City of Truro Rifle Club



Welcome to the City of Truro Rifle Club. We are a Target Shooting Club, with facilities for indoor & outdoor small-bore (0.22) rifle, indoor Air Pistol and Air rifle. Please take some time to read through this prospectus – it will give you plenty of information about the Club and the disciplines of precision target shooting. Shooting covers a diverse range of sports. Every club is different and this prospectus is to explain what we offer. If you are interested in taking up one of our shooting sports you are encouraged to arrange a visit to our club. This document may also help you decide which of our three shooting disciplines you would like to try first.

The top two priorities in our club are SAFETY and COMPETITION

SAFETY - is paramount and is one of the first things we teach new members. In fact shooting as performed in our club is probably the sport with the best safety record in the UK. The 0.22 rifles are single-load only (one round at a time) so there is no magazine in which live rounds can be “lost”. Also we insist that a plastic breech flag is inserted at all times when the rifle is not in use to show that it is not loaded.

COMPETITION Most of the shooting by regular members each evening is for postal-league competitions. We also travel away to shoot in “open” competitions at other clubs and ranges. In Cornwall there is a “shoulder-to-shoulder” team competition and just like cricket teams we have fortnightly home and away matches. Our performance as a team together with monitoring our individual scores and improving our average scores is what shooting is all about in our club. We are all divided into CLASSES according to our averages and when we shoot in postal or open competitions we shoot against others in the same class – which gives us all a chance of winning.

CLUB EQUIPMENT Our club is well equipped to train probationers and we can provide everything necessary to make a start with shooting. In most cases the probationer will be assigned to a specific gun – as well as items like shooting jacket & sling - for the duration of training. If you decide to continue shooting in the long-term you will be advised to purchase your own equipment which you would normally keep at home. Buying second-hand is a good way of doing this economically and is usually very satisfactory. Again club officials can help and advise.

CLUB SHOOTING RANGE FACILITIES

1. Indoor 25-yard range for 0.22 rifle

2. Indoor 10-metre air rifle and air pistol range

3. Outdoor 50m range for 0.22 rifle

All of our shooting disciplines are very suitable as a “Skill” for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at all levels and we welcome youngsters who would like to discuss joining for this purpose.

APPLICATION TO JOIN THE CLUB If after reading this prospectus and following an introductory visit you decide you wish to join – there is an application form which you will need to complete. Please take this home and fill it out carefully and clearly. You need to detach the two reference forms and give these to your referees. At your next visit to the club bring in the remainder of the form and present this to the range officer – together with payment for your Probationary Subscription (see the “Costs” section on the last page). A probationary period of 6 months from the date of your application is then under way. After 6 months your application & references will be considered by the committee and successful applicants will be notified by letter. The commonest reasons for refusing an application are: a) poor attendance; b) references not received.

AGE & ABILITY In general, precision target shooting rifles and pistols are heavy & are not designed for the very young. It is believed that if youngsters try using heavy weapons before their bones are adequately developed – that this can cause problems. Furthermore if a youngster tries shooting with weapons which are too heavy – the results will be very poor and it may completely put them off. Had they waited a few years the outcome could have been very different. Our club advises that youngsters should usually be at least 10 years of age for 0.22 rifle – and at least age 13 for air rifle/pistol.

Physical disability and visual impairment may still be compatible with taking up one of our shooting disciplines. This is a complex subject and a visit to the club to assess what is possible can be very worthwhile.

POLICE SCRUTINY Shooting clubs are regulated by the Home Office and we have to follow the rules they lay down. Shortly after a new recruit applies to join the club we are obliged by law to forward specific personal details about them to Devon & Cornwall Constabulary at Exeter. The objective of this screening is to prevent unsuitable persons from handling firearms – in other words – public safety. We therefore cooperate very closely with Devon & Cornwall Constabulary. If you are uncomfortable with this – then you should not apply to join a shooting club.

WHAT WE DON’T DO It is important to point out that this is a serious sport so don’t come along expecting thrills and excitement like you might see in the movies. We only use circular ‘bullseye’ targets, you will not find any targets with human images or outlines in our club and there is no ‘combat-style’ shooting. All our disciplines are represented in International competitions including the Olympic Games, and if you are good enough you could become a member of the National Squad and represent your country.

Sorry, but we do not take in youngsters who want a quick course in how to handle their new air rifle, a quick course in safety, or to set up the sights on their air gun. Our club has nothing whatever to do with shooting game or wildlife.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR ALL SHOOTING DISCIPLINES

a) HEARING PROTECTION Even for air weapons – the sudden, sharp noise from each shot WILL increasingly damage your hearing as time goes on. All shooters MUST use either external or internal ear protectors at all times while on the range – even if you are not shooting.

b) BLINDER FOR NON-AIMING EYE Most people who shoot find the image from the non-aiming eye is a distraction and tend to close this eye to improve the sight image. This is a mistake because the contraction of the muscles around the eye interferes with relaxation. Also it causes dilatation of the pupil in the aiming eye – which reduces sharp focus (depth of field). For most shooters the best option is to “blinker” the non-aiming eye using an opaque but translucent piece of plastic. A piece cut from a plastic milk bottle will do nicely. This can be held in place in front of the non-aiming eye by a sweatband. For air pistol shooting flip-up blinders are also available to fit onto standard spectacles.

SHOOTING DISCIPLINES AVAILABLE IN THIS CLUB

[1] SMALL-BORE RIFLE

This Olympic shooting discipline uses a 0.22 precision target rifle which is single-round loading only. Although three-position shooting is carried out in some clubs (standing, kneeling and lying prone) – in Truro we only shoot in the prone position – lying on a padded shooting mat. In our club an indoor 25-yard range is used throughout the year. From Spring until Autumn we also shoot outdoors on our 50 metre range. UK competitions also include shooting outdoors at 100 yards – for which we have to travel to other ranges.

EQUIPMENT The following items are required for this discipline:

a) 0.22 TARGET RIFLE

The features of these rifles include: adjustable butt assembly, delicate two-stage trigger, adjustable cheek piece, adjustable handstop for sling attachment & precision aperture sights (telescopic sights are not allowed).

b) SPOTTING SCOPE AND STAND The shooter needs to see every shot hole on the target in order adjust the sights.

c) SHOOTING MAT Shooting mats have a non-slip upper surface to stop the elbows from sliding around when in the aiming position. In conjunction with the non-slip elbow padding on the jacket – this helps shooters maintain a stable position.

e) SHOOTING JACKET These are either made from 2 layers of canvas, or one of canvas + one of leather. The jacket must fit well. It provides overall stiffening of the trunk to reduce movement, padded non-slip areas at the elbows and for the location of the rifle butt and straps to attach the sling around the left upper arm (for right-handed shooters).

f) SLING In right-handed individuals the sling loops around the left upper arm, around the (gloved) left hand and attaches to the handstop/sling swivel. This provides some support for the weight of the rifle & also allows the rifle to be “locked” outwards to the right – steadying the lateral swing of the rifle.

g) SHOOTING GLOVE As noted above a special padded, non-slip glove (or mitt) must be used. It prevents discomfort from the pressure of the sling and the hand-stop. It also damps out arterial pulsation from the hand.

OUTDOOR SHOOTING - introduces three further challenges for the shooter: a) Weather in general; b) variation in light conditions and c) WIND. Shooters need to learn how to adapt to these sometimes challenging conditions – which can change quite dramatically during each detail.

[2] AIR RIFLE

Again this is an Olympic shooting discipline. Shooting takes place indoors on a 10-metre dedicated air weapons range equipped with target changers (or electronic targets on major national ranges). The air rifles used are dedicated precision target air rifles (0.177 ONLY). Cheap bend-in-the-middle air rifles are NOT suitable. Telescopic sights are not used. Shooting takes place only in the standing position. Shooters need a shooting jacket, glove, ear protection, rifle stand, and ideally special shooting trousers and boots.

Two types of Match air rifle are available: a) manual compression charging system whereby the shooter actuates a long lever to pressurise the air reservoir before shooting; b) rifles which have a lightweight compressed air cylinder which is topped up from a divers’ air bottle. Both types are shown above.

[3] AIR PISTOL

Like air rifle, air pistol shooting takes place in an indoor range at 10 metres with the same target changing / electronic target facilities. It is an Olympic shooting sport. Again – hearing protection is essential. Specialised 0.177 target pistols are required. Cheaper pistols require manual lever-compression charging which are fine to begin with. Serious shooters will invest in even more specialised target pistols using a compressed air cylinder (re-charged from a divers’ bottle). No other special clothing or equipment is required and of course shooting takes place in the standing position. Other types of air pistol – including the CO2 cartridge powered “combat” style pistols – are not suitable for precision target shooting.

FINDING THE CITY OF TRURO RIFLE CLUB

WEEKLY SHOOTING SCHEDULE:

Monday approx 19.00 – 21.00 Air Rifle / Air Pistol *

Tuesday approx 19.00 – 21.00 0.22 rifle

Wednesday approx 19.00 – 21.00 0.22 rifle

Friday approx 18.30 – 21.00 0.22 rifle (new members & juniors) *

* These are the sessions we normally use to introduce new members to the club.

To arrange a visit, please use the relevant contact forms on our club website: ()

SUMMARY OF SUBSCRIPTIONS & COSTS

INITIAL SUBSCRIPTION On Enrolment This covers the 6-month probationary period & is half the full subscription. This must be paid in full on submitting an application form to join the club. It is non-refundable.

Adults: £25.00

Juniors (under 18 years of age),

or in full time education : £12.50

FULL ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS – PAYABLE IN JULY EACH YEAR

Adult Members: £50.00

Junior members under 18 years of age,

or in full time education: £25.00

RANGE FEES These charges apply on each visit but only if you attend the club to shoot

Adult Members £1.50

Junior members under 18 years of age,

or in full time education: £0.50

AMMUNITION Check the window of the range office for current ammunition costs. At the time of writing these were approximately:

0.22 Box of 50 rounds £3.00 - £7.50 depending upon quality

0.177 Air Pellets tin of 500 £3.80

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PROSPECTUS



City of Truro Rifle Club

Anschutz 1903.

Anschutz 2013

Typical sight picture

Standard 25 yard 0.22 target: 1 shot per aiming mark

View from the firing point on the 50 metre outdoor range at the City of Truro Rifle Club

An “open” competition in progress on the 50 m/ yard outdoor range at the Appleton Rifle Club near Warrington

Standard 10 metre air rifle target – 1 shot per aiming mark

Typical sight picture

The precision aperture sights on an air rifle are very similar to those found on a 0.22 target rifle.

An international 10m air rifle competition under way in Thailand

An international 10-metre air rifle competition under way in Thailand

CO2

The GAMO Compact (above) is an inexpensive hand – compressed target air pistol very suitable for beginners; we currently have 3 for club members. Note the carved walnut grip with palm shelf.

The Steyr LP10 is currently one of the most popular Match air pistols. The compressed air cylinder can be seen beneath the barrel. The cylinder has a pressure gauge on the end. The whole cylinder is removed for re-filling from a divers’ air bottle and most shooters have a spare full cylinder in the case. Some models now have an electronic trigger system.

Sight picture: the pistol has an adjustable notch at the rear which lines up with a blade at the front. A circular aiming area is used below the black of the aiming mark and the shooter keeps the foresight blade in focus – not the target.

Standard 10 metre air pistol target – between 1 & 5 shots per target (depending on the competition)

10m Air pistol is fired using one hand only. This picture shows the correct relaxed stance. The shooter is wearing a special shooting spectacle frame with a translucent blinder visible over the left eye (and probably a corrective lens for the right eye – out of camera view). A shooting frame is shown below.

Happy air pistol shooters on our Truro indoor range – under the watchful eye of Range Officer Mrs Judy Harris

Happy air pistol shooters at the City of Truro Rifle Club

From Malpas Road, turn left into Carew Pole Close. Turn left again into Trevethenick Road. You will see the wooden fence & gate into the range on your right. SATNAV: TR1 1AZ

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