Begin 101
Starting out
This picture shows two left handed shooters, at Malabar rifle range. One is shooting Fclass Standard on a stand, the other Full bore with sling. The right handed F Open shooter, in green, is using a bipod to support the rifle.
Sub pages:
starting out
records & sights
motivation
competition
Sections below:
Handling firearm
At the mound
Buying firearms
Permit to Acquire
1. Handling Firearms. When someone hands you a firearm, what is the first thing you should do with it?
1.
Give it back: Unless you have a firearms licence, of correct category for that firearm, you are not allowed access to the firearm. You go straight to jail and the firearms owner loses their firearms and joins you. If you find an unregistered firearm on top of grandpa's cupboard ........... leave it there. Go seek advice from your local gunshop or club.
2.
Do not: put your finger in the trigger hole and do not point the firearm at anyone.
3.
Do: point the firearm at the floor, smile appreciatively and make appropriate noises about the quality of the firearm and how clean and well maintained it is.
4.
Look: casually through the barrel, from the breach end, and check the barrel is clear.
5.
Check: for rounds in the magazine. Ask for the rounds to be safely removed.
6.
Now relax: you have personally checked that the firearm is not loaded, and can not load a round from the magazine. If you pass the firearm away and it comes back to you, do the same thing again.
7.
Never trust a firearm that you have not personally checked as being "clear".
If you can not see through the barrel, from the breach, ask how to verify that the firearm is clear, before handling it.
8.
A firearm with its magazine removed can still have a round in the barrel.
A firearm with an empty barrel can feed a round into the barrel from a loaded magazine.
2. At the shooting mound:
1.
Go to the $2 shop and buy a small black book. Write "my shooting scores" and the date, and use it to record your scores.
2.
Use the range program page on this website to find out which range/distance is being used, and which of the 14 target numbers are being used, by HRSL R/C this week. Ask how to get to that range.
3.
Drive or walk to the area behind the shooting mound. The first row of parking is reserved for elderly people. Put on sunscreen and hat. Bring your foldup chair, water, earmuffs/earplugs if you have them.
Find the other club members, they will be sitting in a group setting up their equipment. There are people from five other clubs doing the same, along the range.
4.
Sign the "range attendance book". This is the primary record of attendance, members add their Firearms Licence number and after sighting their current plastic photo ID licence a club official countersigns the entry.
5.
As a prospective member, shooting under the P650 form, you must be supervised by a licenced shooter ....... your "coach".
Do not handle firearms or ammunition unless under supervision of the coach .... the licenced owner of the firearm can lose their licence and firearms for allowing you access, and both can be fined.
6.
All firearms in this style of shooting are bolt action, single shot rifles.
Notice that every firearm is disabled - they all have the bolt removed from the firearm. This is the primary safety feature of this sport. No equipment is taken up to the firing mound until the Range Officer says so. Firing does not commence until the Range Officer says "commence fire".
7.
Each of our targets has a scorecard. Ask your coach which target is suitable and write your name on the scorecard. This determines which order you shoot in.
If your name is not on the card you miss out. Members and visitors shoot one stage, in the order of names on the card. Members then shoot their second stage.
8.
The club equipment such as earmuffs, telescopes etc, will be in the middle of this group, in a plastic tub. Ask if you need any of it. Return equipment to the tub after you finish shooting .... there are probably three other beginners looking for it.
9.
On the shooting mound there are 14 numbers, for the 14 targets. At Hornsby range we set up on the left of these numbers. The numbers are about 3 metres apart. This provides space for two shooters to set up side by side, on the mound, at each number.
While one shooter is shooting, the next shooter is setting up alongside.
10. Decide which caliber (bullet size) you would prefer to shoot:
11.
a) .308 There are a number of .308 club target rifles available.
Almost all rifles on the range are .308 and in fact the whole sport is built around this reliable (7.62mm) Nato round. There is a some recoil, but because you are lying, prone behind the rifle this is absorbed quite easily. It is equivalent to when a small dog jumps up on you and pushes with his paws - you feel the push, you just stand there and nothing happens. The earmuffs deaden the noise.
b) .223 There is only one .223 (.556mm) club rifle available. A couple of members also have them.
The smaller calibre produces very little recoil and this caliber is an excellent choice for juniors to start shooting with. This .223 Barnard is Left Handed and currently set up with telecope for F class shooting. Visitors are having enormous success with it and we have made a right handed cheek piece for it. It's a bit strange working the left handed bolt while shooting right handed, but on a stand, with telescope and the very light recoil, beginners and visitors are shooting 50.4 out of a possible 50.10 at their first ever shoot! This .223 Barnard was originally purchased as a left handed full bore rifle and with short notice we can reset it back to full bore by adding it's sling, front sight and back sight.
12.
spare random number.
13. Decide which type of shooting you wish to do:
a) Full bore. This is the traditional discipline of this club.
A shooting coat protects the elbows and a sling, around the left arm, supports the rifle. Sights are "peep" sights, which involve looking through a hole in the back sight, at the tunnel around the front sight. Inside this tunnel is a ring that you place around the black dot of the aiming mark on the target. Simple and reliable, the full bore set up is a natural progression for those juniors who started out in Small bore competition.
b) F Standard. This is where most visitors start.
As the population ages people are having difficulty focusing the rings of the full bore sighting system and holding the rifle steady. To keep shooting, they put a telescope and a bipod on their full bore rifle. F Standard shoots on the same fullbore target but because of the increased accuracy, the centre counts for 6 (instead of the bullseye value 5). You do not need a coat and the bipod makes the rifle much more stable. Although placing the black cross hairs of the telescope in the middle of the black dot sounds easy, in practice it is difficult to do this consistently to achieve high scores.
c) F Open. The smaller target and scoring rings of the F Open target mean that shooters equipment and skill need to be refined to another level of competition.
The F Open target that we run each week is set aside for club members and visitors are welcome to join this target after a few weeks. Our club equipment is equal to the challenge but the beginner needs to practice scoring and squadding skills before progressing to this area.
14.
When it is your turn, the coach will put your shooting mat and firearm on the shooting mound, with another mat to the right of this, for the coach. The coach will be with you on the mound, on your right, during your shoot. They will have a spotting scope, plotting sheet, the ammunition and bolt for the rifle. The two of you have to fit into the space normally available for one shooter - it's a bit tight but works OK.
When prone shooting, your body does not point straight back at 90 degrees, but angles off at about 30 degrees to the left. So your legs are dangling out left into the next club's space, try not to kick them.
Left handers dangle out to the right and being good sports, everyone simply makes space or waits until they finish before setting up.
15.
The coach will call you up to the shooting mound.
Put you earmuffs on.
Turn your phone off.
Do not video yourself shooting and others do not wish to be videoed shooting. It is just not cool.
Move your keys and wallet out of your front pockets.
For full bore put your shooting jacket on.
Lay down behind the rifle. If using a sling, put the sling around your left arm. Your left hand goes over the top of the sling and between the sling leather strap and the rifle.
16.
The coach will put the bolt into the rifle, no bullets. The other shooter on this target will be happily shooting away. Because these are centre fire rifles you can "dry fire" practice with them, without damaging the firing pin.
17.
No bullets.
Practice: Close the bolt, look thru the sights, breathe out, hold your breath, squeeze the trigger.
"Follow through" - every sport has a follow through and in this sport it is to stay behind the rifle, looking through the sights. If you flinch, the rifle flinches, if you look away, the rifle looks away, off target, as well.
Breathe. Open the bolt and repeat.
18.
The shooter alongside you will finish. Each stage takes about 10 minutes.
Do not start firing until you clearly hear the scorer tell you that it is your turn to shoot.
Wait. The coach is checking that all is OK and is assessing the wind conditions.
19.
After adjusting your sights the coach will put a bullet in the rifle chamber and say "put the rifle up to your shoulder."
The bolt is only allowed to be closed when the rifle is in your shoulder, pointing at the target.
20.
This is the second major safety rule. It prevents accidental firing of bullets in dangerous directions. There are houses on either side of the rifle range itself.
21.
The coach will say "check your target number". If you fire on the wrong target you score a miss "0", you waste $2 bullet, you annoy the coach, you feel bad and you piss off the other shooter who now has to deal with their target going up and down. Check your target.
22.
The coach will say "close the bolt". Make sure your trigger finger is not on the trigger. If it is the rifle will go off before the bolt is properly closed and the bolt will blow back in your face. Close the bolt by pushing firmly forward and then firmly and slowly down.
These are finely tuned target rifles with match triggers, if you slam the bolt closed, like Rambo, there is a chance that the trigger will jump and the rifle goes off.
Just push firmly and slowly forward and down. You are carefully seating a precision target round into a finely machined target rifle chamber. It's a firm fit in there.
23.
The coach will say "fire now". Check the target number again, look through the sights, centre on the black dot, breathe out, hold your breathe, squeeze the trigger. The rules give you 45 seconds to fire each shot.
24.
Just do it ........ what was easy a minute ago, without bullets, is now so difficult. Close the bolt, look thru the sights, breathe out, hold your breath, squeeze the trigger, follow through.....
If you flinch, the rifle flinches, if you look away, the rifle looks away, off target, as well.
25.
You are a beginner. Just do your best. Squeeze the trigger means just that. You are not supposed to know when the rifle will go off, you just wait for the perfect sight picture and think "squeeze .... the .... trigger .... now ....". The rifle goes off.
26.
If the rifle does not go off, you stop, breathe and start the sequence all over again. Look thru the sights, breathe out, hold your breath, wait for the perfect sight picture and think "squeeze .... the .... trigger ... now ....". The rifle goes off.
27.
If you rush the trigger to make it happen, then that is what happens, the rifle rushes, off the target.
28.
OMG, you fired the rifle. Breathe. The coach will probably look at you strangely because you are still lying there, on aim. The coach will say "open the bolt".
Normally, while the target goes down, you use the time to reload, record your previous score and look at the flags for wind information. Listen for the scorer, they will tell when the target returns and what the score was.
29.
Regardless of how bad your score was, the coach will say "good shot" :)
The coach will plot your shot on the plot sheet, adjust your sights, and put another bullet in the rifle.
The coach will say "check your target number".
The coach will say "close the bolt".
The coach will say "fire now".
Check the target number again, look through the sights, centre on the black dot, breathe out, hold your breathe, squeeze the trigger. The rules give you 45 seconds to fire each shot. You just wait for the perfect sight picture and think "squeeze .... the .... trigger .... now ....". The rifle goes off.
OMG, you fired the rifle, again.
30.
Suddenly your 2 sighters and 10 shots is over,............ so soon? This is why every shot is so important, you must make it count. Only pull the trigger on a perfect sight picture.
If it is not perfect, start the trigger sequence again. Three perfect long range full bore rifle shots are worth 3000 random computer game mouse clicks. ( I just made that up ).
31.
The scorer will say "all out, target X".
Remove the bolt from the rifle.... usually there is a lever on the side of the rifle to release the bolt.
The coach will say "remove the bolt from the rifle, and show the rifle to the scorer".
32.
Stand up, with the rifle pointing downrange, and show the breach end of the rifle to the scorer.
The scorer will look down the breach, and if it is empty, say "clear".
It is safe to remove the rifle from the firing mound. This is the third major safety rule in this sport.
Every rifle has the bolt removed and is declared "clear" before being removed from the firing point.
33.
Take the rifle back to where your coach's gear is located and leave it there. Leave the bolt with the coach, this disables the rifle, because it cannot fire while the bolt is in the coach's pocket.
34.
Go back to the mound with a pen and a telescope. It is your turn to score for the next shooter.
35.
When finished scoring, keep scoring until the next shooter comes back to relieve you. Then have a look at the scorecard and write down your score in your little black book.
36.
In your little black book make notes about the distance, the weather, the rifle make, model and who owned it. Record the elevation setting of the rifle, the wind arm setting, the telescope magnification, the sling setting, the type of ammunition.
Record discoveries you made during the shoot, like "the front sight ring size 3.5mm was too big.", "the back sight was loose and fell off.", "watch for the mirage changing sides", " the mound was low, move further forward.", "ants ate me, use a mat", "sling too loose".
In 3 weeks time there will be another set of noobs on the range, and the club members will simply say "your turn to shoot on target X, get out there now." , and the only thing helping you will be the notes in your little black book.
3. Buying a firearm:
1.
Beginners want to go out and get a firearm straight away. Forget it, this not going to happen.
2.
The Firearms Legislation is set up as a series of steps that deliberately slow the process. This works extremely well in this target shooting sport, because after three months, you realize that the rifle that you would have purchased on impulse is simply not competitive with the specialist rifles being used.
3.
Instead, start purchasing the basic accessories: ear muffs, cap, scorebook, mat, bullet box, telescope, coat. Borrow the club equipment that you do not have.
4.
Now you look like a real target shooter, but you have not made a serious capital outlay. One day the right rifle, at the right price will appear, and you will be in a position to make a wise purchase.
4. Before you obtain a Permit to Acquire you need a Firearms licence:
1.
Email the addy on the contact page.
2.
Fill in the P650 form. Do not keep stray bullets, without a firearms licence you cannot keep or purchase ammunition.
3.
Shoot for a few weeks. This helps establish an active shooting record. To maintain your firearms licence you have to attend the range 4 times every 12 month period.
4.
Join the rifle club as a temporary member. This allows you to shoot for three months while paperwork is being completed.
5.
Join Hornsby RSL Club. All rifle club members must be members of Hornsby RSL Club.
6.
Ring the Police Firearms Registry and ask for paperwork for the Firearms Safety Awareness Test. We have Officers accredited to administer this test, which takes 2 or 3 hours.
7.
Join the rifle club. This has to go to committee, so it takes a few weeks. This establishes your "genuine reason" for owning a firearm. Joining this club provides a genuine reason for owning Class A & B rifles and hunting.
8.
Obtain a letter from the rifle club confirming your active membership and genuine reason for needing a firearm licence.
9.
Ring the Police Firearms registry and ask for paperwork to apply for a Firearms Licence.
10.
Send off the genuine reason letter and firearms safety awareness Certificate with the completed Individual Firearms Licence application form. The police check / waiting time is 6 - 8 weeks.
11.
Take the reply to the Motor Registry to turn it into a plastic card photo ID Firearms Licence card.
12.
To maintain your firearms licence you have to attend the range 4 times every 12 month period.
13.
Establish a storage area for firearms that meets approved standards for the firearm you intend purchasing, and a separate locked area for ammunition. There needs to be a permanent storage address and if renting, the owners may not appreciate you bolting a firearms safe into their dwelling. Safes over 150 kg do not need to be bolted down.
14.
Find the firearm you intend purchasing. Check that it is registered in NSW. Do you trust that the firearm is safe? Maybe have a gunsmith check it out. Does it match your firearms licence level?
Is it suitable for your intended shooting discipline and level of ability? This is where good advice from other club members and the built in time delays help.
15.
Find a Firearms dealer. All firearm transactions have to go through a firearms dealer.
16.
Ring the Police Firearms registry and ask for paperwork to apply for a "Permit to Acquire". Again the cooling off period and waiting time appears to be around 6 weeks. The permit to acquire only lasts for a limited time.
17.
The firearms dealer may be able to store the firearm for you, but often their safes are full, or you have to pay for storage. Arrange a meeting with the seller and firearms dealer. The dealer handles the paperwork to transfer the firearm registration into your name.
18.
Check on firearm and ammunition transport requirements before you start carrying it around.
19.
The police will ring to make an appointment to check your safe storeage. If not adequate they will seize your firearms.
20.
Only store your own, registered, firearms and check that they fit your firearms licence category and genuine reason. For example if you are licenced class A&B target shooting and grandpa gives you the family heirloom shotgun, give it back.
21.
Only use firearms that fit your firearms licence category and genuine reason. For example if you are licenced class A&B target shooting and the police roll up while you are out hunting with grandpas AK47, ............ you both lose your firearms, get fined and end up in custody.
22.
Only keep ammunition that fits your firearms licence category, genuine reason, and your registered firearms. For example if you are licenced class A&B target shooting and are storing shotgun shells, the police are obviously going to ask "where is the shotgun?".
23.
Make some copies of your firearms licence and registration papers. Keep the originals locked in your safe with the firearms, the police like to see them when they do the 5 yearly storage check. Keep a copy with the firearm when your are transporting/using it.
24.
Have some backup copies of your firearms licence and registration papers. If you have to store your firearms with another person, check that they are licenced for that category of firearm and put a copy of your registration papers with the firearm.
25.
Enjoy your freedom and your sport. There are not many countries in the world where the political and social stability is so good that it produces a situation that allows you the freedom to participate in this sporting activity. Stay out of trouble, it will result in loss of firearms and you will not get your licence back for a long long time.