Thread: Rifle range in Hastings in trouble ?

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

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.

Originally Posted by Nickoli

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.

What help does the range need to get going again? Funds, Gear, People with tools? surely we can sort something, i have time in december to tiki tour down there and give a hand if needed, can propably round up a mate or 2. or is it literally just 1 sign?

Originally Posted by NewbieZAR

What help does the range need to get going again?

Common sense.

Originally Posted by Nickoli

The "target area" has earth filled tyres.

I think the FSA (now) Range Manual has flip-flopped on the earth filled tyres thing. I think there was a bit in the manual about they were worries about low velocity projectiles basically "bouncing" off the tyres and the steel windings. I think FSA had talked about an earth layer (500mm thick) on top of the tyres but then you need to keep that earth in place - compaction will get it there to start with (keeping in mind the required angles) but then projectile impact will wear it down again. Heavy conveyor belt type material comes in handy here but then you need a maintenance / replacement program for that as well.

Originally Posted by Gillie

I think the FSA (now) Range Manual has flip-flopped on the earth filled tyres thing. I think there was a bit in the manual about they were worries about low velocity projectiles basically "bouncing" off the tyres and the steel windings. I think FSA had talked about an earth layer (500mm thick) on top of the tyres but then you need to keep that earth in place - compaction will get it there to start with (keeping in mind the required angles) but then projectile impact will wear it down again. Heavy conveyor belt type material comes in handy here but then you need a maintenance / replacement program for that as well.

....sigh.... I'm sure this has been a problem for a very long time....

Originally Posted by Nickoli

....sigh.... I'm sure this has been a problem for a very long time....

Yeah ..... I'm sure that slow projectiles "bouncing" off the tyre wall happens all the time and everybody desperately wants to keep it hush-hush so nobody is saying anything about it .....

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Yeah ..... I'm sure that slow projectiles "bouncing" off the tyre wall happens all the time and everybody desperately wants to keep it hush-hush so nobody is saying anything about it .....

...benefit of the doubt: I'm sure you have a point.
Whatever your point is, it may be relevant for some ranges, probably not in this case.
Your comment suggests you have not visited this range.

Half these range inspectors are on their own job creation program,some probley never had a fal.

I disagree, the list of inspectors are all fal holders, many are members of national shooting organisations. All attended "training" in applying the templates and inspection criteria laid out in the police range manual. The manual is a prescriptive "standard".
Variations are likely to attract scrutiny such as in our case where the distance from the target to the backstop exceeded 30 metres it was approved as a reduced danger area range by the private inspector we employed as the backstop actually is a 165 m high papa cliff. His assessment is being reviewed as we speak.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

I disagree, the list of inspectors are all fal holders, many are members of national shooting organisations. All attended "training" in applying the templates and inspection criteria laid out in the police range manual. The manual is a prescriptive "standard".
Variations are likely to attract scrutiny such as in our case where the distance from the target to the backstop exceeded 30 metres it was approved as a reduced danger area range by the private inspector we employed as the backstop actually is a 165 m high papa cliff. His assessment is being reviewed as we speak.

I wouldn't agree with your statement as I have heard one inspector is no longer doing the inspections due to his actions.

Reading the full article in HB Today it seems that the fix is agreed on but just has not been done yet. I note also that Taupo is removing tyres from their bullet catcher and backstop as they find them. Other ranges are using plastic drums with the tops cut out and filled with various mediums as a bullet catcher
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Reading the full article in HB Today it seems that the fix is agreed on but just has not been done yet. I note also that Taupo is removing tyres from their bullet catcher and backstop as they find them. Other ranges are using plastic drums with the tops cut out and filled with various mediums as a bullet catcher
GPM.

@grandpamac What are the exact issues that caused the range closure? Does the newspapaer article go into detail. Except for mention of signage and flags at the start of this thread I cannot understand exactly what the issue is. Thread is now 3 pages long. If the issue was only signage and flags that is normally something easily resolved. It would be useful for others who are involved in their own range certifications to know.

Here's a photo from June last year so it's obvious a lot of work has been going on.

Originally Posted by zimmer

@grandpamac What are the exact issues that caused the range closure? Does the newspapaer article go into detail. Except for mention of signage and flags at the start of this thread I cannot understand exactly what the issue is. Thread is now 3 pages long. If the issue was only signage and flags that is normally something easily resolved. It would be useful for others who are involved in their own range certifications to know.

Here's a photo from June last year so it's obvious a lot of work has been going on.
Attachment 237547

Greetings @zimmer,
I have not spoken to Jeremy about the range so don't know for sure but will offer any help I can. The newspaper article only mentioned the sign right at the end so I think it is more than that. I am assuming it is to do with the bullet catcher and backstop but that is just my guess.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by zimmer

@grandpamac What are the exact issues that caused the range closure? Does the newspapaer article go into detail. Except for mention of signage and flags at the start of this thread I cannot understand exactly what the issue is. Thread is now 3 pages long. If the issue was only signage and flags that is normally something easily resolved. It would be useful for others who are involved in their own range certifications to know.

Here's a photo from June last year so it's obvious a lot of work has been going on.
Attachment 237547

....Gosh there has been a few Police Ministers over the last year....