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NRA Press Release
NRA/MoD agreement for civilian use of MoD ranges by clubs affiliated to
the NRA
The NRA is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed a series of negotiations with the
MoD and the resulting agreement will allow the continued use of MoD ranges by civilian shooters
who are members of the NRA or of NRA affiliated clubs.
Whilst agreement ‘in principle’ was achieved some weeks ago, the MoD placed a number of
requirements upon the NRA and its affiliated clubs if it was to accept the continued use of its ranges
by civilians. It has taken some time to finalise the precise nature of these requirements and the
finalised document has had to be approved by a number of MoD committees. It was important that
publication of the details of the agreement waited until the finalised document had been agreed at
all levels on both sides.
The key changes for NRA members and members of affiliated clubs are:
• There will be a standardised training scheme for all new shooters with clubs having to use
the NRA Probationary Course structure or have their own scheme approved by the NRA.
• All shooters will be required to have an annually renewed certificate, signed by their club
Chairman, confirming that they are safe and competent to use the relevant type of firearm.
This certificate will have to be available for inspection when shooting on an MoD range.
• Both the NRA and affiliated clubs will have to maintain sufficient records to show that these
procedures have been carried out, and periodic audits will be required.
• Clubs will need to sign an agreement stating that they accept these requirements, they will
take part in any investigation following an incident and they will require their members to
assist fully in such investigation.
The timetable for implementation of these changes requires that the new probationary training
procedures be in use by the 1st July 2008 and that the annual certification process must be fully
implemented by the 1st January 2009.
Recognising that these are new requirements for clubs, the NRA is preparing a range of
documentation to help them through the process. The NRA Probationary Course has been updated
and will be available to clubs from the 1st May 2008. For the annual certification process, club
Chairmen will be provided with guidance on certification of shooters and documentation to carry out
this process.
Finally, the limit on use of firearms using ammunition with a muzzle energy greater than 4,500
Joules remains in place, but from the 1st May 2008, the introduction of specific procedures will allow
this limit to be exceeded. By that time a sufficient number of RCOs will have been trained in the
correct procedures and approved zeroing targets will have been distributed.
Whilst recognising that shooters have been concerned about the possible curtailment of their
access to MoD ranges, these have been lengthy negotiations and it has been important to ensure
that information was not released in ‘draft’ form which may have needed subsequent updating. With
the conclusion of the agreement, information packs will be sent to club Chairmen as soon as
possible and these will include full copies of the agreement along with supporting documentation to
help clubs to understand and implement the changes. This information will also be posted on the
NRA website.
Issued by the muzzle energy working group on behalf of the Council
14th April 2008

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I predict that many will simply now leave the sport..

Men of Harlech