One for the Shooters.
Discussion
I am to be best man, next year, for the guy who was my best man. He is a bit of a country boy and has beaten on pheasant shoots and has always been interested in country pursuits. He hasn't been able to do a lot of outdoor activities recently due to a nerve problem in his leg meaning he has to walk with a stick.
For his stag do he mentioned shooting at a range. What I would like to organise is the stag party going to a shooting range and testing a few guns (from hand guns through rifles to shotguns) with a target competition between us at the end. The group will be made up of technical, mechanical, engineering-type geeks, so a demo and possibly a go at stripping, cleaning and reassembling a gun might interest a few of us.
Here is the hitch, none of us have a fire-arms certificate and are all fire-arms novices. A couple of us have fired a .22 rifle and a 12 bore before, but that is it.
Does anyone have any idea of a place that would accomodate a group (10-15 people) for a novice introduction to shooting? Preferably in the south-west around Bath.
I have heard that Bisley have ranges, but nothing more than that.
Any pointers in the right direction would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
For his stag do he mentioned shooting at a range. What I would like to organise is the stag party going to a shooting range and testing a few guns (from hand guns through rifles to shotguns) with a target competition between us at the end. The group will be made up of technical, mechanical, engineering-type geeks, so a demo and possibly a go at stripping, cleaning and reassembling a gun might interest a few of us.
Here is the hitch, none of us have a fire-arms certificate and are all fire-arms novices. A couple of us have fired a .22 rifle and a 12 bore before, but that is it.
Does anyone have any idea of a place that would accomodate a group (10-15 people) for a novice introduction to shooting? Preferably in the south-west around Bath.
I have heard that Bisley have ranges, but nothing more than that.
Any pointers in the right direction would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
You might struggle to get the 'range' of guns you want. I am from Bath, and lots of the rifle ranges around here aren't particularly friendly to beginners, and certainly wont accomodate a 'have a go' stag party. Your best bet is to try one of the many clay pigeon shooting grounds dotted around (Mendip, Podimore, Brook Bank and possibly Wylye) and have a days clay shooting.
Definitely no handguns anywhere as it's illegal, you might have more luck with rifles elsewhere in the country but my gut is that you wont.
Definitely no handguns anywhere as it's illegal, you might have more luck with rifles elsewhere in the country but my gut is that you wont.
http://www.nsc-bisley.co.uk/
They certainly have the firearms, not sure what they offer the public though
Other way to do it is go to Poland, You can shoot some really cool guns there
They certainly have the firearms, not sure what they offer the public though
Other way to do it is go to Poland, You can shoot some really cool guns there
Vixpy1 said:
http://www.nsc-bisley.co.uk/
They certainly have the firearms, not sure what they offer the public though
Other way to do it is go to Poland, You can shoot some really cool guns there
Hungary seems to be the best if you want to go all out.They certainly have the firearms, not sure what they offer the public though
Other way to do it is go to Poland, You can shoot some really cool guns there
re pistols in the UK...
muzzle loading pistols such as US Civil War reveolvers, 1850's single shot duelling pistols and modern equivalents are still entirely legal, FAC permitting. Also long barreled modern cartridge pistols are legal.
e.g. http://westlakeengineering.com/12601.html
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/?item=ArmiCategori...
http://www.feinwerkbau.de/ceasy/modules/cms/main.p...
Most target shooting clubs have club guns that members can use, but you can't just walk in off the street and use them. You would have to be a member of the club which usually involves providing references/referees and the club would want to run through a bit of training and supervised use of air guns first before any use of firearms would be considered. Clubs are licensed by the Home Office and are obliged to run to fairly strict rules.
Certainly at my club, we've had the odd request re stag do's etc and we bring out the bargepole !
Sounds like the suggestions for Europe or the US are the way to go. Have fun!
muzzle loading pistols such as US Civil War reveolvers, 1850's single shot duelling pistols and modern equivalents are still entirely legal, FAC permitting. Also long barreled modern cartridge pistols are legal.
e.g. http://westlakeengineering.com/12601.html
http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/?item=ArmiCategori...
http://www.feinwerkbau.de/ceasy/modules/cms/main.p...
Most target shooting clubs have club guns that members can use, but you can't just walk in off the street and use them. You would have to be a member of the club which usually involves providing references/referees and the club would want to run through a bit of training and supervised use of air guns first before any use of firearms would be considered. Clubs are licensed by the Home Office and are obliged to run to fairly strict rules.
Certainly at my club, we've had the odd request re stag do's etc and we bring out the bargepole !
Sounds like the suggestions for Europe or the US are the way to go. Have fun!
Get yourself over to Prague.
these http://www.topguntours.co.uk/Prague_Shooting_Other...
do
'Shoot eight different guns including the AK47, M16, Pump-action shotgun, magnum revolver, Glock pistol, and the super light weight Swiss TP9 close protection weapon.
Now also including two full power sniper rifles and reactive military spec. targets in the TOP GUN SNIPER CHALLENGE.'
these http://www.topguntours.co.uk/Prague_Shooting_Other...
do
'Shoot eight different guns including the AK47, M16, Pump-action shotgun, magnum revolver, Glock pistol, and the super light weight Swiss TP9 close protection weapon.
Now also including two full power sniper rifles and reactive military spec. targets in the TOP GUN SNIPER CHALLENGE.'
A shooting stag party is a bad idea; organise the shoot and the stag do as totally separate events.
After a lifetime of personal research into shooting and alcohol, I find them a bad mix.
Nobody on a stag do will want to hold off the drinking.
A novice with a gun is always potentially dangerous. So is a drunk. People on stag do's are usually full of bravado and a drunk novice, acting flash is a disaster waiting to happen.
Drunk in charge of a firearm is a criminal offence and any range that allows a drunk to handle firearms is likely to have its licence revoked. Then there's getting sued if you allowed a drunk to shoot and it ended in tears.
Consequently Range Officers are likely to show very little tolerance of people who have been drinking and escort you off the premises. Thankfully I didn't have to do it often. That was club members; do it as a paying visitor and you won't get a refund.
Another consideration is the banging noise. Ear defenders won't keep it out if your head is banging from last nights drinking. The sound of gun just seems to synchronize with the pounding in your brain and it's nasty.
Organise a small, alcohol free shooting trip to Eastern Europe for just a few people another time; and a traditionally beer fueled weekend for the stag do.
After a lifetime of personal research into shooting and alcohol, I find them a bad mix.
Nobody on a stag do will want to hold off the drinking.
A novice with a gun is always potentially dangerous. So is a drunk. People on stag do's are usually full of bravado and a drunk novice, acting flash is a disaster waiting to happen.
Drunk in charge of a firearm is a criminal offence and any range that allows a drunk to handle firearms is likely to have its licence revoked. Then there's getting sued if you allowed a drunk to shoot and it ended in tears.
Consequently Range Officers are likely to show very little tolerance of people who have been drinking and escort you off the premises. Thankfully I didn't have to do it often. That was club members; do it as a paying visitor and you won't get a refund.
Another consideration is the banging noise. Ear defenders won't keep it out if your head is banging from last nights drinking. The sound of gun just seems to synchronize with the pounding in your brain and it's nasty.
Organise a small, alcohol free shooting trip to Eastern Europe for just a few people another time; and a traditionally beer fueled weekend for the stag do.
Edited by Uncle Fester on Tuesday 23 February 13:30
Kaelic said:
Vixpy1 said:
Other way to do it is go to Poland, You can shoot some really cool guns there
I hear cambodia is the place if you want to fire an RPG 
I was in Cambodia in November and there were loads of places tring to get you to go and shoot AK47s, RPG, handguns, lob grenades etc.
Probably cheaper going there than Bath as well.
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Uncle Fester said:
A shooting stag party is a bad idea; organise the shoot and the stag do as totally separate events.
After a lifetime of personal research into shooting and alcohol, I find them a bad mix.
Nobody on a stag do will want to hold off the drinking.
A novice with a gun is always potentially dangerous. So is a drunk. People on stag do's are usually full of bravado and a drunk novice, acting flash is a disaster waiting to happen.
Drunk in charge of a firearm is a criminal offence and any range that allows a drunk to handle firearms is likely to have its licence revoked. Then there's getting sued if you allowed a drunk to shoot and it ended in tears.
Consequently Range Officers are likely to show very little tolerance of people who have been drinking and escort you off the premises. Thankfully I didn't have to do it often.
Another consideration is the banging noise. Ear defenders won't keep it out if your head is banging from last nights drinking. The sound of gun just seems to synchronize with the pounding in your brain and it's nasty.
Organise a small, alcohol free shooting trip to Eastern Europe for just a few people another time.
I appreciate your concern, but the people who are going are not the typical "Stag do lads". The plan was to do a mornings shooting, then go to a nice pub lunch (try and get a game pie out of the chef After a lifetime of personal research into shooting and alcohol, I find them a bad mix.
Nobody on a stag do will want to hold off the drinking.
A novice with a gun is always potentially dangerous. So is a drunk. People on stag do's are usually full of bravado and a drunk novice, acting flash is a disaster waiting to happen.
Drunk in charge of a firearm is a criminal offence and any range that allows a drunk to handle firearms is likely to have its licence revoked. Then there's getting sued if you allowed a drunk to shoot and it ended in tears.
Consequently Range Officers are likely to show very little tolerance of people who have been drinking and escort you off the premises. Thankfully I didn't have to do it often.
Another consideration is the banging noise. Ear defenders won't keep it out if your head is banging from last nights drinking. The sound of gun just seems to synchronize with the pounding in your brain and it's nasty.
Organise a small, alcohol free shooting trip to Eastern Europe for just a few people another time.
) then do something different for the afternoon. The idea is to avoid the 'drink all day, then go out drinking in the evening' type of event. We want to have an activity filled day to remember, rather than a day that no-one can remember. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff