RO (CLOCK OPERATOR)   1. First and foremost your responsibility is Range Safety!   Remember, we have a zero tolerance for safety violations.   2. When the shooter steps into the starting area, check for equipment. Try to notice any potential problems: holster position, retention devices, etc. Make sure the area behind the starting box is clear.   3. Check range for proper set of targets, holes patched, range clear.   4. If all is OK, start the range commands. Use ONLY these and say them loud and clear. a. Load and make ready. Shooter can take a sight picture and do whatever he deems necessary to make himself ready to start the stage. Place yourself on the holster side, one step to the rear and to the outside of the shooter. Watch the loading for potential problems. Make sure that the firearm is loaded, safety is on, and a magazine is in the well! When the shooter has holstered, check for eye and ear protection! If the shooter is trying to do more than one thing at a time, make them holster the firearm first.   b. Are you ready? Once the shooter has settled down and has assumed the start position, you may assume he is ready. The shooter has the responsibility to say NO loud and clear. (“Nod your head when you are ready” is NOT a range command.) If the shooter does not respond then assume he is ready.  c. Standby. In three to five seconds after the command, press the start button. Try to be consistent. While the shooter is firing the stage your focus must be on the firearm. Watch for finger on the trigger, muzzle direction, and listen for PIPS/SQUIBS. At any time the shooter can return to a previous shooting area if he so desires. If he does, the RO must watch for muzzle direction.   When the shooter has apparently finished,  d. If you are finished, unload and show clear. Shooter can re-engage if he so desires. e. Gun clear, hammer down, holster. Magazine removed from the pistol, chamber cleared, and the hammer dropped by pulling the trigger. Make sure the chamber is empty! If the finish is a prone/kneeling position, have the shooter make the gun safe (safety on, magazine removed) and place the firearm on the ground, muzzle down range. Then permit him to come to his knees and resume clearing.. If the shooter does this while prone, as long as it is done safely it is OK. Shooter and RO should step away from any props or barricades during the clearing process. On all pistols (including revolvers), the pistol is pointed downrange in a safe direction and the hammer is dropped on the empty chamber (decocking not allowed). If the shooter has a pistol with a magazine disconnector, an empty magazine must be placed into the well to drop the hammer.   When this step is completed safely, then proceed.    f. Range is clear. NO one is to move forward of the line until the cleared pistol is in the holster and this command is given. Give the time to the clipboard operator. Start scoring targets.   Anything you say or do does NOT release the shooter from their responsibility for safety   GENERAL COMMENTS: 1. Range safety is your only concern. Watch the firearm at all times. If you suspect anything is wrong yell FREEZE! or STOP! It is better to err on the side of safety and allow a re-shoot, if necessary. If for any reason you have stopped the shooter, before you do anything else, make the range safe by clearing the firearm and getting the weapon holstered. You may then address the problem. 2. Do NOT start the shooter unless he has assumed the correct starting position. 3. Once the start signal has been given do nothing to interfere with the shooter. Do NOT touch him, talk to him, or advise him, unless specifically asked. Give him room!! If the shooter is a "NEW SHOOTER", talk him through the course of fire if he appears to need assistance. 4. All barriers or vision blocks are hard cover and scored as such. (Full      diameter hit is scored as a miss) 5. If the firearm is dropped, yell Freeze, then clear the muzzle direction before you do anything else. You will then manipulate the firearm so that the hammer is blocked and the muzzle is pointed downrange or in a safe direction, then make the firearm safe. Do NOT let the shooter touch the firearm. You place it in his holster. Dropping a loaded gun is a range DQ! Dropping an EMPTY, safe gun is not, but the RO must still be the only one who retrieves it. 6. You are responsible for everything that happens on that range and behind it. If you make a decision, that’s it. NO arguments are allowed. If the shooter persists in arguing, call the match director, (MD). While you are waiting for the MD, if the shooter still persists, advise him he is approaching un-sportsmanlike behavior. If he continues, DQ him. Remember you are in charge!  7. Any safety violation is a range DQ. That’s on or behind the firing line! Your word is final. The match director will ALWAYS back up the decisions of the RO.  8. If the firearm discharges while drawing, and the round strikes the ground or a prop within 10 feet of the shooter’s position, measured from the front of the shooting box or from his foot position if in a shooting zone, or goes over the berm, it is an automatic range DQ for an Accidental Discharge, (AD). If the firearm discharges while drawing and the round strikes safely into the berm warn him for unsafe gun-handling. During a course of fire, if the firearm discharges, and the round strikes safely into the berm, and the shooter obviously was NOT engaging a target, warn him for unsafe gun-handling. If he was moving, also warn him for movement with his finger on the trigger. Note warnings on the score card. Subsequent warning violations are an automatic range DQ.  9. Any failure of the shooters equipment that prevents completion of the course of fire is a DNF (did not finish). A gun that fires a double, or fires full auto is deemed to be unsafe, and the shooter is stopped and given a DNF for that course of fire. The gun must be test-fired in the presence of the MD to confirm that it has been repaired before the shooter will be allowed to continue the match. There are many other considerations and this is not an attempt to make you qualified range officers. We are only trying to give you some of the basics to help you make our range safer.   Remember we have a zero tolerance for safety violations.   IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE IN OPERATING THE CLOCK (RO), DON’T!!!!           ASSISTANT to the RO (CLIPBOARD OPERATOR)   1. Your primary responsibility is safety, other than that it is to assist the RO (clock operator) 2. When the shooter steps into the shooting box, check to see that the targets are set properly, the scorecard matches the shooter and that the range is clear.   3. Move to the opposite side from the RO. Ensure that the area behind the starting position is clear.   4. When the start signal is given watch that the shooter engages the proper targets with the proper number of rounds, in the correct sequence. Additionally watch for any foot faults or safety violations: finger on the trigger while moving, muzzle direction, etc.   5. When shooter has finished the course of fire, get the time from the RO and record it on the scoring sheet. (If the shooter has a DNF or is DQ’d make the appropriate comments on the scorecard.) Follow the RO and record the scoring, repeating the calls by the RO. Ensure that paper targets are NOT taped until they are properly scored.  6. When scoring is finished and the time is marked on the score sheet, give the score sheet to the shooter and call out the shooting order. You will call the next shooter, the on-deck shooter, and as many brass, tapers, and steel setters as necessary to keep the stage moving. You can then take score sheets from new arrivals and place them at the bottom of the list.   7. As your name, or the RO’s name reaches the on-deck shooter position you should ask for someone at the bottom of the list to take the clock and give the clipboard to the shooter whose name is at the bottom of the list. Everyone has the responsibility to contribute to the safety and smooth operation of the range!  8. If you are unsure of your duties check with the RO.