Want to start shooting!!

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

Witcher

You'll likely have to join a range to shoot at it, most aren't walk in like you would see in the US and if you hope to get a licence to target shoot you'll definitely have to join. Find your local one and call them to find out about joining.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

Witcher

feeney92 wrote: »

ah yeah i know that :0 if only it was like that!! any ideas about shooting clubs in dublin?

Northside/Southside?

homerhop

http://www.nasrpc.ie/who-we-are/links

tac foley

feeney92 wrote: »

alri lads, just wanted to get your opinion on the best way to get into shooting as in local ranges etc. live in dublin at the moment, part of the rdf but recently wanted to get more into shooting (sons of guns on discovery) would love to start the sport as i love weapns of all kinds, help is much appreciated

Sir - you may care to amend your post to say that you have an interest in all types of firearms, rather a 'love weapns of all kinds'. There are some who look in on this forum for whom the word 'weapon's is a keyword to all kinds of unpleasantness. What we shoot here are firearms for sporting purposes, rather than 'weapons' which are defined as items of hardware used for belligerent purposes.

Just sayin'.

tac

One shot on kill

my first bit of advice is forget about sons of guns

good programme doe but thats not what shooting is about in this great little country of ours as laws and restrictions on fire arms are far more stricter here

decide if you want to hunt or just target shoot maybe both then head to the local range to see what the story is with getting set up or even go to a local gunshop the guys are always willing to help

best of luck with it

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

Witcher

feeney92 wrote: »

probably would start off with the normal target shooting then advance to hunting, havnt tried it before but really want to, any advice?

Call the local range, for you it's probably Courtlough in Balbriggan.

Check out Homerhop's link above and you'll see clubs around Dublin on the map.

Cass

feeney92 wrote: »

tac foley....Surely a gun is a weapon, i was taught to call a gun a weapon in the RDF because thats what it is. it is a weapon and can do serious damage.

tac foley was simply trying to point out that on this forum we purposely distinguish between a firearm and a weapon. On this forum we refer to them as firearms NOT weapons. This has been covered hundreds of times, and quite frankly i'm not for getting into in any great detail so as to derail the thread.

However a weapon immediately conjures images of machine guns, and people being hurt/killed. Its not what this forum nor us as shooters want or have our firearms for. The RDF is a home defence force so they use weapons in the line of their duties, we do not.

This is a sporting shooting forum. So if the firearm is intended for/used for any other use outside of animal hunting or sports shooting then its not the forum for it. There is a military forum for the discussion of weapons.

if i called a "bullet" a ROUND would you give out to me for that? i just want info so i can start practicing shooting in my spare time, not the grammar police :P

Not give out, but inform you. A bullet is the projectile only. A round is the completed item consisting of powder, primer, case, and bullet.


You are very wlecome to take part in the shooting forum, but certain topics are not for discussion here as they fall outside the remit of sports shooting. While it is not the "end of the world" we would much rather they were refered to as firearms.

Lastly to answer your original question. You need a range if you intend to do target shooting. Also you need to decide what type of shooting appeals to you. As was mention forget about sons of guns. A fun programme to watch, but 90% of the guns shown are illegal here, and the other 105 look to be severly restricted.


You need to look at the type of shooting you would like to do;

• F-Class
• .22lr benchrest
• Gallery
• Rimfire pistol
• Vintage

Once you have chosen your desired sport you must choose an appropriate caliber to compete with. Your options would be a rifle of one of the following calibers;

• .22lr
• .223
• .243
• 6.5x55
• 6.5x284
• .270
• 7mm WSM
• .308

There are literally dozens of other calibers but these would be a good mix of both hunting, and target calibers suitable for one or the other or both.

Next step is to pick a firearm. Go to as many dealers as you can. Do not rush the decision. Its can be a long enough process to get the license so you cannot pick choose, change your mind, pick choose change your mind once the license process has begun.
Go out and try as many makes/models of the caliber you would most like, but keep an open mind to other calibers as sometimes you end up buying a caliber you did not intend to buy.


Once ypu have a rifle, caliber, mke.model choosen you then need to apply for a license. The red announcement at the top of the main shooting page will give you all the basics. Anything else you need can be asked here. In short you need;

• An FCA1 (application form)
• Letter of sale from dealer with firearm details
• Photos x 2
• Referees to vouch for your character x 2
• Medical details
• Range details including membership number and copy of membership card.
• Seperate sheet of paper with an explanation as to why you want this firearm plus explanations for a mod (silencer) if you choose to get one.
• A witness to sign the application.
• All secure acomodation requirements in place as there is a box you must tick to say you have them in place.

The applcaition can take from 4 weeks to 3 months, and some have even waited up to a year for their license. It is meant to be done within a 3 month time period, but this does not always happen depending on which Garda district you are in.

Once a decision has been made you will receive a receipt letter followed shortly after by a grant letter (if successful) to say you have been granted the license. You can take this and pay your €80 at the post office and within 3-5 day your license will arrive in the post. You can do as some do and use the grant letter, and receipt of payment at the post office to show your license is on the way, but for the sake of a couple of days i don't personally see the need.

You collect your firearm, go to the range and enjoy your shooting.

rowa

feeney92 wrote: »

alri lads, just wanted to get your opinion on the best way to get into shooting as in local ranges etc. live in dublin at the moment, part of the rdf but recently wanted to get more into shooting (sons of guns on discovery) would love to start the sport as i love weapns of all kinds, help is much appreciated

If you want to know about firearms , don't watch that load of absolute rubbish on discovery , its pure dreck and you will not learn anything from it, most of the projects the gun butchers do are illegal even in america. You'd learn more in an hour at a gun club and meet genuine enthusiasts with more relevant knowledge.

Hibrion

rowa wrote: »

If you want to know about firearms , don't watch that load of absolute rubbish on discovery , its pure dreck and you will not learn anything from it, most of the projects the gun butchers do are illegal even in america. You'd learn more in an hour at a gun club and meet genuine enthusiasts with more relevant knowledge.

You're dead right there. Their mods seem good, but the y send too much time mounting machine guns to stuff. I lost interest pretty early.
American guns is another program which is a bit better. They ar more into civilian stuff (American civilian stuff;))and have some good gunsmiths on the show.

Chopperdog 2

Ezridax wrote: »

feeney92 wrote: »

tac foley....Surely a gun is a weapon, i was taught to call a gun a weapon in the RDF because thats what it is. it is a weapon and can do serious damage.

tac foley was simply trying to point out that on this forum we purposely distinguish between a firearm and a weapon. On this forum we refer to them as firearms NOT weapons. This has been covered hundreds of times, and quite frankly i'm not for getting into in any great detail so as to derail the thread.

However a weapon immediately conjures images of machine guns, and people being hurt/killed. Its not what this forum nor us as shooters want or have our firearms for. The RDF is a home defence force so they use weapons in the line of their duties, we do not.

This is a sporting shooting forum. So if the firearm is intended for/used for any other use outside of animal hunting or sports shooting then its not the forum for it. There is a military forum for the discussion of weapons.

if i called a "bullet" a ROUND would you give out to me for that? i just want info so i can start practicing shooting in my spare time, not the grammar police :P

Not give out, but inform you. A bullet is the projectile only. A round is the completed item consisting of powder, primer, case, and bullet.


You are very wlecome to take part in the shooting forum, but certain topics are not for discussion here as they fall outside the remit of sports shooting. While it is not the "end of the world" we would much rather they were refered to as firearms.

Lastly to answer your original question. You need a range if you intend to do target shooting. Also you need to decide what type of shooting appeals to you. As was mention forget about sons of guns. A fun programme to watch, but 90% of the guns shown are illegal here, and the other 105 look to be severly restricted.


You need to look at the type of shooting you would like to do;

• F-Class
• .22lr benchrest
• Gallery
• Rimfire pistol
• Vintage

Once you have chosen your desired sport you must choose an appropriate caliber to compete with. Your options would be a rifle of one of the following calibers;

• .22lr
• .223
• .243
• 6.5x55
• 6.5x284
• .270
• 7mm WSM
• .308

There are literally dozens of other calibers but these would be a good mix of both hunting, and target calibers suitable for one or the other or both.

Next step is to pick a firearm. Go to as many dealers as you can. Do not rush the decision. Its can be a long enough process to get the license so you cannot pick choose, change your mind, pick choose change your mind once the license process has begun.
Go out and try as many makes/models of the caliber you would most like, but keep an open mind to other calibers as sometimes you end up buying a caliber you did not intend to buy.


Once ypu have a rifle, caliber, mke.model choosen you then need to apply for a license. The red announcement at the top of the main shooting page will give you all the basics. Anything else you need can be asked here. In short you need;

• An FCA1 (application form)
• Letter of sale from dealer with firearm details
• Photos x 2
• Referees to vouch for your character x 2
• Medical details
• Range details including membership number and copy of membership card.
• Seperate sheet of paper with an explanation as to why you want this firearm plus explanations for a mod (silencer) if you choose to get one.
• A witness to sign the application.
• All secure acomodation requirements in place as there is a box you must tick to say you have them in place.

The applcaition can take from 4 weeks to 3 months, and some have even waited up to a year for their license. It is meant to be done within a 3 month time period, but this does not always happen depending on which Garda district you are in.

Once a decision has been made you will receive a receipt letter followed shortly after by a grant letter (if successful) to say you have been granted the license. You can take this and pay your €80 at the post office and within 3-5 day your license will arrive in the post. You can do as some do and use the grant letter, and receipt of payment at the post office to show your license is on the way, but for the sake of a couple of days i don't personally see the need.

You collect your firearm, go to the range and enjoy your shooting.

Great post Ez, don't forget about the humble shotgun in your list of firearms.

Additionally, a proof of competence is required for all first time applicants.

That reply of yours could well be worth 'stickying'.

tac foley

+1

tac

Bananaman

Chopperdog 2 wrote: »

Great post Ez, don't forget about the humble shotgun in your list of firearms.

Additionally, a proof of competence is required for all first time applicants.

That reply of yours could well be worth 'stickying'.

There is also Sporting Rifle - which encompasses many of the same challenges as the Olympic rifle disciplines but shot with standard 22lr sporting rifles and scopes. Many of the rifle clubs in the Dublin area specialise in this type of shooting.

Gallery Rifle can be further broken down into Smallbore (22lr Semi Auto) and Centrefire (Lever Action, Low velocity calibres such as .357, .38, .44). Again a Number of clubs in the Dublin area shoot these disciplines.

If the intention is to start with Target shooting and move to Hunting - then it depends a lot on the calibre/quarry you intend - but if 22lr then some Sporting Rifle, International Sporter Benchrest Rifle would stand to you.

There is also Air Pistol and Air Rifle - again a number of clubs in the Dublin Area where these are shot - some for Olympic Disciplines, some for standard Benchrest or Gallery shooting.

If your experience with firearms has only been in the RFD then you will potentially need some "re-training" as your view of safety protocols and those of a civilian range will be a bit different - Civilian Ranges are far stricter than you will be used to, but they will put you straight. Having previously used firearms in a military context (where they are weapons) is not necessarily relevant experience for using them in a civilian context.

B'Man

kildare.17hmr

rowa wrote: »

If you want to know about firearms , don't watch that load of absolute rubbish on discovery , its pure dreck and you will not learn anything from it, most of the projects the gun butchers do are illegal even in america. You'd learn more in an hour at a gun club and meet genuine enthusiasts with more relevant knowledge.

I agree 100% but its like a car crash for me i just cant stop watching it:D.

OP your gonna be used to using the styer but most of the guns your gonna be looking at will be so different to what your used to, they will be bolt action for the most part and look and feel completly different. Ill second the advise already given about trying out as many as you can and deciding what kind of shooting you want to do. most ranges around dublin are only authorised for 22lr afaik so if you wanted to shoot centrefire or more powerful rimfires you would need to go further afield for your range or get yourself some permission to hunt on land closer to home. Harbour house shooting centre in kildare is authorised for most calibers.

Im sure if you are serious about it you may get lads from your area on here that would be willing to give you a hand.

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

kildare.17hmr

im the same its cringworthy at the best of times but im hooked too:rolleyes:

Courtlough have a 50m 22lr range and a nice set up for clays

demonloop

feeney92 wrote: »

alri lads just wanted to say thanks very much for all this info on firearms will definatly be looking into this more!! as for sons of guns, cant say i wont stop watching it :P sorry lads but i love it too much!! haha my local club is probably courtlough so ill hafte give there a try and see what happens thanks again!!

Don't forget your wallet

howlingcat

tac foley wrote: »

feeney92 wrote: »

alri lads, just wanted to get your opinion on the best way to get into shooting as in local ranges etc. live in dublin at the moment, part of the rdf but recently wanted to get more into shooting (sons of guns on discovery) would love to start the sport as i love weapns of all kinds, help is much appreciated

Sir - you may care to amend your post to say that you have an interest in all types of firearms, rather a 'love weapns of all kinds'. There are some who look in on this forum for whom the word 'weapon's is a keyword to all kinds of unpleasantness. What we shoot here are firearms for sporting purposes, rather than 'weapons' which are defined as items of hardware used for belligerent purposes.

Just sayin'.

tac

Hi as a seasoned shooter I would suggest ringing a few local clubs to you and they are sure to ask you up, joining can be expensive as there is buy in or hello
Money . Other option is to go to a walk in range for training and see how you go and what dusipline u prefer , shotgun , rifle or pistol , try the club out near balbriggan or the hilltop in Wicklow , hope thus helps its a great sport and don't buy anything till you have tried the alternative

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.