Starting up. From scratch!

Zulu

Hi Folks,
I'm a complete novice, but I'd appricate any help/pointers.
Years ago I went rifle target shooting in New Zealand and loved it. I'd like to try and get into it now. I live in Dublin city centre. Where do I start?

Is it just a case of looking for my nearest gun club and going down and asking them to join? If so, can anyone suggest the best club for me? (I live in north city centre)

Any help appricated, cheers.

It wasn't me!

Zulu wrote: »

Hi Folks,
I'm a complete novice, but I'd appricate any help/pointers.
Years ago I went rifle target shooting in New Zealand and loved it. I'd like to try and get into it now. I live in Dublin city centre. Where do I start?

Is it just a case of looking for my nearest gun club and going down and asking them to join? If so, can anyone suggest the best club for me? (I live in north city centre)

Any help appricated, cheers.

Different clubs shoot different types of disciplines. Have you any idea what you'd like to try? Air rifle and pistol, smallbore rifle and pistol or fullbore rifle? There are a good few clubs catering to just about everything, like Hilltop and Midlands, but there are smaller, more specific clubs, like Wilkinstown, which would be very heavily focused on air rifle. If you give us an idea of what you'd be interested in we can point you at suitable clubs.

Zulu

I reckon small bore (I take it this is small calibre) rifles.
I've no idea of the disiplines, but I love the look of the bialithon on the olympics (without the cross country skiing!).

Is this any more help? Sorry, I don't really know anything at all!

It wasn't me!

Zulu wrote: »

I reckon small bore (I take it this is small calibre) rifles.
I've no idea of the disiplines, but I love the look of the bialithon on the olympics (without the cross country skiing!).

Is this any more help? Sorry, I don't really know anything at all!

Actually yes. Biathlon involves shooting a rifle like this in standing and prone positions. The equivalent without the skiing would be ISSF three-positions shooting. It's pretty demanding, but the main clubs dealing with it would be Rathdrum Rifle and Pistol Club, in Wicklow, Dublin Rifle Club, between Brittas and Manor Kilbride, and Midlands, near Tullamore. Wherever you are, it's going to be very much a minority sport, but Midlands would provide the best support infrastructure in that there are just more people there shooting it. Most people shooting the ISSF stuff are shooting prone only, three-positions being rather challenging for most people. There's a match on in Midlands on the 10th and 11th of July though if you'd like to make arrangements to head down and have a look at it and talk to people about getting into the sport. It's good to see some interest in it. In the process of starting shooting it myself (lots of physical exercise) from being primarily a prone shooter. If you decide to get involved, we'll be happy to start making some kit recommendations as well.

Zulu

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Actually yes. Biathlon involves shooting a rifle like this in standing and prone positions. The equivalent without the skiing would be ISSF three-positions shooting. It's pretty demanding, but the main clubs dealing with it would be Rathdrum Rifle and Pistol Club, in Wicklow, Dublin Rifle Club, between Brittas and Manor Kilbride, and Midlands, near Tullamore.

Sound! I'd be more inclined to use clubs near me so Tullamore is out anyway. I'll check out the Dublin Rifle Club & Wicklow.

Wherever you are, it's going to be very much a minority sport, but Midlands would provide the best support infrastructure in that there are just more people there shooting it.

Is that a bad thing? I'm in my thirties, so I'm not looking to get seriously competitive, but obviously if I was good at it, I'd like to compete somewhat.

Most people shooting the ISSF stuff are shooting prone only, three-positions being rather challenging for most people.

How come? Just a lot to train for is it?

If you decide to get involved, we'll be happy to start making some kit recommendations as well.

Cheers I really appricate that! Would you recommend any club in particular?

It wasn't me!

Zulu wrote: »

Sound! I'd be more inclined to use clubs near me so Tullamore is out anyway. I'll check out the Dublin Rifle Club & Wicklow.

If you can make it to Rathdrum regularly, the facilities are excellent, with seven lanes of electronic targets which make shooting a real joy. If there's a downside, it's indoor only for the time being, so you have a learning curve for outdoor competition. You'll definitely get plenty of support and such there though.

Is that a bad thing? I'm in my thirties, so I'm not looking to get seriously competitive, but obviously if I was good at it, I'd like to compete somewhat.

It just means there'll be fewer competitions out there for you, but you can always shoot the prone event as well with the same gear, and there are plenty of those, indoor and outdoor, all year round. Age isn't really a huge issue either, so you can still be perfectly competitive, so wouldn't worry there, even in the three-positions if you do your bit.

How come? Just a lot to train for is it?
Cheers I really appricate that! Would you recommend any club in particular?

Yeah, it demands a high level of physical fitness, as the match lasts a good four hours or so, with forty shots each in prone, standing and kneeling positions, so to keep your head in the game that long is a challenge. Like I say though, there's always the prone event too, which everywhere caters to, and which is infinitely challenging in and of itself.

As to clubs, I'd be inclined towards Midlands if I were starting from scratch and wanted to shoot all three positions, simply for the greater number of people shooting it there who can help you. All of the clubs are good for prone though in terms of support and training. I'm the only one starting 3P in the club I'm currently in (Dublin Rifle Club) and I'm among a very small few tinkering with it in college, so it's a bit tough to get going, but I've been shooting the prone a few years. It's expensive to get started, so somewhere like Rathdrum, which has a good stock of decent club kit you can try to get a feel for what you'd like yourself while you put money away might be a good idea. If you're a graduate or student of TCD, feel free to come down and sign up with the university rifle club too and we'll get you started with no real outlay, and you can progress from there to wherever you want.

Zulu

It wasn't me! wrote: »

If you can make it to Rathdrum regularly, the facilities are excellent, with seven lanes of electronic targets which make shooting a real joy.

How far is it from the city centre? I have a car, and I finish work at 4pm, so I'd like to take it up 1/2nights a week & a weekend day - if possible.
Are they open for members? Do you need a referral? I know noone in the sport so perhaps this will be a problem

It just means there'll be fewer competitions out there for you, but you can always shoot the prone event as well with the same gear,

This is going to sound really silly, but is there a load of gear? I was working under the (ignorant) assumption that it was pretty much a rifle & bullets!!

As to clubs, I'd be inclined towards Midlands if I were starting from scratch

I appreciate the advice, but really tullamore is going to be too much of a stretch really. I'd rather be in a club that's less then an hour in the car. I think realistically, if it's too far away, I'll end up loosing interest.

It wasn't me!

Zulu wrote: »

How far is it from the city centre? I have a car, and I finish work at 4pm, so I'd like to take it up 1/2nights a week & a weekend day - if possible.
Are they open for members? Do you need a referral? I know noone in the sport so perhaps this will be a problem

I don't know their current membership status, but if you PM rrpc from here, he'll clue you in. It's about a forty-five to fifty minute drive from the city centre.

This is going to sound really silly, but is there a load of gear? I was working under the (ignorant) assumption that it was pretty much a rifle & bullets!!

It depends on what you're shooting in terms of disciplines. There'll be various bits of gear involved one way or another, but with regard to the stuff I'm talking about, you'd need a jacket, glove and sling as well as the rifle, and probably trousers if you're shooting standing, though you could certainly get started without them. The clubs will give you more advice and help in any case once they see what you're interested in doing and how you're getting on. It sounds like there's a lot to it, but it's not so bad once you start to get yourself sorted out. There's a decent bit of cash outlay involved, which is why I'd suggest you check out the possibility of club kit until you have a better idea of what you would be best off buying for yourself. Some of it is highly personal, so you won't know what to get until you've some experience.

I appreciate the advice, but really tullamore is going to be too much of a stretch really. I'd rather be in a club that's less then an hour in the car. I think realistically, if it's too far away, I'll end up loosing interest.

Of course. Then again, you'll soon find yourself hauling yourself all over the place for matches anyway. It's a good thing to get involved with though, and I doubt you'd regret it.

Zulu

rrpc is a member here? Will they mind a "cold" pm?

demonloop

Zulu wrote: »

rrpc is a member here? Will they mind a "cold" pm?

He loves them

Bananaman

Another option if that does not suit you is the NASRPC disciplines

in smallbore rifle they have

Benchrest rifle - which contains a number of classes for different types of rifles

Sporting rifle - akin to ISSF prone rifle but with more 'normal' rifles in mind - they are also looking at introducing a variant without the bondage gear

gallery rifle - geared towards semi rifles


All of them can bo practiced or competed in using as you say 'a rifle and a few rounds'

All those disciplines are shot up to 50m but with some disciplines out to 100m

they have many member clubs with a good few within range of Dublin - many of those already mentioned

if you require more info take a look at www.NASRPC.ie or email competitions@NASRPC.ie

B'Man

rrpc

Bananaman wrote: »

Another option if that does not suit you is the NASRPC disciplines

in smallbore rifle they have

Benchrest rifle - which contains a number of classes for different types of rifles

Sporting rifle - akin to ISSF prone rifle but with more 'normal' rifles in mind - they are also looking at introducing a variant without the bondage gear

The 'bondage gear' as Bananaman so amusingly refers to it is absolutely necessary to rest the rifle in the prone position. As anyone who hunts will tell you, the ability to hit the target is greatly improved when the rifle is rested; those guys generally use bipods instead of a single or two point sling.

Try supporting a heavy target rifle for 60 shots (up to 75 minutes) without the aid of a sling (or a glove for that matter) and you'll soon be attending the physio on a weekly basis.

Even in sporting rifle (and I've seen some very wierd rigs in my time) which is a good deal lighter, the sling is an essential bit of kit. By all means you can shoot these disciplines 'bareback', but it's very instructive to see the drop in scores as a result.

The purpose of the sling is to provide (along with your arm and shoulder) a triangular support structure for the rifle which helps prevent excessive lateral and vertical movement. The jacket is merely an anchor point for the sling and helps prevent the sling moving down your arm.

Don't get too uptight about all the equipment requirements, we provide club jackets, slings, gloves and even target rifles to members.

And yes, I often take cold pms (but not first thing in the morning)

Edit: Rathdrum's website is at: www.rathdrumrpc.org