First visit to the local gun club, and licencing info

[Erik]

Hope this is the correct category for this.
As some of you might remember from GTF, I decided to check out the possibility to keep shooting here in my country.
So today was my first visit to the local club, I had an appointment to talk to the clubs instructor and go through what I need to do to be able to join and be allowed to shoot, and later on get my own licens.
I met him at the clubs range, which is located in the countryside, about 20miles from where I live, where some members were shooting blackpowder guns tonight. The club has all kinds of handgun shooting, whatever the members want.

Here's what I need to do to join.
To get the card from the government that says I'm an approved pistol shooter, I need to pass a course given by the clubs instructor. At the moment, I'm the only pending member, so the classes will be pretty informal, and I can study on my own too. I'll get the book that I need to learn next week. I will need to pass a written exam that has all kinds of questions, most of them safety related, some legal, and some that apparently has no relation to shooting at all, but are still required to know.
Then I need to pass a shooting test, with two different stages.
1. From 25yards, onehanded, 5 shots in 6 minutes, I need 36 points out of 50. I believe the 7 ring is about 8 inches, so all shots within there and I'm ok. I need to have 3 series that qualify.
2. Same distance, but speed shooting, 6 shots in 60 sekonds. Ok to use a supporting hand. The target is, I think, 10", and I need 5 hits out of 6. And I need to do that 3 times too.
When I've done this, and the club vouch for me as an active member, I will get the card, and will be allowed to borrow the clubs .22, and practise on my own.
Until then, I have to have the instructor present at all times.

To be able to get my own license for a .22, I will need to be an active member for six months, and pass the same shooting tests, but with higher scores.
1. I need to show 3 series with 46 points onehanded. (9-ring is 4")
2. I need to show 3 series with 6 hits out of 6 within 20 seconds.
If I do that, and the police dont have anything against me, I'll be able to get license to buy a .22 caliber handgun.
After 12months active membership, it's possible to get other calibers.

So, I figure I better get all the practice I can get, so I wont be held back by not making the shooting scores.
My plan right now is to buy a good quality airgun, and set up a shooting range for it at home, to practice my stance and trigger control.

Anyone have any experience with the Gamo Compact?
I heard it's an acceptable, for the price, airgun for serious training, and it's about half the cost of the Baikal IZH 46, which seems to be the entry level competition gun.

[princewally]

Wow. Shouldn't this be in 'Gripes, Grumbles, and Bitching'?

That's a lot of hoops to jump through.


That said, I've got nothing meaningful to contribute.

[Erik]

Wow. Shouldn't this be in 'Gripes, Grumbles, and Bitching'?

Give it time. I'm sure it'll end up there within the next 12 months...

[Darrell]

Good luck, Erik. Those are some hoops to jump through. I think sometimes we take for granted how lucky we are here in the good ol' USA...

[Frankingun]

At least this way, the addiction builds gradually.

Erik, I take it there are no restrictions on airguns then?

Study hard, keep us informed, and good luck!

[Erik]

Thanks all

Airguns has an age limit of 18years. They are not licensed as long as their kinetic energy at 4 meters are not above 10Joule (unless they are semiautomatic with a kinetic energy of above 3 Joule). Most airguns will be around 3Joule, so some semiautomatic airguns might be in the dangerzone, but the Gamo Compact and the Baikal are safe.

The law only looks at kinetic energy and if they are repeating, it does not seem to make a distinction between airguns, CO2-guns, bows, crossbows, or "regular guns".
For comparison, I believe a .22 is around 40Joule.

[mekender]

you ever make it down to my neck of the woods and ill take you to a public range that has limits of 15KJ (no .50bmg).

$10 says youll go back north and decide to move. either that or get really involved in changing the nanny state laws up there.

[Erik]

Had my first shooting session at the club today.

I was lent a .22 Morini, and got to try shooting onehanded from 25 meters. We shot series of 5 shots, and I did pretty well, I got the three series above the 36points I needed to pass the precision shooting requirements. Pretty good for a first time I think.
My best series was 45, so now I'll just set my sights (pun intended) for the three 46 point series I need to be able to get a license. But I still have six months to the earliest date I could get a license, so no rush.
I also got to try the instructors 9mm SVI, for a twohanded series from 25yards. I scored a 10 and a 9, and three in the outer rings, I guess I'm not that comfortable shooting from that distance yet. But it was a really nice gun to shoot though

So until next tuesday I will be practising with the airgun I bought, and study the book I need to learn. The sooner I can pass the requirements, the better.

[SeekHer]

A couple of my daughters shoot a Morini, lovely guns that! CM 162 EI .177 Air Pistol and the CM 84E Free Pistol and the CM 22M ALU for Rapid Fire both in .22 LR

Then you'll want to practice at home and this program is quite good at getting you to recognize a sight picture that is an important part of shooting but it will of course not build muscle memory...

Euro Sport Shooting

It's also fun...

[Erik]

It was the Morini 22M we used. Really nice gun to target shoot with.

Cool game