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

Oy!Alpha1,you taking a p..s...?Your avatar is taking a part in CSR currently.....

That's what we need banter fun taking the pee in the nicest possible way. I like it nice one.

It's almost as if the role of Regional Ranges Manager was never re-established...

Yes what ever happened to him. Do they still have one.

Dromia - a well thought out comment with which I wholeheartedly agree. I shoot at Bisley as often as I can, it is a great experience and well worth the two hour plus drive. But it clearly restricts membership. Maybe the NRA should start off by sponsoring an existing range in the North for instance and spread a bit of their improving income. Then maybe with increased membership they could plan new sponsored ranges around the country. You are right, the NRA should actively be seen to support shooting across the country, not just in Surrey.

ColinR wrote:Dromia - a well thought out comment with which I wholeheartedly agree. I shoot at Bisley as often as I can, it is a great experience and well worth the two hour plus drive. But it clearly restricts membership. Maybe the NRA should start off by sponsoring an existing range in the North for instance and spread a bit of their improving income. Then maybe with increased membership they could plan new sponsored ranges around the country. You are right, the NRA should actively be seen to support shooting across the country, not just in Surrey.

+1 very much agree
Dromia
proselytise ......how does a haggis eating , kilt wearing Bundhook carrying chap like yourself know these wonderful English words? I thought you were taking the pish till I googled it....I knew I shud ave gon to skool more often.

ColinR wrote:

Dromia - a well thought out comment with which I wholeheartedly agree. I shoot at Bisley as often as I can, it is a great experience and well worth the two hour plus drive. But it clearly restricts membership. Maybe the NRA should start off by sponsoring an existing range in the North for instance and spread a bit of their improving income. Then maybe with increased membership they could plan new sponsored ranges around the country. You are right, the NRA should actively be seen to support shooting across the country, not just in Surrey.


+1 very much agree
Dromia
proselytise ......how does a haggis eating , kilt wearing Bundhook carrying chap like yourself know these wonderful English words? I thought you were taking the pish till I googled it....I knew I shud ave gon to skool more often.

When he is sober he can not string two words together believe me.

Hic!

Alpha1 wrote:

Oy!Alpha1,you taking a p..s...?Your avatar is taking a part in CSR currently.....

That's what we need banter fun taking the pee in the nicest possible way. I like it nice one.

I was being nice :)

Alpha1 wrote:


Quote:

Oy!Alpha1,you taking a p..s...?Your avatar is taking a part in CSR currently.....


That's what we need banter fun taking the pee in the nicest possible way. I like it nice one.

I was being nice :)

Nice is good. I'm all for that lets make a new year resolution. More nice less heat. lets just have fun. No spats. Well yeah you get my drift. Lets not go overboard or we will all be hugging the life out of each other.

The only way I can see a regional range being set up by NRA is if MOD or similar bequeath one. The single reason NRA is still in Bisley is because Pirbright is there - Mod own the danger area we share. Mod manage, patrol & maintain the fence etc. Its a vast area of land. Close Pirbright & the danger area is gone & Bisley stops shooting much more than 22 / no danger area gallery rifle.

The capital cost of a gallery range even say a modest 10FP 600yds is dwarfed by the value of land in its danger area. Add to that the cost of running its perimeter, fence, patrol, safety watch, range management & service etc. Million+ £.

So realistically do people really expect NRA to branch out & seek to provide a regional facility? poss by working with mod/Landmarc it can lease option time on one, but it simply does not have capital nor member resources to do much more. I think expectations of NRA in this are unrealistic.

I also think NRA fails to explain to members / public how its organised, the role of trustees, the charitable remit, executive, what it can & cant do. So we get misunderstandings of how it operates & what it does & some feel unsupported, it does not represent them etc. So a few pointers:

Read the NRA constitution before attacking its actions (or lack of) its not an easy read though, but much is in there.

e.g. Dromia desires NRA to drop charitable status to enable it to campaign? in that move the burden of vat, rates, tax etc wipes it out. Loose charitable status & NRA is not viable. Simply will not happen. He's right it cant campaign, so it wont, but that does not mean it does not lobby the government & its ministers on our behalf. I can assure you a lot of time & effort goes into that. BASC are more recognised for campaigning & with some effect. NRA does not campaign in public for very good reasons. But it is effective in what it does do, the fact we are still here is due to that.

Because anecdotal evidence of relations between range management & shooters is patchy does not equate to a weak relationship with landmarc. Thats more due to the local chip on shoulder, 24 month rotated officer in charge & their desire to be seen to be officers by their seniors (i have worked with some!). NRA has a very good relationship with Mod - if it didn't we would not be shooting on mod ranges today. Full Stop. Liaison with Landmarc ranges managers is a continual challenge. Just not in public forum or press!

About 50% of membership of NRA is TR alone. Most of its income especially from the Imperial comes from TR. Without TR the NRA would be insolvent. That is changing; CSR is becoming more popular, recreational & gallery rifle is a growth area, classic service rifles is growing, all of that will cause tensions, competition over range space etc. So we dont need forum strife too. There is enough to do in running & keeping the organisation alive today & (unlike some previous management regimes) assure its future.

So yes much of some committees are dominated by TR /MR shooters, rightly so, if you feel left out join one.

Much of the routes to entry to TR / MR are school (yes private i dont know a single comprehensive that has shooting in its activities do you?) cadets, forces, some Universities, Scouts, local clubs & Mum or Dad. So that flavours some of the people, that target shoot & how they might conduct themselves. fyi i came out of Uni shooting not any school, my school was a dump & was demolished to improve it!

Hope those give a little insight to why NRA is how it is.

So i question - why out of a variety of forums does this one in particular!? engage in continual 'NRA criticism, even abuse?' NRA is continually accused of not doing this or that? I dont see NSRA receive such treatment? (& they are in very sorry state), BASC are similarly not slated? CPSA have they even had a mention? what about MLAGB etc? Is it because many non members dont understand NRA so attack on assumptions & unrealistic expectations?, or more distant members who by no fault of their own, but because of lack of proximity & contact are not in the know? or historical experience of an organisation thats changed & isn't the one they once knew?

There are shooting forums on facebook etc that operate with far more harmony, tolerance & inclusion, without ANY of the personal / organisational attacks seen here of late. This forums headline & mission statement is:

The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners
Supporting all legal firearm owners, collectors, enthusiasts, shooters and competitors by promoting and encouraging legitimate gun ownership and use in the UK through unity, advocacy and discussion.

Well a good contingent of the UK Target Rifle, Match rifle & some of the CSR community walked out on this forum this week, & yes some were banned too. And the good words above ring a tad hollow for some. I dont think NRA reps will respond any more to points made here either.

The continual sniping, negative under current, deletion of material (deleting bang logos adverts -really?) only serve to alienate the largest single group of shooters in the NRA, to lose their good will (yes there was lots) & undermine the credibility of this forum, & that at a time when we are faced with absurd EU legislation, lead ammunition bans & the irrational whims of APCO?

What do members / forum want to achieve? points? inclusion?

Just for the record, nobody was banned, accounts were deactivated due to personal attacks which is not tolerated here.

hitchphil, I will get back to you re this.