the range rules as follows: For questions or clarifications please contact a committee member or the Match Director.

Basic Range Rules

  • We will not tolerate stealing, cheating, fighting, arguing with range officers, unsportsmanlike conduct and unsafe or unruly behavior. Depending on review of the situation by the FNS Committee, this could result in the individual(s) being disqualified from the match and/or possible barring from all future Friday Night Steel events.
  • Eye and ear protection will ALWAYS be worn by ANYONE who enters the range area. There will be no exceptions to this. The committee will attempt to have spare eye and ear protection available for shooters who forgot theirs or for visitors or observers in the range area.
  • We operate a cold range at all times. This means that no loaded firearms are permitted anywhere on the range until it is your turn to shoot and you are under the direction of a timer/safety officer. When you are not shooting your firearms must be unloaded and either holstered or in a container.
  • Any competitors activities determined to be unsafe will result in a match disqualification. The most important rule being to keep the muzzle pointed downrange at all times, no exceptions. Also, handling of firearms is restricted to the firing point and designated "Safe Handling" areas. Magazines, ammunition, and accessories can be handled at any time or place.
  • No person will position themselves in front of the firing line for any reason (i.e. collecting brass) during the match, unless the entire shooting bay is completely cold (no competitor at the line and no firearms at the table).
  • The competitor must start with the gun either in a holster or muzzle on the table and finger off the trigger. All Revolver and Auto division firearms (with the exception of rimfire) will start in the condition in which they would be holstered, whether in a holster or not. This means hammer down on a revolver, autos will be either decocked or have the safety on as appropriate for the type of firearm. If shooting from a holster, hands must be either hanging naturally at sides or wrists positioned above shoulders. No part of the hands can be touching the gun at the "start" when drawing from a holster. If the competitor 'jumps the gun' anytime between the standby call and the buzzer, a 10 second procedural will be assessed.
  • The competitor must finish the course with the gun he starts with. If there is a mechanical failure then the competitor can try to fix it and continue shooting, if the gun cannot be fixed then the shooter must take a DNF (did not finish) for the remaining runs. If no shot is fired in a run and the gun fails to fire for any reason the timer may offer the shooter a "re-start". However, if a shot is fired no re-start can be given, and the shooter must take "misses" for the lost targets. The decision of the attending timer/range officer is final.

Timers and Scorers

  • Only those individuals authorized to score by the FNS Committee will act as timers. Under no circumstances is a new shooter or novice shooter operate a timer unless authorized by a range officer. New or unapproved shooters may act as scorekeepers (writers). It is also the job of the scorekeeper to notify the next shooter in line to "get ready" in order to avoid delays. Scorekeeping will allow newer shooters to participate in the timing and scoring process so they can gain the needed experience. When conducting timing or scorekeeping the individuals must concentrate on the job at hand and avoid distracting conversation or activities. The timer will give commands according to the FNS range rules available from the Match Director. Any deliberate or persistent variation from these commands will result in the timer losing his/her timing and/or range officer privileges.

Accidental Discharges

  • An accidental discharge (or AD) is a serious violation and is defined as the discharge of a firearm before the timer is activated, and/or placing a shot below the top of the railroad ties or above the earthen backstop. A person having an AD will be automatically disqualified from shooting for that match and the situation will be reviewed by the committee. If a holster is being used, the safety (if the firearm has a safety) will be engaged before the firearm is holstered.

Age

  • Due to safety concerns, children below the age of 13 will not be allowed to shoot in the competition. Young shooters between the ages of 13 and 18 will be identified as "Junior Shooters" on their scorecard and must demonstrate their gun handling skills to a Range Officer and be "signed off" before they can compete in an FNS event. Junior shooters must be in the direct presence of a parent or guardian during the event. Adult shooters that haven't fired in an FNS event before will also have to be approved by a range officer before competing.

Handicap Event

  • At the end of the year a handicap event is held and some significant prizes are awarded. The committee has attempted to make this event as fair as possible so any shooter that has competed at least 6 times in a division during the season stands a chance of winning. Any shooter who, in the view of the FNS Committee, attempts to "sandbag" during the year in attempt to gain an unfair advantage for the handicap match will be disqualified. This can be determined by the application of statistical programs and the final determination will be made by the Match Director.

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