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The only time 'competition use' ever came up with my discussions with my FEO was when I enquired about increasing my .22 holding to 6000 rounds. County or International level was the guideline.


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Gents thank you all for your replys very helpful.

Don't tell me, a couple of people in your club have moaned about the "lack" of competitions and then would you believe it, there's actually a "necessity" for comps despite the HO criteria for clubs ....

Smacks of BS.

TomEnfield wrote:Gents a little help please.

I have been verbally informed and subsequently believed that there is a requirement for Home Office approved Target Shooting Clubs to hold annual shooting competitions to maintain that they are bonafide clubs.

Can anyone tell me where this is stated/written down in firearms legislation or guidance? I have had a look and can't seem to find it.

Cheers,

Tom

I think that your Firearms Officer is trying it on! I suggest that you seek confirmation from the Home Office first (you will not get it) and then report your firearms officer to the FAC issuing department.

My club has just renewed our Home Office approval.

No such criteria are included in the guidance nor were we asked anything about competitions.

Triffid

We were asked about this many years ago, according to the FEO at the time the Club was the competitive environment required for target shooting to take place (or some such BS) and asked if we ran club competitions. The Secretary had no records of this and we had to start a simple comp to keep everyone happy.
After running a semi-successful small-bore league for a couple of years interest waned and as nobody ever checked it was stopped soon after.

It's been around 15 years since this came up and not a word of it since from the Club's licensing department.

It explicitly says somewhere in the Guide, in the Good Reason chapter I think, that target shooting does not have to be competititve.

IainWR wrote:It explicitly says somewhere in the Guide, in the Good Reason chapter I think, that target shooting does not have to be competititve.

Looked it up at work: its para 13.52 on page 151 of the Guide.

Target shooting will normally involve shooting disciplines or activities under the general
auspices of one of the main national shooting organisations (see 13.46 above and other
national organisations such as the Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association and
the Vintage Arms Association) but will not necessarily be to their competition rules. It will
involve shooting at a target on an approved range but does not necessarily mean shooting
in competitions, formal or otherwise. Local shooting disciplines may be accepted as “good
reason” for possessing particular firearms.

Thank you Iain.

Good work Iain!