National rifle association bulletin

[Kungfugerbil]

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+ £.

I think part of the problem is that a lot of folks believe the only valid range design is a massive complex of open fields in the middle of nowhere. With existing structures, berms, backstops, natural land features, buildings and tunnels, that isn't necessarily the case. Obviously an advancing stage in a tunnel would be quite a feat, but realistically if you just want to go prone at 300 or 600 there is no need for 50 acres of land around you.

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's a bit worrying too. I don't know anyone under 40 who would choose to take up fullbore TR by choice to the exclusion of other activities. Go to a Match and the average shooter is late fifties/early sixties - these folks won't be shooting in twenty years time. Go to a practical shotgun or mini rifle match and the average age is below 40. Bellies are just as big though :)

[Gazoo]

I think the problem is as Alpha1 put it right at the start, it should just change it's name to the BRA not NRA which it really isn't.
Bored with this now but will not be bullied in to not expressing an opinion.

[FredB]

I live 150 miles from Bisley.
I have never fire a full bore Target Rifle in my life---I am 74.
I am a life member of the NRA.
Why? It does exactly what I want it to. I go down to Bisley two or three times a year for the major Gallery Rifle and Historical events. I like the trade fairs. I like the place---there is nowhere else in the world like it.
In the 19th Century, a group of enthusiasts got together and organised an annual meeting, from which the NRA grew and eventually lead to it owning Bisley Camp. Now, the whingers want it to do the same thing for them. What are they doing to help themselves?
Fred

[Pete]

I'm 50 miles away, and I shoot at Bisley with a few mates roughly once a fortnight all year round.
We shoot a motley collection of rifles of various calibres, mostly fired off bipods, at F-class target faces...........
I'm a bit puzzled by the assertion that the NRA is still "TR centric", though.

Certainly during winter, TR shooters are conspicuous by their absence, and even for the rest of the year, we're more often than not sharing the range with blokes shooting "black" rifles (usually at TR size targets, which they frequently hit )

Bisley is a brilliant facility which is improving apace at a difficult time, so instead of knocking it, get down there and shoot !!! It's not their fault you live in the back of beyond.

Pete

[Robert303]

CSR = Civilian Service Rifle which is for staight pulls / bolt actions and anything that's not semi auto. I have to say I agree that for years the NRA was Bisley and old military types. However it is getting it's act together both in regard to finances and getting back into the rest of the country. I belong to a club in the Manchester area that ran into trouble with the police and lost it's Home Office approval. The N.R.A. were of great help with the new Regional Affairs manager Nick Couldrey coming up to Manchester to help us out and to cut a long story short we are now Home Office approved and re opened. I hope to be able to tell the whole story, which is almost unbelievable, in the next month or so.

[Kungfugerbil]

I'm 50 miles away...

...It's not their fault you live in the back of beyond

At least 20 million people in the UK live far enough away to make Bisley impractical for regular visits.

You're quite right that the rifle shooters of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Sheffield, Hull etc should set up their own organisation. I suspect in the future it will become more fragmented so that there are associations built around ranges with a regional focus; perhaps Diggle could be the base of the Northern Rifle Association and Bisley the Southern Rifle Association.

Of course the NRA won't support that as they will lose all membership above the river Trent.

[James K]

Both Diggle and Altcar get a mention so its not all just about Bisley. I've been to an F-Class Match at Diggle in the past but have no idea where Altcar is.

[James K]

Looks like its near Liverpool: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altcar_Rifle_Range

[RDC]

It is a brilliant facility which is improving apace at a difficult time, so instead of knocking it, get down there and shoot !!! It's not their fault you live in the back of beyond.

The problem lots of people have is that it is a National Rifle Association that doesn't appear to provide anything worthwhile to the majority of thier members North of Birmingham. As Dromia states, there is support for a national body that represents us all across the country. People who can't reasonably get to Bisley more than once or twice a year are members because they wish to take part in big events like the Imperial, want to be a member to (hopefully) have a voice, or both.

It's quite telling that the majority who have criticism are not in easy reach of Bisley, yet the majority who are singing the praises of the NRA are regulars to Bisley. Lots of '...but Bisley is getting better!' is all well and good if it isn't a 5 hour drive away.

Lots of people up round here are members but don't feel they are represented. Lots don't even know there is a regional representative and if they do know, they couldn't tell you who he is or what he actually does. He was recently at Altcar for a meeting but it would appear that quite a few clubs weren't told there was even a meeting until after the fact when normally they would be in attendance.

So I can sort of see why people grumble. Or more accurately, point out where they feel the NRA is failing them as members not conveniently located close to Bisley.

For what it is worth, I've benefited from a couple of courses. I just wish there was more a NRA activity up North worth shouting about.

[ovenpaa]

Regarding the TR shooters there is a thriving under 21 contingent who regularly shoot incredibly well, blast those young eyes!

I think one of the problems is people thinking the NRA and Bisley are the same thing and I must admit I have been confused on a few occasions...