Starting a New Air Weapons Target Club

[zooma]

With so many air weapons clubs disappearing over the years I hope more brave individuals will consider starting new clubs (no matter how small or large) on a long-term basis so we can keep this wonderful target shooting sport alive for future generations.

I have set up and run several air weapons clubs since the early 1970's and it really is quite a simple process so I offer this following advice to help and encourage those that are tempted to have a go and to invite others to share their current experiences of running a shooting club to do the same as this is most definitely not intended to be anything other than a basic guide of encouragement.

First you need to find somewhere suitable to shoot so be careful when selecting a premises that is owned and/or run by another organisation as these are often run by committee whose membership can change from month to month or by directors who can change their opinions or policies about allowing air weapons to be shot on their property.

Get a good written lease agreement that specifically states that you will be shooting air weapons on the premises so there can be no doubt about the actual use of the building as this can provide you with more security if challenged by some new committee, board of directors or property ownership in the future.

The first club I organised in Exmouth needed a few changes of venue before we found a secure location that we could regard as "home" even though they all seemed "safe enough" at the time so expect some disappointments along the way but determination and "true grit" will get the job done.

Once you have found a stable place to shoot that is safe and secure then joining the NSRA is the way to go to get essential (but basic) insurance but you could also check other aspects of insurance and/or legal requirement too.

You also need to check your responsibilities if you intend to include anyone that is under 18 years of age to use your club.

Safety has to be your first priority at all times, and once that is secure and you have written a good set or rules then good common sense and a responsible membership should give you a smooth ride in the future - or at least as smooth a ride as can be realistically expected when gatherings of individuals are made on a regular basis !

Taking part in the NSRA Range Safety Officer training is a good idea and the qualification can help you understand your responsibilities.

Clubs with no probationary membership period can have future problems removing any undesirable person or persons that chooses to pay and join the club. Three months is a good time period in which to discover disruptive, unsafe, or undesirable long term members and most well established clubs have a 3 month probationary period included in their rules. This is important for the future safety and well being of your good club members that you will want to keep as happy as possible.

Check your financial situation to make sure you can pay the rent - even if some of your members do not turn up to support you as often as you would hope as the rent will still need paying if the club is full or empty and it could be your name on the lease!

An annual membership fee can help to smooth-out the variable income and keep the range fees as low as your rent will allow, but anyone that thinks they can make a profit from running a shooting club probably lives in "cloud cuckoo land" and so it is wise to put some cash away to cover for unexpected problems and periods of low income so the club can survive as the membership attendance changes.

Over the years I have seen almost everything that you can could imagine to happen in small clubs - and a lot more as well - so not much surprises me any more and it is always good to discuss problems with others that have genuine and current experience of running a shooting club as there is seldom anything new that has not been seen or experienced many times before so this can save you a lot of worry.

Please feel free to contact me by email or PM if you need any advice or help or if you think my experience can be of any help to you to set up a new indoor target shooting club.