saddler wrote:
The NRA lost my support when they failed to protest at the self loading rifle ban, as rightly or wrongly, they were entrenched in the doctrine of "bolt-action" target shooting only...even though, from it's inception, the NRA in alliance with the Volunteer Rifle movement - had been based around the use of as-ISSUED service rifle (or close variations of the same). The failure to change platform to the then newly-issued SLR was when the NRA stopped supporting the average club shooter
The post-war NRA has always come across, to me at least, as an extension of the public school old-boys network; carrying on the traditions, right or wrong, as that's how things have always been done & if it was good enough in my day then it's good enough now.
I am currently not an NRA member, I used to live a stones throw away from Bisley and nothing drew me to join.
It would appear that "funds" are needed to enable you to do things - common sense, dictates this, but you (I say you, meaning the NRA, not you personally) need to have a recruitment drive and you need to attract more members. More members will equate to greater revenue, greater revenue will allow you to do more, which in turn would hopefully attract more members.
Now for me to join the NRA, it is £70 (Currently reduced to £45 for new members) - but what do I actually get for my pennies?
I am already a member of an affiliated club, so I get my SCC through them, on a good day Bisley would be 3 and a touch hours for me - so easily achievable - but add to the journey the cost of a target and I would save over £100 by shooting locally - I can shoot out to 600 yards within a 45 minutes drive and out to a 1000 with just over an hours drive.
I am a trade member of BASC, for which I get my shooting insurance (x2) and a host of other useful bits.
So come on - sell the NRA to me as a prospective member, I am a FAC holder and shooter, who is sat on the fence and undecided as to whether to part with my hard earned cash on NRA membership.
I will agree that the NRA is a bit different to what it was like then but I cannot see it being any better and in some cases worse for non Bisley members.
Come on Bambi get some
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Hi I now I am just starting out in this hobey but my be a small shooting center some were in the midlands would attract new members pluse be used for corporat events. My vote would be some were near birmingham airport.
Like I say new to all this but a central shooting center sound like a good idea with Bisley still the main hq.
I am currently not an NRA member, I used to live a stones throw away from Bisley and nothing drew me to join.
It would appear that "funds" are needed to enable you to do things - common sense, dictates this, but you (I say you, meaning the NRA, not you personally) need to have a recruitment drive and you need to attract more members. More members will equate to greater revenue, greater revenue will allow you to do more, which in turn would hopefully attract more members.
Now for me to join the NRA, it is £70 (Currently reduced to £45 for new members) - but what do I actually get for my pennies?
I am already a member of an affiliated club, so I get my SCC through them, on a good day Bisley would be 3 and a touch hours for me - so easily achievable - but add to the journey the cost of a target and I would save over £100 by shooting locally - I can shoot out to 600 yards within a 45 minutes drive and out to a 1000 with just over an hours drive.
I am a trade member of BASC, for which I get my shooting insurance (x2) and a host of other useful bits.
So come on - sell the NRA to me as a prospective member, I am a FAC holder and shooter, who is sat on the fence and undecided as to whether to part with my hard earned cash on NRA membership.
Mike
This is the kind of thing I am on about though - they have zero interest in selling themselves to prospective new members who do not live on their doorstep or do not shoot TR. No response from any of the NRA folk who use the forum.
I get the same response when you speak to someone in person - like pulling teeth. Someone needs to start selling/promoting the NRA or it is not going to last the next 10 years.
I am still waiting for someone to convince me (Or even try!) to part with my pennies and join the NRA......................
The problem is and has always been and has been said over and over again here and other places there is absolutely no benefit (that cannot be found anywhere else and at less money) to anyone joining the NRA unless they shoot regularly at Bisley and that is the truth of it.
The NRA cannot refute that as that is how they have chosen the organisation to be, Bisley Centric.
This argument has been going on now for as long as I've been a member, nigh on 25 years, and The NRA has struggled from one financial debacle to another without doing anything for non Bisley membership or trying to push its membership up. In fact over the last year they seem to have been doing even less nationally.
Why can other shooting organisations make a go of it but the NRA cannot. I don't what it is although I have my suspicions, but there is something at the core of the NRA that is resistant to change growth and development. It is most frustrating.
Come on Bambi get some
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Hmmmm..... I'l stick my size 8/9's in here..... and expect a slamming (as per normal sign01 for my comments and thoughts)
I live in South Wales... there is nothing to incentivise shooting fullbore in the area... soooo.... Bisley is the place for me 2.5 Hrs (1.0L engine) down the M4/A322/A329.
Problems for me as a low wage earner; cost of target / marker / ammunition and cost of the Imperial. Costing £450 entry is IMHO nuts, but there are a number of people who earn mega bucks compared to me who say that the cost is acceptable. The cost of ammo in the Imperial has gone crazy but that is due to suppliers / quality (RG cf RWS). That said, some clubs still use available RG and its quality is pretty good and DOES compete against RWS, its just the odd batch that slips through quality control.... but hey, even HPS ammo has its bad batch!! But we go for RWS because it is a limited batch run with excellent quality control for a National event. Perhaps offering an option of commercially produced ammunition would help to reduce the cost a bit, HPS at 70p per round would be much more attractive to RWS at £1 per round.
Allowing competitor buttmarking would reduce the cost of the Imperial for low income persons, I would be very willing to support this and it was ALWAYS good fun and social.
As for memberships, club memberships don't offer insurance, NRA does, I challenge anybody to go out and get the same or better offers as available to NRA members!!
I fully support the idea of the NRA taking over the Pavillion and making it a commercial enterprise, income from all disciplines would be available throughout the year as smallbore and air would make use through winter months and use for wedding and birthdays etc would also be available as at present.
Another idea could be to incentivise target hire for those living outside a given area and increase this reduction for those living much further afield. A precursor to use would have to be that for the price all target users must live outside the price radius (many issues I know of policing it etc) but get more people going to Bisley!!
There is also the low income new participant to think of. I remember ammo costing 45 per round and we thought that was expensive!! How long till we get to an unsustainable situation where we lose shooters because of the cost of ammunition???
I try to find the best deals. I have NEVER purchased RWS over the counter, I can't afford it!!! I purchase HPS because its good quality and cheaper. I have ordered 200 rds of RWS 'converted sighters' at 65p per round from last years Imperial because I couldn't buy more because of income. If the 'converted sighter's can be sold off at this rate PLEASE justify £1.00 (or 95p)................ If you are earning £25k+ perhaps you can afford it..........
Sorry if I offend, I'm very good at it :shakeshout:
Griff, you are spot on in regards to what you are saying, I will keep working on getting the calendar up and working, I am sure we can all benefit if we share shoots.
We most certainly do not all have a 25k+ income.
If one is so inclined then shooting should be for everybody, one way or the other.
