Welcome to the Auckland Pistol Club (APC).
APC exists to provide members with the facilities to participate in pistol shooting in a number of its forms. This page will provide you with the information you might like to have as you consider pistol shooting as a sport.
Okay, I'm interested - what next?
I want to shoot pistols - now what?
What kind of training do I receive?
How much is this sport going to cost me?
At the risk of identifying pistol shooting as a peculiarly American activity (it's not), why don't we let an American say it best. Jake Shevlin, writer and shooter, has this to say in an article entitled 'The Cause For Competition'
There are lifelong rewarding values and satisfaction from participating in competitive activities. In James A. Michener's "Sports in America", the author analytically dissects modern sport and quickly rejects the spectator variety as an ongoing advantage to anyone. He calls individualistic activities such as golf and shooting, "life-long sports" and says that a person should choose a lifelong program that will enhance his general well being.
There you have it then. You'd take up shooting for similar reasons to golf. Except that there are very few physical impediments to shooting. You can shoot whatever your level of fitness. You can shoot from a wheelchair.
Shooting is a sport that you can participate in to whatever level of competition you desire. It is an individual sport that you can compare yourself to no other, or the best in the world. You can shoot with (and against) shooters of similar ability through a grading system.
Pistol shooting is a friendly sport in New Zealand. National title holders will spend time with you, as will Olympic competitors, Commonwealth Gold Medal winners, and international title holders. When was the last time you had an opportunity to play golf with Sir Bob Charles or Michael Campbell?
Pistol shooting is a safe, well regulated sport that almost anyone can enjoy.
Okay, I'm interested - what next?
Contact a pistol club near you (if you are outside Auckland), or one of our APC committee members. If we have elected a New Members Officer this year, give that person a call. He/she will answer your questions (read the rest of this web-site first) and suggest you visit us on a Sunday at our club location. We have a regular visitor time slot which is on a Sunday at 1pm. You'll get a short tour of the ranges and an explanation of the different styles of shooting we participate in. If you are still keen then we will make arrangements to have you shoot one of our club pistols under the experienced eyes of one of our trainers. You can visit up to three times.
I want to shoot pistols - now what?
Have a look at our document entitled New Shooter Timeline. That will give you the basic outline. It may look drawn out but the process is still exciting and you will have progressed through it in what seems a short time. You'll need a Membership Application Form.
What kind of training do I receive?
During the probationary period we offer you extensive training in the sport and safety of pistol shooting. Starting with safety, we progress through basic handling, then through Olympic style pistol shooting. This is all done with club pistols - you do not need to own a pistol during your training stage.
Training continues with action shooting which involves pistols of a larger calibre, and drawing from a holster and engaging moving targets. Your initial training ends with an introduction to practical shooting which involves moving around the range with a loaded pistol. The emphasis is, at all times, on safety.
Further training is offered at various times and may include instruction by world class pistol shooters, judging, and running pistol events as a range officer.
How much is this sport going to cost me?
Here is the long answer:
Here is the minimum:
- If you don't already have a firearms licence then this will cost you $200. It lasts 10 years.
- The club has a yearly subscription and joining fee. This covers your visits to the range, the facilities, and the targets you use.
- You'll need to purchase a supply of ammunition. An Olympic style match (ISSF) uses 65-70 bullets of .22 calibre. These cost around $5 per box of 50. An action match (NRA) uses between 50 and 200 bullets of centrefire ammunition at a cost of between 20c and 50c per bullet. These are estimates and depend on your choice of ammunition. Practical shooting (IPSC) uses a similar range and quantity of ammunition.
As you get more serious:
- After your training you will want to upgrade your firearms licence to include a 'B' endorsement. This entitles you to own a pistol. $200 for 10 years.
- When you get serious about your chosen shooting style you will want to purchase your own pistol. A .22 calibre pistol may be purchased from as little as $300. A competitive target pistol will cost you from $1000 (second hand) or $1800 (new). A pistol that you could use to win a gold medal at the Olympics could cost between $2000 and $3500. There is no upper limit.
- If you choose action shooting (NRA) or practical shooting (IPSC) then you could start for as little as $500 for a revolver, or as much as $5000 or more for a competitive semi-automatic pistol with red-dot sights.
- You may also choose to reload you own ammunition. This will reduce the cost of your ammunition by 50% or more. A reloading press will cost between $500 and $2000.
And the short answer:
It's cheaper than golf.
