Pistol Range

About the Pistol Range

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Bullseye Pistol has been a shooting sport at the club since 1942. Over the years, as the sport’s popularity has expanded, the pistol range has received — and continues to receive — many enhancements.  However, safety and fire discipline remain the primary principles of the range’s operation. It has a total of 27 shooting lanes. As you enter the covered range, there are 14 lanes to the right that extend 15 and 25 yards. This area is for all first-time shooters. On the left side, there are 12 lanes for pre-qualified shooters to shoot out to 50 yards. Shooters can purchase the required pistol board (wooden frame with replaceable cardboard) that is for sale through the club office.

You can become familiar with the basic range commands that can be found here:  

Only square/ round targets may be affixed to your pistol board. Human-like or silhouette targets are not permitted.

There are many recreational competitions held during the year, such as Action Pistol, Hostage Pin, Steel Plate, and Fun shoots. There is also the summer night Bullseye League and Steel Plate League.

Our range also serves as a competition bullseye range featuring a turning target mechanism to host NRA 2700 registered matches.

The fun and challenge of pistol shooting is waiting for every pistol enthusiast at the DCF&S Pistol Range.  Bring your A-Game and Join Us!

Pistol Range Specific Rules

1. Follow all General Rules appropriate for this range.

2. When entering the range, walk down the right, 25-yard side and pick an unused lane. If the line is hot, stage your handguns and magazines and prepare your target board. If the line is safe, place everything on the seating bench, prepare your target board and hang it. Do not cross or reach across the yellow line until the range is declared hot. Don’t forget to sign in.

3. Only Rimfire and Centerfire pistols firing pistol caliber rounds are permitted. Pistols firing rifle calibers may only be used on the High-Power Range. A handgun sold as a pistol with a short extension or buffer tube at the rear is considered a pistol if it is shot like one – arms extended. If any part of the extension touches the torso, it is considered a rifle and must be shot at the High-Power Range.

4. All handguns must arrive and depart in rigid or semi-rigid cases that completely enclose the handgun. Handling a naked handgun anywhere other than the shooting table is prohibited. This includes holstered pistols. Handguns may only be moved while enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid cases.

5. Muzzles of uncased handguns must always point downrange. No more than two (2) uncased handguns may be on the shooting table at any given time.

6. Wearing a holstered handgun is prohibited except as part of the uniform of an on-duty Police Officer. This exception does not permit the handgun to be drawn or fired.

7. Drawing a pistol from or firing a pistol from a holster is strictly prohibited except at an approved pistol match when approved by the match director. During an approved match, holstered handguns will not be permitted outside the immediate area of the match.

8. While the range is HOT, shooters may load up to five (5) rounds in the cylinder or magazine and commence firing. Shooting may continue until a line change is called. Once called, open all cylinders, lock slides back, remove mags, insert empty chamber indicators and step behind the yellow safety line. The RO or acting RO will inspect all pistols before calling the line SAFE. The red strobe will be turned on and it is safe to go down range. If you are repairing a target, have everything you need on the seating bench. You may not reach across the yellow line when the line is safe.

9. No firearms may be handled anywhere while the line is safe.

10. When everyone has returned, the RO will check to see no one remains down range. If clear, they will turn off the strobe and declare the line HOT. You may then resume shooting.

11. Leaving an unattended, loaded pistol, even with the safety engaged, is not permitted. A loaded firearm is never to be elevated to a position that would allow a shot to be fired above or below the backstop.

12. In the event of a misfire, the shooter must remain in position with the handgun pointed at the berm for at least thirty (30) seconds. After thirty seconds, the action may be opened, and the misfired round extracted. Place the misfire and any dud ammo in the red container mounted on the wall. DO NOT PUT LIVE AMMO IN THE TRASH CANS.

13. All magnum centerfire pistols shall be fired only in lanes 24 through 27, and not before noon on Sunday.

14. The left, 50-yard range may only be used by those who have qualified and have been issued a qualification membership card. To qualify, a shooter must place ten (10) rounds into the black center of an official NRA B-16 bullseye target placed at 25 yards and witnessed by a Range Officer. Firing may be done one-handed or two-handed. When you qualify, the RO will sign and date your target, then send you to the office for a new, qualified membership card. If you qualify with a .22 caliber pistol, that is all you may shoot on the 50-yard side. If you qualify with a 45, then you may shoot that, or any lesser caliber on the 50-yard side. Any gun with a barrel of 4” or shorter must be qualified separately, regardless of any previous qualifications.

15. Each shooter is required to leave the area clean for the next shooter. That includes picking up empty brass.

Targets and Target Boards.

16. Shooters may buy target boards from the club or construct one to club specifications. Allowable dimensions are posted on the Pistol Board in the clubhouse and on the wall of the Pistol range. Target boards must be placed so that all rounds fired travel through the target and into the backstop, and NOT the ground or baffles.

17. Targets shall NOT include human silhouettes or pictures or renderings of humans or animals. Steel targets may be hung at the 25-yard line in lanes 16 through 19. You must request these from an RO, and the RO must remain present while steel is shot.

18. Multiple paper targets are permissible when placed along the horizontal centerline of the board. Vertical stacking is not permitted.

Allowable Ammunition.

19. All straight walled pistol calibers firing lead (lead, coated, plated, jacketed, JHP) or solid copper projectiles are permitted. Armor piercing, steel core, steel tip and tracer ammo is forbidden. Bottlenose cartridges are NOT permitted, except for the following: 30 Luger, 30 Mauser 32-20, 38-40, 44-40 and 357 Sig (magnum lanes only). If you have an offbeat bottlenose pistol cartridge not on this list, seek approval from the CRO before using.

20. Multiple projectile ammunition for pistols, such as shotgun shells, are permitted at 15yds only, in the magnum lanes, 24-27.

Exceptions and Special Conditions.

21. PCC (Pistol Caliber Carbine) and Rimfire Rifle shooters may use lane 1 on the 50-yard side for sighting in. No Range Officer approval or presence is necessary. All club and pistol range rules must be followed. For those not familiar, they are posted on the wall above lanes 13 and 14. All PCCs and rimfires must arrive and depart cased with the bolt closed and an empty chamber indicator inserted into the chamber. Casing and uncasing may only be done at the shooting line with the muzzle pointed down range. Only straight walled pistol cartridges and 357 Sig are permitted. Regulation pistol boards (available at the office) or magnetic popsicle holders with 17” x17” cardboard backing must be used on the 25 and 50-yard lines only. Casing the PCC or Rimfire while making the line safe is not required. However, the bolt must be closed on an empty chamber indicator inserted into the chamber. During a line change, make sure the person calling the line knows you are going down to the 50-yard line. DO NOT assume they are paying attention.