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What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loading.
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:07 pm
by Mail2pete
Hi, Can anyone tell me the difference. Our club is insured via the NSRA and on their web site (
http://www.nsra.co.uk/ ) they have the following statement:
There has been a great deal of comment and concern around the issue of downloading over the past few weeks. Members have been requesting guidance on the matter and in particular with reference to the NSRA’s Insurance cover. I would like to acknowledge that there are significant anomalies in the insurance paperwork in relation to the exclusion of downloading but the inclusion of hand loading. I regret the inconvenience and angst that this has caused and would like to apologise for this. We are working on this as a matter of urgency. From my perspective these activities need clear definition and the situation is part of a wide ranging issue.
We have discussed the issue with our brokers and we are jointly looking at the paperwork with Hiscox our insurers. Once a conclusion has been reached I will make this known to all of our members and clubs and where necessary appropriate changes will be made to our paperwork which will be reissued if it needs to be.
Iain Root, Chief Executive Officer, NSRA
Any info would be appreciated as I believe they are the same in that I am hand loading to meet a specific velocity to meet range rules.
Cheers
Pete
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:15 pm
by phaedra1106
As far as the NSRA goes I believe it applies to the practice of "downloading" full bore centrefire rounds for use on an indoor range (usually 25m), our club members shoot a variety of rifles such as Enfields and Moisin Nagants etc. using a reduced velocity load and a 115-123gr cast boolit, typically at around 7-900fps, this keeps it well within the ME limit of our range template.
I also shoot downloaded versions of 44mag and a more modern cartridge the 300aac Blackout.
Hand loading refers to the practice of assembling ammunition by hand, this can be to any specification.
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:53 pm
by dromia
There is no difference, the NSRA is complete and utter mess in this and many other regards.
If you follow their flawed logic on the issue then any handloaded round that does not match full SAAMi/CIP spec is down loaded, so your 44/357magnum shooters better be using full stoke loads, which will in many cases be over the top for many 25yrd range certificates you won't meet the NSRA self imposed criteria for valid insurance.
We ditched them last year because of their total lack of understanding and support over this issue and they still have made no progress.
What can you expect really when you are asking a small bore (rimfire) organisation to know about fullbore shooting.
Do a search on here and you will find my more detailed comments on the NSRA's stupidity, conflicting advice and lack of support for clubs around this matter.
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:57 pm
by dodgyrog
Having just proof read the NSRA proposed code of practice for Handloading Firearms Ammunition which surfaced at the NSRA Shooting Council meeting yesterday I suggest you watch this space.
I raised this subject at Council 6 months ago and it has taken this long for them to react!!!
The code will go to the insurers for their approval in order that reloaded and 'downloaded' ammunition be insured by the NSRA insurers.
I heard yesterday that the use of 'downloaded' ammunition is not approved by the NRA at Bisley and their insurance MAY disallow it at your own facility - check your policy asap.
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:58 pm
by dromia
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:05 pm
by dromia
dodgyrog wrote:Having just proof read the NSRA proposed code of practice for Handloading Firearms Ammunition which surfaced at the NSRA Shooting Council meeting yesterday I suggest you watch this space.
I raised this subject at Council 6 months ago and it has taken this long for them to react!!!
The code will go to the insurers for their approval in order that reloaded and 'downloaded' ammunition be insured by the NSRA insurers.
I heard yesterday that the use of 'downloaded' ammunition is not approved by the NRA at Bisley and their insurance MAY disallow it at your own facility - check your policy asap.
That will be interesting I look forward to seeing that.
What about the issue of the insurance only being valid for recognised disciplines on courses of fire sanctioned by governing bodies?
Regarding the NRA insurance I don't know where this came from but last year when the NSRA were being a failure in supporting a club we went to the NRA, spoke to them and they were very helpful, they put us in touch directly with their insurers with whom we shared our processes for using handloaded ammunition on our range and were told that our activities were fully covered by both the NRA and their insurers, I wonder what has happened in the interim if anything other than the usual Bisley rumour mill.
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:08 pm
by dromia
dodgyrog wrote:
I raised this subject at Council 6 months ago and it has taken this long for them to react!!!
Also it is over 12 months ago since I raised it with them
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:23 pm
by dodgyrog
What about the issue of the insurance only being valid for recognised disciplines on courses of fire sanctioned by governing bodies?
No comment at Council about that! I'll chase it up AGAIN.
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:26 pm
by Mike357
Pretty sure every CF shooter on Melville this weekend was using downloaded ammo. So the NRA are not insured for that?
Re: What's the difference between Downloading and Hand loadi
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:53 pm
by dodgyrog
Mike357 wrote:Pretty sure every CF shooter on Melville this weekend was using downloaded ammo. So the NRA are not insured for that?
Check your insurance policy.