New Shooters
WELCOME!
The best way to start is to call one of the Club Officials. Their phone numbers are on our Contact page.
The Range is owned by the Department of Defence, creating a complex environment for us to work in. The Club Officials can get you started.
We support a variety of shooting activities including simple sighting in of hunting rifles and a number of competitions. Generally we can get you started if you are new to the sport of shooting. The limitations of the range usually effect experienced shooters with specific needs. SSAA Cairns is not approved for handgun use.
LicenCes
LICENSED SHOOTERS Bring your licence and your SSAA membership card. Defence insists that all shooters are members of SSAA.
NO SHOOTERS LICENCE? Bring Photo ID (Drivers Licence, Passport or Student ID for juniors). You will need to do some paperwork. Juniors must be over 11 years of age.
WANT A LICENCE ? The paperwork above is OK to come & try shooting but regular shooters need to have a licence. Both Cairns Gun Shops run licence courses. SSAA Qld has a guide to getting your licence. Download it Here.
Times
The range is only open on the days & times shown in the calendar. This is because we need to book the time with Defence.
DEFENCE HAS PRIORITY. This means our events can be cancelled if Defence is using the range. The website calendar is updated as soon as we are notified. Emails may also be sent to members. This also applies if we are not notified. If Defence Personnel arrive while we are using the range, we leave.
COME AT THE START OF THE SESSION. Shooting starts shortly after the published start times and finishes when those present are ready to leave, often before the published finish time. The published finish time is the latest possible time we will finish.
Come shooting with a bunch of mates
The club is run by volunteers. Before you get your gun out of your car a bunch of people have given up their time to make this happen. We appreciate help to set up and clean up for each session. Come to the Working Bees (published on the calendar). Thank the Club Officers and Range Officers for their work!
If you have questions or are unsure, please ask. There are many experienced shooters who can help you.
What shooting happens?
This section sets out the general organisation of SSAA Cairns shooting at Wangetti. Please see the calendar for the details. There are variations to these general rules.
SATURDAY MORNINGS are for Rimfire. 22 Long Rifle Standard Velocity ONLY. Distances between 25 and 100 metres are available. There are a variety of competitions. New shooters can usually fit in around these, contact the Club Officials for details.
SATURDAY AFTERNOONS are for Centrefire. There are a variety of competitions and practice sessions. Each session will be shot from a particular mound on the Centrefire range. Other target distances are not available. For example, if it is a 200m session, this is the only distance available. This is because the targets on the centrefire range are fixed and the shooters move to vary the distance. We must all shoot from the same firing line.
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS are for Practice. Sessions are fortnightly, alternating between Rimfire and Centrefire 100m.
Calibers
RIMFIRE RANGE. 22 Long Rifle STANDARD VELOCITY ONLY. High Velocity hunting type ammunition is not allowed.
CENTREFIRE RANGE. Maximum of 30 Caliber for rifle cartridges. Rifles firing pistol cartridges can also be used, even if greater than 30 caliber.
What to bring
PERSONAL PROTECTION. Protect your hearing, particularly on the centrefire range. Safety glasses also recommended. Closed shoes required, no thongs. Consider insect repellent.
DON’T OWN A FIREARM? Talk to the Club Officials, We’ll see what we can do.
NO PETS Sorry, pets are not allowed.