Safety & Etiquette: What to Do at a Shooting Range

Here's what everyone else is doing at the shooting range, why they're doing it, and how to blend right in.

posted on August 12, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Smith & Wesson's Ken Scott has been shooting and training shooters for a long time, and he knows as well as anyone that one of the most intimidating things for beginners is that first trip to the shooting range. We can read all of the articles and fully understand how gun safety works, but we still walk onto that public range for the first time and realize that we don't really know what to do next. 

In this video from S&W's GUNSMARTS series, which was created specifically to support new shooters in their journeys, Scott will walk you through the sequence of events that should take place when you arrive on the range. From when to put on your eye and ear protection, to how to set your gun down correctly, to how to communicate with your fellow shooters, this video has the step-by-step order of activity that will have you blending right in with the rest of the range in no time flat. 

Latest

Deering Ccw Dont 2 Istock 1764000522
Deering Ccw Dont 2 Istock 1764000522

When NOT to Draw Your Gun

If you carry concealed, we hope you’ve given some thought to the circumstances under which you’d draw your gun. But have you thought about when you WON’T?

The Armed Citizen® Reload June 19, 2026

A woman used a revolver she had just purchased to save her husband's life during a violent attack outside their home. 

Kim Rowe Delivers Standout Performances at 2026 NRA National Championships

Rowe earned top honors and multiple podium finishes at both the NRA National High Power Mid-Range Prone Championships and the NRA National High Power Long Range Championships.

New Guns 2026: Ruger Adds More America 250th Anniversary Firearms

Each limited production model in this special collection is distinctly marked with the inscription, "Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty."

Delights for Dad on Father’s Day

Whether Dad is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, avid reloader or simply enjoys spending time outside, here's a selection of products that is sure to please.

4 Gun Sayings That Are Absolutely True … and 3 That Aren’t

There are a lot of cliches and one-liners we throw around in the gun community. Some of them are true, but some are just baloney.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.