Bruce Rifle Club?

Hi,

I’m Dunedin based and looking to sight in my .308 at 200m and measure drop at 300m and 400m.

When I google Bruce Rifle Club, the first result is a NZ Rifle Association .pdf that says they meet at the Narrowdale Range near Milton on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, visitors welcome. There’s no date associated with the file, the phone number isn’t answering, and no reply so far from the email address.

Does anyone know if this information is still valid or how I can contact someone there?

Thanks in advance

@fernleaf

The info on the NRANZ website is very (pre-2019) old and no longer valid.

If you know a BRC Member, you are welcome to attend as their Guest. If no one from the Club knows you, you will have to wait for the next Visitors Day to be organised. Visitors Days are run as demand dictates, and the only way to get on the list to be contacted is to email the Club Secretary.

Keep emailing brcincnz@gmail.com .

Like most sporting clubs, the Secretary doesn't get paid for that role and their life (especially at this time of year) takes precedence over a club, so they'll get back to you when they can.

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Originally Posted by fernleaf

The info on the NRANZ website is very (pre-2019) old and no longer valid.

If you know a BRC Member, you are welcome to attend as their Guest. If no one from the Club knows you, you will have to wait for the next Visitors Day to be organised. Visitors Days are run as demand dictates, and the only way to get on the list to be contacted is to email the Club Secretary.

Keep emailing brcincnz@gmail.com .

Like most sporting clubs, the Secretary doesn't get paid for that role and their life (especially at this time of year) takes precedence over a club, so they'll get back to you when they can.

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Well noted, thank you

As you can see from the reply above, they don't like new people. They won't get back to you.

They're probably right to be wary of newcomers...

There are very very few people brave enough to put themselves out enough to take on the legal responsibilities of being a club offier operating a range. Unless you are prepared to become an officer and are already making a lot more than a simple $$ contribution to your local club I suggest you refrain from denigrating those who do operate clubs .

The current secretary is not as good as the previous one and is a bit useless in general. But yes, the above poster is correct, the Bruce Rifle Club is hesitant to take on new members. Engage in some critical thinking and you may be able to imagine some reasons why this might be.

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Originally Posted by Tentman

There are very very few people brave enough to put themselves out enough to take on the legal responsibilities of being a club offier operating a range. Unless you are prepared to become an officer and are already making a lot more than a simple $$ contribution to your local club I suggest you refrain from denigrating those who do operate clubs .

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People want to contribute. We might be brave enough to become a range officer, we might want to pay contribute money. But no one can become an officer or contribute at all - if they do not wish to have members.

I don't mind if they don't wish to have anybody join their club, it is after all, their club. But it is rude to ignore emails and any enquiries from honest shooters and well meaning people. It's fairly common knowledge in Dunedin that the Bruce Rifle range has basically ceased to be a thing, and I suppose they must want it that way. But there are plenty of people who want to still shoot service rifle events so it really is a shame, they could rise from the ashes, and all to the good of everyone.

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Originally Posted by tommygun

The current secretary is not as good as the previous one and is a bit useless in general. But yes, the above poster is correct, the Bruce Rifle Club is hesitant to take on new members. Engage in some critical thinking and you may be able to imagine some reasons why this might be.

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I have been told they feel this way, but I really dont see why. The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken is hardly going to join again. And what's it got to do with the rest of the members? I am a member of another club that The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken also belonged to, and - nobody cares. They enjoy themselves. They abide.

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Originally Posted by John Duxbury

I have been told they feel this way, but I really dont see why. The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken is hardly going to join again. And what's it got to do with the rest of the members? I am a member of another club that The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken also belonged to, and - nobody cares. They enjoy themselves. They abide.

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Was it a shooting club?

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Originally Posted by tommygun

Was it a shooting club?

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Ha! Yes it is.

Did you receive credible death threats?

Was the name of your club brought up in Parliament?

Did reporters from other countries turn up at your place of work to ask for you by name and harass you?

Did foreign journalists trespass on you club's grounds?

The club was named and vilified by the last government and police during the pogrom and pr fest following march the 15th. That is history but for those involved at the time it would have been intensely traumatic and had a lasting effect.
The fact they have gained range and club certification is testament to their resilience and a clear indication that the treatment they received was unwarranted, unjust and vindictive, it will take some time and perhaps another change of committee before they move on but I really do hope they not only continue to operate but grow in numbers. Nil carborundum bastardai

All the above and under the post 2019 law changes a club officer is personally liable with criminal charges if things go wrong.

BRC was very close to being closed down so going incognito for a while was a fair choice considering the harassment that Tommygun mentions. Most of which non-members won’t be aware of. Trust is hard won and easily lost so taking on new members for a while wasn’t a risk worth taking considering the spotlight that was being shone on the club. There hasn’t been much activity over the last 12 months or so due to forestry work next to the club but that should start to change in the New Year.

Interesting discussion, I wasn’t aware of the harassment aspect, makes sense and I hope that the members are keeping it private out of genuine safety concerns (and not out of misdirected spite).

In any case I won’t hold my breath and just try to tie in a trip for some other business to somewhere friendly.

Cheers All

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Originally Posted by tommygun

Did foreign journalists trespass on you club's grounds?

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So what? Look it was scandalous what was done to the club at the time, we all had every sympathy and those of us who had shot there and knew people defended the club to all comers. But you're still whinging about it years later? Five posts of just pouting? Come on.

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Originally Posted by F Majeur

Interesting discussion, I wasn’t aware of the harassment aspect, makes sense and I hope that the members are keeping it private out of genuine safety concerns (and not out of misdirected spite).

In any case I won’t hold my breath and just try to tie in a trip for some other business to somewhere friendly.

Cheers All

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You can tell by the responses to this thread how friendly they are there.

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Originally Posted by John Duxbury

You can tell by the responses to this thread how friendly they are there.

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Perhaps you could let the bloke know what club you are at?

Just a thought :)

What’s the point of having a club if you’re not active and taking on new members?

New members equals survival. I run a hunt org branch and it’s no different. Keen New members drive the show tomorrow.


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Updated: the secretary saw this thread and reached out to me, my initial email was in his spam folder (happens with my email address sometimes).

The good news is that he said the range is back up and running after being closed due to forestry work, and they’re planning to have visitors days again, hoping to start in February. So if you’re keen, do register your interest at: brcincnz@gmail.com

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Originally Posted by inglishill

Perhaps you could let the bloke know what club you are at?

Just a thought :)

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He wants to shoot long range and it's a pistol club..

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Originally Posted by F Majeur

Updated: the secretary saw this thread and reached out to me, my initial email was in his spam folder (happens with my email address sometimes).

The good news is that he said the range is back up and running after being closed due to forestry work, and they’re planning to have visitors days again, hoping to start in February. So if you’re keen, do register your interest at: brcincnz@gmail.com

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Let us know how you get on with that

Quote:

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Originally Posted by F Majeur

Updated: the secretary saw this thread and reached out to me, my initial email was in his spam folder (happens with my email address sometimes).

The good news is that he said the range is back up and running after being closed due to forestry work, and they’re planning to have visitors days again, hoping to start in February. So if you’re keen, do register your interest at: brcincnz@gmail.com

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Thanks for this. I'll email him as I'm keen to check it out and shoot further than you can at Leith Saddle.

Great outcome.


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BRC has every right to exercise caution taking on new members. Friend who owns a hunting shop has had police/FSA plants come in numerous times asking to buy ammo with expired FA licenses or no license at all and trying to catch staff out with sob stories and out right bullying to see if they will break firearms laws. In the case of BRC, having an undercover plant turn up is not out of the question whether they be from the FSA or media who are looking to run a sensational, negative article on the club.

To my best knowledge BRC is a private club. That means that when it comes to accepting new members they can do whatever they like.

The sense of entitlement and reactions of some people here is appalling, and clearly shows that BRC are right to be weary.

How about you guys found your own shooting club?

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Originally Posted by STC

To my best knowledge BRC is a private club. That means that when it comes to accepting new members they can do whatever they like.

The sense of entitlement and reactions of some people here is appalling, and clearly shows that BRC are right to be weary.

How about you guys found your own shooting club?

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Well, you may have solved it. They should put exactly that on their website ie - F$% off and make your own club.

That is exactly the attitude that every good club I ever belonged to had, the NZ Deerstalkers, The NZ Big Game Hunter Assoc, the local pistol club. That's the spirit.

Also, then we wouldnt have to deal with the same question from well meaning innocent people with only the best of intentions every few months. We could even refer them to you, and you could explain it to them.

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Originally Posted by John Duxbury

Well, you may have solved it. They should put exactly that on their website ie - F$% off and make your own club.

That is exactly the attitude that every good club I ever belonged to had, the NZ Deerstalkers, The NZ Big Game Hunter Assoc, the local pistol club. That's the spirit.

Also, then we wouldnt have to deal with the same question from well meaning innocent people with only the best of intentions every few months. We could even refer them to you, and you could explain it to them.

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yeah when there is people like that to put up with its remarkable there are any clubs....