Michigan Shooting Centers Safety Rules
Michigan Shooting Centers' number one concern is making sure our state-of-of-the-art shooting ranges are also Michigan's safest. We require strict adherence to all shotgun and rifle/pistol rules! In accordance with the regulations of the Michigan DNR, the Island Lake Shooting Range cannot permit shotguns with a barrel length less than 26 inches on the clay target range. The only exception is youth model shotguns.
For shotgun use, you may only shoot shot sizes 7 1/2 through 9 at clay targets. This means that you cannot shoot buck shot or game loads (for example 6 shot). If you are caught on the range shooting improper ammunition, it will be confiscated and further actions may be taken by MSC management.
All shooters should read and thoroughly understand all safety rules below:
Clay Target Shooting General Rules
1. Eye and ear protection is mandatory at all times, both for shooters as well as spectators.
2. The action on your gun must be able to be seen visibly open at all times while not shooting.
3. Your gun should never be loaded unless you are in the shooting position, and it is your turn to shoot.
4. The gun's muzzle should always be pointed down-range while loading.
5. You must point your muzzle in a safe direction while carrying it (barrel at ground or barrel in the sky).
6. In no circumstance shall more than two shells be loaded into your gun at any given time. The only exception to this rule is during our 3-Bird events.
7. All shotgun ammunition must be between 7 1/2 and 9 shot size, with the drams of powder not exceeding 3 1/4. Steel shot can also be used, if shot size is 7 or smaller (larger in shot number).
8. All shotgun barrels must be 26 inches in length or longer in order to shoot. The only exception to this rule is youth style shotguns.
9. Do not attempt to fix any machines, call the club house, or notify an employee only.
Rifle/Pistol Shooting General Safety Rules
1. Range hours have been established to ensure safety and protect your range against vandalism. Shooting is allowed only when range personnel is present.
2. Firearms must be unloaded and cased in order to enter the range.
3. Shooters under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult.
4. Firearms can only be uncased at the shooting stations on the firing lines. They must be cased prior to leaving the shooting station.
5. Shooters must keep their firearms pointed in a safe direction at all times.
6. Firearms may be loaded and discharged only at an established shooting station.
7. Only approved targets may be used; no human form silhouettes or metal targets. Paper targets with a bull's eye pattern or a depiction of legal game may be used. Shooters must provide their own targets.
8. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at the ranges. Individuals under the influence of alcohol are not allowed to shoot.
9. Shooters are responsible for keeping their shooting area in order and properly disposing of all targets, trash and shell casings.
10. For Your Protection - All shooters must provide and wear eye and ear protection.
Rifle/Pistol Shooting Rules
1. Up to six rounds may be loaded in the magazine and chamber, with a minimum of three seconds required between shots. Range officers may suspend this permission, based on his/her discretion, when conditions exist that may compromise the safety of the shooters and others.
2. The 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges are designated for hand-held rifles, muzzle loaders (not exceeding .70 caliber), pistols, revolvers and shotguns with slugs only.
3. Paper targets must be fastened to backboards. Targets may not be set up part way down range.
4. Firearms can only be loaded at and discharged from established shooting stations on the firing line and under the discretion of a range officer.
5. Always keep muzzles pointed downrange.
6. During a target check, shooters must move behind the yellow line and are not permitted to reenter the shooting line until the range command, "All clear down range, you may commence fire. Commence fire." is given.
7. Firearms may not be taken down range.
8. Armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, explosive, or steel core ammo, including bi-metal jacket ammo, is not allowed. If there is any steel in the projectile, it is not allowed and/or if the projectile is attracted to a magnet it is not allowed.
9. No open flame or lighted smoking materials on the firing line or transfer table. Smoking and cell phones are allowed in the designated areas only.
10. All shooters at the Island Lake Shooting Range shall provide and use Empty Chamber Indicator flags (ECI). Each benched firearm should have an ECI inserted in the open action during the target change.
11. Muzzle-loaders must have all necessary tools to operate and assemble and disassemble their firearm. This includes breach plug removal tool, cleaning supplies, nipple removal tool, nipple cleaning tool, bullet extracting tool.
For shotgun use, you may only shoot shot sizes 7 1/2 through 9 at clay targets. This means that you cannot shoot buck shot or game loads (for example 6 shot). If you are caught on the range shooting improper ammunition, it will be confiscated and further actions may be taken by MSC management.
All shooters should read and thoroughly understand all safety rules below:
Clay Target Shooting General Rules
1. Eye and ear protection is mandatory at all times, both for shooters as well as spectators.
2. The action on your gun must be able to be seen visibly open at all times while not shooting.
3. Your gun should never be loaded unless you are in the shooting position, and it is your turn to shoot.
4. The gun's muzzle should always be pointed down-range while loading.
5. You must point your muzzle in a safe direction while carrying it (barrel at ground or barrel in the sky).
6. In no circumstance shall more than two shells be loaded into your gun at any given time. The only exception to this rule is during our 3-Bird events.
7. All shotgun ammunition must be between 7 1/2 and 9 shot size, with the drams of powder not exceeding 3 1/4. Steel shot can also be used, if shot size is 7 or smaller (larger in shot number).
8. All shotgun barrels must be 26 inches in length or longer in order to shoot. The only exception to this rule is youth style shotguns.
9. Do not attempt to fix any machines, call the club house, or notify an employee only.
Rifle/Pistol Shooting General Safety Rules
1. Range hours have been established to ensure safety and protect your range against vandalism. Shooting is allowed only when range personnel is present.
2. Firearms must be unloaded and cased in order to enter the range.
3. Shooters under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult.
4. Firearms can only be uncased at the shooting stations on the firing lines. They must be cased prior to leaving the shooting station.
5. Shooters must keep their firearms pointed in a safe direction at all times.
6. Firearms may be loaded and discharged only at an established shooting station.
7. Only approved targets may be used; no human form silhouettes or metal targets. Paper targets with a bull's eye pattern or a depiction of legal game may be used. Shooters must provide their own targets.
8. No alcoholic beverages are allowed at the ranges. Individuals under the influence of alcohol are not allowed to shoot.
9. Shooters are responsible for keeping their shooting area in order and properly disposing of all targets, trash and shell casings.
10. For Your Protection - All shooters must provide and wear eye and ear protection.
Rifle/Pistol Shooting Rules
1. Up to six rounds may be loaded in the magazine and chamber, with a minimum of three seconds required between shots. Range officers may suspend this permission, based on his/her discretion, when conditions exist that may compromise the safety of the shooters and others.
2. The 25, 50 and 100 yard ranges are designated for hand-held rifles, muzzle loaders (not exceeding .70 caliber), pistols, revolvers and shotguns with slugs only.
3. Paper targets must be fastened to backboards. Targets may not be set up part way down range.
4. Firearms can only be loaded at and discharged from established shooting stations on the firing line and under the discretion of a range officer.
5. Always keep muzzles pointed downrange.
6. During a target check, shooters must move behind the yellow line and are not permitted to reenter the shooting line until the range command, "All clear down range, you may commence fire. Commence fire." is given.
7. Firearms may not be taken down range.
8. Armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, explosive, or steel core ammo, including bi-metal jacket ammo, is not allowed. If there is any steel in the projectile, it is not allowed and/or if the projectile is attracted to a magnet it is not allowed.
9. No open flame or lighted smoking materials on the firing line or transfer table. Smoking and cell phones are allowed in the designated areas only.
10. All shooters at the Island Lake Shooting Range shall provide and use Empty Chamber Indicator flags (ECI). Each benched firearm should have an ECI inserted in the open action during the target change.
11. Muzzle-loaders must have all necessary tools to operate and assemble and disassemble their firearm. This includes breach plug removal tool, cleaning supplies, nipple removal tool, nipple cleaning tool, bullet extracting tool.
