The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom

doodah · 26 Oct 2021 at 16:40

Just saw the spec me a rifle thread and was surprised there isn't an NRA thread in GD. Any one a member? A good friend (forum user but never posts) just joined and did his first of 6 probationary sessions. We both have a casual interest in guns and would both love to learn and get proper accreditation so we can visit ranges etc.

His first session sounded lively - someone drove into the building, someone brought their partner along who by the sounds of it - practically crapped their pants every time they shot and someone caught his finger in a rifle and was spewing blood everywhere :rolleyes:

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So any members, if so, experiences of the NRA and going to ranges.

[FnG]magnolia · 26 Oct 2021 at 21:07

Things that will go well today: not this thread.

chroniclard · 26 Oct 2021 at 21:09

Didnt realise ranges still existed, last time I went to one was about 1990.....

Efour · 26 Oct 2021 at 21:48

National river authority. Didn't they used to give out fishing licenses?

dlockers · 26 Oct 2021 at 21:54

Importing American culture is the dumbest thing ever.

godinman · 26 Oct 2021 at 21:56

dLockers said:
Importing American culture is the dumbest thing ever.

Guns are awesome tho?

Terminal_Boy · 26 Oct 2021 at 22:05

dLockers said:
Importing American culture is the dumbest thing ever.

The UK’s NRA was formed in 1859 and the Septics copied it 12 years later, so hardly an import.

dlockers · 26 Oct 2021 at 22:13

Terminal_Boy said:
The UK’s NRA was formed in 1859 and the Septics copied it 12 years later, so hardly an import.

Sorry I wasn't talking about the NRA, just a general comment.

Rroff · 26 Oct 2021 at 23:09

Not a member - sadly the 2 rifle ranges around where I live closed/clays only and I'd have to go further afield.

Though there is a place near me which does a variety of shooting experiences and professional training both open to the public sessions and professional only - including AK47s, M4s, etc. special forces training experience tasters, etc. are open to the public but fully booked up for the next 6 months.

Sadly my interests in firearms are fairly niche and aren't really catered for in the UK - it is possible but extremely long winded process and limited venues.

R.P.L · 27 Oct 2021 at 09:47

I've been clay pigeon shooting twice in the last few years. It's on my list of things to potentially get into a bit more seriously as I quite enjoyed it. I did look for rifle ranges to take a lesson or two but the options seem fairly limited based on my extremely cursory searches.

Washout · 27 Oct 2021 at 10:12

Rroff said:
...
Sadly my interests in firearms are fairly niche and aren't really catered for in the UK - it is possible but extremely long winded process and limited venues.

Bazookas and livestock amirite?

Diagro · 27 Oct 2021 at 10:15

Guns are stupid.

They serve a purpose I suppose.

But are still stupid.

Should all be sword fights instead.

bm_999 · 27 Oct 2021 at 11:07

guns dont kill people, people kill people

d_brennen · 27 Oct 2021 at 11:10

Diagro said:
Guns are stupid.

They serve a purpose I suppose.

But are still stupid.

Should all be sword fights instead.

Young gentleman still do this in Tottenham

Terminal_Boy · 27 Oct 2021 at 12:18

dLockers said:
Sorry I wasn't talking about the NRA, just a general comment.

Fair enough. Gun culture in the U.K. has always been very different to that of the USA. Outside of competition shooters, game shooters and pest control professionals; it’s more like a slightly militaristic bunch of nerds.

Terminal_Boy · 27 Oct 2021 at 12:21

R.P.L said:
I've been clay pigeon shooting twice in the last few years. It's on my list of things to potentially get into a bit more seriously as I quite enjoyed it. I did look for rifle ranges to take a lesson or two but the options seem fairly limited based on my extremely cursory searches.

That’s fairly accurate. You’ve got .22LR target rifle shooting on indoor ranges, full bore target shooting on outdoor ranges and, if you’re really lucky, somewhere that runs Service Rifle days using WW2 bolt action rifles.

doodah · 28 Oct 2021 at 14:28

My friend sounds quite the expert after doing the first session :cry:

, bar the random characters that turned up to his first session, it sounds quite in-depth and there is a good amount of taught learning and gun safety

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Hopefully will get my sign up and first 1 or 2 modules done before February.

josh_sheffield · 28 Oct 2021 at 16:47

Terminal_Boy said:
That’s fairly accurate. You’ve got .22LR target rifle shooting on indoor ranges, full bore target shooting on outdoor ranges and, if you’re really lucky, somewhere that runs Service Rifle days using WW2 bolt action rifles.

You can do a lot more than .22LR at some indoor ranges. I'm a member at one where you can shoot pretty much anything up to but excluding .50cal indoors (can actually shoot .50cal black powder there). I do shoot a lot more 22 than anything else though, cheap and semi auto can be more fun.

If anyone is near Barnsley the range is https://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/ would recommend a try shoot for anyone new to shooting, they are a very welcoming bunch.

Johno please? · 28 Oct 2021 at 17:01

Rroff said:
Not a member - sadly the 2 rifle ranges around where I live closed/clays only and I'd have to go further afield.

Though there is a place near me which does a variety of shooting experiences and professional training both open to the public sessions and professional only - including AK47s, M4s, etc. special forces training experience tasters, etc. are open to the public but fully booked up for the next 6 months.

Straight pull AKs/ARs just don't quite hold up to the semi auto ones you can use in the states though. Not to mention the better shotguns/pistols without absurd barrel length and add ons.

I have a keen interest in firearms but not at the faff and cost in this country though.

Feek · 28 Oct 2021 at 18:01

josh_sheffield said:
If anyone is near Barnsley the range is https://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/ would recommend a try shoot for anyone new to shooting, they are a very welcoming bunch.

I'm pretty sure I've shot there but it would have been some time ago.

josh_sheffield said:
You can do a lot more than .22LR at some indoor ranges. I'm a member at one where you can shoot pretty much anything up to but excluding .50cal indoors (can actually shoot .50cal black powder there). I do shoot a lot more 22 than anything else though, cheap and semi auto can be more fun.

The place I shoot can take .50 black powder and .44 Magnum LBR and that's indoors. Sometimes it's nice just to rattle through a few mags on my little 10/22 although it does tend to raise a few eyebrows when I empty a drum mag as quickly as possible