01608 690 866

Oxfordshire Shooting School - Homepage

Some safety tips and advice

These are some of the most important safety notices you must observe:

  • Guns are to be unloaded when not in use and either carried open over the arm, covered in a slip, or with a safety flag installed in the breach, as appropriate between stands
  • Under no circumstances must cartridges enter the gun unless you are at a stand and ready to shoot
  • Do not move between stands with a loaded gun
  • Never put a loaded gun down or into a gun slip
  • Treat all guns as if they may be loaded at all times
  • Safety catches should be applied whilst on the stand and only set to the off position when the gun is mounted to the shoulder
  • Make sure you are using appropriate ammunition for the gun you are using - If in doubt do not shoot and ask one of our staff for advice
  • In the event of a misfire, due to the danger posed by a possible delayed firing or 'hang fire', keep the gun pointing in a safe direction for at least 30 seconds before carefully unloading avoiding exposure to the breach
  • If your gun malfunctions in an unsafe manner stop shooting, unload and contact a member of staff for assistance
  • Never mix ammunition of different calibres as a smaller cartridge than the calibre you are shooting with may fall into the barrel causing an obstruction. If the gun is reloaded and shot with the obstruction in place then the gun will burst at the barrel, causing possible severe injury or death
  • Do not point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot and be aware of your muzzle safety. Only clays may be shot, no other targets are permitted
  • Use hearing and eye protection at all times whilst on the ground
  • Never leave your gun or ammunition unattended

Stay within the path and do not cross barriers. There is a risk of injury from falling shot and broken clays. Straying from the prescribed pathways may endanger the safety of yourself and others.

Use eye and hearing protection at all times whilst out on the ground. Even when you are not shooting the noise from nearby stands may damage your hearing. Eye protection is essential to minimise the risk of injury if struck by shot or broken pieces of clay.

For safety and environmental reasons only fibre / felt wadded cartridges of shot sizes 7 or smaller (higher shot number) are allowed to be used at OSS Shooting Ground. You can purchase cartridges in the lodge or at Francis Lovel & Co.

Shooting takes place outside and the British weather can be unpredictable. We continue to shoot in the rain and it can sometimes become wet underfoot, so please bring appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear.

We are a dog friendly company. If you are bringing your dog please make sure they are well behaved, kept under close control and that you clean up after them. Thank you!

Share this page:

Page last modified: 14 June 2019 at 10:58