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So I'm writing a probationary booklet for members of our club and I'm just wondering what Kind of things you think that someone new to the sport should need to know. Not just about shooting, but also about the club and the way it operates.

So far I've covered:

1. About The Club
a. Probation Membership
b. Full Membership
c. CASC Status
d. Committee Members
e. Annual General Meeting

2. Range Routine Procedures
a. Signing In
b. Paying In
c. Ammunition Issue
d. Ammunition Storage
e. Etiquette

3. Range Rules
a. NSRA Rules
b. Club Specific Rules
c. Calibres Permitted On Range
d. Targets Permitted On Range
e. RCO Present

4. Safety
a. Fire Alarm/Fire Safety
b. Eye Protection
c. Hearing Protection
d. Firearm Handling Safety

5. Sights
a. Aperture/Dioptre Sights
b. Telescopic Sights
c. Castle/Battle Sights
d. Red Dot/Other Sights
e. MOA/Millirad
f. Zeroing Scopes On Rifles Procedure

6. Malfunctions
a. Types Of Malfunctions
b. How To Clear Malfunctions

Anyone think of anything I've missed?

Range Orders - what is on them controls the use of the range.
Range (Control) Officers - what are they and what authority do they have.
Sanctions if you err.

dodgyrog wrote:Range Orders - what is on them controls the use of the range.
Range (Control) Officers - what are they and what authority do they have.
Sanctions if you err.

Got that one.

Good call on Range Orders... :)

Sanctions are covered in multiple other sections :)

7 a. How the club coach takes his tea (milk, no sugar)



Looks pretty decent. I'm sure without reinventing the entire wheel you could pinch some ideas for content from the NRA probationers book, although that's a slightly different focus.

Probably worth a 'general' or 'tips' section covering things like bringing a notepad and pen to write down scores, which kit used etc, what to do if they have a problem, who to ask for questions etc.

It's daunting being a newbie at a shooting club so that seems like a great project :)

Kungfugerbil wrote:7 a. How the club coach takes his tea (milk, no sugar)



Looks pretty decent. I'm sure without reinventing the entire wheel you could pinch some ideas for content from the NRA probationers book, although that's a slightly different focus.

Probably worth a 'general' or 'tips' section covering things like bringing a notepad and pen to write down scores, which kit used etc, what to do if they have a problem, who to ask for questions etc.

It's daunting being a newbie at a shooting club so that seems like a great project :)

Thanks,

Its currently at 20 pages and will be printed in booklet format.

our club has a 3 week "cooling off period" between a probationer filling out their form and then being allowed to shoot whilst the police are notified of a new member.

We've seen many people drop off probation and never come back after the 3 weeks, despite being reminded.

I think it might be good to send them away with a booklet knowing what they'll be in for and give them a good grounding for whats in store, and what they'll be taught.

it's also an absolute nightmare at the minute because only the Secretary is bringing on probationers as we don't have a set course, so once this booklet is written, I'll move on to writing the checklist that all new members must go through and check off multiple times. so we can at least make sure all new members are proficient in each of the rifles and the way in which the club operates, so theoretically once they become a full member they could teach the next wave - all that would need to be done would be some kind of check session with the secretary at the end of the probation before signing them off and offering full membership.

I don't want to miss anything, but I don't want to make it completely daunting at the same time and scare away those newbies.

It's a fine line between teaching all the ruels so they're safe and legal and scaring them away because there's too many rules... >.<

Basic outline of FAC procedure/rules?

zanes wrote:Basic outline of FAC procedure/rules?

Not really relevant to probation members... not at this stage anyway. you have to be a full member for some 6 months before applying for FAC. this is for those who are just coming and sounding out the sport.

of course verbally we can mention it, but as I say, there's a lot to take in as it is...

We could do a full-member booklet as-well though... Moving on from this stage and into full membership - touch on the competitions that can be entered, FAC procedure to getting your own rifle etc...

Good point.

Is 5) really necessary at the first stage then? Aren't they things that probationers would be instructed in during that period (though always good to have a hard reference).

think sights should be taken out and put in its place rifle types and familisation

greenshoots

safety needs to be nearer to the top

greenshoots