Civilian marksmanship program

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robab

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Hi all
I was reading briefly about the cmp in the US. Is there anything similar in Canada? I know the Rangers up north do recon and patrol etc. But I'm talking more of a civilian marksmanship govt sponsored program. For instance get surplus ammo, qualify on govt standards, access to surplus. There is definitely a nice potential here to partner with shooters, hunters etc to have a govt sponsored program. Canada has a long heritage of marksman. Maybe if none exists this would be a good initiative for a politician like Mr Leaf or firearms group CSSA or Nfa. Thoughts.
 
You do not know our history.

The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association was created to foster marksmanship. It has access to DND ranges (free) and for the first 100 years, was given DND ammo to shoot.

The provincial rifle associations, like the Ontario Rifle Association, continue to enjoy a good relationship with DND, including use of ranges.
 
Ganderite said:
You do not know our history.

The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association was created to foster marksmanship. It has access to DND ranges (free) and for the first 100 years, was given DND ammo to shoot.

The provincial rifle associations, like the Ontario Rifle Association, continue to enjoy a good relationship with DND, including use of ranges.
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Good lead.
 
TheGuy said:
Great idea, but good luck to you. Our military barely gets enough range time and live ammo.
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The less range time the Army gets, the more time available for us. We now have to supply our own ammo.

Your provincial Rifle Association probably has a range of different shooting sports available. DND ranges are fabulous assets to use:

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Going to an ORA Introductory Day this summer. Looking forward to it.

I was signed up for one last year, but it got bumped, I assume due to DND requirements.
Oh well, I'm patient, and pleased to be able to participate.
 
Ganderite said:
You do not know our history.

The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association was created to foster marksmanship. It has access to DND ranges (free) and for the first 100 years, was given DND ammo to shoot.

The provincial rifle associations, like the Ontario Rifle Association, continue to enjoy a good relationship with DND, including use of ranges.
Click to expand...

It is noteworthy that both of these organizations are operated on a "not for profit" basis. Any fees levied are to cover costs incurred.
 
I joined the Rifle Association while in high school. I was issued a brand new FNC1 to take home for the year. At the military range we were issued free ammo to practice with. If you competed with a 303 (available on loan, but most of us owned our own) you were issued free 303 ammo to practice with.

It was amazing how this type of support went on for 100 years without incident. The good old days.

But the fact is that rifles and ammo are easy to get and cheap. It is the ranges that are almost unobtainable. This is why the continued use of DND range facilities is so valuable to shooters.

Join your local provincial rifle association and shoot whatever discipline turns your crank. There is shooting most weekends.
 
robab said:
Hi all
I was reading briefly about the cmp in the US. Is there anything similar in Canada? I know the Rangers up north do recon and patrol etc. But I'm talking more of a civilian marksmanship govt sponsored program. For instance get surplus ammo, qualify on govt standards, access to surplus. There is definitely a nice potential here to partner with shooters, hunters etc to have a govt sponsored program. ...
Click to expand...

This was the basis of rifle associations from the time of the Fenian Raids through to the 1950s. Every little town had a range, a "Captain" who beat the drum of marksmanship, and access to issue muskets/breechloaders/rifles and ammunition. The best shooters were invited to represent their province at the DCRA's national matches in Ottawa, and some even got free train rides. It was a big deal. The arrival of the FN C1 rifle changed the game for target shooters, and when the Army found itself very squeezed for cash in the 90's, the rifle association allotments got the chop. Frankly it needed to be done because the troops were on pay freezes, families went to food banks and it wasn't right to subsidize tens upon tens of thousands of rounds to what had become a shrinking group of non-military sport shooters. That said, there are several disciplines that the DCRA supports, including service rifle, precision rifle and F-class matches. Sport shooting didn't die off, it just changed.
 
Ganderite said:
I joined the Rifle Association while in high school. I was issued a brand new FNC1 to take home for the year. At the military range we were issued free ammo to practice with. If you competed with a 303 (available on loan, but most of us owned our own) you were issued free 303 ammo to practice with.

It was amazing how this type of support went on for 100 years without incident. The good old days.

But the fact is that rifles and ammo are easy to get and cheap. It is the ranges that are almost unobtainable. This is why the continued use of DND range facilities is so valuable to shooters.

Join your local provincial rifle association and shoot whatever discipline turns your crank. There is shooting most weekends.
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The history sounds really interesting. I've done some research a it looks like in my neck of the woods it's pretty well dead right now.
 
robab said:
The history sounds really interesting. I've done some research a it looks like in my neck of the woods it's pretty well dead right now.
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The "dead" part is not necessarily correct. Full bore target shooting is "alive" where there is an active organization. That depends on volunteers, funding and facilities. Remove one element and amateur sport fizzles.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
This was the basis of rifle associations from the time of the Fenian Raids through to the 1950s. Every little town had a range, a "Captain" who beat the drum of marksmanship, and access to issue muskets/breechloaders/rifles and ammunition. The best shooters were invited to represent their province at the DCRA's national matches in Ottawa, and some even got free train rides. It was a big deal. The arrival of the FN C1 rifle changed the game for target shooters, and when the Army found itself very squeezed for cash in the 90's, the rifle association allotments got the chop. Frankly it needed to be done because the troops were on pay freezes, families went to food banks and it wasn't right to subsidize tens upon tens of thousands of rounds to what had become a shrinking group of non-military sport shooters. That said, there are several disciplines that the DCRA supports, including service rifle, precision rifle and F-class matches. Sport shooting didn't die off, it just changed.
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That is a very valid point.
It is hard to justify asking for free ammo and subsidized guns for civvies when active troops are financially hurting.
I would be quite happy to bring my own ammo if I could access the DND ranges.
A good working relationship between military and civilian could be good thing for both.
 
tootall said:
That is a very valid point.
It is hard to justify asking for free ammo and subsidized guns for civvies when active troops are financially hurting.
I would be quite happy to bring my own ammo if I could access the DND ranges.
A good working relationship between military and civilian could be good thing for both.
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Join the BCRA and you have access to the DND ranges. Bring your own rifle (black, or any other colour) and ammo to suit.
 
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