Want to shoot Rifle (From Limerick Person)

bullets

I thought there was a sticky here ages ago with links to all
the clubs and ranges ?

I'm a 30 year old Limerick Person Non Gun owner with no transport other than
public transport. I want to Join a club and learn how to shoot
rifle with the intent to eventually buy my own rifle.
Anyone got suggestions on the easiest range to get to
that would allow a visitor to use club equipment starting off ?

I was in the FCA years ago for about 6-7 years
where I really enjoyed shooting the Rifle (FN)
out of all the weapons. I had a flare for it. Ever since I left the FCA
I think around 1999, I have had a constant urge to learn
and join a club where I could go shooting a .22.

One of my relatives used to teach Clay Pigeon shooting and I tried
that but it did not satisfy the urge for accuraccy. It
felt too rushed. I used to like to take my time
shooting from Prone rather than standing.
I also tried a bit of archery and am currently doing
historical fencing but the enjoyement is just
not the same. I have had offers to go hunting
a few times but I am an animal lover so have
no interest in killing any feathered birds or
fluffy bunnies.

I Live in Limerick and dont drive so I dont have a car which means
I have to rely on public transport to get me to a range.

When I asked about before the closest range to me was in Ballyhooly
which would be very difficult for me to get to on my own as I could
not see a bus going there etc. A member of the boards from Limerick
who worked in the same company as myself contacted me and offered me
a lift and visit to the range but he ended up moving to America! so that kinda
fell through.

Anyway a few months have passed by and I am after finding another person
in work who as an interest and owns his own .22 rifle. He mentioned
a range in Offaly that he went to once or twice anyone got a link or more info
on this range ?

EDIT: Found the link to http://www.midlandrifleclub.com/
But the URL is dead!!!

Thanks in advance.

Clare gunner

you are kind of goosed for rifle shooting in Limerick if you are relying on public transport.There is a range in Mallow i think it is more pistol orientated,or Midland in Blueball,Co offaly.After that there is nowt West of the Shannon. you need transport first,gun second ,to go shooting in Ireland.:eek: :rolleyes:

bullets

The guy in work drives so has kindly offered me a lift
if he is going to Midland Rifle Club in the future.

Anyone know if you were to get a train/bus to Offaly is the range close
enough so the average joe could afford maybe a Taxi there and back?

~B

Sparks

Eh CG, there are at least two clubs closer to Limerick in the Kerry Target Shooting Club and the Kingdom Rifle and Pistol Club, both in Kerry.

bullets

Are they still active ?

I have relatives living in Listowel so if there was someplace close
by there it would be great as I could make weekend trips.

Thought one of the Kerry place only had one member?

I know there was a Man in Listowel with a Fishing/Shooting store who
wanted to open a small range a few years back but it never happened.
and I thought There was a place near Foynes that got shut down.

There was an outdoor range in Limerick at one stage but its no longer used
I cant even remember where in Limerick this was. There is a makeshift indoor
25m range in the Barracks but its not available to the public.
(I still have the targets proudly on my cubicle wall in work from my first ever shots from an FN FAL converted to .22 from 2/2/93)

~B

Clare gunner

There was an outdoor range in Limerick at one stage but its no longer used
I cant even remember where in Limerick this was. There is a makeshift indoor
25m range in the Barracks but its not available to the public.
(I still have the targets proudly on my cubicle wall in work from my first ever shots from an FN FAL converted to .22 from 2/2/93)
]

There were two.Knocklisheen in co Clare,and one out in Ballyclough,southside.Ballyclough went first in the 80s for development.Knocklisheen went in the 90s,after much dispute with a local MEP whose lands borderd on it [as does ours],as his prize horses were being spooked by the army and SB firing over his land.The DOD built a huge ugly concrete wall to prevent any over flights,and then shut the camp down a year later.It is now a refugee centre.
Sparks,you are right about Kerry,but are they still active?And have they any spaces?Last I heard they were overfull,and getting hassle from the local boys in blue.
A 22 FN FAL.Wonder are any of those still available to buy here?

bullets

Clare gunner wrote:

A 22 FN FAL.Wonder are any of those still available to buy here?

I dunno I've never thought about it, I would love to have one if there was.
Dunno if anyone would be able to get one legal wise. Im not upto speed
yet with the gun laws. After hearing there is a 600m range I gues poeple
are allowed to shoot more than just a .22 now. And seeing all sorts of posts
about people getting licences for Pistols.

What we used were normal 7.62mm FN's that had a barrell conversion kit so we could go from 7.62 to .22 and back. Gas regulator needed to be adjusted and also we found that a .22 quite often did not pack enough punch to re-cock the weapon so some poeple fireing 5 rounds in an application or group practice found it a little distracting.

Think this may be what was used
http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/L12A1.pdf

~B

Clare gunner

I know Springfield armoury made a dedicated 22 FN FAL back in the 80s. Was wondering was it the same rifle used?Maybe SA just permantly installed the training kits.Those conversion kits are really a good idea,can be got for everything from FN to Ruger.it is a pity about our "Idonlikedelookodat" laws here,that we cant get some of the semi auto rifles permantly converted to 22lr.I would be quite happy with a FN Para model,AK or HK 91 in 22lr.
I suppose we can live in hope:rolleyes:

dbar

There was an article a while back in shooting sports (Jan 04)about FN's converted to .22 for sale from sabre defence 0044 20 88420603 in the uk. Got a very good review, as in its a proper conversion, They required high velocity stuff to operate correctly. Also available is the 18" Para version folding stock.
The good news - 925 Sterling.
If anyone wants and if the mods allow I can scan the article and put it up here.
Bty,
Mallow range has a fullbore rifle range to 600 mts but you really need transport to get there as its out in the sticks

gouldian

Re Shooting in Listowel - contact Jim Halpin 068 22392. As far as I know the range is now open.

Clare gunner

dbar wrote:

There was an article a while back in shooting sports (Jan 04)about FN's converted to .22 for sale from sabre defence 0044 20 88420603 in the uk. Got a very good review, as in its a proper conversion, They required high velocity stuff to operate correctly. Also available is the 18" Para version folding stock.
The good news - 925 Sterling.
If anyone wants and if the mods allow I can scan the article and put it up here.

If the mods wont allow it.PM me a copy please.Sabre defence is good kit.know the boss of the place.and the price 925 STG:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
for a 22 rifle.Just wonder would it pass the idonlikedelookodat clause here.

civdef

Go for it.

bullets

gouldian wrote:

Re Shooting in Listowel - contact Jim Halpin 068 22392. As far as I know the range is now open.

Thats the Man! I met him just the once about +/- ~10 years ago with my Uncle who
was with the Fishery board I was been shown some cool nightvision at the
time that they used for spotting Salmon poachers. His shop was small but cool
Like I used to do myself he collected old Militery Brass. He was talking about
the range at the time but I thought he never got permission. If that was open
it would be cool as my Aunt knows him, and it would mean I would have
bed and board and a lift!.

~B

dbar

Here you go...
I had to keep the resolution down to keep under the file size limit,
If anyone wants the hi-res files pm me, they are big about 2 meg each.
They wont upload for some reason.
PM me

Umiq88

If you want to upload images go to http://www.imageshack.us upload them their and copy/paste the links into a forum post here and they will be displayed

If you cant get it to work email them to me at psittacosis@gmail.com and ill do it for you

dbar

psittacosis,
Just sent you a mail with the images,
Thanks
Dbar

Clare gunner

dbar,
Can u PM me a copy to irishpi@O2.ie?
Thanks
cg

dbar

Done.
Anyone else, just shout.

sidneyreilly

Hi Bullets, there is Ballyhoura Rifle club at Ballintubber, Kilfinane, Co.Limerick. Not sure of outdoor but they have an indoor facillity. Cant comment on transport though
lazydogshooting@eircom.net or 062 53563

Also Kerry Target Sports Club as far as I'm aware membership is open. http://homepage.eircom.net/~ktsc/

Umiq88

Heres the photos...

bullets

Drool Drool,

Would love one but I reckon not until I was able to actually start shooting
as a pastime and only after a few years after I had learned more about
the sport.

With the Iron sites at 25m you can quite easily get 5 rounds into the bull
into a grouping with a diameter of about 12-14mm at least thats
what they measured with a ruler. I dont know if this is good
or bad . I never got to use a scope.. :-( when I fired the FN either in .22 or 7.62
(sorry for going from inches to mm and back)

~B