NewBie - Target Shooting needs advice

BoatMad

Hi listees, I am in the process of getting back my Fathers remington .22LR, its not the greatest machine , but I'd like to get into Target shooting.

I know there are lots of discpline, I;d ultimately like to get into the longer range stuff, higher calibre, centrefire

What process would you guys reccomend, I know I'll start again with my old .22 but i think the gun isnt great and if I'm to upgrade m in a quandry as to where to aim for.

Would you reccomend staying with .22 rimfire or what. WHat types of traget shooting should a novice aim for etc.

I already clay pigeon shoot for several years, but this is something i've done since a young boy.

Are there any long distance ranges near dublin/wicklow?

BoatMad

It wasn't me!

Nearest long distance range is going to be Midlands, outside Tullamore. It's a good facility and a reasonable price to join. Yes, get the .22LR and learn the mechanics of rifle shooting on that, get absolutely as good as you can with it, then think about shooting something bigger. At that point, you'll have been introduced to lots of disciplines, from prone and three position shooting to F-Class and F/TR and will have a much better idea of what you'd like to try in terms of your long-range stuff.

Cass

BoatMad wrote: »

Would you reccomend staying with .22 rimfire or what. What types of traget shooting should a novice aim for etc.

There is sporting rifle, benchrest, 3P, PR60 to mention a few. The .22 will be grand for them and as mentioned a good learning tool to get you used to rifle handling and usage. There is a world of difference between rimfire rifles and centrefires, and even some centrefires to other centrefires. As in a .223 will be smaller and less kick than a .308.

If you have no rifle experience stay with the .22 for a while and join a range. You need to brush up or learn range commands and protocol. There are many safety issues with shooting on a range as it contains many shooters firing in close proximity so there is no room for mishaps and lapses in judgements. You'll learn this as you go.

Are there any long distance ranges near dublin/wicklow?

None. The Midlands (MNSCI) is the only long range target club in the country. The membership is €600 for the first year and €285 per year after that. They have.............

10 - 25 yard pistol range,
Clay pigeon range
50 mtr Benchrest/PR60/3P range,
50 mtr Sporting .22 range
100 - 300 yard sheltered range
100 - 600 yard Windmill (outside) range
800 - 1,200 yard Windmill range.

If you intend to shoot long range then the Midlands is the only club you can do so at. 100 - 500 yards would be classed as short range, 600 - 800 medium range, and 900 - 1,200 yards long range in competition terms. If nothing else its worth a drive down to for a look.

However if you plan to stay with the rimfire there are numerous ranges in and around Dublin that would suffice. A partial list of ranges can be found here.

BoatMad

Thanks for all that

boatmad

Cass

No problem. As well as the MNSCI website check out the NRAI website and the ICFRA webiste.

The NRAI are the Natonal Governing Body for F-Class, TR, Match rifle, Benchrest in Ireland. They work out of the midlands range in Tullamore. Membership of the MNSCI gives you membership of the NRAI.

ICFRA is a confederation of NGBs for fullbore rifle shooting. They set the rules and conditions that all comps. are run by.

A quick rundown of the 2 most popular forms of long range target shooting.

F-Open - This is shooting done with a rifle, scope, front rest and back bag. Typical calibers include, 7mm, 6.5x284, but any caliber is allowed. It would be unusual, but not unheard off to use another caliber simply because these seem to be the tried and tested ones. The rifle cannot exceed 22lbs in weight. This includes rifle, scope, mounts, bolt. The front rest can be of any size and make, but must have a sand bag between the forestock of the rifle and the rest. The back back must also be of "simple" design and have sand between butt stock and rest/bag. Any power scope can be used.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E70KxFsJ08E

FTR - This is shooting also done with a rifle, and scope, but has a bipod instead of a rest and a rear sandbag as with F-Open. The discipline is limited to .223, and .308 caliber rifles ONLY. The distances vary between 600 yards to a max of 1,000 yards. The setup for FTR shooting is usually cheaper than F-Open, but depending on your taste and customising of your rifle can be more expensive. The majority (if not all) of shooters use .308 caliber rifles. The vary from TRGs, Remingtons to the popular Savage. Thereason for them being so popular is they have excellent accuracy, but come in (price wise) cheaper than most/all factory rifles but is able to outshoot them from the off requiring no modifications.

The only limit in either class is the size of your wallet. . For €3,500 you could have a brand new rifle, scope and all gear for FTR. The F-open would be slightly more expensive, but not by enough to put you off and all setups could be got second hand.

The other three disciplines are Benchrest, Target rifle, and Match rifle.

TR shooting is open/aperture sight shooting. Done from 300 yards out to 1,000 it requires a good degree of skill and is a great sport. Your have rifle, sights, sling, jacket. No rests, bags or bipods.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6u9_Uy2vjo

Benchrest. This is shooting done with a rifle, scope, front rest and back bag all done in a seated position of a Bench. The rifles have over time become bigger, and more highly tuned than most things you would see on an average range. Have a look at this to see how it goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I-c-HSHFas

Match Rifle. This shooting done with a .308 caliber rifle at distances of 1,000 / 1,100 / 1,200 yards. In other words where normal F-Class shooting stops. The shooter can use a front rest but no back bag. It is generally shot from the prone position but can also be done "back gunning".

patsat

ezridax wrote: »

The membership is €600 for the first year and €285 per year after that. They have.............

What are the rates for a poor student like myself?! :o:o

It wasn't me!

patsat wrote: »

What are the rates for a poor student like myself?! :o:o

No difference, unfortunately.

Tackleberrywho

patsat wrote: »

What are the rates for a poor student like myself?! :o:o

You can hardly pull the poor student card when the stock you bought for your .22/50 and the other few bits would heave covered your membership fees;)

When I was in college I had 3 firearms that together cost less than £1000 at the time, including scopes:eek:

However I was a member of a MRC as it was known back then.
The tips I picked up there were priceless!:D:D

patsat

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

You can hardly pull the poor student card when the stock you bought for your .22/50 and the other few bits would heave covered your membership fees;)

When I was in college I had 3 firearms that together cost less than £1000 at the time, including scopes:eek:

However I was a member of a MRC as it was known back then.
The tips I picked up there were priceless!:D:D

Once I have The student card I have the privileges! Would have joined already but the long drive would limit my time up there!

Tackleberrywho

patsat wrote: »

Once I have The student card I have the privileges! Would have joined already but the long drive would limit my time up there!

I've a student card too!

Never managed a discount out of it.
As stated, year 2 onwards is €285 which is cheaper than a box of fags a week

dCorbus

Don't forget that the €285 also includes your shooting and fieldsports insurance for the year too!

Cass

With as much FREE tea and coffee as you can drink.

Tackleberrywho

ezridax wrote: »

With as much FREE tea and coffee as you can drink.

And the odd Pot of venison Stew or roast joint

bunny shooter

Fullbore classic rifle shooting is another option eg Lee Enfields in .303" :cool:

tfox

Correct me if I'm wrong but do you not have to support the rifle by your body fully in Match rifle, i.e a front rest can be used but your hand has to sit on it and the rifle on your hand....?

Cass

Thats right.

Ezridax wrote:

The shooter can use a front rest but no back bag.