GALLERY: All fired up!
NORTHCLIFF – Air rifle shooters have a blast at the Northcliff Air Rifle Club.
The Northcliff Air Rifle Club is a place where one can blow off some steam and also blow up some targets in a safe environment.
The air rifles used at the club range from cheap, beginner models, to powerful ‘monsters of a rifle’ for lack of a better term, fully equipped with scopes, sights, bipods, cases and other pieces, worth up to R100 000.
“Air rifles are deregulated but are still very dangerous,” said Dave Brooke, who runs the club.
“So our focus is on getting children [and adults] here so they can shoot a variety of targets up to distances of 50m, under the supervision of range officers who have completed range-officer courses.”
He added that far too many people shoot at birds at home and endanger people because of this. Since the club started nine years ago, no one has been shot at its premises.
Errol Mann, who has shot at three World Air Rifle Championships and won a silver medal for South Africa at the Lisbon 2016 World Field Target Championship in August this year, shoots with a .177 caliber Steyr LG110 costing in the region of R80 000. “I like shooting because it’s one of the sports where you compete against yourself, and if you miss, there’s no one to blame but yourself,” he said.
Shooting with an identical rifle, David Verner said he only shoots in the field target discipline, where distances are between eight and 80m long and he has three minutes to shoot two targets, though his rifle is only allowed to rest against his body.
“It is very relaxing. And you get to shoot in open plains, forests and mountains,” he said.
Mike Brews shoots with a relatively tamer Kral Bullpup, worth R8 000, though it still has a scope and looks ferocious. “Shooting means I get to relax with my friends and go out and shoot with them. I also love to collect my good shots and arrange difficult shots,” said Brews.
Brooke said the club provided coaching lessons and hosted a monthly ‘benchrest’ competition, where rifles are shot while resting on a stationary object. The best shots from these competitions are placed on a Brag Board in the clubhouse.
Details: Northcliff Air Rifle Club 072 659 2333.
