Galleryrifle

GalleryRifle Shooting in the UK

Browsing Posts published by Neil

Spring Action Weekend 2014

Some photos from the Spring Action weekend 2014

More Photos

Phoenix 2014 Sponsors

Many thanks to our sponsors who make such a valuable contribution to the success of the Phoenix meeting. Please support them when you can and thank them for what they are doing for us.

Midway UK are again the 2014 Phoenix Meeting headline sponsor

[promoslider slider=”phoenix-2014” numberposts=”8″ width=”500px” height=”400px”]

Phoenix 2014

No comments

Phoenix Meeting – 2014

The Phoenix Meeting 2014 Entry Form is now live on the NRA website. The Phoenix offers a huge variety of events for just about every Gallery Rifle shooter, from 25m Air to 1000 yds Historic and F Class, and everything in between! So take a look and get involved in this flagship meeting. With the traditional Phoenix Trade Fair running alongside, there’s plenty to see and do when not on the range.

Entry fees have been held at 2013 prices, so no increase this year, and the early stages of the plan of works to improve the ranges are starting to come to fruition.

For new competitors to Bisley there is a 30% discount on entry fees, so a real incentive to bring along a friend or introduce a new club shooter to this prestigious event. For the ultra keen, entering more than 20 events will earn a 25% discount, while over 12 events offers 20% off and over 6 events is 10% off.

There are changes to club teams and new definitions for Service Rifle – details elsewhere in this and the NRA website.

The GR&P Handbooks are now available from the NRA offices as well as downloadable online, and can be collected from Reception this weekend during the SAW or at the Phoenix Meeting itself.

For more information or to download the Entry Form or to enter online

Spring Action Weekend Update

If you haven’t already entered the Gallery Rifle & Pistol season opener, there is just a little under a week until the Spring Action Weekend on 22/23 March.  You can enter online.

Entry fees have been reduced for all events and we have introduced some new features, including on-range re-entries for the Steels Challenge at only £4.00, new definitions for Service Rifle events, and 30% discounts for first time competitors. Details can be found on the form and the NRA website.
For those who have already entered, you can collect your score cards at the NRA Reception after 14.00 on Friday 21 March, or from 07.30 on Saturday 22 March and Sunday 23 March.

Turning to the ranges, the recent poor weather appears to have finally let up, sufficient that we have been able to start work on improvements to Butt Zero and Melville ranges.  The NRA have just finished installing new drainage on Butt Zero, although the ground is still very muddy following the ground work and will need time to settle before we can complete the project.  As an interim measure,  some matting has been laid for SAW and would ask that you bring suitable footwear and a sense of humour – we all hope for some drier weather but best come prepared!

Melville range is undergoing a refurbishment which will run in stages through March and April.  Initially  the sleepers at 25 yards are being replaced.  Straight after SAW work will start to improve the drainage and range floor, sleeper walls and stop butt, ready in time for the Phoenix (23-25 May).

The 2014 GR&P and Phoenix Meeting Handbooks

GRP booklet - 2014The 2014 Gallery Rifle and Pistol Handbook and the 2014 Phoenix Booklet are now available to download. Thanks to all content providers, formatters, proof readers, reviewers, commentators, artists, image manipulators, stats compilers and many more for helping in the production of the 2014 edition. You know who you are – on behalf of the Gallery Rifle community its much appreciated.

Hard copies of the booklet will be available at the Spring Action Weekend Meeting over the 22-23 March. Come along, pick some up there and take them back to your local club. Phoenix Meeting Entry forms will also be available to collect at the SAW meeting.

Lets not forget the sponsors. Midway UK are again the Phoenix Meeting’s headline sponsors – many thanks to them. Many thanks also to for following advertisers who were kind enough to offer their support again in 2014.

  • Bisley Pavilion
  • Classic Miniatures
  • Diverse Trading Company Ltd
  • Eden Trading
  • Frome & District Pistol Club
  • Low Mill Ranges
  • NASRPC Irish International Open
  • Sykes McQueen

Some of this year’s changes:

Following the success of the trial last year, a new event, 5685 Sporting Rifle Statics  100/200/300 yds, will be shot on Phoenix Booklet - 2014traditional quarry targets. There will also be an  international team match shot alongside. It will be on Century Butt 18, next to the other  100/200/300 yd events. There are also major changes to the Service Rifle gun types, now including six types. We  hope these changes will make it easier to ensure you are in the right event and give the  reassurance that you are competing on a level playing field.

The club team matches have been changed to replicate the international matches taking  place and there will be short event aggregates in GRSB and GRCF. The eligibility rules  have been tightened up to restrict entries to UK clubs only. The intent here is to encourage clubs to take part and compete against clubs you might not normally meet in competition.

Please do also encourage that extra competitor who shoots well at the club but has not yet made it to Bisley or to any other open competition on the Gallery Rifle circuit. A full calendar of events is printed in the booklet. Remember – first time competitors at Bisley Gallery Rifle competitions throughout 2014 will receive a 30% discount. And at the SAW this is in addition to the entry fees already being reduced to 2008 prices!

The JSPC Spring Open Meeting

April 19-20 2014

JSPC

It is that time of year once again and following on from the great 2013 successes, it is important to get your JSPC Open entries in as early as possible for 2014.

Entries on the day will only be permitted if there are available spaces and unfortunately there will be a late entry surcharge.

There will be an RO shoot on the Friday (18th April) for helpers and anyone else unable to make the weekend. Note however: this is a range preparation day.

The Spring JSPC Open – Download Entry Forms Here

Gallery Rifle and Pistol Spring Action Weekend

National Shooting Centre, Bisley  22/23 March 2014

Download Entry Forms

SAW PromoThe first Action Weekend of 2014 takes place over the weekend of 22/23 March. Entry fees for all matches have been reduced by around 10% – to the levels of 2008 – and for first time competitors at Bisley there is a discount of 30% on entry fees, adding a real incentive to participate. If you have friends or new club members keen to start competing at the home of shooting, this offers excellent value.

A most excellent Promotional Flyer advertising the meeting has been produced. Please print this off and distribute as widely as you can. Pin it to your club notice boards or link it to your club websites. Our meetings ultimately rely on shooters attending. The Spring meeting is an excellent opportunity to encourage new shooters to Gallery Rifle Shooting.

Changes

  • The Speed Steels have new courses of fire, and we will trial 3 runs at each of 5 layouts (with the slowest run to be dropped), and a much reduced entry of £6.00 plus re-entry on the range at only £4.00.
  • The 200 yds  events on Short Siberia have a change in position from Kneeling to Sitting – this is mainly on safety grounds due to firers forward at 100 yds – although judging from the groans at the AAW I doubt there will be many begging to retain the Kneeling phase. Please note also that the 200 yds gun types have changed considerably.  Keep an eye out for further details in the next announcement.

Shooting Times

The majority of events will be available both Saturday and Sunday, however in order to manage range costs and still offer a full choice of shoots, some events will run one day only:

  • Saturday        Bianchi, Speed Steels
  • Sunday          Target Shotgun, 200 yds GR and McQueen

Details of these timings are on the entry form.

The online entry will be available from around Tue 28 Jan (we are waiting for some specialist IT support), so please check the NRA website. In the meantime, a PDF copy of the entry form is now  available on the website for those who wish to enter by post.

Don’t forget to bring your Firearm Certificate and your Shooter Certification Card (SCC) as you will be required to produce one or both before you can shoot.

Eye Protection

Eye protection is mandatory for all shooting at this meeting. Shatterproof glasses must be worn which provide adequate protection at the sides as well as the front. If they do not, you must use additional side protection in the form of slip on shields or similar.  Slip on side shields will be available at reception with profits going to a charity for visually impaired shooters.

Hope to see you there.

The GB Shooting Show – 2014

Don’t forget to pop by and say hello if you visit the show

FloorPlan

Yet again a few hardy souls we will be representing the Gallery Rifle and Pistol discipline at the Great British Shooting show in Stoneleigh between the 14th and 16th February.

England Gallery Rifle TeamThis year the show has been extended to three full days – Friday to Sunday. Its the 6th year the show has been running and after moving down to Stoneleigh from the Newark showground for the 2013 event it seems to be going from strength to strength.

We literally could not move last year for most of the main part of Saturday – this despite the pretty dire weather.

GB Gallery Rifle TeamOver the three days this year we have solicited the help of two GB Gallery Rifle team captains, two England Gallery Rifle team captains, a former GB and the current England vice captain and the Bianchi Centrefire  National Champion and record holder.

If you are a the show head over to the stand and say hello – look out for the banners.

As usual we will be sharing with Target Shooter Magazine, The Fifty Calibre Shooters Association and the United Kingdom Association of Rimfire & Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting (UKBR22).

The Basildon Open

basildon-140The 2014 Basildon Open is now confirmed for a  long weekend of the 25th to the 27th April.

Entry Forms are now available for download.

Service Rifle definitions

for The Phoenix Meeting and Gallery Rifle and Pistol Meetings – 2014

The definitions of the Service Rifle classes have been changed to reflect the concerns of competitors that the existing classes were defined too broadly. The effect was to make it difficult for competitors to be sure that they were competing against others with rifles of a similar type. The aim is to move towards fairer competition conditions for all.

Please note that these definitions only apply to the Phoenix Meeting and some events in the GR&P meetings. Although the definitions themselves follow closely others which exist elsewhere, they will only apply for these meetings.

The Phoenix Meeting has always welcomed competitors from all disciplines. While not attempting to reproduce the exact match conditions of those disciplines we have tried to make it possible for competitors to bring a wide variety of guns and have a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
In essence, for pre 1955 rifles, there is a return to the old Service Rifle (a) and Service Rifle (b) classes (as defined in the 1963 Bisley Bible) with the addition of an Open class. For post 1955 rifles, we are using the existing Civilian Service Rifle definitions.

Pre 1955 Service Rifle Classes

SR (a) – Service Rifle Class A

A service rifle as issued by any government and used without any unauthorized alterations or additions.
Sling: an as issued sling.
Gloves: no padded shooting gloves are allowed
Backsight: a backsight as issued must be used. The wind-gauge if any must be set centrally.
Foresight: a blade foresight, which may be undercut.
Wind: must be allowed for by aiming off.
Sights: may be blackened, but nothing maybe affixed for shading of them.
Trigger pull: minimum of 5lbs.

SR (b) – Service Rifle Class B

Any rifle as defined for SR (a) except that :-
(a) The sling may be used as an aid for steadying the rifle. The sling must be attached to the rifle at no more than two points; it must not exceed 2 inches in width or ¼ inch in thickness.
The sling may be placed round one arm and/or wrist but not round any other part of the body.
(b) The wind-gauge if any may be adjusted and used.
(c) An additional aperture backsight may be affixed and used.
(d) No padded shooting gloves are allowed

SR (O) – Service Rifle Open

Any rifle chambered for cartridges used in the above classes.
Sights: of any description including magnifying or telescopic.
Sling: a sling of any pattern may be used as an aid to steadying the rifle.
Gloves: no padded shooting gloves are allowed
Support: when shooting in the prone position competitors may use some form of rest for the wrist or back of the forward hand.
No form of rest is to be affixed to the rifle.

Post 1955 Service Rifle Classes

SR (IS) – Service Rifle post 1955 Iron Sights

a) Iron sights only
b) No restriction on slings
c) Rests are prohibited
d) Trigger weight 4.5lbs minimum
e) Magazine resting is permitted, no part of the wrist of the supporting arm may touch the ground
f) No padded shooting gloves are allowed

SR (SO) – Service Rifle post 1955 Service Optic

a) No restriction on slings
b) Magazine resting is permitted, but no part of the wrist of the supporting arm may touch the ground
c) Fore grips are prohibited, as are any modifications to the fore end, such as hand or sling stops, intended to facilitate an advantage with the support hand.
d) Bipods are prohibited
e) Trigger weight 4.5lbs minimum
f) Optic sights maximum magnification of 4.5x
g) No padded shooting gloves are allowed

SR (PO) – Service Rifle post 1955 Practical Optic

a) No restriction on slings or rests
b) Bipods may be used, but must remain fitted at all times
c) Vertical fore grips may be used, but must remain fitted at all times
d) Trigger weight 1.5kg minimum
e) No restriction on optic sights
f) No padded shooting gloves are allowed

Shooting Show 2014

Three weeks to go to this quite large event. A few of us will be on the Gallery Rifle stall again promoting the discipline

Highlights from last year – a couple of  familiar faces around about 5:39

SAW 2014 – Call for Range Officers

SAW PromoGallery Rifle and Pistol Spring Action Weekend
National Shooting Centre, Bisley  22/23 March 2014

As usual the meeting will need Range Officers – and this is the  usual call for help. Please fill in the online RO form as soon as you can if you are able to help out.  Please use the form it as it makes the process of collecting and collating all the data much easier.

Volunteer to help at the Spring Action Meeting

As well as NRA qualified RCOs we also are very happy to have any other helpers, regardless of experience, to lend a hand.  If you have not worked on a range crew before you will learn a lot and contribute to the success of the meeting.

There will be a day prior to the meeting for ROs to shoot events – Friday 21 March.  Melville has been fully booked and all events have been scheduled to run on the RO day, with tighter control of timings.  Shooting will start at 08.30 and will run through to 16:00.

As usual food and accommodation will be provided in line with the number of days or RO-ing  you can give us over the course of the meeting.

SAW 2014

No comments

SAW 2014

SAW PromoThe Spring Action Weekend for 2014. The classified season opener.

Print off the flyer and distribute around your local clubs.  Encourage new shooters to come along and take advantage of the offers available .

Entry forms and further details available soon.

Pete Cooper

The 2014 GB Gallery Rifle Captain

Peter Cooper

Peter Cooper

I’m honored to have been selected to represent the GB Gallery Rifle Team as their Captain. Taff Wilcox has done a great job over the last couple of seasons and it is with his advice and friendship I take this challenge from him.

As Captain I plan to promote positive thinking and team work amongst the selected team members. Unity and comradeship are imperative to strength and success. Honesty and openness through communication is key and I am keen to make sure all information available to me will be cascaded to the rest of the team.

We are desperately in need of raising funds, any help or ideas on how to achieve this will be graciously accepted.

I have a passion for Gallery Rifle shooting born from my first visit to Bisley which was the Phoenix meeting 2003. I have an eagerness to share this passion by promoting the discipline as much as possible, not only nationally but worldwide. So if any clubs or individuals would like more information please feel free to get in touch I’ll be happy to help.

Squad selection based on shooting ability, consistency and commitment will be taking place shortly. Any competitor and NRA member that regularly competes in SB or CF 1500 wanting to be considered, please let me or Neil Francis know. Team members will be required to travel to Ireland and Germany, possibly South Africa and other distant shores as the number of competing nations grows. This is a fabulous opportunity to represent GB in our wonderful sport.

Pete Cooper

Gallery Rifle Open Comps for 2014

Open Comps 2014