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NRA of no help !

After 30 years I allowed my membership in the NRA to lapse this year.
Here's one partial reason why:
Remember, The definition of a "Criminal" is one that doesn't obey laws anyway
and we hear and read about it daily.
NRA....Friend or Foe?

 
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Two ranges here have received multiple range development grants from NRA in the last five years. They have been over the top generous. Why your troubles?
I suggest that possibly the Range Development Grants may have been “Friends of NRA”? That group in NOT the NRA. Affiliated but not the same at all.

I agree with Mr. Beach’s comment.

I also had considerable issues contacting the same group many years ago for a 1000 Yd. Range. Finally there was a response and site visit. He had never seen a 1000 Yd. range and admitted his experience was a pistol shooter.

There used to be an extensive manual available thru the store. Buy it, read it and use it. It was originated by Dick Whiting & staff, revised by NRA lawyers (read watered down).

I may have abbreviated digital version. Email mrktrew@verizon.net

I may be able to send it.

MarkTrew
 
I suggest that possibly the Range Development Grants may have been “Friends of NRA”? That group in NOT the NRA. Affiliated but not the same at all.

I agree with Mr. Beach’s comment.

I also had considerable issues contacting the same group many years ago for a 1000 Yd. Range. Finally there was a response and site visit. He had never seen a 1000 Yd. range and admitted his experience was a pistol shooter.

There used to be an extensive manual available thru the store. Buy it, read it and use it. It was originated by Dick Whiting & staff, revised by NRA lawyers (read watered down).

I may have abbreviated digital version. Email mrktrew@verizon.net

I may be able to send it.

MarkTrew
NRA Foundation
 
If your Club want's to spend much MORE money on pits and target frames go for it, however be aware e-targets are more fun for the shooter, result in shorter time for a match, allow shooters with health issues to continue shooting longer, give all shooters the same level of target service, are modular so you can expand target line as resources and demand increases, and provide useful information for shooters to save and evaluate after the match.
 
I have contacted the Range Development division 3 times without a reply.
My club has purchased additional land to build a 1000yd range. We cannot afford electronic targets for 10 - 20 positions. Therefore we want to build pull style target frames. I personally prefer this as it keeps a certain traditional aspect of the sport.
In the planning stage, I have been tasked with creating an estimate of build costs. The problem is I have no plans to work off of.
I've contacted NRA Range Development for assistance but they won't reply. Not even to say they can't help. As an NRA affiliated club, this is disturbing.
Does anyone here have experience in building pull type targets, or know of where I can get some plans?
Talk to the folks at Coalinga Rifle Club. The easiest targets I have ever pulled.
 
How about contacting the CMP? Camp Perry target carriers are newish. Maybe someone there has a copy of the specification. You might get lucky and the CMP might know of some recently removed carriers for cheap. Best of luck
 
Being tasked to look at pulled targets is not the best use of resources. E targets are the future. Use 4x4 or some other treated lumber for frames and the performance will be great as there won’t be movement from a conventional frame.

If your club doesn’t want e targets, then they truly don’t know how to run a great event nor want to grow the sport.

Awesome you have access to a bulldozer, but as others said concrete or retaining blocks for the pit wall will be more expense than a whole e target system.
 
@sfinn1 may have some info on target carriers that were just purchased a few years ago for a club in Kansas. They’re literally the worst carriers I’ve ever pulled and were a reasonable >$3000 a piece. They went to shotmarkers.
 
Our state fish and game department gives out grants for range development. A couple of the electrical power generation companies in the state gave us grants for shot markers. The NRA is not the only game in town, you'll just need to do the leg work.
With that being said, building a pit and targets is a poor idea financially in comparison to e-targets. The price of steel is currently stupid and I am sure concrete is not cheap either. You can either make a small berm to protect the sensitive parts of an e-target or even put them in a hole in the ground.
Target frames can be very simple and can placed in holes in the ground, stored up with drain tile.
And target carriers require far more maintenance, are more dangerous. You will also need to build a parking area behind your berm for people to park their cars when they're in the pits. A concrete retaining wall alone will eclipse the cost of e-targets.
Look into the shotmarker or the silver mountain. Even if you have earth moving equipment at hand, the e-targets will be far cheaper. Also, you won't need a friend to go to the range and practice.
 
I have contacted the Range Development division 3 times without a reply.
My club has purchased additional land to build a 1000yd range. We cannot afford electronic targets for 10 - 20 positions. Therefore we want to build pull style target frames. I personally prefer this as it keeps a certain traditional aspect of the sport.
In the planning stage, I have been tasked with creating an estimate of build costs. The problem is I have no plans to work off of.
I've contacted NRA Range Development for assistance but they won't reply. Not even to say they can't help. As an NRA affiliated club, this is disturbing.
Does anyone here have experience in building pull type targets, or know of where I can get some plans?
Have you been in touch with your State Rep? Is the Club active in supporting FNRA activities?

Given COVID and the unrest at HQ, what you are saying is not a shock. Pure range development funds thru HQ have always been hard to obtain. FNRA funds are much easier, especially if you are in contact with the State Rep and support the cause. Course that depends on how successful the FNRA activities are in your state. A year back WA FNRA raised $1 IIRC thanks to Heir Inslee stopping all the banquets.
 
Our state fish and game department gives out grants for range development. A couple of the electrical power generation companies in the state gave us grants for shot markers. The NRA is not the only game in town, you'll just need to do the leg work.
With that being said, building a pit and targets is a poor idea financially in comparison to e-targets. The price of steel is currently stupid and I am sure concrete is not cheap either. You can either make a small berm to protect the sensitive parts of an e-target or even put them in a hole in the ground.
Target frames can be very simple and can placed in holes in the ground, stored up with drain tile.
And target carriers require far more maintenance, are more dangerous. You will also need to build a parking area behind your berm for people to park their cars when they're in the pits. A concrete retaining wall alone will eclipse the cost of e-targets.
Look into the shotmarker or the silver mountain. Even if you have earth moving equipment at hand, the e-targets will be far cheaper. Also, you won't need a friend to go to the range and practice.
State F&W funds are typically Pittman-Robertson funds which are taxes collected on firearms, ammo, etc. and distributed by the Feds to the States. In WA, those come with lots of baggage. So they commonly get used for walking trails, etc.

 
Have you been in touch with your State Rep? Is the Club active in supporting FNRA activities?

Given COVID and the unrest at HQ, what you are saying is not a shock. Pure range development funds thru HQ have always been hard to obtain. FNRA funds are much easier, especially if you are in contact with the State Rep and support the cause. Course that depends on how successful the FNRA activities are in your state. A year back WA FNRA raised $1 IIRC thanks to Heir Inslee stopping all the banquets.
Our club just had a grant denied by FNRA. We requested funds to have security cameras installed so we'd have video footage if there was ever an incident. Their reason for denying it was it "only benefited the club and its members, not the general shooting public." I'll also add that there are no public ranges in our area.
 

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