All about Cranbourne Dandenong Pistol Club

Facilities and Ranges

While specific details about the number and types of ranges are not explicitly stated, the club provides facilities for members to practice and compete. It caters to a variety of pistol shooting disciplines, suggesting the presence of ranges suitable for these different styles. It's likely that their ranges accommodate various distances and target setups.

Services and Disciplines

CDPC is committed to promoting safe and responsible shooting practices and offers a range of services, including:

• Training Programs: The club provides mandatory handgun safety courses for newcomers, which are a crucial step in obtaining a provisional handgun license in Victoria. They also offer an induction and training course for new members to learn the basics of shooting.
• Disciplines: The club offers a variety of pistol shooting disciplines, including:
  • ISSF Pistol: This refers to International Shooting Sport Federation disciplines, often involving precision shooting with air pistols, sport pistols, and free pistols.
  • IPSC (Practical Shooting): This dynamic discipline emphasizes accuracy, power, and speed, involving multiple targets, moving targets, and shooting from various positions and around obstacles. CDPC members who hold at least a provisional Category H license and have completed the IPSC Holster Qualification can participate.
  • Single Action Shooting: This discipline often involves firearms replicating those from the Old West, popular in Cowboy Action Shooting and Wild Bunch Action Shooting.
• Gun Hire: Gun hire services are available for members, including those participating in "Notification of Receiving Instruction" (NORI) sessions. Non-members who wish to try shooting must book a "Classes" and select a NORI session.
• Social Interaction: Beyond shooting, the club values social interaction and organizes visits to other clubs around the country throughout the year.

Membership

CDPC welcomes both novice and experienced shooters. Membership offers the opportunity to practice regularly, with the option to visit monthly or almost every day, provided a person aged 12 or above accompanies the shooter for safety reasons.

To become a member and obtain a handgun license, prospective members generally need to:

1. Schedule a fingerprint appointment with Victoria Police.
2. Obtain a National Police Check.
3. Complete the mandatory handgun safety course provided by the club.
4. Apply for a provisional handgun license.
5. Complete the membership application form, including two passport-sized photographs and two character references from non-related friends who have known them for at least two years.

To be eligible for a "Handgun Target Shooting Licence," members must have been with the club for at least six months, have their fingerprints on file with the police, complete the club's handgun safety course and the police-approved handgun safety course, and safely participate in at least five approved matches.

Membership fees vary for full/primary members, additional family members, juniors, family packages, and associate members. Junior members (12-18 years old) must always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while at the club.

Events and Competitions

Members can participate in weekly Club Competitions and attend Open Competitions held at clubs around Victoria, as well as major competitions like Victorian Championships and National Championships. The club also hosts Service Pistol and IPSC Style matches monthly.

Safety and Regulations

Safety is a paramount concern at CDPC. Strict rules are in place, including:

• The red flag must be raised before shooting commences.
• Magnum loads and jacketed ammunition are generally not permitted without prior approval.
• Centrefire long arms may only be used with sub-sonic ammunition unless approval is received.
• Firearms storage regulations, such as the requirement for steel safes that are bolted down if they weigh less than 150kg empty, are emphasized.

The club emphasizes that all visitors to the range will be inducted and instructed on the safe handling and use of firearms.