Bisley shooting

[Mike95]

Shot last week, midweek....Siberia unavailable, as block booked by plod. Shot on Century, 300 yards..on our trek to the ghastly butts, passed Siberia..totally deserted. Took three of us oldies to grapple with the awful Century chain operated butts mechanism...there were some newer target mechanisms..the chains rust covered and unused. The Siberia mechanisms have large counterweights making them at least operable by one person. I wonder if plod even use them...

Wonder how much we, the taxpaying public, are paying for the plod block booking...not even used.

You would hope that the NRA booking system would know when the Siberia range was not going to be used and then advise the fee paying membership.Too much to expect.

Tried to book a target for August in the NRA office...not possible...have to drive home and book online. What a shambles.

Mike95

[RDC]

There are computers by the windows in the range office on which you can book lanes. Confused the hell out of me why I couldn't just do it face to face when they came round from behind the desk to talk me through the online booking anyway!

All 3 midweek days I was there back in may, the plod were using Short Siberia. I bet they pay more for the privilege than we do too.

[Dark Skies]

At this time of year it's £50 / session on Short Siberia at the weekend - which is bloody unfair given the weekdays are reserved for plod only.
200 yards is now limited to a weekend at the end of the month apparently.

Oxfordshire is lacking decent ranges within reasonable driving distances unfortunately.
I'm looking for alternative clubs with their own ranges for full bore. I've found a couple. One in Gloucestershire. I'm also doing some drastic rethinking of my firearms with a view to selling / variations for arms that can be shot indoors at local clubs.
Then I'll be dropping my NRA membership and joining BASC. I'm just done with the bother of shooting at Bisley.

[ColinR]

Totally agree with all comments here. I can understand the NRA raising funds from the Nuclear Police but unfortunately this has been at the inconvenience of fee paying members who should come first in any considerations such as this. Siberia is a unique range in the Bisley complex being ideal for 100/200 yard zeroing in a protected windfree environment which is far in excess of the police's requirements. I have tried zeroing at 100 yards on Century but its like being in a wind tunnel! The Police could use many other Bisley ranges for their limited requirements, but they obviously want the seclusion of Siberia. Just why the NRA don't donate some space and let them build their own range is beyond me. Equally the reactor sites they guard have huge expanses of land in usually remote situations, so why can't they build a range on their own land? It would certainly be cheaper than block booking SS and not being there - but that's what tax payers money is for isn't it?

I have considered leaving the NRA as well because in this aspect I don't believe they are considering my interests as a member and have not shot there in over a year. However, I do consider my membership fee a contribution to an organisation endeavouring to promote and protect shooting if not with any consideration to the needs of their membership. Maybe I too will switch to BASC.

[Dark Skies]

Totally agree. Given everything is on computer now it would be a small matter for the NRA booking office and the police to pool their shooting dates and open up Short Siberia to regular members when the police aren't shooting. It makes financial sense to capitalize on weekdays on these ranges - they would, in effect, be being paid twice.

I like Short Siberia for a relaxing afternoon's shooting. It's handy to the car park so you don't have to lug stuff far, it's an easy walk to the butts, the target holders are easy to operate, the covered benches make it a viable shoot regardless of the weather. For someone that tends to shoot on their own whenever one can find a spare moment without needing markers it's a lovely little range. It is the main reason I've kept my NRA membership going - my 'serious' competition shooting is done on our club's gallery range. There must surely be many more shooting folk that use Siberia primarily for a bit of recreational shooting similar to me and don't much care for lying on wet ground on windswept Century and the other ranges. The NRA have spoiled it.

Bisley is not an easy range to get to traffic-wise - it's a nightmare returning from an afternoon shoot. Expensive on petrol too for a 130 miles round trip. Not being able to shoot where I prefer and being charged £50 a pop on top of membership makes for a very expensive extravagance. Especially with the bother of the shooting card requirement on top.

[Maggot]

I cannot disagree that they could do better of allowing use of the range during the week when the CNP are not using it.

They do pay a high whack for the use of the range, but with recent comments from Mr Mercer being along the lines that there was nothing left to improve, perhaps they might look towards another 100/200 facility, either to accommodate those who's rifles run out of puss at 101 yards or the CNP.

[bewildered]

And while they're at it perhaps they could sort out a bit of land where you could shoot a few rounds of slug without having to book Butt Zero which is never available.

[lasbrisas]

And while they're at it perhaps they could sort out a bit of land where you could shoot a few rounds of slug without having to book Butt Zero which is never available.

Agree with this, haven't got anywhere to check the POI before doing the few comps there are.

[Mike95]

The CNP do not pay to use Short Siberia....we pay in the form of taxes...wonder if the shooters all have a safe shooter card....

Mike95

[mag41uk]

I understand that the Police use of Bisley is not indefinite.
I also understand that they may actually be having a purpose built range.
None of this is substantiated btw!
If true then I am happy to put up with some minor inconvenience so the NRA can build up funds which they are pumping back into the facilities.
It will never suit everyone. It suits me though!
I can book a target with marker at 600/800/900/1000 etc on a Friday morning split the cost 3 or 4 ways and pay no more than £25 for 4 hours shooting. That seems like a good deal to me. Even cheaper in winter.
Even the range office staff seem happier nowadays!
I have been bumped onto SS on a Friday if tactical ninjas aren't using it.
Still baffled by lack of 200yds on SS though!
I cant understand why you would want to shoot at 100yds other than sighting in- unless you are stalking - maybe.
And I prefer to sight all my rifles at 200yds anyway.