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

So what are the major factors that must be compliant to certify a range to shoot steels? (22RF semi, timed shoots at steel plates) the range is 45m wide 100yds long with a 6.65m backstop wall & side mounds to 1.2m Covered FP at 100yds otherwise flat open grass.

Its currently certificated as 2030J & 718m/s it makes no mention of calibre, gun type, target type? Only target heights vs firing positions.

We wanted to do semi auto 10:22 at 25yds at steel plates & do timed sped shoots.

Geometry & physical layout. - check OK
Cones of Fire vs the range floor backstop wall vs the firing positions. - check OK
The ranges setting in the environment & proximity to other features. - NDA Range Check OK
Muzzle energy & velocity. - well within
The factors listed in JSP 403 - seem to be more than compliant.

Then the 'Range consultant advised not acceptabe & cannot be certificated becuse:

Being a fast & unsupported discipline its not safe?
& splash back from a steel target has been recorded at 40m so its got to be over 50m away?
& you can only shoot from the FP at 100yds at targets set at 25yds, 50m or 100yds, i.e. you cant shoot from 50m down range at targets set at 100yds so the angles are closer to the backstop wall?
& because your club has novices & possibly scouts I cant certificate the range for a rapid-fire practice.

Any comments on the 'Range consultants' view on this?!

My questions include:

Do i need a change to the range cert to shoot these targets given its certified as energy & target types are not defined? Indeed it says 'Discipline specific targets & frames shall be used...'

Can a range cert define 'No rapid fire practices'?

Call me (or if you are at Bisley over the weekend, find me for a chat).

Iain
NRA Range Construction Advice Manager (another job title I've just dreamt up)
01483 797777 ext 154

Somewhere in JSP403 there is a minimum engagement distance for falling plates, although the quoted minimum engagement distance and splashback figures are for 5.56m and 7.62mm, if I remember rightly.

I've never seen a gallery or NDA range with practice types limited in its safety certificate, other than the usual bits about automatic fire and firing by sense of direction at night. I think your range consultant needs his licence to practice, or whatever it is he has, revoked - the cone of fire as determined by the factors in 403 is the key criterion, not his childish guesswork about fast shooting and scouts.

That said, I think he probably has a good point about firing points and target locations.