I am hoping to get into contact with those that run the NorthStar range. I would really like to know if the range is open during the week for practice. If so, I would love to spend days at a time out there practicing and learning!
Why don't you compete?
- Thread starter maynard
- Start date
I am hoping to get into contact with those that run the NorthStar range. I would really like to know if the range is open during the week for practice. If so, I would love to spend days at a time out there practicing and learning!
There are a few reasons for me.
1. I need to buy or build a precision rifle (already planning and saving for this)
2. Need to find a range over 100 yards long
3. Need to actually find competitions in NW Ontario (my work schedule is such that traveling far is impossible)
4. Need much more practice
1. I need to buy or build a precision rifle (already planning and saving for this)
2. Need to find a range over 100 yards long
3. Need to actually find competitions in NW Ontario (my work schedule is such that traveling far is impossible)
4. Need much more practice
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
My shooting sucks and I don`t want anyone to know it.
I would, if I could. (Calling the Axis .223 a precision rifle is like calling your elbow a knee.)
Also, I'm kinda lazy.
That, and I don't really have anywhere to practise long range shooting, other than the 100 yard range at the club.
Also, I'm kinda lazy.
That, and I don't really have anywhere to practise long range shooting, other than the 100 yard range at the club.
For those asking "who and where", here is the link to the Provincial Rifle Associations
http://www.dcra.ca/pralinks.htm
Most PRA's will not have their 2012 schedule up yet, but you should be able to find contact information for each province.
http://www.dcra.ca/pralinks.htm
Most PRA's will not have their 2012 schedule up yet, but you should be able to find contact information for each province.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
So for those of us in Ontario we have to pay ORA membership fee of 152$ for the chance to pay 25$ for each subsequent match? I am with some of the other guys then for my rationale. $$$$$ Think of all the bullets I could reload for 152$!!!!! and Another pound of powder for each match!.....
Sadly the ORA does not have it's own range. So by using DND range there is a price. If you throw in a paid marker for the day again cost to the shooter goes up even for a pratice day. In Borden we pay for a non-shooting Range Officer to run the range. Kingston, Winona and Cedar Spring all have a user fee attached that the ORA covers. However Cedar Springs and Winona also require 2 beach sentries which has to be covered by the shooters. Again with paid marking the price goes up for each shooter. Beach sentries and markers are paid about $80 each for the day. Cedar Springs and Winona do not have the turn out that Borden gets so members cover off the RO Duties.
Now cost can be reduced by marking your own targets and doing your own sentry duty and RO duty, but changing everyone around cuts into shooting time. I for one, am happy to pay an extra $25 just so I do not have to pull targets and can shoot a couple extra relays.
Edit to add.
The ORA does not make any money on marker fees. This money goes straight to the kids pulling targets in cash at the end of the day. You can also bring your own marker and pay them yourself. Maybe you have a teenager looking for some pocket money? Beats flipping burgers.
Mostly for me its not knowing how to get involved. I spend most of my alone time in a logging block I laid out and went back to after harvest to do my long range shooting. I would absolutly love to get together with some other shooters to learn from.
I don't actually hate all people, or most to tell the truth. I was just being a smart ass with that comment. That being said, Prince Albert has a beautiful out door range and it's closer to me than the Shellbrook range, but I refuse to be a member because of the high percentage of a-holes that are members there, especially the handgun shooters. There are some very nice people but they seem to be few and far between. My kit isn't up to par to be competitive either, but maybe that will change in the next year or two. I would probably go and watch at the P.A. range if I was on days off when they were competing.
So you're the other guy. I just heard the same story from your accomplice, and thought I was haveing a deja-vu moment.
I'd get to more meets if I had time, but am lucky to get in 1 a year now. In the meantime I can play out to 1/2 mile at my own range, work on loads and equipment, shoot on my own schedule, use brakes and make my own rules.
Maynard, I understand the position of the ORA using DND ranges, and I think that's part of the problem.
Once you add up the days you can make during a relatively short season, then factor in the drive for one day, and the fact that only two ranges get out to 1000yds, for most it doesn't seem to be worth the effort. Add in your membership dues, marker, gas for 6 or so trips and it gets pricey, not to mention inconvenient based on an tight scattered schedule.
What Ontario needs is a mega range. Something that has a long range out to 1000, even 1500. Skeet, trap, action, indoor target, steel. On site gunsmith and gun shop, kitchen, camping facilities, entertainment for kids and families, camp grounds with perhaps barracks of some sort and private cabins for families. Even if it were 3-4hrs drive it would be worth the trip then. Take a whole weekend for shooting. If it's open all the time people could find time to make it out. Could be rented during the week for LEO's and for training courses. It's a pipe dream, but I think something like that would work awesome. Huge cash commitment though.
Once you add up the days you can make during a relatively short season, then factor in the drive for one day, and the fact that only two ranges get out to 1000yds, for most it doesn't seem to be worth the effort. Add in your membership dues, marker, gas for 6 or so trips and it gets pricey, not to mention inconvenient based on an tight scattered schedule.
What Ontario needs is a mega range. Something that has a long range out to 1000, even 1500. Skeet, trap, action, indoor target, steel. On site gunsmith and gun shop, kitchen, camping facilities, entertainment for kids and families, camp grounds with perhaps barracks of some sort and private cabins for families. Even if it were 3-4hrs drive it would be worth the trip then. Take a whole weekend for shooting. If it's open all the time people could find time to make it out. Could be rented during the week for LEO's and for training courses. It's a pipe dream, but I think something like that would work awesome. Huge cash commitment though.
I hate to compare or justify the cost of one sport against another but lets just for a minute compare golf to shooting. Daily green fees, cart, a few beers during and a couple after, add in a lunch, you are looking at over $100 day. Play in a Club Tournament you are over $100/day. Buying a membership at a golf course is what? $1000-$2000 annually? This is without travel or lodging for the boys weekend away to play golf.
$152 for an annual ORA membership plus maybe another $25/day for markers and beach sentries isn't too bad of a deal. Yes travelling to matches is expensive but not every city and town can offer 1000 yard range or even a 100-200 yard range.
You can also pay as you play for an ORA membership. The guest fee cost is $45/day plus $25 if there is paid markers available or plus a match fee if there is a match that day. Come out as a guest 4 times and you get a basic membership. It ends up costing you $180 instead of $152 but you don't have to cut a cheque for $152 and can slide $45 each time by the wife a little easier.
A huge shooting complex would be great. But take a look at how many competitors we get out to the Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championship, less that 400? If it wasn't for Cadet participation, Brit and American teams the entry would be around 250 people. I think last year there was around 20 F Class shooters. Long gone are the days in Canada when 1200 shooters showed up for the Annual Prize Meeting.
$152 for an annual ORA membership plus maybe another $25/day for markers and beach sentries isn't too bad of a deal. Yes travelling to matches is expensive but not every city and town can offer 1000 yard range or even a 100-200 yard range.
You can also pay as you play for an ORA membership. The guest fee cost is $45/day plus $25 if there is paid markers available or plus a match fee if there is a match that day. Come out as a guest 4 times and you get a basic membership. It ends up costing you $180 instead of $152 but you don't have to cut a cheque for $152 and can slide $45 each time by the wife a little easier.
A huge shooting complex would be great. But take a look at how many competitors we get out to the Canadian Fullbore Rifle Championship, less that 400? If it wasn't for Cadet participation, Brit and American teams the entry would be around 250 people. I think last year there was around 20 F Class shooters. Long gone are the days in Canada when 1200 shooters showed up for the Annual Prize Meeting.
Winchester 1886
CGN Regular
¨
¨What he said...
I don't compete because of the elitist environment related to long range shooting competition. When I first inquired to my provincial RA I was told my rifle wasn't good enough and that some shooters have barrels that are worth more than my entire rig (even though all I asked was how the organisation worked. Not even asking how to join).
Later I started IPSC and people seemed 100x happier to have a new guy join the ranks. I didn't look back..
Even though I now have a real bench gun I just shoot it to relax on weekend mornings once in a while
Later I started IPSC and people seemed 100x happier to have a new guy join the ranks. I didn't look back..
Even though I now have a real bench gun I just shoot it to relax on weekend mornings once in a while
Golf is a good analogy for price, not so much for accessibility, never mind the fact that it's a waste of a perfectly good shooting range.
I understand the poor turnout, but I think that's a factor of it not being as accessible to many for practice. We simply need more, or better ranges to foster the interest from the masses. Multiply that across the provinces an the sport will grow. It's a double edge sword, you need the facilities to get the numbers, but you need the numbers to pay for the facilities.
I agree somewhat about the elitist attitude, it's there in doses, and it can be a little intimidating for new comers, but that can easily be fought at the club level with some of the friendlier old guard taking a stand. You always have the #### somewhere in the crowd, kind of like the frogs at the fair ground games, you just have to keep hammering them until they go away.
I understand the poor turnout, but I think that's a factor of it not being as accessible to many for practice. We simply need more, or better ranges to foster the interest from the masses. Multiply that across the provinces an the sport will grow. It's a double edge sword, you need the facilities to get the numbers, but you need the numbers to pay for the facilities.
I agree somewhat about the elitist attitude, it's there in doses, and it can be a little intimidating for new comers, but that can easily be fought at the club level with some of the friendlier old guard taking a stand. You always have the #### somewhere in the crowd, kind of like the frogs at the fair ground games, you just have to keep hammering them until they go away.
Until you win......LOL
