The NRA Safe Shooting System (SSS)

The NRA SSS is designed to ensure, as far as we can, that all those shooting on our ranges:

(a) can handle their firearm safely and competently,
(b) can fire a group of sufficiently small diameter to ensure that their shots do not hit the range floor or escape over the top of the stop butt,
(c) know the elevations on their sights to be used at all distances at which they will be shooting.

All too often, however, individuals cannot comply with either (a) or (b), and most certainly do not demonstrate (c)! Indeed not too long ago the statement was made over the radio "I'm a Palma shot - I don't need to check my zero" - followed by five consecutive misses!

To comply with sub-para (a) above Certificates of Safety & Competence assessments have been introduced, as follows:

Certificates of Safety and Competence
You are reminded that, as from 1 January 2009, all fullbore/centre fire shooters on Bisley ranges (and all MoD ranges) must have in their possession a valid Safety & Competence card, signed by their Club Chairman (or the NRA Secretary General for those members of the NRA who have been assessed by the NRA) for the firearms with which you will be shooting.

The use of MoD ranges by clubs firing only NSRA-approved .22 rimfire ammunition in single shot practices governed by the NSRA is not considered to pose a risk of any rounds escaping the Range Danger Area, and the 'Safe and Competent' certification system does not therefore currently apply except where self-loading firearms are used, in which case certification will be required.

If you have booked a target for individual shooting you will be required to produce this card in the Range Office before you may sign in. If you are not able to produce your card you will, unfortunately, not be allowed to shoot. In this event no refund will be made.

If you are signing in as the RCO for a group booking you will find that the certificate at the top of the signing-in form has been amended to include a statement by you, the RCO, that every member of the group for you will be responsible either has his/her own card or will be coached, on a one-to-one basis, by the holder of such a card. The responsibility rests with the RCO to confirm that every member of his/her group complies with one or the other of these two conditions.

Rifle Zeroing at the beginning of the season
In accordance with sub-para (c) above it is obligatory that all shooters using military ranges or Bisley ranges must know the correct wind zero for their sights. They must also know the correct elevation setting for all distances at which they may be firing. For these reasons all firers will, as from 1 January 2009, be required to check their wind zero and elevation settings on the Zero Range at the beginning of the shooting season, after a layoff of some months and after rebarrelling etc. This must be done before going to shoot at longer distances (and certainly before shooting on Stickledown).

Bracketing
It used to be (and may still be) a well known practice that, if a firer missed with a couple of shots and was unsure of his elevation, he would raise his sights by five minutes and fire again, then if still a miss lower his sights by ten minutes and fire again and so on until he eventually hit the target. This practice is potentially highly dangerous, and must not be done!

This adjustment of the elevation by five, ten, 15 or 20 minutes will eventually (sooner rather than later) mean that shots will strike the range floor or miss the top of the stop butt. In either case the resultant ricochet or free-flight bullet may fall outside the Range Danger Area with possible fatal consequences.