Shooting & Training Bulletin Oct 2018
Competitions & Training
Looking back on Summer 2018
We have officially waved goodbye to summer, and with it the 149th Imperial Meeting which this year welcomed over 2000 individuals to Bisley. Plans are already underway for the 150th Imperial celebrations, to keep up to date please visit our website.
The Autumn shooting season is well under way, with competitions and training available both at Bisley and at other venues across the country.
European Long Range Championships
The final NRA Target Rifle event of the year – The European Long Range Target Rifle Championships – will take place on 13th and 14th October, encompassing both a three-stage team event and an individual shoot.
Trafalgar Meeting
Taking place on 20th – 21st October, this meeting offers the owners of Classic and Historic Firearms to not only compete with fellow enthusiasts, but also to share their knowledge and experiences, and in some cases to dress in attire similar to their firearms history.
If you are an NRA member and do not own a Classic or Historic firearm, fear not as there are suitable rifles in our armoury which you can hire to compete with.
Click Here to find out more
Autumn Action Weekend – 27th – 28th October
Bisley ranges will once again be in full swing for this weekend of shooting; predominantly consisting of Gallery Rifle and Pistol events, but also including Target Shotgun and 200 yard matches including the ever popular McQueen competition on Short Siberia and Mini McQueen on Time Limit.
This Meeting offers an enjoyable and competitive shooting atmosphere for entrants of all abilities, with discounts to encourage new shooters, Under 25s and those looking to shoot a large number of matches.
Bisley will also host the 11th round of the Handgun League on Sunday 28th, which concludes at Anglo Range – Shepton Mallet on the 8th and 9th December.
Click Here to find out more
Volunteer Range Crew
Our Meetings feature a support network of valued volunteers that offer their time to run ranges, compile stats, and welcome new and existing shooters to the ranges. We are always looking for new volunteers to join our Range crew team, if you are available to help for any amount of time for either the Trafalgar or Autumn Action Weekend, please follow the links to the sign up forms.
Gallery Rifle & Civilian Service Rifle Skills Courses
Providing fundamental skills for taking part in events or to further your club shooting experience, these courses are a great way to consolidate your knowledge and improve your technique.
Gallery Rifle Skills Course – Sunday 4th November
Civilian Service Rifle Skills Course – Saturday 24th November
Training
Throughout the year the NRA Training Department runs four main courses. Three of these courses are available regionally – listed below. For more details on the process of how to book a regional course please click here.
Club Instructor Course
This classroom-based two-day course is designed to provide selected experienced club members with the qualification that they need to be able to officially train new and existing shooters, within their own clubs, to the standards of safety and competence required by the NRA Safe Shooting System.
Click here to download the NRA Club Instructor (Bisley & Regional Course Booking Form)
Range Safety Officers’ Course (RSO)
The NRA RSO course is intended for club shooters of all levels of experience, who may not have had any formal training in the practical aspects of running ranges. The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years of age and must be a member of a Home Office approved club.
The primary aim of the RSO course is to enhance range safety for clubs by providing practical and relevant training and guidance. Successful candidates will be qualified as an NRA RSO, valid for six years from the date of issue.
Click here to download the NRA RSO booking form (Bisley & Regional Course Booking Form)
Range Conducting Officers’ Course (RCO)
The NRA RCO course is intended for suitable club members to gain the qualification necessary to allow them to sign for and run a Ministry of Defence (MoD) range. Candidates should be experienced shooters who have passed the Range Safety Officers’ (RSO) course, with experience of running ranges.
Click here to download the NRA RCO (Bisley & Regional Course Booking Form)
Probationary Training for new NRA members
These courses, run at Bisley, are officially open to any member of the target rifle shooting community, and include five separate Probationary Modules focusing on knowledge and safety taught in both theoretical and practical settings.
The modules must be taken independently and in order, and once completed will give you access to Full NRA Membership.
Apply to join as a Probationary Member – Click here to download a form
Other Training Courses
Alongside the 4 main courses we also run bespoke facilitated courses as well as support the skills development courses.
To book any of the above courses, or for further information on any Training matters, please either email NRA Training Division or phone us on 01483 797777 ext.149.
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General News
The NRA, it’s Tramways and the London & South Western Railway
Written by Chris Bunch, NRA Museum Volunteer.
In 1859, as a result of the perceived threat to Great Britain from the large increase in conscript armies on the Continent and especially the growing power of France, and given further impetus by a public outcry for improvements in the Country’s defence, a new Rifle Volunteer Movement, based on that of the Napoleonic Wars, was quickly formed to great popular enthusiasm.
This led, in the same year, to the formation of the National Rifle Association designed to encourage rifle shooting by the establishment of a great annual National Rifle Meeting open to both Volunteers and all-comers. There marksmen could compete for valuable prizes. To achieve this it was necessary to ensure that the location, initially on Wimbledon Common and later at Bisley, was readily accessible by train.
An extraordinary relationship now developed between the Association and the London and South Western Railway Company, and its successors, in fulfilling these aims. The culmination of this was the construction of the Bisley Camp Tramway which connected the L&SWR mainline at Brookwood with the NRA Camp. Interlinked with this is the fascinating story of the Association’s own unique tramways. These carried competitors and spectators to the more distant ranges as well as targets to the butts and for mobile targets. The military extensions to the Camp Tramway in both World Wars are also covered.
The book relates the history of the NRA and its tramway from its foundation until the end of the twentieth century largely through contemporary letters, documents and photographs.
Copies can be purchased from The National Rifle Association for £35.00, with profits going to the NRA Museum.
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Competitions
Trafalgar Meeting 2023
Trafalgar Meeting 2023
Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd October
This Meeting is full of character, with competitors seen entering into the spirit of the event and some wearing appropriate clothing for the firearms used at the time
The firearms being used attract attention especially when, what is basically a museum piece, can be seen in full operational glory. This offers the pleasurable opportunity to use, view and handle historical, classic and vintage arms. Museums and private collectors do preserve our heritage firearms, however practical use by shooters with knowledge of these guns adds another dimension. These firearms being shot across the ranges is a reminder of the history of their development, from flint muzzle-loader or matchlock, to breech-loading nitro cartridge firearms
There are events at most distances between 10m – 900 yards!
In addition the popular Trade Fair will be taking place on both the Saturday and Sunday, hosted in the NRA Pavilion
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Competitions
Accuracy International Ltd Sponsor new McQueen Awards
We are delighted to announce that Accuracy International Ltd are proudly sponsoring two new prestigious awards for the McQueen series of competitions.
Accuracy International Ltd are a highly respected company based in the UK who design and produce high quality precision rifles for the individual shooter and for the UK and International Forces. The McQueen matches’ historical origins are from sniper training from the First World War so are very well aligned with Accuracy International’s pedigree for the precision sniper rifle and its rich history.
The McQueen A (Precision) Under 25:
The team at Accuracy International (AI) are keen to encourage young shooters into target shooting so will award a stunning hallmarked 1966 Sheffield Silver Salver and a Miniature AI Rifle Model to the winner of this new category. This match is shot at 300 yards on Century Range, two sighting shots with ten to count with issued NRA rifles – currently AI Accuracy Tactical rifles.
The McQueen Pairs:
AI are awarding an elegant Antique Victorian 1898 Silver Cup and two Miniature AI Rifle Models for the winners of this competition. It is open to any number of teams of two from any rifle club affiliated to the NRA, Unit of HM Forces or visiting team regardless of discipline. The awards will go to the team whose aggregate scores, with each member firing the McQueen A (Precision) match once only, make up the highest aggregate.
We look forward to receiving your entries into these exciting matches. Entries are to be made on the day on Century range.
For further information click here
As already announced, Sykes McQueen’s long standing support to the Imperial McQueen competitions has been extended. New for 2018 they are offering £100 prize money for the winner of the McQueen C (Classic) competition, shot with historic sniper rifles prior to 1945 designs. For more information click here
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Other
Trade Fair at the Trafalgar 20th-21st Oct 2018
Trade Fair at the Trafalgar 20-21 October 2018
The Trafalgar meeting is a great event for those wishing to compete with classic or reproduction firearms.
This Meeting is full of character, with competitors seen entering into the spirit of the event and some wearing appropriate clothing for the firearms used at the time.
The guns being used attract attention especially when, what is basically a museum piece, can be seen in full operational glory.
This offers the pleasurable opportunity to use, view and handle historical, classic and vintage arms.
Museums and private collectors do preserve our heritage firearms, however practical use by shooters with knowledge of these guns adds another dimension.
These firearms being shot across the ranges is a reminder of the history of their development, from flint muzzle-loader or matchlock, to breech-loading nitro cartridge firearms.
There is also something for the collector at the Trade Fair over the weekend – a good opportunity to search for those hard-to-find pieces of kit as well as to discover new items for your collection.
As in previous years, the Trade Fair is held in a purpose built marquee on Sit Pet Lawn with Outside exhibitors on Sit Pet Lawn.
This year’s confirmed exhibitors are:
Trafalgar 2018 Marquee Layout
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General News
Sykes McQueen – Increase in Prize money for 149th Imperial
We are delighted to announce that Sykes McQueen long standing support to the Imperial McQueen competitions has been extended. New for 2018, Sykes McQueen are offering £100 prize money for the winner of the McQueen C (Classic) competition at the Imperial Meeting. Sykes McQueen provide the NRA and the wider shooting community with quality targetry and have been generous sponsors of the Imperial Meeting for a significant number of years. They wish to re-establish the association with Messrs John McQueen & Sons Ltd who sponsored the McQueen match from 1920 with a winner’s prize award of £20, a substantial amount at that time.
The McQueen C is shot with historic sniper rifles prior to 1945 designs, with sights and mounts that are ‘in the spirit of the original’. An award of £100 for the winner of this competition is a great incentive to bring out those impressive historic rifles and is a real testament to the history behind this competition.
In preparation for this why not enter our Historic Service Rifle match taking place on Saturday 7th April specifically tailored to historic Service Rifles.
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