The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Sim G wrote: Which implies you think the concept laughable? Then you'd be wrong.

Not the concept but the mention of the UKPSA; I’m sure that some of the skill gained in Practical Pistol shooting were and could have been of benefit but to suggest that the UKPSA were at the forefront is laughable.

Sim G wrote: The bean counters in the MoD really could do with embracing civilian rifle clubs, especially now because of the defence cuts. With the plan of around a third of our military to be formed with reservists, how else could their effectiveness be maintained with next to little outlay from the MoD? By encouraging reservists to join clubs and compete in shooting at their own expense! It's actually a no-brainer...... There is plenty of worth in promoting this.

Don’t dispute that and this was the basis of the original formation of the NRA to assist in developing skills that could be used in the defence of the realm. Unfortunately that concept is not going to be of much use in convincing the current crop of politicians, very few of which have served in the military, nor the great unwashed masses who read the Sun and Daily Mail. Nor will it guarantee you access to MoD Ranges in the future. The future plans for the army and the increased use of reservists is not going to wash well either, lots believe they can get all the skills they need from paying on an X-Box and recruiting into the reserves to meet the future required numbers is just not happening at the moment.

John MH wrote:

The bean counters in the MoD really could do with embracing civilian rifle clubs, especially now because of the defence cuts. With the plan of around a third of our military to be formed with reservists, how else could their effectiveness be maintained with next to little outlay from the MoD? By encouraging reservists to join clubs and compete in shooting at their own expense! It's actually a no-brainer...... There is plenty of worth in promoting this.

Don’t dispute that and this was the basis of the original formation of the NRA to assist in developing skills that could be used in the defence of the realm. Unfortunately that concept is not going to be of much use in convincing the current crop of politicians, very few of which have served in the military, nor the great unwashed masses who read the Sun and Daily Mail. Nor will it guarantee you access to MoD Ranges in the future. The future plans for the army and the increased use of reservists is not going to wash well either, lots believe they can get all the skills they need from paying on an X-Box and recruiting into the reserves to meet the future required numbers is just not happening at the moment.

And can you imagine the Sun and Daily Mail editorials if the MoD came out with that sort of thing publicly?

"TRAINING MURDERERS: How defence bosses want town gun clubs to teach lethal weapon skills to your kids"

I understand that current military thinking on skills training is that it's easier to start with a blank canvas than it is to take someone with existing skills and try to reshape those into the desired military result. I read an AAIB report a little while ago into a minor helicopter crash (student thumped into ground too hard on a solo landing practice exercise, helo unsurprisingly gave up the ghost about half an hour later) and, amongst the other factors, the investigators highlighted how the student pilot's fixed-wing PPL experience had made it harder for him to progress within the military flying training system because he was having to unlearn his previous training and then absorb the military way of doing things.

Why would it be any different for marksmanship? Given that we do precious little fire-with-movement, or firing from cover, or even practice in the use of self-loading rifles, I can't see how civilian rifle clubs nowadays could support the MoD in any meaningful way.

Gaz wrote:Given that we do precious little fire-with-movement, or firing from cover

Speak for yourself Gaz... not done much in the way of any practical disciplines then, no?

John MH wrote: Not the concept but the mention of the UKPSA; I’m sure that some of the skill gained in Practical Pistol shooting were and could have been of benefit but to suggest that the UKPSA were at the forefront is laughable.

Perhaps that's a fair point by today's standard, but the UKPSA were a different horse 25 years ago. General Duffell thought they had merit then....

Mail2pete wrote:It's a pity that everyone is not a member if a National Shooting Body. If they were perhaps the National Shooting Body would have the resources to react to situations like this straight away. The NRA do a good job with the resources they have.


Sent from my boing using "An application"

Sorry to disagree with your idea of the NRA. Anyway I have given them the elbow.
Sad, really as the concept of a National body is something I wholeheartedly support.

techguy wrote:

Gaz wrote:Given that we do precious little fire-with-movement, or firing from cover

Speak for yourself Gaz... not done much in the way of any practical disciplines then, no?

How much of that do you see taking place in the average clubhouse on a Thursday evening?

Those kind of shooting drills happen quite frequently in those which offer practical disciplines. But you have to venture out of the smallbore or target shooter mindeset to see them.

So have we lost the use of electronic ranges or not my next range day next month is a electronic range do we cancel it or are we going to be able to use it. Or do we need to book a galley range instead some guidance would help.
Anybody some body HELP.

Get your Club Secretary to ask the Range Officer at the facility you booked, its him who decides as its his range and his Range Rules.

So to find out whether the NRA has achieved anything on behalf of shooters we now need to phone Landmarc?

Great communication that for a "national" body.