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FencepostError wrote: Well, I'm a non-FAC-holding probationer, and I'm not - at my club I can shoot whenever the range is open (under supervision, of course) :-) In fact, at my club I don't think I'd be able to satisfy the minimum required attendance for a probationer if I only attended on open/guest days.

That's very good! I could only attend on monthly club days and thought this was normal.

I also agree with ovenpaa, once I'd passed probation I was left entirely to my own devices, making it difficult to shoot as I never really got to know anyone at the busy club days, and believe me I tried!

I also think reloading could be a social thing, if clubs had the space and equipment I reckon several shooters could make a day of it, spread the effort, have a laugh and churn out some ammo.

I don't read my own signature!

One of the benefits of being a member of a Home Office approved club is that non FAC holders can shoot firearms at the club without it having to be a guest day.

Demonic69 wrote:I also think reloading could be a social thing, if clubs had the space and equipment I reckon several shooters could make a day of it, spread the effort, have a laugh and churn out some ammo.

Hmm... yes and no. Whilst I agree it is very handy to have someone available to talk with during the reloading learning process you would need to take great care not to get distracted or mix things up. Christel and I share the reloading however we both have very different tasks, I do the metallic side of things so case prep, priming and seating and she does all of the powder throwing and we seldom talk to each other during the process. This partly due to us being separated, I am in the workshop for my side of things and she throws the powder charges in the kitchen! One thing we both do is quick checks of the others work, I always peer into the top of the filled cases with a torch to visually check the levels even though I know she will have already done this and she looks for things like correctly seated primers and a visual check of the brass despite me already having done this.

It is not lack of trust, in fact far from it. These are just further checks to make sure everything is as intended.

Back to the reloading for a moment, there are many examples of the reloading process on Youtube which should be deleted and the users banned as they are so bad, bordering on dangerous on occasion. Plus so many examples of the extremes of equipment being used both correctly and badly. I would equally say reloading books although often very good do not tell you how a bullet should fell as it is seated or how much pressure is required to seat a primer, based on this I would always say try and find a reloading mentor, someone you trust and know well and sit down with them for a couple of sessions and see how they do things.

I guess we need to realise to some extent that in isolation shooting is an individual sport so the chances for social activity are perhaps limited, especially for non dynamic shooting. However the shoot n scoot disciplines (PR, PSG, Minigun/multi gun etc) are akin to golf, whilst when you are on stand you are on your own but the rest of the time to are watching others and (for the most part) taking the p*ss out of everyone else :)

I hear you on re-loading, it is something I want to learn and from what you say perhaps I am quick to judge on the time side, I will look into it more (read that as asking others for advice :))

For me its the stigma, my own parents are 'disappointed' I shoot and when I ask them why (its a pretty offensive response IMO) they cant explain, 'guns are for killing people' is what it comes down to which is about as sensible an argument as blaming cars for killing people and these are my parents, who one would hope (perhaps naively) that they like me, at least a bit? I'm determined to at least try and open up peoples minds to target shooting (regardless of its distance or type) and that means promoting shooting to non shooters, with the issues that will no doubt create.

I remember collecting my shiny new Accuracy International and calling in on my parents on the way home. My Father looked at it and then asked me if it was legal...

Drool......an AI is on my want list.

Mine as well, an AI/AW in 300 Win Mag is the one I would really like to own and shoot.

dromia wrote:One of the benefits of being a member of a Home Office approved club is that non FAC holders can shoot firearms at the club without it having to be a guest day.

So what's the point of the 12 club days restriction Adam? If probationary members can shoot at any time are open days just for non-probationary members to give it a try?

I don't read my own signature!

On nominated guest days non club members, non FAC holders can shoot.

So for anyone currently on probation, who can supervise you outside of club days, any member or only committee members?

I don't read my own signature!