All about Melton Pistol Club

Facility and Location: The club's official address is Clarkes Road, Brookfield, but access is actually located off Hinkler Crescent, Brookfield. From Coburns Road, visitors should turn into James Melrose Drive. The club has a clubhouse with kitchen facilities, toilets, and covered ranges. The land it occupies was originally gifted by a local farmer, Jack Hurley.

Ranges: Melton Pistol Club boasts multiple ranges to cater to various pistol disciplines:

• Air Pistol Range: Dedicated for air pistol shooting.
• Range 2 - 50m: A 50-meter range.
• Range 3 - 50m: Another 50-meter range.
• Range 4 - 25m: A 25-meter range. The club initially started as an open-air facility but has made extensive improvements to include covered ranges for better comfort and weather protection.

Services and Disciplines: Melton Pistol Club offers a wide array of pistol shooting disciplines and services for its members:

• ISSF Pistol Matches: These include all International Shooting Sport Federation pistol matches, which are generally those shot in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Members have a pathway for selection in Victorian and Australian teams for national and international competitions.
• Pistol Australia (PA) Service Pistol Matches: Modified versions of NRA Combat Matches, involving shooting from various distances (50 yards to 7 yards), including prone and sitting positions, and shooting from behind barricades and from a holster. These also offer pathways for selection in Victorian teams for PA National Championships.
• World Association 1500 Matches (WA1500): Adopted from NRA PPC matches, these involve shooting from 50 yards to 3 yards, always from the holster, and include various shooting positions. Members can also progress to national and international events like the WA1500 World Championships.
• International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC): A dynamic international competition discipline utilizing various target types (paper, steel, stationary, moving, scoring, and penalty targets).
• Victorian Amateur Pistol Association (VAPA) Classic Match: A specific match designed for military-issued handguns produced before 1955.

Beyond competition, the club focuses on safety, skill development, and inclusivity. They offer regular practice sessions and guidance for new shooters. The club ensures public safety through comprehensive firearm usage laws and strict adherence to safety procedures, with no incidents reported in its history.

Membership: Melton Pistol Club welcomes members of all ages (12+ years) and abilities. Juniors aged 12 to 18 years must be accompanied by a handgun-licensed adult and their parent or legal guardian at all times. All prospective members are required to complete the club's Handgun Safety Awareness Course, which includes both written and practical assessments. They must also pass a police safety course held at the club by police-approved, qualified instructors.

The club aims to encourage competitive target pistol shooting, provide suitable facilities, promote knowledge and skill in target pistol shooting, and encourage social activities among members. They offer organized competitions based on a handicap and "Off Gun" system, allowing all members a chance to win. Annual handicap trophies are presented at the end-of-year break-up. Normal operating hours are typically Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Members who have completed a 6-month probationary period may apply for a range key for midweek shooting access.

The club has a diverse membership, including women and juniors, some of whom have gone on to represent Victoria in state and national championships, and even compete in the Olympic Games. Pistol shooting is seen as a sport that can be enjoyed by the whole family, fostering self-discipline and responsibility, particularly in younger members.