About us
We offer a number of different disciplines here at Bearsden District Rifle & Pistol Club. We offer:
- 25 meter Lightweight Sporting Rifle and Gallery Rifle.
- 20 yard prone and 3-Position target rifle.
- Air Rifle and Pistol on our 10 meter range.
History
The Club was formed at a meeting in the Public Hall, Bearsden on the 22nd February 1945 under the Chairmanship of Lt. Col. Brodie Hepburn. The initiative came from the Government with a letter from the War Office mentioning the desirability of having Rifle Clubs in the national interest.
The move was supported by the local Territorial Army Association and was initially to include those who had served in the Home Guard. Thus the Club was formed as the Bearsden District Home Guard Rifle Club with approximately 75 members.
Initially as the Club had no home the main activity was full-bore shooting; at the same time, however, a sub-committee was actively looking for a suitable location and very quickly found the current site. They decided that a second-hand hut would be suitable for a Club-room and that the range could be constructed from second-hand “Braby” air raid shelter sections available from Clyde Trust, the firm of one of the members a Mr. M. C. White.
The Club was also starting to take part in small-bore shooting at other ranges and it is interesting to note that .22LR ammunition was available from ICI at 25/- per 1000 or about 6p a box. Similarly .303 ammunition was bought at £2.50 for a box of 1248 rounds.
After much negotiation and planning the Club achieved its aim of a home with the erection of the current hut and the building of the first miniature rifle range. A key factor here was that the cost of the hut was donated to the Club by Col. Hepburn; this being £279 – no small figure in 1946. Work proceeded and at this stage there is the first mention in the minutes ”there has been a very poor response from members to help with erecting and painting the range”
The official opening, by Col. Hepburn, of the new Club premises took place on the 18th January 1947 with the Club membership standing at 115. 0.22 shooting was by this time in full swing but peacetime economics had re-asserted itself and ammunition had gone up to 20p a box. It was thought that the high price was discouraging members. The annual subscription was 10/- or 50p. In 1949 the Club purchased 20 0.303 P14 rifles at £2 each and some were sold to individual members.
It is likely that the Club's surviving P14 is one of these weapons.
Gallery
Gallery Rifle and Pistol shooting is a popular shooting sport throughout the world.
The discipline commonly uses rifles shot at short and medium distances chambered for traditional pistol calibres.
Target Rifle
The NSRA generally refers to shooting .22 LR calibre rifles over a distance of between 15 yards and 25 metres 'indoors' as being short range shooting.
All shooting at the Club is shooting at a static target from a static position. The objective is to achieve a degree of precision and control while shooting.
Shooting is carried out in standing, kneeling and prone positions with a variety of rifles.
Air Rifle & Pistol
Airgun shooting is one of the most popular shooting sports in the UK.
Air guns come in both long gun (air rifle) and handgun (air pistol) forms. Air guns use energy from compressed air or other gases that are mechanically pressurised and then released to propel and accelerate projectiles.
Airguns are also used for both formal and recreational target shooting with targets ranging from simple ‘bullseye’ paper targets in indoor ranges.
Gallery
Gallery Rifle Shooting or Gallery Rifle and Pistol shooting is a popular shooting sport throughout the world. In countries such as the UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and Australia national and international competitions are regularly undertaken. The discipline commonly uses rifles shot at short and medium distances chambered for traditional pistol calibres such as .22 Long Rifle,.38 and .357 calibres, .44 and .45. It is popular in countries where traditional pistol shooting difficult or not possible. In the UK Long Barreled Pistols (LBPs)and Long Barreled Revolvers (LBRs) are also part of the overall discipline.
Most Gallery Rifle events are shot at distances between 10m and 50m although a few do go out to 300 meters. There is a large selection of GR events which only require range space out to 25 meters so the discipline is easily accessible and can be shot on indoor ranges. The most common shooting position is standing unsupported but some events do test the competitor’s skills from other positions such as kneeling, sitting or from the weak shoulder or hand. Some competitions are deliberate precision events whilst others require the competitor to shoot and reload quite quickly. The targets can be stationary or turning at set intervals.
Classification rules allow rifles to be fitted with either iron sights, scopes or red dot sights. Targets vary according to the event being shot. Targets range from traditional concentric circle 'bullseye' targets to various styles of disruptive pattern designs. Targets may be fixed facing the shooters or set on turning target mechanisms which requires rapid and snap shooting events.
Many events are also shot in classes or divisions which allow people to compete equally amongst their peers. The classification system is administered by the country specific NGBs.
Target Rifle
The NSRA generally refers to shooting .22 LR calibre rifles over a distance of between 15 yards and 25 metres 'indoors' as being short range shooting. Targets are generally outward gauging (touching a ring on the target scores the lower of the two adjacent scores), except on some of the Schools and older targets (e.g. 5 bull targets). Being indoors, no allowance is necessary for wind, light or other changes. Shots are scored as decimal values from 0 to 10, with no decimal places.
All shooting at the Club is shooting at a static target from a static position. The objective is to achieve a degree of precision and control while shooting. For example a typical good prone shooter will be able consistently to hit a target the size of a 5p piece at 50 metres. This requires a great deal of concentration and control. Shooting is carried out in standing, kneeling and prone positions with a variety of rifles and also air pistols. We shoot competitively in Club, County and National competitions. Although the Club does not have an outdoor range we have access to such ranges and shoot both small-bore and full-bore outdoors in the summer months.
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