Thread: Try NRA Shooting Canterbury

Hi folks

I have started this thread so any one that would be interested at giving NRA style shooting a try, one place where they can find all the information thats needed.

There are two Nra clubs in the Canterbury region- Ashburton and Malvern.

I can only comment on Malvern as thats the club I'm an member of but I'm happy to direct anyone from the Ashburton region to the right person for inquiry's

The Malvern rifle club is situated in the Malvern hills between Coalgate and Shefield and we shoot Saturday afternoons. We have a mixture of members from all back grounds with a great club culture and hold value in teaching junior members the sport of target shooting in a safe manner. We welcome any one young or old that would like to give target shooting a try.

The three class's of shooting in the club is.

Target Rifle
This is the traditional form of full bore rifle shooting where iron sights are used and the rifle is supported by use of a sling and shooting jacket. calibre and bullet wieght is restricted to make an even playing field
The club has had many who have represented the country in target rifle, four who where a part of the NZ rifle team that competed at the world long range champs and palma match at Camp Perry USA back in August.

FTR
This class orginaly started off as people who found there eye sight had deteriorated or could no longer hold a rifle steady a way to continue shooting with the addition with a bipod and scope to there existing rifle. Now days it is the fastest growing sector of the sport with most that start NRA shooting cutting there teeth in this class.
FTR is limited to chamberings of 308 or 223



F Open
Pretty much the F1 of full bore rifle shooting, the rifles are styled much like benchrest rifles with no restrictions on chamberings other than a maximum calibre of 8mm. This is shot with a front rest and is also a class that alot of people start out with as an existing accurate varmint or hunting rifle can get you started with out needing to buy any kit.

Here are the dates that those keen to give it a crack a chance to come along and have a go.
We have an $10 range fee per person per day and a club rifle and ammunition can be provided for use if required ( no charge to use rifle but ammo cost will very between $20-$25)


17 Oct Official 300 & 300 (10&10 shots)

31 Oct Official 500 & 600 (10&15 shots)

21 Nov Free Day

28 & 29 Nov Official 300,500 & 600 (7shots)

5 Dec Official 800 & 900 (10&15 shots)

12 Dec Official 300 & 300 (10&10 shots)

19 Dec Official 500 & 600 (10&15 shots)

2 Jan Training Day (2x 900yds)

23 Jan Official 300,500 & 600 (7 shots)

30 Jan Official 800 & 900 (10&15)

13 Feb Official 300 & 300 (10&10 shots)

20 Feb Official 500 & 600 (10&15 shots)

27 Feb Official 300,500 & 600 (7 shots)

26 Mar Easter (Free Day)

2 Apr Official 800 & 900 (10&15 shot)

18 Apr Catch up

The catch up and free days are just non club championship days and we just decide on the day what we want to shoot.
There are dates i have not included here as they are NRA championship meetings that require all that are shooting to be members of the NRA.
You can come along to the range on any of these dates to shoot with the start time 1:30pm, after a couple visits you will have an idea if you would like to join the club (membership is $215 for seniors and $115 for juniors and $80 for associate members that don't wish to shoot in any NRA recognised championships)
A firearms licence is not required if you are coming out to use club gear as supervision will be given but juniors must be accompanied by a guardian and remember to bring some ear protection.
As we shoot on private farm land dogs are not permitted.
We can accommodate any type of rifle on range as long as it dosnt exceed the 8mm maximum bullet diameter and muzzle breaks have been removed and rifle must be loaded and fired as a single shot. Projectile will need to remain super sonic out to the distance we are shooting at or the electronic targets wont pick up the shots.
Here's a link to our Facebook page that has some photo's and club historyhttps://www.facebook.com/MalvernRifleClub

feel free if any more information can help.

Allan White
Secretary/ Treasurer

Thanks Allan.

A very friendly and helpful bunch of shooters. Don't be afraid of asking questions of them. Eye protection never goes astray as does a hat and/or sunscreen.

You can always pick up lunch at the Sheffield Pie Shop on your way to the range - recommended.

So to get new people into the game, why do I want to join the NRA/target shooting?

You don't have to if you don't want to.

For some people it is a chance to try firing a rifle in a safe controlled environment. Using a club rifle and ammo is a good way to try it out.

My son expressed an interest in trying target shooting as a sport. He tried it, like it, and is about to start his 2nd full season.
I might even give it a go this season.

Originally Posted by scoped

So to get new people into the game, why do I want to join the NRA/target shooting?

To learn and practice how to shoot longer ranges in a safe environment and compete with like minded people.
People can certainly learn a lot from the field shoots and gunslinger type events but they dont hold an event every weekend for people to attend, and not every one has access to private land where they can practice long range safely so competing in/ joining NRA can be of benefit.
This thread has been started to give people of Canterbury some information on what's available locally as a lot of people are interested but have no information- I'm not doing a national membership drive or promoting the other clubs around the country

Im not being critical in any way, but I see the sport struggling to get fresh blood, so what does this sport have to offer new comers or what would entice someone to want to get involved?

How did I not know of this place I'm just up the road dam it

Great stuff to see ranges getting their info out there.
I'am i right that that people can turn up with what ever rifle - under 8mm - and have a shot?

Originally Posted by Beaker

Great stuff to see ranges getting their info out there.
I'am i right that that people can turn up with what ever rifle - under 8mm - and have a shot?

Yes any one is welcome to have a go with what ever rifle they have thats under 8mm and can be fed a single round at a time.
F class open is the way I started in the sport with a custom rem varmint rifle that i shot off an bipod that was more than competitive for club shoots.

Originally Posted by kiwial

To learn and practice how to shoot longer ranges in a safe environment and compete with like minded people.
People can certainly learn a lot from the field shoots and gunslinger type events but they dont hold an event every weekend for people to attend, and not every one has access to private land where they can practice long range safely so competing in/ joining NRA can be of benefit.

Quite true, people can learn a lot from field shoots but for the longer distances NRA is a much much better learning experience. Known distances, big targets, every shot marked and pointed, experienced shooters who know how to shoot extremely consistently, wind flags allow you to judge the wind effect, and a great place to learn how to perform under competition pressure. If you turn up to a longer range field shoot without your drop data pretty good, or without a good read for wind and you will likely be in for a long frustrating day.

I compete in a few long range field shoots and see several people trying to get into it. My first recommendation to people trying to get into long range is go and join your local NRA club. Shooting NRA teaches really good, fundamental long range shooting skills. Once you have these fundamentals you will be much better equipped to shoot longer range field shoots.

Originally Posted by Beaker

..
I'am i right that that people can turn up with what ever rifle - under 8mm - and have a shot?

Not quite. Besides the 8mm calibre limit, there is a 5000 Joule (3680 ft-lb) energy limit on any NRA range. So your 7RUM would be out.

It's also desirable that you have a known 300yd zero. Many clubs are now running electronic targets and it can be slightly expensive to shoot a microphone..

Hi all. The 2020-21 season is approaching and a new class catering to PRS type rifles has started. For the last season or two Ashburton have had an few people partake with practical type rifles that have showed some great accuracy and competition has been good so it’s great to see the class be given a opportunity to grow. The clubs around Auckland and Waikato have had really good numbers getting into long range that has been an win/win for all

Gidday Al (from Invercargill Rifle Club). We offer similar style shooting and have recently started a Sunday "Fly shoot" - which is adapted from the Aussie version, shot from a bipod, any rifle up to 8mm (but you have to be able to carry it to the mound). Target can be seen with 9x scopes so hunting rifles are OK. Its a shoot for score and group size type match (we haven't started scoring targets yet but will soon). Shooters get to take their target home. Shot at 200 (to verify zero) then either of 300, 400, 500 or 600Y - scores from both distances are aggregated. The trial runs have been a lot of fun, and its quite a bit harder than you'd think - the F Class "guns" have shot some good groups but without the shots being marked the wind plays merry hell and usually their groups have been well "off centre" so the guys with hunting/PRS style rifles have been competitive.

Whats the low-down on the PRS style you're offering??

f-prs is basiclly any mag fed practical rifle. standard foldable style bipod under 10kg(i think total).
i have been plenty of time wil my standard tikka and my field match rifle and learnt heaps. I just have to remind myself to still shoot like i would at a feild match not shoot like the f open class guys would, to get the best practice for what we do.
27th sept in ashburton is the annual sweep. $30 entry fee and a bunch of prizes to hand out. Section22 has orginised a crew of prs / hunters to come and join in.

Heres a link to the new NRANZ f-pr class rules

https://www.nranz.com/news-and-events/news/f-pr-rules/