About us
Rochdale Air Gun Club (RAGC).
By Airgunners, for Airgunners.
We are a non-profit Air Gun Club. We have 1 paid member of staff for each shift but all club management is performed by volunteers and any 'profits' the club makes are invested back into the facilities and running of the club.
Our aim and purpose is to provide a safe environment to practice our sport, to promote the sport to newcomers of all ages and backgrounds and to show everyone how to enjoy airgunning responsibly in an environment where everybody feels safe, in general and with regard to the use of guns in particular.
Anyone can become a member and we welcome anyone who wants to have a look around or give it a go. We do require any Junior shooters to be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. All members/visitors are covered by the club's insurance.
Our fully indoor facilities include:
Ranges:
- 50-metre rifle range with knock-down targets from 20 to 50 yards and zeroing / marksmanship targets at 25 yards, 35 yards, 45 yards and 50 metres.
- 17-metre plinking range with knockdown targets from 6 to 17 metres, marksmanship targets at 17 metres and several target senders that allow placing marksmanship targets at the shooter's desired distanc
- 10-metre match pistole/rifle range. The 'quiet zone', strictly reserved for 10-metre marksmanship disciplines.
- Club shop selling pellets and targets and offering various tools you can borrow for rifle repairs or adjustments;
- A selection of hire rifles and pistols to let you get a feel for the different shooting disciplines available;
- Chronograph so you (and we*) can ensure your equipment complies with the law;
- Car Parking - Ample space (most of the time...);
- Compressor powered PCP Recharge and Dive Bottle Filling point;
- Hot and cold drinks, confectionary, crisps and food.
- Member rifle competitions on Tuesday evenings and flexible monthly competitions for pistol shooting
- A wanted / for sale board for any equipment offered for sale by our members (we provide the board, we do not get involved in the particulars of transactions).
* Please note, we reserve the right at any time to require any air rifles brought onto our premises to be chronograph tested. All air weapons on site must comply with the legal limited for air weapons not requiring a Fire Arms Certificate (FAC), meaning a maximum of 6 ft/lb for pistols and match rifles (used in the 10-metre range) and a maximum of 12 ft/lb for standard air rifles
For any questions or additional information, contact us on Facebook, via email or, during opening times, by telephone on 01706 868384.
Code of Conduct.
Besides compliance with the contents of the Safety Induction all visitors are required to take and the basic handling and gun safety induction provided to new shooters (and hire rifle users), the code of conduct is pretty much to apply common sense and a general acceptance of other people.
Anyone can become a member and we welcome anyone who wants to have a look around or give shooting sport a go. We do require any Junior shooters to be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult. All members/visitors are covered by the club's insurance.
We are a club by the members for the members (and visitors), as such, there is an expectation on members to help out as needed, for example through assisting new visitors with the finer points of marksmanship, being vigilant that everyone on premises conducts themselves safely, changing and resetting the targets at the end of a session, or making some brews if the paid staff is dealing with a queue of people.
Conditions of Use.
We accept all levels of marksmanship and all levels of (air powered) shooting equipment, but dangerous or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated!
We do not permit the use of -any- restricted firearms. Only Air Rifles producing less than 12FPE muzzle energy and Pistols producing less than 6FPE may be used on club ranges. We are an airgun club not a firearms club. The discharging of any firearm would be a criminal offence (trespas with a firearm).
Club ‘Officials'.
The club is managed by a board of 5, informed and advised by a membership committee of (up to) 8. The board sees to the day to day management and the board + committee discuss and action any ideas, suggestions and input from the member base. The board and committee positions are filled on a voluntary basis.
Club Directors: Darren Taylor, Karl Taylor
Club Chairman: Simon Ashdown
Club Treasurer: Steve Shaw
Club Secretary: Arron Brow
Club Vice Chairman: Wesley Groot
Air weapon misuse is a serious concern for the shooting community and society in general.
At Rochdale Air Gun Club we believe that the best way to counter this problem is through education. Statistics show that a young person properly trained in the safe and correct use of guns is very unlikely to commit an offence involving a firearm later in life. We believe that our policy of educating young people in the safe use of guns instills self-discipline for life.
We participate in Game and Country fairs to show the general public the true nature of the shooting community, and to promote the fun and skill involved in air gun marksmanship.
The club works hard at being a good neighbour and discretion is extremely important to us, please therefore be courteous to all members of the public you may encounter.
Membership prices (Annual).
Senior (over 60): £40
Adult: £50
Junior: £40
Range Fees:
Adult Member £6
Junior / Senior Member: £4
Visitors: £10