Bay of Plenty NZDA

On Sunday 11th June 2023 an inaugural short range, centrefire benchrest match, was held at the clubs 300m rifle range at TECT Park, Tauranga.  This was a match shot for group over a moving target backer system donated to the club.  The moving target backer system verifies that 5 record shots were fired into each group.

Rifle classes shot were:

1. NZDA Light & Heavy Varmint (LV/HV)
2. NZDA Factory Class (FC)
3. NZDA-BOP Club Class (CC)

Records were set for the 100 metre distance for both small group and aggregate group size (average over 5 targets shot).

100 Metre Records (5 shot group / 5 target aggregate)
Class	Small Group (mm/SMOA)	Aggregate (mm/SMOA)
LV/HV	5.69 / 0.205	6.762 / 0.2435
FC	12.41 / 0.447	13.474 / 0.4852
CC	14.34 / 0.516	22.606 / 0.8140

 

More information and the records both at club level and national level can be found here:

Benchrest Shooting

 

Congratulations to the new record holders.  Keep em’ small!

The 2022 Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Bay of Plenty Branch Incorporated will be held at 730pm on Tuesday the 5th of July 2022 at the Branch Clubrooms, 617 State Highway 29A, Tauriko, Tauranga. Doors open 7pm. All members are encouraged to attend.

Bay of Plenty shooting clubs under threat of closure due to proposed new regulations

Bay of Plenty shooting clubs fear many will be forced to close if proposed new police
regulations governing their operations are adopted.

Clubs across the region have united in their objections to the proposed new rules which they
say threaten their financial viability by creating extra certification costs and ongoing
compliance requirements.

If adopted, the changes could force smaller clubs and those unable to pass on the extra
costs to its members to permanently close their ranges and disband.

They are now appealing to all firearms users to make urgent submissions expressing their
objections to the police proposals.

This month delegates from more than 10 Bay of Plenty shooting clubs met in Tauranga to
discuss the police regulations that govern their clubs and shooting ranges, and the proposed
changes. The clubs cover rifle shooting, service rifles, pistol, black powder, and clay target
disciplines.

Changes, if implemented, would include costly certification of clubs and ranges, onerous
ongoing compliance requirements and could even include banning firearms safety training
for under 16–year–olds and those new to shooting, as well as the end–of–school shooting
teams.

Founded in 1950, the Bay of Plenty Branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association
(NZDA) is the largest and most established shooting club in the region with more than 600
members. It shares the views of other clubs who agree that the proposed rules governing
their future club operations simply go a step too far.

In 2020, a number of changes were made to the Arms Act 1983 to further control and
regulate firearms in New Zealand. New regulations to increase oversight of shooting clubs
and ranges have now also been proposed, and Police are inviting feedback during a
consultation period, with submissions closing 4 May 2022.

NZDA Bay of Plenty Branch president Reuben Hayward says shooting clubs already provide
a safe, controlled environment for users of all sporting and recreational shooting disciplines.
Ranges also offer hunters a safe environment to sight–in rifles before heading into the bush.

There is a real risk that smaller clubs and ranges will close, leaving users with fewer facilities
to use their firearms and educate shooters on best practice.

“The clubs believe that the new regulations are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist and
are not aligned with the stated purpose of enhancing public safety,” says Hayward.

“There is no link between shooting clubs and criminal firearm use. The regulations go well
beyond the requirements of the Act and the Police have clearly overstepped the mark.”

Before the consultation period ends on 4 May, clubs are urging every firearms user to make
a submission here.

The discussion document can also be found on the New Zealand Police website.

This statement is supported by the following local clubs:
• New Zealand Deerstalkers Association Rotorua Branch
• Bay of Plenty Clay Target Club
• Kaimai Pistol Club
• Te Puna Hunting and Fishing Club
• Western Bay of Plenty Fish and Game Club
• Te Puke Rifle Club
• Tauranga Precision Rifle Association
• Bay of Plenty Service Rifle Association

ENDS

BOP shooting clubs call for support – April 2022

NZDA BOP Peeking Wallaby Match | Baden Prentice

For a while now I have been researching a unique match suitable for our 300m rifle range based on bench rest shooting. In the USA there is a social, semi-competitive style of shooting called Groundhog Shoots. A rifle club in Pennsylvania USA has given our branch copyright permission to use their target design and match rules. As we don’t have groundhogs in New Zealand I have re-designed the targets using wallabies. A pest species that is supposedly expanding its territory in both the North and South islands. It is also a good fit size wise for the target.

This is a score shooting match that uses 3 different targets. One at 100m, one at 200m and one at 300m. Five scoring shots are fired at each distance with unlimited sighters. So you can expend as little as 15 rounds to complete the match but most shooters will use 21-24 rounds. A variety of rifles can be used from factory hunting rifles to custom rifles. Scope magnification power will be the limiting factor for some participants. A minimum of 15x power is recommended, as well as having adjustable elevation turrets (dial up).

A small group of us have been testing the match at the range. Using the data collected, we have adjusted the targets and written up the rules. We will have targets printed and hope to run our first club match on Sunday 1st May. The rules can be viewed here.

We are thinking this match will be run 4 times a year, at 3 monthly intervals. We can analyze how it runs over the first year and adjust it if necessary. Initially for the first few shoots we will limit participants to Branch members (both range ticket holders and non-range ticket holders), BOPSRA members and TPRC members.

We have had a lot of fun testing this and you might enjoy it as well. Bench rest shooting is about precision and comfort. A lot of discussion is also had at the match regarding rifles, equipment and reloading (although you do not have to reload) and shooting technique. We look forward to seeing you there.

Inquiries can be made to Baden Prentice on 027 490 8613.

Unfortunately the government-imposed Level Red restrictions mean that we will not be holding Range Open Days. When restrictions are lifted or we return to Level Orange, Range Open Days will resume. Thanks for your understanding.

For those who hold a range ticket, access will continue under the normal access arrangements.

The Branch’s Policy for Operating Under the Government’s CPF (traffic light) Restrictions can be viewed here.

Due to the government’s restrictions on assembly we are trialing Eventbrite as a registration tool to help manage the number of attendees at Branch gatherings. You can register for our February 2022 Club Night at nzdabop-february-club-night.eventbrite.co.nz

Tuesday 1st February Club Night, UBCO will be showcasing their 2X2 Work Bike with the opportunity to test ride one at the clubrooms.

The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association has launched its “NZDA Farmer Assist” program throughout NZ. this program has been developed to provide farmers and land-holders with a simple way of finding qualified NZDA members to undertake shooting as part of pest control activities.

Members who are not currently part of a NZDA Farmers Assist program must attend a NZDA range and undertake the self-guided shooting competency assessment using the approved NZDA Farmer Assist Assessment Target. We have these targets up at the range and will be running some club shoots where you can shoot the target and have it signed off by one of our range officers.

Here is a link to the Farmers Assist website where you can signup. NB you need to shoot your target before you can signup.

http://www.farmersassist.co.nz