National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom (NRA) is the governing body of full bore rifle and pistol shooting sports
in the United Kingdom
.
. Its founding aim was to raise the funds for an annual national rifle meeting (now known as the Imperial Meeting) "for the promotion of marksmanship in the interests of Defence of the Realm and permanence of the Volunteer Forces, Navy, Military and Air".
In 1890, Queen Victoria granted the NRA a Royal Charter of Incorporation.
2009 marked the 150th Anniversary of the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom. These days the Association is primarily concerned with civilian full-bore target rifle shooting, although retaining its military heritage and close links with the British Armed Forces
.
In 2006, the NRA founded the National Association of Target Shooting Sports
(NATSS) working group in association with the NSRA
and CPSA
, to explore the practicalities and benefits of a merger between the bodies. The project was shelved in July 2009.
today are as originally laid out in 1890 to accommodate modern full-bore rifle shooting. Century Range provides 108 points at distances up to 600 yards. Stickledown Range is the largest long range in the UK with 50 targets and firing points from 800 to 1200 yards. There is also the Short Siberia Range with points at 100 and 200 yards. There used to be a Long Siberia Range which was originally a 600 yard range. This is now used by Bisley Shooting Ground (a commercial sporting clay shooting organisation) as a sporting clay Range. BSG also operate Cottesloe Heath, which lies in the danger area for Century Range and thus is subject to time limitations. The Running Deer Range (operated by the British Sporting Rifle Club) has facilities for moving targets at up to 100 metres.
Pistol shooting was also well accommodated with Melville, Cheylesmore
and Winans ranges. The original Cheylesmore Range was opened for the 1948 Summer Olympics
: recently relocated, it still facilitates 35 lanes at 25 metres. To cater for the increased popularity of pistol shooting, Melville Range, also offering 60 lanes for shooting at both 25 and 50 metres, was opened in 1983 and Winans (now closed) was renamed Winans from Gallery in 1993.
Clay pigeon shooting
has taken place at Bisley since the early 1920s. The facilities were greatly expanded to accommodate the 2002 Commonwealth Games shooting, when the National Clay Shooting Centre was opened. The NCSC offers world class facilities for DTL, Skeet, ABT, Double Trap and Universal Trench. Bisley Shooting Ground, a commercial clay shooting operator, runs extensive sporting clay facilities on the Cottesloe Heath and Long Siberia ranges..
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The National Rifle Association was founded in 1859, twelve years before its better known American cousin. The Association has recently added the suffix "of the United Kingdom" to its website taglineTagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
. Its founding aim was to raise the funds for an annual national rifle meeting (now known as the Imperial Meeting) "for the promotion of marksmanship in the interests of Defence of the Realm and permanence of the Volunteer Forces, Navy, Military and Air".
In 1890, Queen Victoria granted the NRA a Royal Charter of Incorporation.
2009 marked the 150th Anniversary of the National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom. These days the Association is primarily concerned with civilian full-bore target rifle shooting, although retaining its military heritage and close links with the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
.
In 2006, the NRA founded the National Association of Target Shooting Sports
National Association of Target Shooting Sports
The National Association of Target Shooting Sports , was a working group comprising the representatives of the NRA, NSRA and CPSA to explore the possibility of merging the UK's three main National Governing Bodies for Target Shooting....
(NATSS) working group in association with the NSRA
National Smallbore Rifle Association
The National Smallbore Rifle Association, The NSRA, is the national governing body for all Small-bore Rifle and Pistol Target Shooting in the United Kingdom, including Airgun and Match Crossbow Shooting....
and CPSA
Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association is the National Governing Body for Clay Target Shooting in England.Founded in 1928, it is recognised by Sports England, the Department of the Environment, the Home Office, the Police etc...
, to explore the practicalities and benefits of a merger between the bodies. The project was shelved in July 2009.
The National Shooting Centre
The principal ranges used at BisleyBisley, Surrey
Bisley is a large village in Surrey, England, which is notable for rifle shooting. Bisley's immediate neighbours are West End, Chobham and Knaphill.- History :...
today are as originally laid out in 1890 to accommodate modern full-bore rifle shooting. Century Range provides 108 points at distances up to 600 yards. Stickledown Range is the largest long range in the UK with 50 targets and firing points from 800 to 1200 yards. There is also the Short Siberia Range with points at 100 and 200 yards. There used to be a Long Siberia Range which was originally a 600 yard range. This is now used by Bisley Shooting Ground (a commercial sporting clay shooting organisation) as a sporting clay Range. BSG also operate Cottesloe Heath, which lies in the danger area for Century Range and thus is subject to time limitations. The Running Deer Range (operated by the British Sporting Rifle Club) has facilities for moving targets at up to 100 metres.
Pistol shooting was also well accommodated with Melville, Cheylesmore
Herbert Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore
Major-General Herbert Francis Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore KCMG, KCVO was a British Army officer, sportsman, and peer...
and Winans ranges. The original Cheylesmore Range was opened for the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
: recently relocated, it still facilitates 35 lanes at 25 metres. To cater for the increased popularity of pistol shooting, Melville Range, also offering 60 lanes for shooting at both 25 and 50 metres, was opened in 1983 and Winans (now closed) was renamed Winans from Gallery in 1993.
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm....
has taken place at Bisley since the early 1920s. The facilities were greatly expanded to accommodate the 2002 Commonwealth Games shooting, when the National Clay Shooting Centre was opened. The NCSC offers world class facilities for DTL, Skeet, ABT, Double Trap and Universal Trench. Bisley Shooting Ground, a commercial clay shooting operator, runs extensive sporting clay facilities on the Cottesloe Heath and Long Siberia ranges..