Something Needs to be Done

We want to hear what your club is doing to bring in new members. Tell us what works, and give credit to those who are making the effort.

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DannyS
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#196 Postby DannyS » Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:50 pm

Barry, cost is not be all. As you say, try some others. Go water skiing, play golf, go to your local gym.

Shooting sports, has anyone checked the price lately of a over and under shotgun. No fancy front rest, no scope etc.

Range fees plus ammo.

Our sport is quite cheap.

Lets build a bridge over thinking our sport is expensive, its not compared to a lot of others.

Push bikes are very expensive, motor cycles more so, speedway cars etc etc.

We just need to make it more appealing.

Brian
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Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:52 pm

Helping F Class to Grow - Tolerance Required.

#197 Postby Brian » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:30 am

There really is some interesting points from all directions on the compass on helping F Class to grow - which by osmosis, also helps TR to grow as shooters see it & may decide it is for them. Maybe the real issue is helping your club to grow.

TOLERANCE is the main ingridient.

We have 45 odd members in our club. Most are active & of these we have about 10 that actually compete in multiple disciplines - i.e F Std, F Open & TR. By this I mean we have members that own rifles & do compete across multiple NRAA disciplines. We have even become a registered hunting club as an additional tool for members to be covered with other activities.

We have the usual assortment of Barnards, Omarks, Neilsens, but we also have 5 Remington 700's in the Accuracy International Chassis, 6 Accuracy International Rifles & a couple of very nice .300 win mag rifles spread amongst the membership. Some even have magazines. Occasionally a muzzle brake may also appear for a casual shoot that complies with our range conditions. So we have different styles of rifles that may be described as target, f class, tactical, benchrest, service, hunting, pretty, ugly, colourful, drab, heavy & heavier still. But, they are all rifles used for target shooting just the same, & we use them in compliance with the SSR's.

As far as shooting success we have multiple Queens Badge or OPM badge winners in TR, F Std, & F Open. Some members have 30 plus years experience & have competed at Bisley, in National, State or District teams. Some have competed in Service Rifle & even owned SLR's when Lithgow would happily sell them to NRAA members - remember that ?

As far as members, we have recruitment consultants, middle & senior level managers, IT specialists, teachers, railway workers, hire car operators, students - a good cross section of the community. We also have a few returned servicemen & ex military members.

Tolerance is the key. Our club has always been able to get along, & see different points of view, & this is a top down approach that spreads amongst the membership. Sure, debate can be vigorous at times but we all respect each other. Respect is the key.

We are united by one goal really when you think about it - the sport of shooting in the many guises it presents itself. And, particularly so in the forms we can compete in.

So - there you have it. Living proof that we can get along. It requires effort, slightly more effort than the "I dont like it so therefore I am afraid of it" mentality that unfortunately we see far too often in all walks of life, not just shooting. But it really does pay dividends for the club, the members, & the friendships that form across our disciplines.

Thats why I like my club, we tend to look more outward than inward.

Give it a try, it works.

Cheers.

IanP
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#198 Postby IanP » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:44 am

Great post Brian! Seems your club is ahead of the curve and accepting of change for the benefit of its membership. You dont mention the name of your club, maybe you should as many may like to visit and see how it works. What we need is a working model of what is possible and to learn from it and perhaps take a little of what we learn over to our own clubs!

Ian

Wakey7
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#199 Postby Wakey7 » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:52 am

HERE HERE Brian. Making the club a " Happy Place" where people want to come. Keep up the great work !!!

John E
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#200 Postby John E » Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:23 am

So we get these potential new members on the range, and what are they subjected to? The F bomb being dropped with gay abandon, men urinating in full view of all present, when they could go a few yards further, out of sight, agro behaviour, etc. ---- not a good look, especially when we are in mixed company or there are young children present.
We are all guilty of swearing from time to time, some of us more than others, but perhaps we need to be a bit more considerate of who is around when we do it. Same as a call of nature when the nearest toilet is hundreds of yards away, but there is usually some sort of cover handy -- a bit of bush or even a car etc. -- there is no need to put on an open display.
Unfortunately, all of the above anti-social behaviour has manifested itself at Grantville over the last year or so, noticeably among one small group, but it happens on other ranges as well, and it doesn't present us in a good light to visitors.
Grantville shooters,visitors and members alike, can consider themselves to be on notice --- anti-social behaviour will no longer be tolerated on our range.
We had 2 father and son combinations visit us yesterday, and they both had a couple of shoots and spent several hours on the range and in the pit. They seemed to enjoy their day, but they were subjected to a constant barrage of loud colourful language for the duration of their stay. I wonder if they will be back?
Perhaps we can come up with a code of acceptable behaviour or range etiquette, to be posted on this website and the Vic Fclass Assoc. website, to make members aware that bad behaviour is not acceptable on our ranges.
Let's see if we can encourage and keep prospective new members rather than driving them away.


John

Barry Davies
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#201 Postby Barry Davies » Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:56 am

Let the dogs loose John.

bsouthernau
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#202 Postby bsouthernau » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:18 pm

John E wrote:
Perhaps we can come up with a code of acceptable behaviour or range etiquette, to be posted on this website and the Vic Fclass Assoc. website,

John


John I think we're over governed and over regulated already - but I'm totally in agreement with the thrust of your argument. All it SHOULD need is for the Club Captain to sidle up to the miscreant and have a few quiet severe words in his/her ear.

Barry

OuttaAmmo
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Location: Darwin

#203 Postby OuttaAmmo » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:40 pm

Where's Grantville?

bsouthernau
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#204 Postby bsouthernau » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:24 pm

OuttaAmmo wrote:Where's Grantville?


Southeast of Melbourne. One of the surviving ranges where it's practicable for a resident of Greater Melbourne to shoot regularly. I've always been made to feel very welcome there.

Barry

John E
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#205 Postby John E » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:34 pm

South Gippsland Victoria. Near Phillip Island.

Barry --- Miscreants, plural. I'm organising a General Meeting in the near future to deal with the situation on an official Club basis and to develop a code of behavior and penalties for transgressions.
We all go to the range to enjoy the day, not to be assaulted with poor behavior by a minority. What must the general public visitors think of us when they are subjected to this sort of behaviour? And the other members don't want to put up with it either.
As I said, if we want to attract new members, we need to provide a pleasant atmosphere on the range, not look and sound like a pack of agro loudmouthed hillbillies who nobody wants to be around.

John

DannyS
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#206 Postby DannyS » Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:09 pm

Hi John, I know you are a gentleman of our sport and I whole heartly agree with you. Our sport is or should be welcoming to both sexes and also the younger generation.

Yes, us blokes are lucky if we can find a discreet spot.

Maybe, it is time we provide suitable portable toilets or all members are directed to permanent facilities.

Ie, its a long way back from 300 yards at the Queens to the loo.

Re language, I'm in agreeance with you again, a little bit of cussing is fine, but socially accepted language needs to be used. Unacceptable language should not be permitted.

No I'm not an old fuddy duddy, we need to present a professional image.

The number of times I have heard someone say we should use someones image as a target is just not on. We dont need members with that sort of attitude.

See you on a range again soon John,

Cheers
Danny

BillyBushCook
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Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 1:40 pm
Location: Branxton/Greta Hunter Valley

#207 Postby BillyBushCook » Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:40 am

Any one considered a "Budget F Class"?

As in a class shot under the normal F class format, same day, same distance but must be an "off the shelf" factory rifle, ie Rem 700, Howa, Tikka etc, & must be shot off a typical Haris style bipod. The idea of Budget would not be extended to factory rifles that cost more than say $1500, bare rifle (there are many good, factory rifles that cost 1/2 that) & the only thing that could be changed would be the stock (maybe)


Put a flier in the local gunshop/s to attract the typical guy who owns a hunting rifle but has no intension of installing a 30" match barrel to thier favourite hunting rig. (this is something I have considered doing just off my own bat)

I know there is an F Class lites division but has failed to take off (Cessnock is one example) but I think this is mainly due to it not being "marketed" in the right places, if marketed at all.
One issue with the F Class lites is that it is Sporter weight barrels only, 300 - 600yds, this should continue but there are many good factory Varmint rifles out there which can be shot over longer ranges but have to compete with expensive customs & match grade barrels because they are a "Varmint".
Maybe there could be a catagory for anything 24" or less to include these factory Varmint rifles instead of "sporter" only & would inlude all distances?
The guys who own a Sporter will be a little daunted by the thought of shooting beyond 300yds because that's not what thevé bought them for but the ones with the Varmint rifles buy them specifically because they want to reach out much further.
While I'm keen as mustard to continue using MY Factory Varmint rifle with the F std & F open guys, I'm not formally competing any way but with others in mind, it would be nice to have, say a "minor Trohpy" or a club championship for a factory rifle.

Ivé read allot here about the dis-like for "Tactical" type "guns" & I do agree that they attract a certain amount of unwanted attension (I personally don't like them either) so lets stick to the type of rifle that the average joe owns & would like to test himself with.
Of course it would by up to the discretion of the individual club as to whether a Tactical rifle could be included or not.
I can remember a time when anything with a "pistol grip" was illegal so that stigma still exists!

Cheers, Mick.

aaronraad
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#208 Postby aaronraad » Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:15 pm

BillyBushCook wrote:Any one considered a "Budget F Class"?

As in a class shot under the normal F class format, same day, same distance but must be an "off the shelf" factory rifle, ie Rem 700, Howa, Tikka etc, & must be shot off a typical Haris style bipod. The idea of Budget would not be extended to factory rifles that cost more than say $1500, bare rifle (there are many good, factory rifles that cost 1/2 that) & the only thing that could be changed would be the stock (maybe)

Cheers, Mick.


A lot of the "off the shelf" factory rifles will struggle to make 1000y as the barrel they use it either: too short to generate enough velocity; or the twist isn't fast enough to stablise the projectile all the way. Not saying it can't be done, but it starts to get complicated and the rule book just gets thicker. Nobody wants a complicated sport and its difficult to find volunteers to enforce a large number of rules.
Be careful what you aim for, you might hit it! Antipodean Industrial - Home of the G7L projectiles

DaveMc
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#209 Postby DaveMc » Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:14 pm

Yes but Aaron maybe the budget F class doesn't even need to go to 1000 yards.
Up here Factory rifles are very popular. Most club shooting is done at 300-700 and the factory tikkas are popular. even most prize shoots are done at these ranges. everyone likes to have a go at 1000 but is it necessary for bringing people into the sport. Lets face it you really need to have your shit together to shoot the longs well.

Barry Davies
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Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:11 pm

#210 Postby Barry Davies » Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:53 pm

Was reading on another forum recently a reply to a member asking questions about a certain gunsmith.
The reply went something like this --
Yeah - so and so knows his "shit " when it comes to gunsmithing.
This the same " shit" you are referring to Dave?
Now I know why rifles " shoot like stink " it all makes sense finally. :lol:
Sorry guys, just had to get that one in.


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