use of CF ranges?

ampegor

ampegor

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Sudbury, Ontario
I am looking for info on using CF ranges for shooting. While I was a member of the CF reserve we shot the LFCA/ORA shoots many times and I know that ORA membership is required but is their someone to talk to to use a CF range not currently being used by the ORA. There is a range in my area and after talking to members of my old unit we would like to form a rifle association under the ORA to use this range. Right now travelling 3-6 hours each way to use southern ont ranges is cost prohibitive but we could afford to shoot locally. Any ideas how to go about this or who to contact??
thanks for all info in advance
Andy
 
If you are a member of the base gun club (some bases have'm, some don't), they regularily hold shoots. Check with the local base gym, they usually have a list if clubs that are active on the base and contacts. Base ranges are generally prohibitive on a lot of things like Calibre, availability & bookings, and regulations surrounding use. You can't just walk on in a moments notice like you would a typical public range. It's actually a PITA.
 
If you are looking to shoot Service Rifle type matches with your AR then you are likely ok with respect to range license issues.

The big issue will be with the types of personalities involved in the range booking process. From range control, to Base Ops all the way to the Base Commander. If anybody in the loop wants to make it difficult then it could be virtually impossible to get on to the range and shoot.

At the very least you will need a military member to be the liaison in order to book the range and act as the Range Safety Officer while the range is in use. Hakx is correct on the regulations required to run the range, without a military member who is committed to shooting with you it will be very difficult to access the range.

The first step is to speak to Range Control, they should be able to walk you through the process required. Don't just show up with guns and expect to be able to shoot. It will take at least a couple of weeks to get sorted out.

Good Luck.
 
I believe the range you are asking about is the burwash training area, if that is the one it is currently closed for upgrades. Last i have heard it will re-open 2010. They have range control on site, however it falls under the control of range control in Petawaw so you would have to contact Petawaw for any bookings.
 
Burwash is open now. Range control falls under ASU Nor-Ont not Petawawa (been 4 years). RC works out of 2IRRC armouries in Sudbury. Will soon relocate to permanent location in Burwash.
 
Access to DND ranges is through an agreement between the DND and DCRA/PRA's. At this time the ORA uses Borden, Kingston, Winona and Cedar Springs. The NCRRA runs the civilian shooting that happens at Connaught. These ranges are conducted by ORA RSO's. I understand access to Burwash and Meaford has also been granted, so the ORA will be looking for active members in those areas.

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do you think Winona upgrades will be done this year? they have taken it down to 400metres, they have installed an obsticle coarse and some sort of walled structure.I was thinking of starting up my group again (Wentworth Vintage Arms Collectors)for winona if my guys still had interest in just 400 metres .it was getting very expensive and I'm not sure if the cost has skyrocketed .it was a ton of fun for the 14years we shot there though ...never know what you would see on beach left on a sunny day
 
marks 36 hamon said:
I was thinking of starting up my group again (Wentworth Vintage Arms Collectors)for winona if my guys still had interest in just 400 metres .
Click to expand...

Uhhhh... yeah.
Count me in... 400yrds is better than 100yrds :D

Those range days were great...

And yeah... "Beach Left" is the sentry spot to take ;)


WinonagangA.jpg
 
667 said:
Uhhhh... yeah.
Count me in... 400yrds is better than 100yrds :D

Those range days were great...

And yeah... "Beach Left" is the sentry spot to take ;)
Click to expand...

That picture almost brought a tear to my I. I spent some beautifull afternoons on beach left with a 510 set and the sweet music of 7.62mm automatic gunfire in the background. With all the new development around there I'm pleasantly surprised that the the range is still in operation.
 
Terry,
I am not sure what the range in Meaford looks like. The DND built it after I got out in '92. You would have to contact Des to see if the ORA has looked into it.
 
i must say that picture makes me almost good looking ..yes they were great days we had a good 12 years or so ... they are still working at winona i'll try next year to set up some dates but it's not going to be cheap
 
sarge said:
Was Winona the range you had to post sentries to watch for boat traffic?
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The lake was bouyed with a danger area that can be seen on nautical charts for that area. Sentries had to be posted left and right with radios. Cease fire was called if boats ventured too close.
 
Terry Perkins said:
Maynard, what is the range like at Meaford? Has the ORA looked into it?
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When I was there back in '97 the range only went back to 400 metres, with the main road cutting through it around 375 metres or so. Sentries have to be posted on either side of the road when the 400m mound is being used.

I could be wrong but I thought I'd heard that they had, or were going to be constructing a new range at some point and time.
 
Terry Perkins said:
Maynard, what is the range like at Meaford? Has the ORA looked into it?
Click to expand...

Hi Terry,
When I was last at Meaford, there seemed to be only short ranges used for small arms (100m and less). Besides, Meaford is the main training base for reserve units in the LFCA which means that it is used extensively during weekends and in the summer months by the military. CFB Borden range control also controls the ranges at Meaford so whenever you're at Borden, drop by range control and check for further information (John B. can surely tell you as well if you ask him nicely :D).
 
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