Joining a club and getting licensed

For target shooting, a firearms licence and club membership go together. Australia's National Firearms Agreement says sports shooters need valid membership of an approved club, so the club is where most people start. This guide covers the club side. For the licence itself, see How licensing works in Australia.

Choosing a club

Start with the discipline you want to shoot and a range you can get to regularly. Ongoing membership usually means turning up often, so distance matters. Visiting before you apply helps. One ACT pistol club, set up mainly for current and former members of organisations that carry firearms, invites newcomers on its joining page to come out, meet the committee and watch what happens. The Australian Clay Target Association suggests contacting your nearest club to see what's involved, and notes that most clubs let non-shooters come and try.

When you visit, ask:

• which disciplines the club runs and on which days

• how the probationary period works and how long it usually takes

• what the induction or safety course involves

• what membership and range fees cover

• whether you can use club firearms while you're learning

What probation usually looks like

Most of the clubs we checked are pistol clubs, where probation is tied to handgun licensing, but a Perth rifle club runs a similar provisional period. None of them makes a new member a full member straight away. The details vary, but they follow a similar pattern:

1. 1

   Step 1: Application and approval

   You apply, and the committee decides whether to accept you as a probationary or provisional member. For handgun shooting, the national agreement requires a police check and two character references, and one rifle club we checked asks for both too.

2. 2

   Step 2: Induction or safety course

   You complete the club's induction or safety course and learn its range rules. One Brisbane club also requires members to understand and follow range commands given in English.

3. 3

   Step 3: Supervised shooting

   You shoot under supervision, from a coach, an instructor or a range officer, while you build skills and safe habits.

4. 4

   Step 4: A set number of recorded shoots

   You attend a minimum number of shoots or matches, and the club records them on a card or compliance record. Some clubs add a written test.

5. 5

   Step 5: Full membership

   When the club is satisfied with your safety and competence, you move to full membership. One Queensland club notes that progress is based on your safety and competency.

Pistol probation is closely tied to licensing. The national agreement sets up graduated access to handguns, and clubs must endorse a member's application to acquire one. Clubs in different states describe very different steps for this, so ask your club how it works where you are.

Staying a member in good standing

Membership is ongoing. For handgun shooters, the national agreement sets minimum participation in club competitions each year and requires clubs to report participation to licensing authorities. Clubs can set their own expectations too. Sydney Pistol Club, for example, asks members to attend once a month and lodge a score. Under the agreement, states and territories also require sporting shooting clubs to report to police any concern that a member may be a danger with a handgun.

Keep your attendance records up to date, and check your club's participation rules each year.

Following isn't joining

Following or saving a range on Where to Shoot is free and private. It isn't club membership, a booking or permission to shoot. To join, contact the club that runs the range and follow its process.