WARCOP RANGE SAFETY BRIEFING - Tyne Valley Rifle Club

Warcop C10 “Charlie High”

Tyne Valley Rifle Club | 2026 Issue 2

READ THIS FIRST. Every person attending a shoot at Warcop C10 “Charlie High” — whether shooting or not — must read this brief and sign the attendance register on the day. A summary of the main points will be given at the start of each firing day.

SCOPE. This brief applies to C10 “Charlie High” range only. C10 has its own standing orders designed specifically for civilian shooting clubs.

1. Before You Arrive

Arrival time

Do not arrive at the range before the designated arrival time — usually 10:00. If you arrive early, please wait at the “P-loop” layby on the A66 just before the road to the camp entrance.

Locations

P-loop layby (waiting area): what3words ///eliminate.flattered.chapels
Range gate: what3words ///aliens.manifests.abruptly

Parking

Park behind the firing point, in the area around the range control tower.

Sign in

All shooters must sign the attendance register on arrival.

No tobacco

All Ministry of Defence land is tobacco-free. Smoking and the use of any tobacco product is prohibited everywhere on site, including outdoors.

2. Course of Fire

Firing points

Shooting takes place from the twelve painted boxes at the far right-hand corner of the hard-standing area.

Firing positions

Firing may be conducted from any safe and stable position. The following rules apply to supports:

Shooting tables and benches may be used.
Tables and benches must be commercially made and unmodified.
The RCO will check tables and benches on the day.
Shooting sticks and any improvised support are not permitted.

What you need to bring

Shooters provide their own firearms, ammunition and targets. Club firearms and ammunition may be available, but these must be booked in advance.

3. Firearms and Ammunition

Permitted limits

Maximum calibre: .50” (12.7 mm)
Muzzle velocity: no upper limit.
Muzzle energy: no upper limit (but see High Muzzle Energy below).

High Muzzle Energy (over 10,000 ft/lbs)

PERSONAL FAC ONLY. Firearms with a muzzle energy exceeding 10,000 ft/lbs (13,558 J) — for example, .50 BMG — may only be fired by the person whose Firearm Certificate they are held on.

Long-barrelled pistols and revolvers (LBR / LBP)

LBRs and LBPs may only be handled and fired by the person whose Firearm Certificate they are held on, or by a Registered Firearms Dealer (RFD).

Familiarity rule

You must not handle or fire any firearm or ammunition you are not qualified to use safely. The only exception is when you are receiving instruction under the direct supervision of a person authorised by the RCO.

4. Prohibitions

Ammunition not allowed

Monometallic / monolithic bullets — any bullet made from a single type of metal other than lead.

Only lead, or copper- or steel-jacketed lead-cored ammunition, is permitted.

Tracer ammunition

CHECK ON THE DAY. Tracer ammunition may be permitted depending on weather conditions. Authorisation is given on the day by the RCO. If the RCO does not specifically state that tracer is permitted, assume it is not allowed.

5. Duties and Responsibilities

The RCO is in charge

FINAL AUTHORITY. The Range Conducting Officer (RCO) is in overall charge of the range, including everything and everyone on it. The RCO has the final decision on everything that happens — or does not happen — on the range.

The RCO may be supported by RCO assistants. Assistants carry the RCO’s authority and may act as they see fit to ensure safe and orderly conduct.

Your responsibility as a shooter

Each shooter is personally responsible for:

Conducting themselves in a safe and responsible manner on the range.
Ensuring their firearm, ammunition and kit are safe and fit for purpose.
Being fully familiar and confident in the safe use of their equipment.
Bringing the tools needed to make a firearm safe so it can be removed from the range after a malfunction. For muzzle-loaders, this includes the means to remove an unfired charge.

IMPORTANT. The RCO and assistants are responsible only for the safe operation of the range. They will not assist with stoppages, malfunctions or breakages unless not doing so would create a safety risk. Sorting out problems with your own equipment is your responsibility.

6. Range Layout and Design

Warcop C10 is a military field firing area, part of which has been adapted as a “constructed range” so that civilian shooting clubs can use it.

Targets

This is a “hard target” range. Targets consist mostly of tank hulks and various topographical features. Not all targets are available on every shooting day.

FAMILIARISE YOURSELF. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the target annexes provided on the range before commencing shooting.

Permitted firing arc

STAY IN ARC. Targets may only be engaged if they fall within the arc defined from each end of the firing point and the two markers placed on “November Ridge”, extending beyond them. Under no circumstances is fire to be directed outside this arc.

You may direct fire at any in-arc target from any of the twelve marked firing boxes.

7. On the Firing Point

Setting up

Range staff will allocate you to a lane.
Do not step onto, or place any kit on, the firing point until the RCO or an assistant gives permission.
You may have only one firearm, with its ammunition and related equipment, on the firing point at any one time.
Only one firer and one spotter may occupy a lane at any time. A firer must vacate the lane before another firer takes over.

Loading and firing

Do not load or fire until told to do so by the RCO.

End of detail

Raise your hand to have your rifle cleared by the RCO or an assistant.
Each firearm must be checked by the RCO or an assistant before it is removed from the firing point. You must ask the RCO for permission before moving any firearm — this lets the RCO track what firearms are being moved around the range.

Failure to fire

If a round fails to fire:

Do not open the bolt for at least 30 seconds.
Keep the rifle horizontal and pointing directly at your target.
Raise your hand to attract the attention of the RCO or an assistant.

Hearing and eye protection

Hearing protection is mandatory on or near the firing point. Eye protection is strongly recommended.

8. Moderators and Muzzle-Brakes

If you are using a moderator or muzzle-brake, position the rifle on the firing point so that the moderator or brake extends beyond the concrete base — that is, beyond the firing line. This stops blast (or debris from a damaged moderator) affecting other shooters.

9. Handling Firearms Behind the Firing Point

Do not handle or uncase a firearm without the RCO’s permission. Permission is normally only given on the firing point.
If you need to handle a firearm behind the firing point, ask the RCO or an assistant. They must supervise until the firearm is cased or back in its slip.
Any uncased firearm behind the firing point must be visibly unloaded and safe. The RCO may require a breech flag to be inserted.

10. Emergency Stop

EMERGENCY STOP CALL. If firing must stop in an emergency, the call “STOP! STOP! STOP!” will be issued. Anyone who sees a serious safety threat must also make this call.

When you hear the emergency stop call:

Stop shooting immediately.
Keep rifles pointing downrange.
Do not unload.
Do not move from the firing point.
Wait for further instructions.

Reporting hazards

If you see anything that may be a safety hazard, bring it to the attention of the RCO. For a serious threat to safety, call “STOP! STOP! STOP!”

11. End of Firing Day

Once the RCO has inspected and cleared your firearms, pick up all litter and brass from your firing position, including non-reusable cases such as rimfire.

Questions?

If anything in this brief is unclear, ask a member of range staff before shooting starts. We are happy to explain.