Thread: Rifle range in Hastings in trouble ?

Originally Posted by Rushy

I guess I am just becoming a grumpy old prick. I am sick and tired of the degree of health and safety overreach and the numpties that administer it and on a separate note, I am fed up with officialdom telling me what I can and can’t do. From my old man on up, my hands on pioneering ancestors would be spinning in their graves if the knew just how much our society had been dumbed down and over regulated. And while I am at it, despite all of the orange vested, coned off dickheads we now have to suffer, people are still having accidents and fuck me they learn from them just like we always did.

You are better at this than me Rushy - I'm more the former - but the world does need Rushys'.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

― George Bernard Shaw

Originally Posted by Gillie

The range I provided some small advice to sounded like it was in a quarry? So might be a different range we are talking about @grandpamac

Possibly but this range is known locally as the "Gravel Pit" and gravel was quarried there. It seems that where most ranges fail is due to inadequate bullet catcher and or inadequate backstop.
GPM.

I know we are a bit of a trip but if anyone is desperate for a range we have our one in wairoa it's only 200m rifle but shotgun and pistol to

It was always going to be hard (if not impossible) for that range to meet the new range safety standards. As others have pointed out, there's no decent backstop and the danger area is uncontrolled riverbed.
Pity. It's a great range and valuable resource.

Well, one option would be a silt dump berm... Knock off two birds with one stone so to speak. Probably wouldn't be allowed though, too much of a good idea.

Originally Posted by thefresh2o

It was always going to be hard (if not impossible) for that range to meet the new range safety standards. As others have pointed out, there's no decent backstop and the danger area is uncontrolled riverbed.
Pity. It's a great range and valuable resource.

By no means impossible. There are lots of options in the Range Rules. The range is in a great location close to town and away from housing, a plus for noise. Hopefully some good news soon.
GPM.

Originally Posted by No.3

Well, one option would be a silt dump berm... Knock off two birds with one stone so to speak. Probably wouldn't be allowed though, too much of a good idea.

Silt does not stay where it is put very well plus dumping silt in the river bed would likely be frowned on. No shortage of material though.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Silt does not stay where it is put very well plus dumping silt in the river bed would likely be frowned on. No shortage of material though.

Would need to be retained inside a lined abutment of some sort with a removable catcher arrangement for lead control, but it is definitely doable. One of the issues some areas have found is where to get fill cheaply enough to be viable to fabricate the control structures.

I stopped in at Ashburtons rifle range couple of weeks ago.Gates locks,way in the distance 400yds?was a big high,wide concrete wall.May be 8mtrs wide and 6 mtrs high,my guessing could be out.3 big bullsizes painted on it.River bed bank n willows in the back ground.Set up looked impressive.

Originally Posted by Trout

I stopped in at Ashburtons rifle range couple of weeks ago.Gates locks,way in the distance 400yds?was a big high,wide concrete wall.May be 8mtrs wide and 6 mtrs high,my guessing could be out.3 big bullsizes painted on it.River bed bank n willows in the back ground.Set up looked impressive.

Exept that mountain bike track goes behind the butts I believe.
Council have tried to shut it down but I think in the fine print when it was gifted by the army? They can only close it if they provide the same thing else where in country.
That proved troublesome I think, they were looking at somewhere down Hakatere but then all the NIMBY's stymied it so its still in center of town as it were.
i remember as a schoolboy biking thru Ashburton going from home to range with my .22 slung across my back. Would not try it now!!

My local doc told me Te Pirita gun club range been closed too in the last yr.Mostly used by shot gunners.Pellets straying,blimey theres nothing up there.

If your local doc is named Lewis tell him he needs to get his facts correct.
Mead Te pirita gun club is not closed, there skeet field is shut down because it's to close to the road.
They have ample room to build a new skeet field further from the road.
The dtl fields are consented and used for there monthly shoots.

Originally Posted by Skeetshooter

If your local doc is named Lewis tell him he needs to get his facts correct.
Mead Te pirita gun club is not closed, there skeet field is shut down because it's to close to the road.
They have ample room to build a new skeet field further from the road.
The dtl fields are consented and used for there monthly shoots.

i will in a couple of weeks.lols

Originally Posted by country cuts

I know we are a bit of a trip but if anyone is desperate for a range we have our one in wairoa it's only 200m rifle but shotgun and pistol to

How does that range work @country cuts?
Booking system or just call in on our way through?

The HBRC range has large earth backstops, and side stopbanks.
It is not shooting into an open riverbed.
The "target area" has earth filled tyres.
The range has been closed down as a result of the new rules.
Those less scrupulous with safety are now shooting in open riverbeds and DOC land - not saying this didn't happen previously; but anecdotally this activity will increase.
Work is being undertaken to rectify the HBRC range - but it will be 2 months or so before the range can be re-opened.
Don't think this couldn't happen in your location.