Cocked revolver and cease fire called-What’s the drill?

[bushmaster1313]

Range safety question

If you are at the range firing a revolver single fire and the hammer is cocked when the range officer calls "Cease Fire" what is the drill?

 

[326MOD10]

I am no Rangemaster but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

My thought would be keep your revolver pointed downrange and raise your other hand to notify the Rangemaster.

At that point it would be up to them but if you don't feel comfortable doing it have them slowly drop your hammer.

I would feel comfortable enough that at the cease fire call I would keep handgun pointed downrange and slowly drop the hammer.

But if the Rangemaster was wound tight or you don't feel comfortable see the first option.

 

[Hair Trigger]

Don't fire the gun, get your finger out of the trigger guard; keep it pointed downrange and raise your off hand to get the attention of the RSO. When he responds, tell him the gun's status and ask if you can lower the hammer.

 

[glenwolde]

I'd lower the hammer (finger off the trigger of course) and clear the weapon. I have done just that on more than one occasion. Don't over-think it. If I was your RSO that's what I'd tell you to do. It's the only course of action regardless.

 

[Alk8944]

Why is every one making it so complicated?

Keep the gun pointed down-range. Place thumb on hammer spur and pull hammer to the rear and hold. While holding the hammer pull trigger and while holding the trigger back carefully lower the hammer to the rest position. Lay gun on table/bench. There is no reason to get the RSO involved. Practice doing this with the gun unloaded a few times before having to do it at the range!

If I was the RSO and someone asked me how to make their gun safe I would take it from them, make it safe, hand it back to them and tell them to put it away and leave the range. You have no business being on a shooting range if you do not know how to operate your gun. I have been a RSO and Police firearms training instructor and this is exactly how I have done it!

It is exactly like a car! Do you drive a new-to-you car without knowing how to apply the brake, parking brake, use turn signals first?

You are using a dangerous weapon, learn how to use it before even loading it.

glenwolde, how is he supposed to lower the hammer without pulling the trigger? Doesn't work that way!

 

[glenwolde]

Why is every one making it so complicated?

Place thumb on hammer spur and pull hammer to the rear and hold. Pull trigger and carefully lower the hammer to the rest position. Lay gun on table/bench. There is no reason to get the RSO involved. Practice doing this with the gun unloaded a few times before having to do it at the range!

glenwolde, how is he supposed to lower the hammer without pulling the trigger? Doesn't work that way!

I meant for no longer than necessary to release the sear. I was less than clear.

 

[326MOD10]

Why is every one making it so complicated?

I don't think I made it complicated at all.

Laid out two options and everybody may not run their range the way you do.

And I come here to ask questions maybe so I can learn how to use it. But if I get talked down to when I do I may just stop asking.

This used to be a friendly place where a fellow could just ask a question. But anymore it seems like those days are going away

 

[Azav8or]

I'd lower the hammer (finger off the trigger of course) and clear the weapon. I have done just that on more than one occasion. Don't over-think it. If I was your RSO that's what I'd tell you to do. It's the only course of action regardless.

Truly curious. How do you lower the hammer without touching the trigger?

 

[Rodan]

Keep the gun pointed down-range. Place thumb on hammer spur and pull hammer to the rear and hold. While holding the hammer pull trigger and while holding the trigger back carefully lower the hammer to the rest position.

The trigger should be released as soon as the hammer is clear of sear engagement. Finger then straight along the frame, and lower the hammer under control. Holster, or clear weapon and set on the bench, depending on range rules.

When the trigger is released, the tranfer bar mechanism will prevent the gun from firing if the hammer falls uncontrolled. (at least if we're talking S&W or most other modern revolvers).

If the trigger is held to the rear, and the hammer escapes control, the gun may fire if the hammer falls with enough energy.

Decocking a revolver is part of the clearing process necessary at a cease fire. No need to ask special permission to accomplish this task.

 

[VictorLouis]

My private club opens up to the public on weekend mornings for 4-5 hours. There are several paid range-staffers there during the public time, for obvious reason/s. I've been there to shoot many times during those hours. Staffers give a 3-min warning over the P.A. system for the 'cease-fire'. Then, they clear and check the line before allowing folks to go forward for target maintenance.

When that particular cease-fire command is given, there are many times a shot or two that rings-out in the 2-3secs after. No one goes down to that shooter and calls them out. It's just sort-of expected. After such pause, instructions continue on..."All weapons are to cleared, with actions open, and step-back behind the red line away from your shooting table".

I think there is quite a clear distinction between what I described, vs. a LOUD, Panicked, Stressed-out, command of CEASE-FIRE. That said, I would de-cock and open the revolver immediately in such an instance.

 

[s&wchad]

Cocked revolver and cease fire called-What's the drill?

The safest way is to place your non-shooting hand thumb between the frame and the hammer while easing the hammer down. Once the sear is released, you take your finger off the trigger, get your thumb out of the way and fully lower the hammer. It's easier done than said.

I work as a range officer at our club. It's all about communication... Different scenarios require different commands and shooters are briefed when they arrive. "Cease fire" means immediately stop shooting. The RO's will gladly clear a gun for a shooter who isn't comfortable doing it. That command isn't used very often.

For a typical target check, we instruct them to shoot what they have in the gun, place the guns on the bench with the actions open and step back behind the safety line. Once we've determined that all guns are safe, we release them to check their targets. They're also instructed not to approach the bench or handle a firearm for any reason, until we tell them to "commence firing".

Other situations require an immediate "CEASE FIRE" and that command is repeated firmly. We instruct them not to shoot and to clear their actions. We've had deer, dogs, turkeys and an idiot maintenance worker on a tractor pop out of the woods near the backstop berm.

 

[Tom S.]

At the public state range I frequent, the range officer announces:
"Fire what you have in weapon, do not reload. When you have fired off what you have, leave the weapon pointed down range with action open on your bench. Step back behind the yellow line."

It takes a little more time than the standard "cease fire" command but allows shooters to finish if they were shooting a string of shots without having to unload then reload and try to start where they left off.

As a side note, I have shot at s&wchad's club several times and he does an excellent job.

 

[mike4sigs]

Why is every one making it so complicated?

Keep the gun pointed down-range. Place thumb on hammer spur and pull hammer to the rear and hold. While holding the hammer pull trigger and while holding the trigger back carefully lower the hammer to the rest position. Lay gun on table/bench. There is no reason to get the RSO involved. Practice doing this with the gun unloaded a few times before having to do it at the range!

If I was the RSO and someone asked me how to make their gun safe I would take it from them, make it safe, hand it back to them and tell them to put it away and leave the range. You have no business being on a shooting range if you do not know how to operate your gun. I have been a RSO and Police firearms training instructor and this is exactly how I have done it!

It is exactly like a car! Do you drive a new-to-you car without knowing how to apply the brake, parking brake, use turn signals first?

You are using a dangerous weapon, learn how to use it before even loading it.

glenwolde, how is he supposed to lower the hammer without pulling the trigger? Doesn't work that way!

You might have been that Wound tight range officer evryone was talking about I see your point but on the othier hand If wound up range officer # 2 was in charge he might have us leave the Range for doing so.
And i also think it would be a timing matter.

 

[glenwolde]

Truly curious. How do you lower the hammer without touching the trigger?

As I said, my answer was insufficiently detailed. This is one of those things that most of us do without much thought and unfortunately I typed my answer in the same way.

In detail: With a cocked revolver pointed down range, thumb the hammer back to full stop. This will release the pressure on the sear and avoid a sudden release of energy that might surprise the shooter.

Press the trigger and slowly allow the hammer to come forward. After a few degrees of arc (10? 20?) the hammer will be far enough forward the sear won't catch. Release the trigger at this point. That will allow the hammer block/transfer bar to do its job and not allow the firing pin to contact the primer.

What you want to avoid is allowing the hammer to come down while fully depressing the trigger the entire time. This will allow the firing pin to contact the primer. Something goes wrong and "BANG".

My attempt to simplify the above with "keep your finger off the trigger" failed to convey the proper message. My apologies.

 

[pharmer]

The trigger should be released as soon as the hammer is clear of sear engagement....

That's how I was trained. Can't say I have fired a D/A revolver in the S/A mode in 40 years though. Joe

 

[AJ]

I would just lower the hammer and clear the weapon. However, most of the Yahoos that use our ranges are scary! Those folks need to have a range officer do it for them. Have spent to much time watching the range officers attempting to teach them and it makes one wonder how they get through life.

 

[ladder13]

At every range I have used, public and private, we were allowed to finish what was in the gun.

 

[Rule3]

CEASE FIRE MEANS JUST THAT! CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

Not keep shooting the 10 rounds left in your gun!


Ceasefires are used whenever all shooting must stop, whether it is because time's up or because a potential problem has arisen. Whenever the RSO's attention must be away from the firing line, he or she will call a ceasefire. Whenever someone needs to go downrange for any reason, a ceasefire is called. Ceasefires are also called when it's time to post, change or retrieve targets.
However, the RSO is not the only person who can call a ceasefire. Anyone who spots a potential problem should call "Ceasefire!" The RSO will repeat the words and see to it that all firing stops immediately. If you aren't sure what's happening, it's okay to call a ceasefire. It's better to call a ceasefire and be safe than not to call one and be sorry.
Ceasefires are used in all kinds of situations—not just when it's time to change, post or retrieve targets. Perhaps a person has inadvertently wandered out onto the firing range, or perhaps a shooter in the point next to you has become ill. It's your duty to call a ceasefire so that the RSO can take control of the situation and provide a solution or direct others to provide assistance if necessary.
During a ceasefire, there should be no handling of firearms. The key things to remember are:
1. Chamber is empty and ammunition source (magazine) is removed.2. Action is open.3. Hands off!4. Step away from the firing line.
Before anyone goes downrange, the RSO will do a visual check to see that everyone has stepped away from the firing line, and then ask, "Is everyone clear?" Everyone else on the line should also make this visual check, because safety is everyone's responsibility.
Clear means that all shooters have made their firearms safe, that no one has a gun in his/her hand, and that there will be no handling of firearms until permission is given. Then, and ONLY then, may anyone go downrange.
When the ceasefire is over, the RSO will ensure that no one is downrange before stating, "The range is going hot." This alerts everyone that the range is shifting from a ceasefire, but it doesn't mean that shooting may begin. You must wait until the "commence firing" command has been given before you can shoot.

 

[Onomea]

I am no Rangemaster but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

My thought would be keep your revolver pointed downrange and raise your other hand to notify the Rangemaster.

At that point it would be up to them but if you don't feel comfortable doing it have them slowly drop your hammer.

I would feel comfortable enough that at the cease fire call I would keep handgun pointed downrange and slowly drop the hammer.

But if the Rangemaster was wound tight or you don't feel comfortable see the first option.

My opinion is that this is a good response to the question.

Don't know what do do?

Ask the RSO by raising your hand while keeping the weapon pointed downrange.

And I think an RSO who kicked a guy off the range for doing this would be a jerk who ought to be reported to management so they could inform him to improve his attitude.

 

[AJ]

Our range gives us a heads up to not reload and fire only what is in the gun. Once the range calms down from shooting, they call cease fire.

When I ran ranges I would give a preparatory command before calling cease fire. If I only gave the command "Cease Fire", I meant the shooters had to stop shooting as something was wrong (usually an accident of some sorts).