NRA Probationary Fees, erm... what?

[@nd]

As someone who has just done the NRA probation course, yes it is expensive but.
Talking to the majority of the people on the course I was on they all commented on the lack of response from the various local clubs they previously approached.
Over the short time I have been shooting I have enquired to 4 different clubs and the NRA, the first to respond was the NRA and then the small bore club I now belong to,3 have not responded in any way at all, not even to say sorry we are full try again later.
Perhaps this is the reason some people have joined the NRA over cheaper local clubs

[dromia]

For members to qualify for the safe shooters card then we use the NRA course with NRA qualified instructor.

We have added to the course to take in small bore and airguns as well, the NRA course is very Bisley centric and needs broadening to be relevant to the real world. It is a decent enough starting point though and I am confident that our teaching is at least the equal of anything the NRA do.

I would not put down the quality of club tuition, all the clubs I know take the safe shooting certificates very seriously and to be eligible for one requires rigour and recording.

However you look at it the NRA course is expensive.

I suspect that the NRA courses are full because new shooters know no different and don't realise that there are other options, also Bisley is in the richest catchment area in the country, yes I know not all people there are rich, however there is more disposable income there than anywhere else so there is a market place there that isn't so sensitive to being ripped off.

[Gaz]

So are we to understand that the NRA sees rifle shooting as the sport for people with £500 to spaff away on something they haven't even tried?

No wonder TR is shrinking year-on-year.

[Tony-c]

£125 a year, 50m, 25m and large shotgun quarry area with shotgun bay steel plates

training etc is all done when you join the club, no charge for incompetence card

[HALODIN]

Aren't open days so the public can see if they enjoy the sport? My only comment is the NRA don't have to recover their costs, there's no reason this [couldn't|shouldn't] be a loss leader for them. Getting the next generation of people in to the sport is critical and the cost looks like a barrier to entry to me. For someone to get their shooters card in my club, would only cost £30 (joining fee) as a provisional member, excluding ammo costs of course. Having said all of that, it's not a cheap sport and people should be prepared to spend some cash...

[Thorney]

I think the NRA is in a bit of a no mans land sometimes. On the one hand its a large shooting range with pretty excellent facilities that of need need to be paid for via commercial headed services (be that rent or shooting courses). On the other hand its also the National body for various types of shooting which rightly should include a strong element of supporting new shooters entering the sport.

I note recently that a post of regional shooting range liason (or a role similar) had been created by the NRA so perhaps this is the first step to less centric NRA in its national capacity? Indeed perhaps the role (in this circumstance) should very much be one of encouraging new shooters to joint their local club rather than see Bisley as 'their' club?

My point is that a lot of the complaints on the NRA appear to be based on the fact that its too concentrated on its own facility and no interest or support for the other clubs and ranges? And yet here we have a scenario where they actively suggest a new member should go to a local club in order to become a shooter rather than Bisley - surely thats a good thing? Now of course it could have been handled a lot better, a proper introduction to another club suitable for their needs and a more encouraging process of involvement but I think the concept of recommending people to their local club is the right thing for a National body to do.

[Alpha1]

Main club 25yards 50yards distances from 100 to 500 yards £200 a year any tuition is free cost of RCO training competency cards paid for by the club. Probationers pay a £10 range fee get free use of all the club guns they pay for ammo used. Tuition is free training for the shooters competency thingy is free. All delivered by qualified instructors. You need to move North my friends sell Bisley and put the money in the coffers and concentrate on representing shooters Nationally.

[techguy]

I think the NRA is in a bit of a no mans land sometimes. On the one hand its a large shooting range with pretty excellent facilities that of need need to be paid for via commercial headed services (be that rent or shooting courses). On the other hand its also the National body for various types of shooting which rightly should include a strong element of supporting new shooters entering the sport.

I note recently that a post of regional shooting range liason (or a role similar) had been created by the NRA so perhaps this is the first step to less centric NRA in its national capacity? Indeed perhaps the role (in this circumstance) should very much be one of encouraging new shooters to joint their local club rather than see Bisley as 'their' club?

My point is that a lot of the complaints on the NRA appear to be based on the fact that its too concentrated on its own facility and no interest or support for the other clubs and ranges? And yet here we have a scenario where they actively suggest a new member should go to a local club in order to become a shooter rather than Bisley - surely thats a good thing? Now of course it could have been handled a lot better, a proper introduction to another club suitable for their needs and a more encouraging process of involvement but I think the concept of recommending people to their local club is the right thing for a National body to do.

Nicely put John. (good to see you on Saturday.. you did well overall too!)

[Thorney]

I think the NRA is in a bit of a no mans land sometimes. On the one hand its a large shooting range with pretty excellent facilities that of need need to be paid for via commercial headed services (be that rent or shooting courses). On the other hand its also the National body for various types of shooting which rightly should include a strong element of supporting new shooters entering the sport.

I note recently that a post of regional shooting range liason (or a role similar) had been created by the NRA so perhaps this is the first step to less centric NRA in its national capacity? Indeed perhaps the role (in this circumstance) should very much be one of encouraging new shooters to joint their local club rather than see Bisley as 'their' club?

My point is that a lot of the complaints on the NRA appear to be based on the fact that its too concentrated on its own facility and no interest or support for the other clubs and ranges? And yet here we have a scenario where they actively suggest a new member should go to a local club in order to become a shooter rather than Bisley - surely thats a good thing? Now of course it could have been handled a lot better, a proper introduction to another club suitable for their needs and a more encouraging process of involvement but I think the concept of recommending people to their local club is the right thing for a National body to do.

Nicely put John. (good to see you on Saturday.. you did well overall too!)

No idea how I came second tbh, but hey I'll take it :)

'Retired' - gun broke proper?

[ColinR]

Maybe if there was a little less bleating about the NRA and a bit more support from shooters across the country then probably they would have sufficient revenue to do many of the things suggested - better national coverage, subsidised fees for new members etc. At the end of the day the NRA is a business that needs income to grow and prosper. If shooters don't join and offer their financial support in membership fees then the NRA have to find different ways to financially support their aims and loyal members. We need a strong NRA to represent our sport and that will best be accomplished by having more members. For all else said about Mr Mercer there have been some very worthwhile changes during his tenure and for that I believe he and the NRA deserves better support for their present and future plans than much of that expressed here. At the end of the day this is our national organisation and our best hope of getting shooting supported at both a recreational and political level, but they need the money to do it and that can only come from a strong membership base......or by realistic charging of services at commercial rates.