So... you would like to learn to shoot a Pistol?

Did you know that you can legally own and shoot pistols in New Zealand? Pistol shooting started in New Zealand when the New Zealand Pistol Association was founded in 1969.

Because there were no provisions in New Zealand law for target shooters to have pistols, the Association had to make very great efforts to change the NZ firearms laws and progress very slowly and carefully.

Over many years the NZPA has advanced the sport of pistol shooting from the use of single shot .22 cal pistols only, until today when we have gained permission for the use of pistols and revolvers of all calibres and matches to suit these guns. The effort to gain acceptance for this was considerable.

The NZPA is a democratically constituted association with equal rights and opportunities for all members. A council is elected anually by the 60 affiliated pistol clubs which are located in every major town and city in New Zealand. Total membership is in excess of 3000.

Whether your interest in shooting is for relaxation for top flight competition, the NZPA and more importantly, The Otago Pistol Club can accommodate your needs.

The Otago Pistol Club

The Otago Pistol Club was incorporated in 1975 and as part of the NZPA has been through the long years of pistol restriction.

During this time the Otago Pistol Club has established well appointed facilities including club rooms and 5 shooting ranges with the latest computerised control systems to cater for any type of pistol shooting competition. The styles favoured at our range are UIT (olympic style), and for the more experienced, the exciting Action Matches.

First and foremost on a live firing range is a strict safety code. There is no compromise. When shooting on club days (every Saturday 1pm to 4pm) shooters are under the direct control of a range officer. New shooters will have individual guidance on safety and be given the basics of the very exciting sport.

Current membership is hovering around the 60 mark with the high percentage of active shooters competing away from home at national or international level. If it is your dream to represent New Zealand and wear the silver fern, pistol shooting is an excellent vehicle to do so.

Pistol Shooting will challenge your eye-hand co-ordination. For the serious shooters, there is a significant mind component. Within pistol shooting there are various disciplines, involving airpistol (.177 cal), smokeless powder cartridges (.22 cal to .45 cal), black-powder pistols, target distances from 10 to 200 metres and time frames of 2 seconds to 2 hours.

If you want to know where to find the Dunedin Pistol club, have a look at the picture below. As you are leaving Waldronville and heading out towards Brighton you will approach a bridge that crosses the estuary. Just before the bridge on the left is a small gravel entrance way that leads to the range. Where the access road diverges the range is down to the right and the clay target club is to the left.