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

John MH wrote:The NRA need to reach out, how about selling Bisley and buying some redundant Army ranges out in the regions?

I dont think the NRA owns Bisley, so that might be a bit of a problem.

It would also be a bit hard on thems of us that DO use Bisley...

Who does?

If it was sold and two or maybe three regional ranges were procured from the Army that would be of far more benefit to the 100,000 FAC holders across the country than just those in the Home Counties. Given that the Army are drawing down to 82,000 by 2020 it's likely that there maybe some ranges up for sale. Probably not happen but that would make the NRA truly 'National'.

Hiya

We will reply to a lot of whats written here but the last few days have been VERY difficult as I am sure you can imagine - tonight I just want to drink heavily and go to bed . . .

Give us a couple of days to reply but thank you for all your thoughts - some of them have helped a lot in what has happened this week

sign92

Love

Karen

MOD I think.

John MH wrote:Who does?

If it was sold and two or maybe three regional ranges were procured from the Army that would be of far more benefit to the 100,000 FAC holders across the country than just those in the Home Counties. Given that the Army are drawing down to 82,000 by 2020 it's likely that there maybe some ranges up for sale. Probably not happen but that would make the NRA truly 'National'.

I do accept that living in Bisley makes it so much easier and I do accept that the the NRA could do more for the regions. But I do think that some of the NRA bashing is unfair, they do do a good job on many things. They are Bisley focused but given the history of the NRA and Bisley Camp I think it's just evolved that way. If you can't get to Bisley I understand how you feel but if you can here things aren't that bad.

Surely the value of being a member of the NRA of any other national shooting association should not just be about 'can I get to Bisley to shoot?' Whatever the merits of the NRA, to be effective in political lobbying and promoting our sport the resources are needed to do it. Local clubs can and do provide a voice, but we need a national voice and a strong front. Challenge aspects of the NRA management and delivery, but from within.

David

Member: HBSA, MLAGB, NRA.

That is how it should be in theory David and many of us have been doing that for many years to no avail, that is why there is so much frustration amongst shooters and such a poor take up of membership of the NRA.

Here we are again with yet another internal hiatus and no clear vision or purpose to help members understand it. From the outside the NRA appears to be a constantly inward looking organisation, a Bisley focussed and driven organisation. In fact Bisley seem to be an insurmountable handicap to the NRA ever fulfilling a national role, not that I am in any way suggesting that Bisley should go, as I've said many times previously Bisley is a national treasure.

As has been said many times if you don't shoot at Bisley then you can get the other stuff at less cost, its the national bit being non existent that bothers many. If the NRA didn't claim to be so and just concentrated on making Bisley a success then shooters would be less confused and it would be one less organisation to add to the confusion of our national picture and consequently strengthen other bodies.

No one has yet told me with any clarity about what happened to the NATSs initiative, terrible name, and all the Sport England money. It was what we shooters and gun owners need, one organisation speaking with one voice to represent us but it failed with no explanation so people assume that vested interest got in the way. Sport England put substantial resources into that for the benefit of shooters and what have our national bodies done with that resource to benefit shooters?

Why oh why does it have to be such a continuing shambles, this should not be taken as criticism just observations. We never have enough detail to criticise meaningfully.

Just to add my credentials as you have done David I am a current full member of these national organisations: NRA, HBSA, The Gun Trade Association. So I pay my dues and say my piece to shooting bodies.

JonC wrote:MOD I think.

John MH wrote:Who does?

If it was sold and two or maybe three regional ranges were procured from the Army that would be of far more benefit to the 100,000 FAC holders across the country than just those in the Home Counties. Given that the Army are drawing down to 82,000 by 2020 it's likely that there maybe some ranges up for sale. Probably not happen but that would make the NRA truly 'National'.

Looks to me like the NRA own the land as their history states they purchased it for £13000 around about 1890. If they sold it now for development they could possibly raise enough funds to buy a couple of ex MOD ranges and upgrade them with state of the art automatic marking target systems at mores accessible locations for the vast majority of shooters. History is one thing but propping up a decaying, decrepid site is exhausting what scarce funds they have, and quite frankly they are not making much of a job of maintaining what the have.

Time to start thinking out of the box.