Gun Clubs

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Is it just me or are most gun clubs actually just air rifles? Looking for clubs in sussex and with the exception of one clay pigeon shooting place which is pretty expensive, everything else is .177 air rifles.

I used to use .22 air rifles as a teenager and would thus like to step my game up a little bit.

Are there any clubs which provide for this? Obviously not looking to shoot a .50 anti material rifle:rolleyes: but just something with a bit of oomph.

Regards


Prepares to get flamed .:p
 
I've had a look round sussex and there doesn't appear to be much.

I think it's half due to the restrictive gun laws, and half due to the fact that gun clubs in this country are rather archaic and esoteric and haven't caught on to the internet age.

From what my dodgy geezer barber said, the local clubs are quite cliquey and quite set in their ways.

For what it's worth, you can shoot .50 BMG in this country legally with bolt action rifles such as AW50's, however, there are only a few ranges capable of accomodating the round - something due to needing a ridiculous down range due to the energy of the round.

It's worth noting that it's very expensive. The rifles go for up to £6k second hand and you'll need decent optics to support it which would realistically cost over a grand.

Cartridges are also expensive at £5-£7 a round.
 
I joined a rifle club and all they had were .22's :(

But then again, if you're approaching it as a sport as oppose to the American 'I wanna shoot a big gun any old place' thoughts -- why does the calibre make a difference?


I went to Las Vegas and shot everything I wanted to there. After about 30 minutes -- the 'spray a big gun any old place for fun' thing gets dull ..
 
Gaijin said:
I've had a look round sussex and there doesn't appear to be much.

I think it's half due to the restrictive gun laws, and half due to the fact that gun clubs in this country are rather archaic and esoteric and haven't caught on to the internet age.

From what my dodgy geezer barber said, the local clubs are quite cliquey and quite set in their ways.

For what it's worth, you can shoot .50 BMG in this country legally with bolt action rifles such as AW50's, however, there are only a few ranges capable of accomodating the round - something due to needing a ridiculous down range due to the energy of the round.

It's worth noting that it's very expensive. The rifles go for up to £6k second hand and you'll need decent optics to support it which would realistically cost over a grand.

Cartridges are also expensive at £5-£7 a round.
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Very informative thanks. £6k a gun and £5-7 a round? Bloody hell that's expensive. :O

I wasn't looking to buy, just join a competitive rifle club, just a standard bolt action rifle etc.

britboy4321 said:
I joined a rifle club and all they had were .22's :(

But then again, if you're approaching it as a sport as oppose to the American 'I wanna shoot a big gun any old place' thoughts -- why does the calibre make a difference?


I went to Las Vegas and shot everything I wanted to there. After about 30 minutes -- the 'spray a big gun any old place for fun' thing gets dull ..
Click to expand...

I'm not looking for a M4 to spray around the place, merely a decent rifle range with a decent set of targets. .22 has lost it's thrill for me, not enough range, though that was a air rifle. Went along way, but I would like something consistant and that I could practice. :)
 
Might help if you gave a location, also ask at your nearest Police Station for the Firearms Officer contact details and have a chat with them, they should be able to steer you in the right direction, same with Gunsmiths.
 
First, it should be fairly obvious why shooting clubs are a little publicity shy: aside from not wanting people to break in and steal the weapons on the premises (there are usually some) they also don't want to attract the attention of the tut-tut crowd.

Second, as several people have already stated, full-bore (i.e. greater than .22 rim-fire) rifle clubs are rare because of safety requirements. There is at least once case of a man being shot dead four miles down-stream of an outdoor range. Indoor is utterly out of the question due to a) noise, and b) ricochets.

If you want to know where the nearest clubs are, contact the NSRA for .22, and the NRA (the British version, which is unrelated to the American one) for full-bore. The NSRA does deal with some full-bore as well I think, but start with the NRA.


M
 
There is at least once case of a man being shot dead four miles down-stream of an outdoor range.
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that's something like twice the distance of the longest sniper shot isn't it?

what were they firing to get 4 miles of range?
 
Tefal said:
what were they firing to get 4 miles of range?
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bqFr1.jpg
 
http://www.nsra.co.uk/index.php?option=com_sobi2&catid=52&Itemid=94

and for somthing a little bigger 1066 is a good club:

http://www.1066rifleandpistolclub.co.uk/


kenmare said:
Is it just me or are most gun clubs actually just air rifles? Looking for clubs in sussex and with the exception of one clay pigeon shooting place which is pretty expensive, everything else is .177 air rifles.

I used to use .22 air rifles as a teenager and would thus like to step my game up a little bit.

Are there any clubs which provide for this? Obviously not looking to shoot a .50 anti material rifle:rolleyes: but just something with a bit of oomph.

Regards


Prepares to get flamed .:p
Click to expand...
 
Tefal said:
that's something like twice the distance of the longest sniper shot isn't it?

what were they firing to get 4 miles of range?
Click to expand...

Higher calibres such as .50BMG have an effective range of up to 2000 metres but can go much, much further.

Beyond the effective range, accuracy is not acceptable or achievable, even if the projectile is capable of making the distance.

In the case that Meridian mentioned, it was likely a freak accident from a wayward projectile.
 
There is just as much skill in shooting air rifles, and its open to everyone, where anything above 12ftlbs you need a FAC. I have been shooting air rifles for about 10 years now and still prefer my sub 12ftlbs.
 
I agree with you if it's literally for target shooting.

I'll always prefer a beefier round just for the experience.

Shooting a bigger round is always much more of an event, from the sound, the recoil, even down to the feeling of ejecting a bigger bit of brass :D
 
If you find anything, I'd be interested to hear where. I used to be a member of a club up north when I worked mainly up there, but since not travelling as much I have found very little close to home.

Does the C&H Westons on East Street not have any ideas? haven't been in there for years though!
 
So many clubs have gone.

I gave up shooting because of the looks I got from the neighbours and tittle tattle from school gate mums.

It is a kind of "omg that man has guns, stay away from him as he is bound to pysch out at some point and go on a rampage".
 
Avionyx said:
If you find anything, I'd be interested to hear where. I used to be a member of a club up north when I worked mainly up there, but since not travelling as much I have found very little close to home.

Does the C&H Westons on East Street not have any ideas? haven't been in there for years though!
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I'll nip in later and ask for you. :)
 
Third Opinion said:
So many clubs have gone.

I gave up shooting because of the looks I got from the neighbours and tittle tattle from school gate mums.

It is a kind of "omg that man has guns, stay away from him as he is bound to pysch out at some point and go on a rampage".
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True. Not many things I envy the yanks for, but that is one of them. :)
 
kenmare said:
True. Not many things I envy the yanks for, but that is one of them. :)
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I'd have to live in America but I'd love to be able to shoot guns, drive a huge pickup truck and shop in a reasonably Stocked Home Depot over B&Q/ Best Buy over Comet etc etc
Oh...and be able to order a decent size Steak or Rack of Ribs in a restaurant!

Alex
 
Avionyx said:
I'd have to live in America but I'd love to be able to shoot guns, drive a huge pickup truck and shop in a reasonably Stocked Home Depot over B&Q/ Best Buy over Comet etc etc
Oh...and be able to order a decent size Steak or Rack of Ribs in a restaurant!

Alex
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That is the dream eh?
 
No, I could never drive a pickup.

I would, however, like to be able to actually buy the things I want to buy in a shop, without having to order it online. Specifically PC bits and Car parts.
 
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