Long range shooting

Norwayviking

Hi does anyone know where i can find a shooting range for long range 600-1000 yards in Ireland?And what the member fee would be?
Also do they sell or hire out weapons on the range.
And whats the law for keeping weapons at home in ireland?
Thinking of gettin a tikka t3 tactical 300 winmag,or maybe bring my old rifle with me from norway, a super vepr 308w semi auto.Whats the law for importing weapons?And for semi automatic weapons?
And where do you get a good deal on a gun locker/safe?

Rovi

Norwayviking wrote: »

Hi does anyone know where i can find a shooting range for long range 600-1000 yards in Ireland?And what the member fee would be?
Also do they sell or hire out weapons on the range.
And whats the law for keeping weapons at home in ireland?
Thinking of gettin a tikka t3 tactical 300 winmag,or maybe bring my old rifle with me from norway, a super vepr 308w semi auto.Whats the law for importing weapons?And for semi automatic weapons?
And where do you get a good deal on a gun locker/safe?

Hi Norwayviking, welcome to the Boards.ie Shooting forum.

Can I please ask you to not use the word 'Weapon' when referring to the sporting use of firearms by civilians?
I know this isn't all that big a deal throughout much of Europe, but here in Ireland, the sporting use of firearms by civilians is under a considerable amount of scrutiny by our legislators/politicians, the police, and certain sectors of the media.
The term 'Weapon' indicates an intention to cause harm, and all the Irish shooting organisations are trying to encourage everyone with an interest in the subject to use the terms 'Firearm' or 'Gun' or similar, instead.
It's all part of the PR of Irish shooting politics.


To the best of my knowledge, MNSCI is the only civilian range in the country that goes out to 1000 yards.
Probably best to contact them regarding fees and membership.
They don't hire or sell firearms there.

You can certainly keep your firearms at home, here's the Garda website archive of firearms licencing documents and information:
http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=4144
Have a look at the SI 307 2009 FIREARMS (SECURE ACCOMMODATION) REGULATIONS 2009


Your semi-automatic .308 may be licenced, but it'll be in a 'more difficult' category, for want of a better term.
Have a read of the Commissioner's Guidelines and the POPULAR QUESTIONS IN RELATION TO FIREARMS APPLICATIONS there for detailed information on the licencing procedure and what can and cannot be licenced.


Have a search of the forum for threads on options on safes, there are a good few of them about.

Norwayviking

Thanks for all info Rovi.

The MNSCI seems like a really nice range for shooting long range,and since i live just outside Mullingar,i dont have to drive for hours to get there,so very convinient.
Also my apologies for using the term weapon ill try to remember that for the future.
I should have known better,cause its more or less the same as in Norway and they also have gone a bit sensitive on the subject.
And i think ill get a tikka t3 tactical instead to avoid to much hassle with the garda.
And sell my semi automatic back home.
Thanks once again Rovi

dCorbus

Welcome on board, Norwayviking.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and look forward to perhaps meeting on the range someday!:D

I shoot at the MNSCI (aka "Midlands") myself - There is a great bunch of lads (and ladies) there - the vast majority very helpful and friendly. If you're interested in joining, I'd recommend it. Particularly if you wish to shoot longer ranges out to 1000m.

Correct me if I'm wrong here: Norway is not in the EU? Excuse my ignorance on this.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, the import of firearms by an resident of Ireland into Ireland from a non-EU country is actually (and strangely) far simpler! Don't ask me why...and I may very well be wrong about this (although I'm pretty sure one of the others on here will correct my mistake fairly sharpish!);)

This from the Department of Justice website:

Persons resident in Ireland seeking to import a firearm
Every person wishing to hold or use a firearm in Ireland must obtain a firearms certificate from the Police Superintendent of the District in which the person resides. Consequently, before bringing a firearm into the country the individual should obtain the necessary certificate by contacting the relevant Station of An Garda Síochána.
Should an individual wish to import a Category B Firearm under EC Directive 91/477/EEC, they will also be required to obtain an Article 7 Authority document from An Garda Síochána.
The following is a list of category B Firearms:

• Semi-automatic or repeating short firearms.
• Single-shot short firearms with centre-fire percussion.
• Single-shot short firearms with rimfire percussion whose overall length is less than 28 cm.
• Semi-automatic long firearms whose magazine and chamber can together hold more than three rounds.
• Semi-automatic long firearms whose magazine and chamber cannot together hold more than three rounds, where the loading device is removable or where it is not certain that the weapon cannot be converted, with ordinary tools, into a weapon whose magazine and chamber can together hold more than three rounds.
• Repeating and semi-automatic long firearms with smooth-bore barrels not exceeding 60 cm in length.
• Semi-automatic firearms for civilian use which resemble weapons with automatic mechanisms.

Upon receipt of the Firearms Certificate, the individual if importing the Firearm from an EU member state must obtain an EU transfer document from the Firearms & Explosives Section of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. This can be done by submitting a completed application form from the Department website along with a copy of the certificate to the Firearms & Explosives Unit.
If the individual is importing the firearm from outside the European Union, the valid firearms certificate alone will suffice to import and no further documentation will be required from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform."

Now, i'm not 100% sure about whether this is uptodate information - and welcome any corrections - but maybe this will be of additional help to you.

And yes, I realise you are not yet a "person resident in Ireland" - but once you get here and get yourself set up (house, apartment, phoneline, utility bills, bank accounts, PRSI/PPS number, etc.), then you may well be deemed to be resident and accordingly can apply to have your existing rifle brought over (once you have applied for and been granted the relevant Firearms Certificate for it).

Hope that's all of some more help to you.

dC

PS: Just noticed

since i live just outside Mullingar

You should be established as a person resident in Ireland already so.:D

Norwayviking

Hey thanks for response dCorbus.
I might just look into it.
But i think my father who lives in Norway have been after the rifle,so i think ill give it to him.(not for free though)And since its a super vepr it could be hard to find parts over here and so on for maintenance and replacement.
Anyway since you are an active shooter at midlands,maybe you can tell me how much the membershipfee will be and how often is the place open?I am working abroad 6 months of the year,so i was hoping to cut a deal on a yearly membership.
And do they do all kinds of rifles from caliber .22 and up?
And do they do pistol/revolver as well?
And i am still in the prosess of installing a gunsafe,to comply with the new regulations,so hoping to get my own rifle by the summer hopefully.

Bananaman

Norway,

This is just my own opinion so keep that in mind.

If you want to know what you can and cannot do on a specific range, what they are authorised to do on that range and what their membership fees and options are I would recommend that you call the person involved, personally.

It is all good and well getting information from people on boards but with the best intentions in the world they may not have the latest information.

Running a shooting range in this country is a very serious undertaking and those that run them are by nature, and necessity, reluctant to be overtly public with what they support or offer. Security is paramount.

On the other hand, they are all well amenable to taking your call. Better yet would be to arrange to go see them at the range and have a chat - just bring biscuits - good biscuits.

Hope it helps.

B'Man

dCorbus

Hey thanks for response dCorbus.
I might just look into it.

You're welcome, norwayviking.
Best of luck with whichever option you choose!

i think my father who lives in Norway have been after the rifle,so i think ill give it to him.(not for free though)

Lucky him!;)

since you are an active shooter at midlands

Not half as active as I'd like to be :eek::D:D and there are far more active and experienced members and shooters than my good self on here!

how much the membershipfee will be and how often is the place open?I am working abroad 6 months of the year,so i was hoping to cut a deal on a yearly membership.
And do they do all kinds of rifles from caliber .22 and up?
And do they do pistol/revolver as well?

As the Bananaman says, you'd be far better served contacting the MNSCI directly and speaking to JP or one of the RO's about all of the above questions you have. A phone call to them would answer everything you need to know and will give you the most up-to-date information.

Their contact details are online, so you should be able to find them fairly handily. If not, PM me and I'll pass you on the phone numbers.

they are all well amenable to taking your call

V true! JP in particular is a sound man to deal with.

It is all good and well getting information from people on boards but with the best intentions in the world they may not have the latest information.

Oh, ouch, that hurt, b'man!:rolleyes::D