National rifle association bulletin

[ColinR]

Hitchphil - Why would the NRA seemingly only have the option of supporting/sponsoring an MOD/Landmarc operated range? From what I understand there are a few very good privately owned ranges that could benefit from NRA sponsorship. Ranges that are already up and running with suitable facilities for shooters far from Bisley. I'm sure many range owners would welcome an input of funds from the NRA and the inevitable increase in usage if those who cannot use Bisley were to put their money where their mouth is. This would seem a simple and relatively inexpensive way of spreading NRA support around the country.

[Mike357]

Finances aside, what you make of Bisley depends on your desire to go there. There is a good contingent of 10+ From Scotland that drive to Bisley at least 4 times a year to compete. We can compete up here but National competitions should be held at the NSC.
Membership numbers are up, expenditure on the facilities is increasing.
Tenders are in for our own National Shooting Centre in Scotland and the various bodies are voting to merge into Scottish Target Shooting Fereration. If we can do it then why can't it be done elsewhere?

[hitchphil]

Hitchphil - Why would the NRA seemingly only have the option of supporting/sponsoring an MOD/Landmarc operated range? From what I understand there are a few very good privately owned ranges that could benefit from NRA sponsorship. Ranges that are already up and running with suitable facilities for shooters far from Bisley. I'm sure many range owners would welcome an input of funds from the NRA and the inevitable increase in usage if those who cannot use Bisley were to put their money where their mouth is. This would seem a simple and relatively inexpensive way of spreading NRA support around the country.

Darned Good Idea (can we have a new icon for that?), please suggest it to the regional ranges manager Nic Couldrey - he has done a survey via members & may not know of such ranges. Partnership would indeed be a better way to provide support & bring gallery long ranges to members away from Bizzles.

[ColinR]

Hitchphil - Sponsorship of ranges would be a fast and easy way to improve NRA coverage and attract a huge increase in NRA membership across the regions - it would also give the NRA a truly national face. It seems too simple a solution! I have emailed Nick Couldrey with an outline, so I will post his reply, if I get one that is!!

[hitchphil]

Hitchphil - Sponsorship of ranges would be a fast and easy way to improve NRA coverage and attract a huge increase in NRA membership across the regions - it would also give the NRA a truly national face. It seems too simple a solution! I have emailed Nick Couldrey with an outline, so I will post his reply, if I get one that is!!

Means that range would have to let NRA members hire & use it within some terms of agreement, that should be ok as the NRA is also a HO approved shooting club. Hope you do get a reply - if not I will ask too.

Correct me if wrong - there are a fair few (but nowhere near enough) smaller ranges ooop north ~50-200m no danger area (NDA) ranges most operated by clubs that could hire them out, but what is missing is a longer / gallery range like Century at Bisley 100 to 600-900 yds falling back certificated for .22 to .556" BP & higher calibres like 303/54R/308 poss even 338?

Kungfugerbil - suggested you dont need lots of land for a danger area - I agree there are more opportunities to use a hill further north but you still need to own or close the hill to manage access to it during shooting. Look at this pic............. to illustrate (yes McD's makes a good target & yes an American Acre is the same as UK)

you can get a 600yds by 40-50 FP wide gallery range on that, but if you read JSP 403 the backstop required to class it a NDA range is so massive & without a mountain / hill the Danger Area needed is about 5 times that picture in length & twice as wide - thats a rough size of the limited danger area footprint as per Bisley. So thats the sort of area (without hills) you need to have control over (& thus lease own, fence & not have foot paths etc).

So Colins idea says sub lease, cooperate or sponsor something that already exists - whats about in terms of larger gallery ranges north of say Coventry? Watford Gap? (you choose) that could / would be good candidate range for such an idea.

[Chuck]

This is an interesting thread this is.

Funny how the Swiss can manage without massive grounds the size of a planet in the middle of nowhere for range safety areas isn't it. Been on Swiss military ranges that are well close to populated areas and public paths...

Why limit sponsorship of ranges to the NRA - surely money is money...agreed it's not as socially acceptable as say footie but maybe some sort of deal with a commercially aware sponsor could make a difference? Just a thought.

[ColinR]

This is an interesting thread this is.

Funny how the Swiss can manage without massive grounds the size of a planet in the middle of nowhere for range safety areas isn't it. Been on Swiss military ranges that are well close to populated areas and public paths...

Why limit sponsorship of ranges to the NRA - surely money is money...agreed it's not as socially acceptable as say footie but maybe some sort of deal with a commercially aware sponsor could make a difference? Just a thought.

You are right Chuck, money is money, but the NRA are by far the most qualified to sponsor a range and the object here is to consolidate NRA as a national body with ranges far and wide. Can you imagine Starbucks or MacDonalds sponsoring a shooting range , they can't even make decent coffee or burgers! It would have to be an NRA initiative as they have the knowledge, experience and one would hope, the reason to consider such a proposal.

[Kungfugerbil]

Kungfugerbil - suggested you dont need lots of land for a danger area - I agree there are more opportunities to use a hill further north but you still need to own or close the hill to manage access to it during shooting

My point was that ranges can be planned to take advantage of existing features rather than just relying on 2km of empty, flat field each way.

Build in a quarry for example - rock face is a backstop suitable for any calibre I would imagine...
Build in a natural valley
Build in a warehouse
Build in an old road tunnel
Build in an abandoned sewer system
Build in old railway sidings

Basically anywhere that would be unsuitable for more lucrative occupation would be a good place to start!

I shoot clays at an excellent clay ground in Brandesburton that is right next to some commercial earthworks/rubbish tip/Lord knows what...as the constant noise from the diggers and loaders is always present, no-one cares that folks are shooting. That's smart planning right there.

[ColinR]

Kungfugerbil - suggested you dont need lots of land for a danger area - I agree there are more opportunities to use a hill further north but you still need to own or close the hill to manage access to it during shooting

My point was that ranges can be planned to take advantage of existing features rather than just relying on 2km of empty, flat field each way.

Build in a quarry for example - rock face is a backstop suitable for any calibre I would imagine...
Build in a natural valley
Build in a warehouse
Build in an old road tunnel
Build in an abandoned sewer system
Build in old railway sidings

Basically anywhere that would be unsuitable for more lucrative occupation would be a good place to start!

I shoot clays at an excellent clay ground in Brandesburton that is right next to some commercial earthworks/rubbish tip/Lord knows what...as the constant noise from the diggers and loaders is always present, no-one cares that folks are shooting. That's smart planning right there.

Given the time, planning consents, expense of setting up a new range, development of existing ranges with approvals, range safety certificates already in place will be faster and considerably more cost effective. Remember the NRA have only a fairly limited income and while any improvement in range availability to members will boost new memberships and income the NRA are unlikely to embark on a program of building new ranges. If they were to go the sponsorship/partnership route with a decent contract that gives them first opportunity to buy outright should the present owner wish to sell at some point that would establish a very good future for the growth both in membership and influence of the NRA in this country.

[Kungfugerbil]

^ Oh absolutely; I don't personally think that the NRA will ever build a new range. My comments were really for those folks who are building new ranges either commercially or as part of a club; thinking outside the box as some guys are doing can provide us with the facilities we need at a regional level.

I personally believe that's the future. The NRA will just become increasingly less relevant.