The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom (NRA) is the governing body of full bore rifle and pistol shooting in the United Kingdom. A rifle is a firearm with a stock and a barrel that has a spiral groove or grooves (rifling) cut into its interior. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ...

A steering group, formed from senior representatives of the three governing bodies of the major governing bodies, the NRA, the National Smallbore Rifle Association and the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, have affirmed their commitment to progressing towards a unified body that will best represent the interests of target shooting sports in the UK. The new organisation will be known as the National Association of Target Shooting Sports, (NATSS). This move is intended to co-incide with the opening of the UK's firearms register (see Gun politics in the United Kingdom) and the 2012 Summer Olympics. The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see Archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). ... The United Kingdom has some of the strictest gun legislation in the world. ... The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, will be held in London, United Kingdom from 26 July to 12 August 2012. ...

History

Founded in 1859 the Association spent its first 30 years holding shooting and marksmanship competitions on Wimbledon Common. The ever expanding population of London, coupled with the introduction of modern smokeless propellant cartridges in the 1880s, forced the NRA to look for an alternative location to continue its very popular Imperial Meetings. In 1889 the NRA Council took the decision to move to Bisley where they remain to the present day. The Latin motto of the NRA is "Sit Perpetuum." 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... Wimbledon and Putney Commons consist of a large open space south west of London comprising 1140 acres (4. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The village of Bisley, in Surrey, England, is well known to rifle marksmen around the world. ...

The NRA, and the ranges at Bisley, are rich in history and tradition. Queen Victoria fired the opening shot of the first Imperial Meeting at Wimbledon and 30 years later the Princess of Wales, later Queen Alexandra, fired the first shot at the beginning of the 1890 Imperial Meeting at Bisley. This set the pattern for the Annual Meeting which has been held every year except during the two World Wars. The Queen's Prize remains the premier award for the rifleman and the July Imperial Meeting is internationally famous. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and the first Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death in 1901. ... Alexandra of Denmark (December 1, 1844 – November 20, 1925) was queen consort of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom 1901–1910. ...

The NRA was granted a Royal charter in 1894. This Royal charter continues to this day (the current president is the Prince of Wales) for the "promotion of marksmanship in the interests of the Defence of Realm and permanence of the Volunteer Forces, Navy, Military and Air". This largely irrelevant statement in today's climate has been recognised by the present council body who made a significant shift in policy very recently and took a decision to officially encourage all shooting sports, not just full bore rifle shooting, a move that has come too late for many but is welcomed none the less. A Royal Charter is a charter given by a monarch to legitimize an incorporated body, such as a city, company, university or such. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor; born Windsor, 14 November 1948), is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ...

The National Shooting Centre

The principal ranges used at Bisley today are as originally laid out in 1890 to accommodate modern full-bore rifle shooting. Century Range provides 108 points at distances up to 600 yards. Stickledown is the largest long range in the UK with firing points from 800 to 1200 yards. There is also the Short Siberia range with points at 100 and 200 yards (Siberia was originally an 800 yard range), and the running deer range enabling the shooting of moving targets at up to 100 metres. 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ...

Pistol shooting was also well accommodated with Melville, Cheylesmore and Winans ranges. The original Cheylesmore range was opened for the 1948 Olympic games. Recently relocated, it still facilitates 30 lanes at 25 metres. To cater for the increased popularity of pistol shooting, Melville range, also offering 30 lanes for shooting at both 25 and 50 metres, was opened in 1983 and Winans with 20 lanes at 25 metres opened in 1993. The pistol ranges are now mostly used for gallery rifle and mini rifle competitions which have taken over from pistol shooting since its demise in the UK. The Games of the XIV Olympiad were held in 1948 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. ...

Clay shooting has taken place at Bisley since the early 1920s. The facilities were greatly expanded to accommodate the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, when the National Clay Shooting Centre was opened. The NCSC offers world class facilities for DTL, Skeet, ABT, Double Trap and Universal Trench. Clay pigeon shooting is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun. ... The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from July 25 to August 4. ... Manchester is a major city in North West England, historically notable for being the worlds first industrialised city, and its subsequent central role in the Industrial Revolution. ...

External links

• National Rifle Association
• National Small Bore Rifle Association
• National Clay Shooting Centre
• Clay Pigeon Shooting Association
• Muzzle Loading Association of Great Britain