During what phase are shooters required to open their air rifle actions?

The requirement for shooters to open their air rifle actions occurs when the command "STOP" is given. This command is a critical safety measure to ensure that all rifles are made inoperable and are under control when the shooting activity is halted. By opening the action, shooters demonstrate they are not ready to fire, and it allows for a visual confirmation that the rifle is safe.

During loading, shooters typically do not open actions as they prepare their rifles for shooting; they are focused on ensuring the rifle is loaded correctly. After the "START" command, rifles are often in a ready position for shooting, and there would be no need to open actions at that point. While preparing targets, the primary focus is on setting up the shooting environment rather than on handling the firearm itself. Therefore, the action of opening the rifle's action only becomes necessary specifically during the "STOP" command to maintain safety and control.