A Junior Shooter's Guide to Air Rifle Safety

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering air rifle safety rules, firearm anatomy, range commands, and range operations based on the Civilian Marksmanship Program junior shooter guide.

Muzzle

The forward end of the barrel where the pellet or projectile exits the gun when fired.

Action

The working mechanism of a gun containing the firing mechanism, opened and closed by a bolt or cocking lever to load and unload the rifle.

Trigger

A lever projecting out of the bottom of the action that releases the firing mechanism when pressure is applied.

Trigger Guard

A protective metal or plastic band surrounding the trigger to prevent it from being pulled unintentionally.

MAT

An acronym standing for Muzzle-Action-Trigger, which identifies the three primary rules for safe gun handling and the sequential order in which they must be applied.

Safety Flag

A bright orange or colored weed-trimmer cord ($0.065\text{--}0.095\,\text{in}$ in diameter) inserted into the barrel so that $4\text{--}6\,\text{in}$ project from each end to demonstrate that the action is open and the barrel is unloaded (formerly called a CBI or Clear Barrel Indicator).

Safety (Mechanical)

A mechanical device that blocks the trigger or firing mechanism when engaged, designed primarily for general-purpose or hunting guns rather than target shooting.

Firing Line

A painted stripe or tape line ($2\text{--}3\,\text{in}$ wide) marked on the floor at a distance of $10\,\text{m}$ from the targets that shooters and their equipment may not cross or touch during firing.

Firing Point

A rectangular space measuring approximately $1\,\text{m}$ wide by $2\,\text{m}$ long located behind the firing line, assigned to an individual competitor.

Ready Area

The designated space situated behind the firing line where spectators and competitors waiting for their relay must remain.

Safety Barrier

An outer perimeter wall or obstruction securing the range area forward of the firing line to prevent unauthorized entry while firing takes place.

Range Officer

The designated supervisor in charge of the range who conducts shooting activities and issues all formal range commands and safety instructions.

Relay

A group of competitors assigned to shoot on the firing points of a range at the same time.

LOAD

A standard range command given by the Range Officer authorizing competitors to charge their air rifles, insert a pellet, and close the action.

START

An international standard range command informing competitors that they may begin aiming and firing at their designated targets (equivalent to COMMENCE FIRING).

STOP

An urgent range command requiring all firers to immediately halt firing, open their rifle actions, and await instructions (equivalent to CEASE FIRING).

UNLOAD

A command given following a stoppage; any competitor with a pellet still chambered must raise a hand, state "loaded rifle," and await clearance directions.

Pellet Discharge Container (PDC)

A container packed with paper or soft material used to safely fire and discharge a pellet when an air rifle remains loaded after the command STOP.

Grounded Rifle

An unloaded rifle lying flat on a shooting mat or bench with its action open and a safety flag properly inserted.

Line is Clear

A status declaration by the Range Officer indicating all rifles are grounded with safety flags inserted and all firing has ceased, allowing people to proceed downrange.

Loaded Air Rifle

An air rifle that contains a pellet inside the breech end of the barrel.

Emergency Safety Officer

The responsibility undertaken by any shooter or spectator to immediately intervene and correct an unsafe gun condition, such as a closed action or improperly directed muzzle.

Target Air Rifle Velocity Limit

The maximum muzzle velocity standard in CMP-sanctioned air rifle matches, specified at or below $600\,\text{ft/s}$ ($500\text{--}600\,\text{ft/s}$) firing $0.50\,\text{g}$ ($8\,\text{grains}$) lead pellets.