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As you might know I'm buillding a range, won't be open for a while but I'm looking at the rules and regs for clubs and the question of affiliation come up. It might be a loaded question but why should I affiliate the range and the club to either organisation? The range will be a commercial venture but with a HO approved club as part of that but considering the fees both organisations charge I'm wondering what the point is? The perception is that the nra/NSRA 'control' the regs regarding shooting and clubs in the UK but I don't think that is the case in that the law simply states you must maintain adequate levels of admin, control and safety processes to meet the requirements not be member or affiliated to a shooing organisation. Am I wrong?

The only practical reason all the cubs I know affiliate is for the insurance. If similar could be got elsewhere at around the same rate then we wouldn't affiliate.

Obviously NRA membership is required if a club wants to use MoD ranges.

If you want to shoot mod ranges isn't it just simpler to join the nra individually?

Home office approved club or range means you can join it as a probationer and gain your fac though being a member at said club.

Nra affiliation is insurance based I'm pretty sure...

You do not have to do either, your club your rules,u say who comes and who gos a pitch and putt club or pay as you shoot club is fine,Severnside is one such place and I'm thinking Charmouth is but dont quote me on it....they are still insured and Ile bet it's not through the nra...

Thorney wrote:As you might know I'm buillding a range, won't be open for a while but I'm looking at the rules and regs for clubs and the question of affiliation come up. It might be a loaded question but why should I affiliate the range and the club to either organisation? The range will be a commercial venture but with a HO approved club as part of that but considering the fees both organisations charge I'm wondering what the point is? The perception is that the nra/NSRA 'control' the regs regarding shooting and clubs in the UK but I don't think that is the case in that the law simply states you must maintain adequate levels of admin, control and safety processes to meet the requirements not be member or affiliated to a shooing organisation. Am I wrong?

Thorney;

As long as you run the business properly and safely, there is no real reason for you to affiliate to either the NRA or NSRA. As stated by others, you will need adequate insurance to cover your activities but that can be obtained elsewhere. I wouldn't want my business being 'overseen' by either of the NGB's although I would most certainly take notice of their respective range safety rules / policies as a starting point for my own business (no point in re-inventing the wheel). Most of these processes are common sense anyway. You are the guy risking your money on this venture so it's your ball and therefore your rules!

Best of luck to you in your endeavours.

Mezzer

Thorney wrote:As you might know I'm buillding a range, won't be open for a while but I'm looking at the rules and regs for clubs and the question of affiliation come up. It might be a loaded question but why should I affiliate the range and the club to either organisation? The range will be a commercial venture but with a HO approved club as part of that but considering the fees both organisations charge I'm wondering what the point is? The perception is that the nra/NSRA 'control' the regs regarding shooting and clubs in the UK but I don't think that is the case in that the law simply states you must maintain adequate levels of admin, control and safety processes to meet the requirements not be member or affiliated to a shooing organisation. Am I wrong?

You don't affiliate the range you affiliate the club. The NGOs insurance then covers the club & the range as a premises to shoot in. if you trade from it you need more insurance to cover Ltd co needs.

From NRA / NSRA etc
- Assistance with HO approval, model documents & processes to satisfy HO that the club is appropriate.
- Legal assistance as well as insurance with FAC grant renewal or HO approvals.
- Technical assistance on range design & construction. (after the NSRA hand loading debate I would not use NSRA range technical support though)
- Insurance tailored to a clubs needs vs a business, remember for you to use the range it has to be within a club & abide by club HO rules not those of a business.
- Access to events, competition, ranking schemes for competitions.
- NRA Training courses, or approval of the clubs own course, that satisfy the MOD for RCO & SSC.
- For NRA a record of firearm use (if you use it) to use at FAC renewal.
- Listing your club to prospective members & referrals.
- A badge & a quarterly rag.

A lot of it is intangible but the experience within its ranks should not be ignored.

If you have a perception then go ask them what they can do, or even better join one & see if your preconceptions are true? Am afraid many on this forum in particular seem to have substantially negative perceptions of the UK NGOs based on hearsay, not being a member & following the mob?

Whilst both NRA & NSRA have their limitations & some issues but both do & have supported shooting, shooters, clubs in many forms for over a hundred years each.

I'm a member of the NRA and have nothing but positive things to say about them, however thats £70 a year which is (IMO) a bit steep its bearable. However when you start looking at £££ per member I would prefer to see tangible benefits for the money, especially as it will directly affect members fees as its passed on. I've had some dealing with the NSRA and again, all positive but I'm not yet a member so your point is valid. As I said, we are still months away from operating so its early days yet but always a good idea to plan this.

dromia wrote:The only practical reason all the cubs I know affiliate is for the insurance. If similar could be got elsewhere at around the same rate then we wouldn't affiliate.

Obviously NRA membership is required if a club wants to use MoD ranges.

Just out of interest I enquired recently with a couple of companies to see what it would cost to insure our club with similar cover to that provided by our current NRA sourced insurance.

We are currently paying roughly a total of £1,300 a year for affiliation and insurance through the NRA (including capitation fees to the NRA).
Endesleigh who are the NRA insurers quoted £1,500 if we were not affiliated to the NRA.
Marsh and Co who provide insurance for the BASC scheme and who were the previous company providing insurance for the NRA quoted £594.

Seeing as how little our club benefits from NRA affiliation it does make you wonder about actually supporting the organisation doesn't it?

P.S. I forgot to add that Marsh actually insisted on insuring the buildings that we have on site also and that was included in the quote.