Reloading Certification

[Sussexboy]

Has anybody heard anything about having to do reloading courses at Bisley before you can use home loads. A chap at our club did a course and was told that you would have to do this or you would not get your Shooter Certification Card and would effectively be barred from military ranges. I heard it third hand so the message may be lost in translation!

[scarecrow243]

never heard of it

[enfieldspares]

More money making schemes from the NRA. An organisation that IMHO has done more harm to shooting in recent four decades that it ever did good. I remember them trying (by having a man in a cabin as you drove into the place stopping the incoming traffic) to extort a £3 "Camp Entry Fee" from people coming to the Pistol AD events back in the 1980s.

[Andy H]

personally I did not mind paying the extra tariff but what did fk the club off was we already had paid for a coach entry ticket 30 + and  then per member were asked to pay extra , The times I used to come back with goodies (9mm Browning , 38 Enfield Etc ) , Are long gone past but  now  it seem's the alleged rules encroach on what what we used to deem as a norm.

[phaedra1106]

Althiough the NRA, BDS and many others offer various courses there is no officially recognised "Reloader Certification"

It should it not affect being issued an SCC, reloading is not part of the requirements.

As far as shooting on MoD ranges, the RCO has to be satisfied that all ammunition used falls withing the range limits, for home/reloads you may/should be asked to provide proof of your ammunitions load data including velocity and muzzle energy before being allowed to shoot it.

Edited February 18, 2023 by phaedra1106

[Imperfection]

For someone to be taught requires an authorised person to do the training and you wont find many who wants their name at the bottom of a certificate if an accident occurs. 

Most recognised clubs have a policy which allows any member to demand data (usually from a chronograph) if ammunition is thought to be unsafe.

[Vince Green]

I have heard mutterings about banning reloads or some form of licencing /restriction for some time at Bisley. There have been a number of incidents every year to justify the idea.

Like most things the NRA do it will be turned into a cumbersome money making scheme that doesn't solve the initial problem.

Shooter certification cards are a classic example. How can I be competent now but not on the 1st January next year? 

[Dougy]

Its very similar to a pair of M&S underpants, 

 

something that serves no other purpose other than something to cover up a bottom. 

[Lever357]

This was mentioned quite a lot last year following a number of instances on MoD ranges involving home loads. Our club secretary worked for many years making ammunition for BAE Systems and he runs an excellent course for club members. I think the guidance the NRA issues is actually based on his course. A lot of people are saying who would be prepared to sign a certificate saying you're a competent reloader - what they would actually be signing would be a certificate stating on a certain date, you attended a course that discussed the theory and practical aspects of reloading fullbore ammunition. If you have a car crash twenty years after taking your test, your original driving instructor and test examiner are not held liable so why should this be any different?

I know Gardners Guns do reloading courses where you receive a LANTRA certificate.