Frequently Asked Questions
about Marple Rifle and Pistol Club
To speak to a Range Officer and make an appointment for a visit, call: 0161 427 9133
between 19:30 and 20:30 Monday to Friday and you will be given directions to the Club.
We operate a booking system and only take a maximum of 2 new visitors per day.
Please
remember that we are a club, we are not a business like a bowling alley and
cannot deal with large numbers of visitors at any one time.
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1) Can I come with a group of friends for a shoot / can I hire the range for the afternoon / can I have a 'fun shoot' / can I give a shooting session as a gift for my husband, girl friend, partner / can we come for a corporate bonding session? The short answer is No.
Please understand, we are a private, members only club, we are not a business. We cannot deal with more than two new visitors at a time and then only by arrangement. Do not turn up with some friends in tow and expect to be allowed to shoot: see How to visit the Club for full details.
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2) How much does it cost to hire the range for half-an-hour? You cannot hire the range, we are not a business like a bowling alley, you can only shoot as a member or as a visitor (after making a specific booking), the cost as a visitor is currently £10 per person: see How to visit the Club for full details. Please note that all payment must be by either credit or debit card as we do not take cash.
- 3) How do I visit the club? See
How to visit the Club for full details and to be
able to make a specific booking for a shooting visit.
- 4) What is the
minimum age limit for joining the club?
The minimum age for full membership is 18, however there is a junior membership between 14
and 18. Juniors pay a reduced annual subscription and range fee.
Minimum age for airgun shooting is 18.
- 5) Is there a senior section?
Yes, from 65 for both men and women. Seniors pay a reduced annual
membership fee, there is no upper age limit for shooting
or obtaining a Firearms Certificate.
- 6) What is the current annual membership
fee? See Marple Rifle and
Pistol Club details, how to join and costs, for full details
- 7) Is there a family rate for membership?
Yes, ask at the club for details.
- 8) What is the cost of the range fee?
See Marple Rifle and Pistol Club
details, how to join and costs, for full details
- 9) When are the annual subscriptions due?
The subs run from 1st January to 31st December. There is a proportional reduction when
joining, dependent on how many months have elapsed, e.g. if you join in
July, you will pay
a half the annual rate.
- 10) What other costs apart from Annual
Subscriptions are there? There is a Range Fee paid once each
day that you shoot (currently £3).
Other costs depend on the shooter and vary depending on personal requirements /
circumstances. These could include such items as ammunition, targets, competition fees,
travel and refreshments.
- 11) How do I become a member? You
complete a membership application form and return it to
the Club along with the Joining Fee, the correct proportion of the annual
subscription for the joining year, three passport sized photographs and a
self-addressed stamped envelope. You then
have to attend the Club to shoot for a
minimum of 18 times over the next 6 months. This is the probationary period and on
successful completion, full membership is confirmed at the next committee meeting.
- 12)
Can you store my gun for me at the range as I do not want
to have it in the house? The short answer is
no.
- 13) Can women participate without disadvantage?
Yes, very definitely since strength is not a major issue.
- 14) Are women welcome to join the Club?
Yes, we encourage ladies to come and have a go in all disciplines.
- 15) I have been banned for drink-driving, will
this be a bar to obtaining a Firearms Certificate? Not necessarily, but it must be declared when applying for a Firearms
Certificate.
- 16) What will be a bar to obtaining a Firearms
Certificate? Any criminal conviction involving violence or the use of firearms. Some
minor offences lapse after the passage of a few years and a Firearms Certificate can then
be granted. Note that it is absolutely necessary that you declare any convictions of any
sort to us when coming to the Club to shoot, even as a visitor
for airgun shooting,
see
Gun law page for
more details.
- 17) Who owns the Club? The members. It is
a social organisation that is run by the members and for the members.
It is not a commercial organisation in any way and is definitely not a
profit making organisation at all.
- 18) Where is the Club located?
In Marple, Stockport, Cheshire, England, see
How to visit Marple Rifle and
Pistol Club for contact details and times of opening.
- 19) How do I contact the Club? Either by
telephone on: 0161 427 9133, or via email at:
enquiries
However it is best to telephone the Club, as much more information can be imparted in a short
telephone conversation than can be given by even a long email reply. To visit the club,
you must telephone first as arrangements for a first visit cannot be made by email.
- 20)
Is target shooting an anti-social sport?
No, not at all. Neither unfortunately is it a spectator sport and this does mean
that it has a relatively low profile, compared, say to cricket. This has the effect of
making it a somewhat 'invisible' pastime.
- 21) Why do you say 18 is the minimum age for
Thursday night
airgun shooting? There are two reasons for this, firstly there is a degree of
physical strength required, since all shooting is done from an unsupported standing
position and generally children under 18 are not sufficiently well developed to do this
comfortably and safely. Secondly, from over 20 years experience, we have found that
children under 18 are not sufficiently mature to make safe progress on their own, they
need constant one-to-one instruction and supervision. Regrettably we do not have the
manpower to provide such levels of instruction, hence the age limit.
- 22)
Why if the minimum age for Thursday night airgun is 18, do
you allow younger persons to shoot firearms, especially
.22 rifles? Firstly, unlike
Thursday night airgun shooting, most
.22 shooting is done prone with a supporting sling, so strength is not such an issue. Secondly,
the supporting sling restricts freedom of movement of the shooter and
so the possible risk of a hazardous situation arising is greatly reduced. A
further point is that all shooting is broken into short duration details
whilst targets are manually changed, unlike airgun
shooting which uses automatic target changers and has continuous shooting.
Revised: 17-Feb-2023.