Welcome to the Holyoke Revolver Club

As a new member, you may have many questions regarding your benefits, as well as your duties and responsibilities. This guide will answer some of the most often asked questions, as well as explaining our rules. In any case, please do not hesitate to ask any club officer or member for information.

Club Rules

1. All shooting by members only. This is the case on the outdoor range. There are legal restrictions that limit outdoor shooting to club members only. We have a visitor policy, explained in detail below, which will allow you to bring a visitor to the club under your supervision.

2. The consumption of alcohol beverages is prohibited. This rule follows common sense! We are very proud of our safety record, and any action that would impair the judgment of a person handling a firearm could ruin our record.

3. Each and every member is responsible for club cleanliness and security. Please lock the door after you enter and exit, pick up after yourself when done shooting, and sweep up empty casings and dispose of used targets. We have no paid janitors.... the job is done by fellow members. Remove all spent shell casings (including .22 caliber), targets and any other trash. If you carried it in, carry it out. There is no provision for storing personal targets or other items at the club.

4. Range building and gate must be locked upon leaving. The security of our club depends on us. In addition, it is suggested that you keep the door locked when inside and on the range. It is difficult to hear a person entering when you have ear protection on.

5. Proper and safe targets must be used. Once again, this is common sense. Broken glass causes a hazard to others, not only as it breaks, but also afterwards when it is lying around. Outdoors, this means providing your own portable target stands. No glass targets are to be used at any time.

6. All shooting will be directed toward established backstops. The ranges, both inside and outside, are provided as a safe place to shoot. Shooting in any other direction endangers yourself as well as anyone around you. On the outside 50-yd pistol range, the only proper backstop is the tires, and any target must be placed so that the bullet hits the tires. On the 100-yd rifle range, the proper backstop is the sandy area at the left end of the range; also, any targets must be placed so that bullets impact this area ONLY. The proper firing line is the raised area at the opposite or right end, as you enter the range. The range was designed for use at the full 100 yards. No shooting is to be done at objects suspended from or propped against trees. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. Also, mowing becomes dangerous when shell casings or other debris are left behind; please pick up after yourself.

7. Shooting on the outdoor range starts at 8:00 a.m. Other shooting times are posted. The restrictions on the outdoor ranges are posted at each range. Outdoor shooting hours are:

8-4 - Nov & Mar, 8-7 - Apr, 8-7:30 - May & Aug, 8-7 Sep, 8-6:30 Oct

No shooting: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, New Years, Mother and Father’s Day

On the 100-yd rifle range (down the road), fully automatic weapons are prohibited.

On the outdoor 50-yd pistol range (at the rear of the club), only handguns and .22 rimfire rifles are allowed.

8. All target material must be removed after you are finished shooting.

9. Only standard velocity pistol ammo and .22 rimfire rifle may be used on the indoor range.

10. The indoor range is available 24 hours per day except for scheduled club or police events. Club events include regular meetings and executive board meetings, held on the first and third Wednesday respectively, and other special events such as pistol league and safety courses, which are generally posted on the bulletin board. From 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. only rimfire ammunition (.22 cal.) may be used. Although we are tucked out in the woods, there are still people living nearby who can be disturbed by the increased volume of heavier loads.

11. All indoor shooting must be done from the firing line. If a closer target is required, the target may be moved closer to the shooter. Only standard velocity pistol ammunition and .22 rimfire rifle may be used on the inside range.

12. Any member found to be acting dangerously or willfully and maliciously destroying

or defacing club property will have his/her membership revoked and will be subject to prosecution. This club exists for the convenience and enjoyment of all members. Membership in the HRC is a privilege, not a right.

12. All members are asked to respect the concept of safety, common sense, and sportsmanship. When you come here to shoot, you can have peace of mind knowing that this is a safe club. Every member has passed the same requirements that you did when joining. Whenever anyone needs to go forward of the firing line, make sure that your firearms are safe, and not being handled. Let’s keep our impeccable safety record!!

Holyoke Revolver Club Visitor Policy

The policy of allowing guest to shoot at the Holyoke Revolver Club was ended by a membership vote at the September 2005 meeting. The new ruling is a VISITOR POLICY with the following rules:

Visitors may not shoot or handle firearms at any time.
Visitors are required to sign in.
Visitors may accompany a club member to the property, but NEITHER party may shoot or handle firearms during the visit. This includes personal protection gun carried by the HRC member.
The HRC member will provide eye and ear protection for the visitor in the event that other members are using the ranges
Visitors may attend regularly scheduled events, meetings and matches.
As part of membership renewal, all HRC members will be required to sign and return to the club a statement attesting to the fact that they have read and understand the visitor, and will adhere to the policy and other club rules under penalty of expulsion.

Junior Members

HRC has a junior membership policy that is explained in the by-laws.

Club Security

All members having a License to Carry are issued a standard key for the gate and a plastic card key for the Club door. It is important that the front door remains locked at all times. If you are using the indoor range it is possible that a non-member could gain access to the Club without your knowledge. When using either the indoor or outdoor ranges, you must sign in and out on the sheets by the front door. If a problem arises, we can then contact a member to see if they had seen any suspicious activity in the area. There are also some doors that are connected to our alarm system, such as the door to the office and the storage closets. These doors, if forced, will activate our alarm system. HRC does not store any firearms and/or ammunition on the property. These areas are used for supplies and paperwork necessary to running the club and maintaining the property.

There is a motion sensor on a light that will activate when you enter the clubhouse. PLEASE TURN ON ONLY THE LIGHTS YOU NEED, and remember to turn all lights off when you leave (including restrooms). Using electricity unnecessarily increases our operating costs, which results in increased dues.

When leaving the property it is mandatory that you lock the gate. As a member, this is your club. Take care of it as your own, and we will all enjoy its use for a long time.

National Rifle Association (NRA)

and

Gun Owners Action League (GOAL)

Although not a requirement for membership, members are strongly urged to belong to the National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners Action League. The club representatives of the NRA can establish or renew your membership at no extra cost to you; in fact the club receives $10 for a new and $5 for a renewal membership, which is used for range improvements.

G.O.A.L. is like a state version of the NRA. They represent all of our interests at the state level. You can join via our club representative or by sending in an application, available at the club.

As a firearm owner (and, especially in Massachusetts), you certainly know the efforts of legislators to limit and restrict our rights. Both the NRA and GOAL are our best front line defense for our rights. You may already belong to one or both of these fine organizations. If not, please consider them.

We have many events throughout the year to enjoy as a shooter. There are fun shoots outdoors for members only, such as candlepin and silhouette matches. Indoors from September to April we participate in the Western Mass. Pistol League. The WMPL is composed of several area clubs that compete weekly against each other in National Match course .22 caliber bullseye competition. We encourage every member to join. Our team has shooters of all ability. Here you can learn to shoot as other shooters coach you. It is certainly a lot of fun for everyone.

Our by-laws are posted on the bulletin board in the clubhouse. You can also find posted there other information concerning club activities. Try to look it over each time you come to the club. If you have any other questions about what is and is not allowed, please ask! WELCOME!!!!!!