NRA Journal - Summer 2003 - National Rifle Association

Gallery Rifle & PistolIn order to open up the matches to as manycompetitors as possible, it has been agreed that therewill be only two designations of sights, metallic andoptical. The previous designation of “open metallicsights” has therefore been dispensed with.RangesRange RadiosAll range users are reminded that they must bring theradio, which was issued to them first thing in themorning, back to the Range Office at lunchtime.Failure to do so may mean that they may have thewrong radio for the afternoon, someone else may nothave a radio at all and, in addition, they may end upwith a flat battery. Please obey this simple rule.A number of radios have recently failed due to thefact that RCOs have been carrying (and swinging!)them by their antennas. The wire has, in some cases,broken inside the antenna and, in others, the sockethas been damaged. This has caused greatinconvenience in many cases, and all range usersshould note that the radio should only be carried bythe body.Please also note that a number of radios are channelledto different sub-tones of the same frequency. Thismeans that, though a user may not be able actually tohear other users on a different sub-tone, his radiocannot transmit or receive while the red light on thetop of the radio is on. This red light indicates thatother sub-tones on that frequency are in use. Thesimple answer is to wait and try again when the redlight goes out. The radio is not broken!Use of Short Siberia RangeThe present restriction on the use of Short SiberiaRange by members of affiliated clubs is beingconsidered, and a revised signing-in form may beintroduced. The reason for this will be to ensure thatall users of this range have the appropriate insurancecover in place.Weekday MarkersClub Secretaries and individuals making bookings fortargets on weekdays are reminded that markers canonly be arranged if they are available. Most of ourmarkers are school children and are thereforegenerally not available on weekdays (school holidaysexcepted, of course). All those making weekdaybookings should therefore be aware that the NRA willprobably only be able to provide a limited number ofmarkers on weekdays, and that they should beprepared to arrange their own markers, particularlyif a large number of targets has been booked.Access Road on RHS of Century RangeIt now appears that a full ecological survey of the routeof the proposed new access road along the RHS ofCentury is required before our application forplanning permission to build this road will even beconsidered. We are informed that this is unlikelybefore June at the earliest, and will take ten days! Withthe Imperial Meeting following only weeks later it isunlikely that the road can be started before the NSRAMeeting in August.We are therefore looking at ways of improving accessup Century Range to the right of target 108. This isespecially important on days when reverse echelonshooting is taking place, and for both Classic andHistoric Arms and disabled shooters.Breaches of safetyPlease be aware that any breach of safety will probablylead to a suspension of the right to shoot on the BisleyRanges until the incident has been thoroughlyinvestigated. This is due to the potential safetyimplications and attendant NRA liability of allowingsomeone to continue shooting (or acting as an RCO)where there may be doubts about his or her safety ona range. Please be aware that alleged incidents orbreaches of safety need not have happened at Bisley,but could have happened on any range throughoutthe UK.Ammunition SalesClub Secretaries are reminded that all orders forammunition will only be accepted if made in writing.Arrangements may, of course, be made verbally or bytelephone but must be confirmed in writing before theorder will be processed. If an order is made andconfirmed, and then subsequently cancelled in favourof another supplier, a charge of 10% of the value ofthe order will be made.RCO RenewalsYou are again reminded that this qualification is validfor six years from the date of issue of the certificateand is applicable on any range throughout the UK.You may apply to renew your certificate on or beforethe sixth anniversary of the passing of your course,and full details are available from the ShootingAdministrator on ext 150. After this date it may benecessary to attend another course to re-qualify.In the case of those who hold a military rangemanagement qualification up to the equivalent ofStage 3 (which has been validated by the SASC) theymay apply for a straight “transfer” to the NRA RCOQualification. Please note that this also applies toCadet Force Officers who hold the CRCQ qualification.Again full details are available from the ShootingAdministrator on ext 150.Range OfficeOpening hoursMay I remind you that the Range Office is closed onMondays, and no staff are on duty to take bookings.7