Range Services Oct Bulletin 2018

Bookings for 2019. 

This is the third iteration of the annual planning cycle and the sequence of events is now well established.  The Range Office team are currently working hard to finalise the NRA main events range plot.  The next stage is to identify and schedule Club events utilising more than 8 targets.  This is already well advanced and will culminate with the Range Booking Conference which is scheduled for 1 November 2018 at 1400hrs in the Pavilion.  However, this year we will be doing things slightly differently and there will be an open invite to all Clubs.

At the Conference we will give a quick update on the Ranges and associated procedures, followed by an overview of scheduled major events highlighting areas of conflict, which we will aim to discuss and resolve at the meeting.

Bookings for individual and smaller club events may be submitted now but will not be approved until after the Conference.

Civilian use of Small Arms Range Targetry System (SARTS).

There are stringent restrictions on civilian use of SARTS. Non Military personnel are not permitted to operate the system or attend SARTS training. Serving soldiers and reservists that are members of civilian rifle clubs are not permitted to operate SARTS unless on duty, even if trained.  Landmarc will provide an operator which will be included in the range hire costs unfortunately SARTS bookings will be refused, possibly at short notice, if operators are not available.

There are also several conditions of use:

• Course of fire must be provided to the operator
• Targets are not to be left on “BOB” and the operator depart range
• It is not acceptable for targets to be deployed on Live Fire Tactical Training Areas and the operator expected to stand out in the elements with a handheld control.
• A qualified and competent person (RCO) must remain with the operator in the console at all times. The RCO is responsible for directing target exposures.
• Shoot script is acceptable but not all operators will be capable of following such a document

Original information directed civilian clubs were only permitted to use SARTS in manual mode and that there was no authority for programed shoots. However it was agreed that the “authority would review permitted shoots”.  The NRA is currently identifying programed shoots from the Army Operational Shooting Policy for submission to the Officer responsible for range safety who will be requested to approve the programed shoots for civilian use.

Club Guest Days.

There has been some confusion over the notification requirements for Guest Days.  It seems the when hosting a Guest day, at Bisley, many clubs notify their home Firearms Licensing team rather than Surrey Firearms Licensing Department. In clarification any club that is hosting a Guest Day at Bisley is to notify the Surrey Firearms Licensing Department.  In response to a request for information from Surrey Police clubs are also required to identify their booking as a Guest Day by ticking the “check box” on the NRA booking form. This is aimed at providing assurance that the correct procedure is being observed by all.

Discount on Tuesdays.

The demand for our ranges is still growing rapidly, in an attempt to tempt members to shoot on a weekday there is a discount of 25% on the cost of a lane on Tuesdays.