Black Powder Range

About the Black Powder Range

Looking to try something new? Then the Black Powder Range may be the activity for you. Black Powder offers several opportunities to expand your shooting fun…. including traditional muzzle-loading firearms, Cowboy Action, and Black Powder Cartridge.  Muzzleloader matches are held every month.  Cowboy action matches are held each month from  March – June, plus Sept. and Oct. Black Powder Cartridge matches are held each month March through Sept.

There is plenty of activity that takes place at the Black Powder Range and the experienced black powder enthusiasts are always eager to share their knowledge and expertise. We welcome anyone who would like to try a shot or two, shoot a match, or simply see what’s going on to come out on a Sunday morning to join the fun. A list of matches is available in the clubhouse, as well as being posted at the black powder range.  Monitor club emails or our website Calendar for the latest events.

Hope we see you at the Black Powder Range.

Black Powder Range Specific Rules

• Follow all General Rules appropriate for this range.
• Before handling any ammunition, opening any cased firearms, or preparing to load a firearm, shooters arriving at the Black Powder range must first verify that the range is not under a cease-fire condition on either the Black Powder Range alone or joint with the High-Power Range.
• During a cease-fire everyone on the Black Powder range must stand on the down-range side of the yellow line.
• All target changes must be made under a ceasefire of both Black Powder and High Power.
• Once coordinated with the High-Power range, the cease-fire warning light will be used to notify shooters on both the Black Powder and High Power ranges.
• Target changes made within the 25-yard Black Powder enclosed range can be conducted after calling a cease-fire on the Black Powder. In this case, the person must make their travel down the 25-yard lane apparent. Coordination of the cease-fire is not required with those on the High Power range; therefore the warning light will not be used. It is the responsibility of the people entering the 25-yard enclosed range to assure that the Black Powder range cease-fire has been confirmed before crossing the firing line. This exception is only for target changes within the Black Powder 25-yard enclosed range and only under the direction of a Club Range Officer.
• Shooters must use the target position that matches their shooting position. Cross firing is NOT PERMITTED. All shooting is from standing or bench position only. Prone, seated or kneeling positions are NOT PERMITTED.
• Loading of muzzleloaders and black powder revolver/pistols must be done at the loading bench. Items such as chairs or tables at the firing line may NOT be substituted for the loading bench.
• Priming and capping of all muzzle loaders and black powder revolvers/pistols must be done at the firing line.
• All firing must be done from the firing line, (behind the baffle system), or from the designated shooting bench.
• Fouling shots must be made from the firing line with the firearm pointed in a safe direction downrange.
• Black powder revolvers/pistols may be loaded to a maximum of 5 chambers.
• In addition to cap and flintlock muzzle-loading rifles, single-shot black powder style cartridge rifles and lever or slide action cartridge rifles may be shot from the bench or standing position on this range if all the following rules are followed:
  • a. The use of copper jacketed ammunition is NOT permitted.
  • b. Lever and slide action rifles may be loaded with a max of 5 rounds.
  • c. Ammunition used on steel targets must be lead or poly-coated lead and does NOT exceed 1,400 feet per second.
• Cartridge revolvers/pistols shooting reduced, lead, “cowboy” OR “wild bunch” loads can be shot during club events or under the direction of a Black Powder Range Officer.
• Drawing a pistol from or firing a pistol from a holster is strictly prohibited unless being done during an approved pistol match and approved by the match director. During an approved match, holstered handguns will not be permitted outside the immediate area of the match.
• Loading of cartridge rifles and cartridge revolvers/pistols must be done at the firing line.
• During a target change, unopened powder containers will remain closed until the range is safe for shooting.
• Shooting at targets that are located at the specified 100-yard High Power Range back stop can only be done under the direction of a Black Powder Range Officer and only from behind the Black Powder baffle system.
• Shotguns using slugs are only permitted to be shot at paper targets from the bench
  position at the 50 or 75-yard positions. Shotgun slugs are NOT PERMITTED to be shot
  at any steel targets including those permanently hung in 75-yard backstop.
• Sighting-in of in-line rifles using jacketed ammunition must be done from the bench
  position and may ONLY be done using paper targets at the 50 or 75-yard positions.
  Jacketed ammunition may NOT be shot from any other position and may NOT be shot at
  any steel targets including those permanently hung in the 75-yardbackstop.
• Standard paper targets like those sold in the clubhouse are permitted on this range. The
  use of human silhouette targets is NOT permitted. Plinking of objects is NOT permitted.
• Only Steel targets that are owned by Delaware County Field & Stream Assoc. (club
  targets) may be used on the Black Powder range. Members may NOT use their own steel
  targets.
• Shooters using any load or ammunition that a Club Range Officer deems too fast or to be
  damaging any targets, backers or club property will be stopped from shooting until the
  load can be determined safe for use. Determination of a safe load may include the shooter
  being required to chronograph the load to determine the velocity.
• During all cease-fires, all cap or flintlock firearms must be racked and made safe by
  being emptied of all powder, priming caps, or priming powder. All cartridge
  revolvers/pistols must be emptied and shown safe by having their actions or gates OPEN.
  All single-shot, lever or slide action rifles must be emptied and made safe by having their
  actions OPEN. Cartridge rifles and pistols that have been made safe by being emptied
  and having their actions or gates open may remain on the shooting bench during target
  changes.
• Due to the use of black powder, smoking is NOT permitted on the Black Powder range.
• Multi barrel muzzleloaders must be loaded single barrel only, multi barrel loading is
  NOT permitted.