Use of electronic targetry on MOD ranges now banned

[Dougan]

A few years back Landmarc decided to replace the sand in our local MOD range back-stops with rubber chippings (ridiculose attempt at cost cutting) - When the inevitable fire happened, they banned civilian shooters claiming that we use higher energy ammunition and shoot tighter groups, so were more likely to cause the fires...it was later proven that it was military tracer that had started the fire (no s***).

At the time we (and the other Dorset clubs) got representation from the NRA (even though we're a hundred miles from Bisley), and were given our access back...Landmarc were forced to let us shoot, and changed the back-stop back to sand.

Now, we have recently been told by Landmarc that we can't use the range again - I don't know all the facts, other than it is due to issues with the danger area, and I don't know whether it's just civvies that have been stopped - What's really worried me, is that when I offered to contact the NRA about it, the club committee asked me not to, as they don't want to wind up Landmarc and prevent future bookings...

...personally I thinks it's time that someone made it clear to Landmarc that they have a clear responsibility to serve the civilians using MOD ranges as well as the military.

[dromia]

I think there is such a forum between the MoD, Landmarc and the NRA, but Landmarc seem to have got into the "our toybox now, our rules" mentality and impose restrictions first before coming to the table. Perhaps the future range management contract needs a few clauses relating to negotiation, consultation and promulgation added.

If there is such a forum then it clearly isn't working and needs to be made to do so.

I know when Glynn Alger was there he was having meetings with them but after his demise I don't know what happened to that initiative.

[IsleShoot]

Fortunately this doesn't effect me but you have my sympathy, when it comes to our sport there always appears to be someone wagging a finger at us.

From reading this tread there does seems to be a common theme in the lack of perceived action by the NRA which reminded me of a situation I was witness to a few years ago.

As a young graduate engineer I was involved in sprucing up Two Jags grace & favour pad on Whitehall, the very large blue chip company I was working for had recently floated and when Green Peace got wind of the Amazonian hardwood doors the champagne socialists had specified they were all over us faster than you could say vegetarian bacon. Not satisfied with just raiding the site and horsing the doors into Whitehall in front of the assembled press corp they also bought one single share in our company for about £16. This enabled them to table a motion at the AGM and gave them a vote. Long story short, they (quite rightly) forced a multi million pound company to adopt an very stringent environmental policy, all with a single share.

I believe Landmarc are owned by Interserve and they've floated...

Democracy is great, but Capitalism is better.

[Chuck]

Um they tried a few years back - Dechmont in Scotland - a lot of work went into it by Glynn Alger (previous Secretary General) but unfortunately it came to nothing.

That was probably because it was destined to be a haven for rifle target shooters - the one shot an hour lot. In effect a mini Bisley catering for a select few. Snobbery was rampant and the locals did not take kindly to it, they were kept in the dark to an extent. BTW Karen, I offered to FUND it, to actually buy that particular range and develop it into a commercial range that could be booked anytime by clubs and police etc alike...fell on deaf ears! I know Glynn was involved but there was no interest in the recreational everyday shooter, just the "elite" few who appeared from nowhere and saw Dechmont as "theirs"!.

Same happened with a range down south, they went out cap in hand to save the range, I offered to buy it - nahh waste of time, I think it closed.

UK shooting has only itself to blame and like it or not it will not be around for much longer I reckon. The rot has been allowed to set in with those who govern the sport and we have lost the ability to say NO!

[karen]

Chuck - from what I can remember it was going to be fullbore back to 600 yards plus smallbore/air plus shotgun. I wasn't really involved other than what Glynn put in the Journal and what he told us at work but it sounded more like a range for everyone not just TR shooters. It was certainly never going to be a mini-Bisley.

I don't know who the "elite few" you are referring to are? Most TR/MR shooters love to go to Blair Atholl where you can shoot back to 1200 yards so why would they want to restrict themselves to 600 yards?

I am a TR shooter and the "one shot an hour" jibe is quite offensive and unnecessary - I thought we were all supposed to be supporting each other?

[Chuck]

Karen, no offense intended. The whole Dechmont thing seemed to be getting (got) hijacked in favour of one specific discipline - much to the consternation of the locals who were seen to be getting "edged out... " Hence the reason people started looking elsewhere - and as they say united we stand.

At any rate it never happened and that's what is important. I am for every discipline, whether it's my liking or not, sadly not all see it that way.

[Chapuis]

I am for every discipline, whether it's my liking or not, sadly not all see it that way.

I'm with you on that one Chuck I just wish all shooters thought the same, but how often do you hear some derogatory or divisive comment from so called fellow shooters. It annoys me more than hearing a negative comment from an anti who in the main is only just ignorant of the facts regarding shooting.

[tackb]

+1 , a lot of shooters are their own worst enemys...................

[Ginger]

I am for every discipline, whether it's my liking or not, sadly not all see it that way.

I'm with you on that one Chuck I just wish all shooters thought the same, but how often do you hear some derogatory or divisive comment from so called fellow shooters. It annoys me more than hearing a negative comment from an anti who in the main is only just ignorant of the facts regarding shooting.

+1

I might like other styles or shooting or the clickiness of some groups, but at the end of the day, I don't have to do what I don't want too.

Karen, I look forward to a NRA POV from Iain, as he seemed as shocked as the rest of us, it might stop some of the silly comments on here, but then again I doubt it.

[karen]

Karen, I look forward to a NRA POV from Iain, as he seemed as shocked as the rest of us, it might stop some of the silly comments on here, but then again I doubt it.

He's sitting here doing final proofread of the Bisley Bible (an all day BORING job) so probably won't be able to till tomorrow as I have "tasks" for him when he's finished :lol:

However I hope my post from Saturday has helped and that he'll be able to find out more when he gets back to work tomorrow

Love

karen