An Introduction To Fermoy Rifle Club
In February 1992 a group of Fermoy lads met in Charles Brownes
bar, Fermoy with the purpose of setting up a rifle club. A committee was
formed and Fermoy rifle club started with seven rifle shooting enthusiasts. Their
first task was to find a suitable site on which they could set up a rifle range. In
December 1993, the members secured a two year lease on a portion of ground at
Ballydague, Ballyhooly. This land was part of what was locally known as O'Leary's
sand pit and was developed into a full 100 meter rifle range. The use of the range is
confined to .22 Long Rifle. low velocity/subsonic ammunition. Initially the sport carried on there was
'Mexican silhouette' rifle shooting or 'sporting rifle shooting'.
The club now has thirty members all of whom regularly participate in social activities, and
competitions which are held through the year. The club has had a good deal of success with
some of its members achieving a high standard of shooting and acquiring national
titles in indoor and outdoor competitions.
Where did the sport originate:
The sport originated in Mexico and was introduced to U.S.A. in the 1960's. It came
to Ireland in 1979 and was introduced by the Fassaroe sporting club who have their
range at Enniskerry.
In the Mexican silhouette , the shooter shoots at shaped metal targets in the
standing position.
Twenty targets (5 x 4)make up a course of fire and are spread over four distances.
The targets are split into four different sizes and are shot at 5 each of one size per
distance. The targets consist of metal cut - outs of ;
- Chickens ; shot at 40 meters (2.5" tall).
- Pigs ; shot at 60 meters (3" tall).
- Turkeys ; shot at 77 meters (5" tall).
- Rams ; shot at 100 meters (5.5" tall).
The shooter only has five rounds of ammunition to fire at each distance with two
and a half minutes to knock down all five targets. The targets are shot in sequence from
left to right and must be knocked off the metal stand to score.
The rules of competition are simple ;
- Shoot from left to right.
- Shoot in sequence.
- Knock the target clean off the stand.
- Only shoot each distance as instructed by the time keeper.
Silhouette shooting requires all the skill of marksmanship and a very cool nerve as;
It is shot in all weathers outdoors;
It is shot in the standing position;
It is a spectator sport.
Being able to see immediately how each person is scoring can make it interesting or
embarrassing depending on whether you are a competitor or a spectator, but it is always fun.
The sport is designed to facilitate as many shooters as possible. No specialist
equipment such as jackets or slings, as in prone target shooting, are necessary. Any
individual having a .22 Long Rifle rimfire rifle may participate. However,
only .22 Long Rife low velocity ammunition may be used on the range. Open sights or telescopic
sights are allowed with no restriction on the magnification of the scope.
The Rifle ;
The sporting rifle is the most common rifle in use. While manufactured primarily as a
hunting rifle its use with the NASRC is strictly for target shooting, i.e. paper
and metal targets. The sporting rifle may be fitted with a telescopic sight for
improved accuracy. The most popular rifle discipline is Mexican silhouette shooting.
The most suitable rifle for silhouette shooting is a magazine feed, bolt action rifle. Like
all other sports the best rifle for silhouette shooting is also usually the most expensive,
however all rifles will show good scores in the right hands.
An idea of suitable rifles are the Brno (CZ); Anschutz; Krico; and Ruger.
Paper shooting
Of late the members have changed to the regular use of paper targets which are shot in the
prone position, i.e. shooting while lying on the ground.
Fermoy rifle club also has a facility at its range in Ballyhooly to accommodate
members who wish to shoot at paper targets in the prone position. This type of shooting is
called 'smallbore shooting'. It appeals mostly to the dedicated enthusiast as it is shot
outdoors, in all weathers. Smallbore is also shot indoors to a lesser extent.
Smallbore rifle shooting is shot in three positions ;
- Prone (lying on the ground)
- Kneeling
- Standing.
Fermoy rifle club members confine themselves to the prone position as a matter of
choice. Again a rimfire cartridge is used which fires a bullet of a calibre of .220 inches
at a bull 10.4mm in diameter at 50 meters.
There are two basic competition disciplines;
- Prone;
- 3P ( 3 position)
Prone-: Lying on the ground and shooting 60 shots at either 50 or 100 meters.
3P-: These are shot at a distance of 50 meter only, in the prone,
kneeling and standing positions.
The course of fire is 120 shots - 40 shots in each position. Ladies competitions are
usually half the course.
National Organisation
All rifle shooting in Ireland is governed by the National Rifle
and Pistol Association of Ireland (NRPAI). The original NRPAI was
established in 1966 and was the governing body of all rifle and pistol shooting in
Ireland. In 1987 it was restructured and became a Federation in order to give the
two major types of shooting sports - the Olympic/ International Shooting Union
disciplines and Sporting rifle groups support. As a federation of shooting sports its
membership is open to national associations catering for shooting sports.
The current member associations to the NRPAI are ;
- The National Target Shooting Association (NTSA)
- The National Association of Sporting Rifle Clubs (NASRC)
- The National Silhouette Association Ireland (NSAI)
- The Irish Pony Club Rifle Association (IPCRA)
See Links Page for more information
The NRPAI is recognised by the sporting body of the Dept. Of Education,
headed by former athlete John Tracey, as the official 'umbrella' organisation
catering for rifle shooting in Ireland.
Fermoy Rifle Club is affiliated to the NRPAI
Objective
The club has an objective. i.e. to encourage, support, and promote the sport of
organised shooting in a safe and controlled environment. Comprehensive and public liability
insurance is available to all its members.
Other
A calendar of shooting events is available outlining dates and places where
competitions are held with other clubs on other ranges around the country. Day trips and
weekend trips are organised by the club to travel to these events.
Fermoy rifle club is governed by a constitution and an executive. It has a set of rules which
are enforced rigidly to ensure that all shooters will shoot safely. Some of its members have
completed a course in range control and are in a position to pass this instruction on to its
members. This course was completed in Dublin and each year new members are sent to undergo
the course. On completion the member will be issued with a certificate of competency.
Fermoy Rifle Club also have the facility to organise corporate shooting evenings
which will cater for small groups who wish to hire the range facilities and rifles at a small fee.
All shooting will be supervised by competent range officers and insurance can be arranged.
The range has to be booked in advance to avail of this facility.
Rifle shooting is the true sport for all. Throughout the world, shooting is enjoyed by men
and women, young and old alike, and you do not have to be super fit to enjoy all that
shooting can give.
Should any person wish to obtain further information on the club or the sport in general,
they should use the contact details below.
K.B. April '97
For information on Silhouette Shooting- click NSAI
For Shooting Links and resources- click Links! or Suppliers!
For NASRC & NSAI Competition Calendars click
HERE
For Further Information:
Use out Contact Us page.
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