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OK just a hypothetical question (although obviously I may nick some of the best ideas for the future benefit of shooting in general )

What would constitute the perfect club to belong to? I belong to a great club in Northern Ireland (Comber Rifle Club) which really is the perfect club . . . except its a bit far from where I live However a recent discussion has led to me putting finger to keyboard.

I will start off with my thoughts but over to you lot . . .

Open to all legal shooters
Open to all types of lawful shooting
Suitable for highly competitive shooters and plinkers alike in all disciplines
Based at Bisley BUT would travel to other ranges around the country/world
Maybe has other sub-sections/sub-clubs around the country (to keep Dromia happy )
Good availability of accommodation for all pockets
Range of competitions/leagues/teams entering other competitions in all disciplines for those with a competitive nature
Targets available every weekend (maybe a turn up if you feel like it "booking in" system?)
Low costs
Shooting costs subsidised by other events
Place to have coffee/donuts/beer/lunch etc with friends
Place to have dinner in the evenings
Warm clubhouse in winter - sunny verandah in summer
Space/rooms for functions
Trips to places of interest
Armoury
Gun room
Good and cheap probationary system
Friendly and attractive to newcomers
Club guns
Club ammo on a pay as you use basis
Good and efficient management
Great people!

What else?

Love

karen

Hi all of the above but in a more central region [west brom would be good ].

On site 'smith
Training facilities/instruction
Library with internet cafe
Reloading facility
Good shop (s)
More central
Mud free
Easy access from all main roads
No footpaths

karen wrote:OK just a hypothetical question (although obviously I may nick some of the best ideas for the future benefit of shooting in general )

What would constitute the perfect club to belong to? I belong to a great club in Northern Ireland (Comber Rifle Club) which really is the perfect club . . . except its a bit far from where I live However a recent discussion has led to me putting finger to keyboard.

I will start off with my thoughts but over to you lot . . .

Open to all legal shooters
Open to all types of lawful shooting
Suitable for highly competitive shooters and plinkers alike in all disciplines

Agreed

Based at Bisley BUT would travel to other ranges around the country/world

Not ideal for me (as an example) as not based within travelling distance for a weekly (Or more often) shoot - which is why I like my local club

Maybe has other sub-sections/sub-clubs around the country (to keep Dromia happy )
Good availability of accommodation for all pockets

Only relevant for a "national" location really

Range of competitions/leagues/teams entering other competitions in all disciplines for those with a competitive nature
Targets available every weekend (maybe a turn up if you feel like it "booking in" system?)
Low costs
Shooting costs subsidised by other events

If you are running it as a business and not a club then low cost targets - our club does not charge for "targets" nor do quite a few others.

Place to have coffee/donuts/beer/lunch etc with friends

Would be nice

Place to have dinner in the evenings

Again more suited to a national venue

Warm clubhouse in winter - sunny verandah in summer
Space/rooms for functions
Trips to places of interest
Armoury
Gun room

Although nice, I do not see these as essential for a "club" but certainly would for a national (or regional venue)

Good and cheap probationary system

This should be free - almost all the clubs run probationary courses in line with the NRA model - our club even covers the cost for probationers.

Friendly and attractive to newcomers
Club guns
Club ammo on a pay as you use basis
Good and efficient management
Great people!

Essential again!

What else?

Love

karen

It is a good starting point - but you describe Bisley to a T (Well almost)

I think the key point for most people about the ideal club - would be that it was close enough to them to pop to when they had a spare hour or 3. Most of us who are club members, have club days maybe once or twice a month, with the bonus of evening shoots in the summer. I am lucky in that one of the clubs I am a member of shoot 4 nights a week indoors, plus every Saturday all day. They also have an outdoor range which you can use as an when you want (Providing there are two of you present)

Mike

Bisley would be no good for your 'perfect' club.

Apart from location - no pistols!

stgeo

Indoor ranges as well as outside ranges,
Secure onsite gun storage facilities should you want them with gun cleaning area
Within an hours drive of everyone wanting to use it
Covers all disciplines aswell as clay shooting
Good range of club guns so you can basically try before you buy, maybe supported by the manufacturers, this could include scopes too
Or
Manufacturer supported trial days so you can try all the guns they make
Good communication from club staff that actually reply to emails, online booking system for members

Night shooting ( to allow use of NV)
Media centre - and live cctv coverage from each range available back in the clubhouse
Cross party political patronage

and essentially such a facility in every county


simples

Clear well thought out youth program which includes how to provide cheap ammunition for them to use etc. Links to schools, scouts, cadets etc.

I think you would get a good idea of the ideal range/club if you look at some of the larger European ranges where there really are some tremendous facilities that cater for most shooting disciplines and normally have both indoor and outdoor ranges.

Obviously things like 'free to use and free ammunition' would be great but realistically:

Multiple open air ranges with large U shaped berm arrangements capped at the open end by concrete floored, covered (but open on all sides - less magnification of gunshots, cooler in summer, and easier to read the wind than 'closed at the back' firing points like Melville) firing point where each firing point has a concrete shooting bench and enough space to shoot prone or standing to the side of the bench. Multiple arrangements means classes, practice sessions and competitions can be held in individual ranges allowing shooting to take place in front of the firing points, movement when shooting, and the addition of range furniture e.g. doorways, walls, windows, cars, etc, without shutting down all regular shooting.

At least one target stand provided per firing point which you can position at any distance you like. Bring your own target stands/steels etc if you like. If they could provide optional steel target rental that would be even better.

At least one four-sided berm arrangement with a shoot house that gets rearranged every week/month etc.

All kinds of targets allowed - paper, steel, clay, jugs of milk, your old washing machine from home etc. Just as long as you clean up any debris

Night shooting

Open to all, lane rental by the hour. Clean up your own mess but otherwise a 'get what you pay for' arrangement like a hotel - no having to do desk duty or help set up, this is a business you pay for a service.

Vary the time between cease fires on the ranges, so one range where cease fires are infrequent, one where they are frequent, and one in between, something like that.

Don't point guns anywhere but down range unless they're visibly unloaded (action open etc), don't shoot other people's targets, and pay for a replacement if you destroy a target stand - otherwise do what you like, shoot standing on your head if it makes you happy.

Toilets, vending machines for ear plugs, drinks and snacks, heated hut with chairs and tables to take a break in etc. Chairs behind the firing points for friends/shared lane users/etc to watch.

Descriptive, easy to find web page with lots of pictures, detailed descriptions, rules etc, online booking system

Lots of pay classes to teach different aspects of shooting to newcomers and old hands alike, and provide the opportunity for lots of interesting drills that aren't possible during regular range time e.g. shooting to your front then immediately to your rear, shooting from inside a vehicle, shooting while moving, moving then shooting etc.

Fun events like getting pyrotechnics for the range, RC planes for targets, pulling junk cars onto the range to shoot at etc.

Open all day every day

Able to drive right up to the firing points and park just behind them

So not much different to Tuscon Rifle Club, my favourite range :shakeshout: