By André van der Merwe
During October 2022, firearms dealer, Irene Arms & Outdoor, opened their modern firearms outlet in the new Irene Link Centre in Doringkloof, Centurion. The shop has two indoor shooting ranges, a 30m range with ten firing points and a 200m range with eight firing points. Ferdi Kilian, chairman of the Centurion Branch immediately realised the potentional that this facility could have for the branch, and approached the owner of Irene Arms & Outdoor to discuss the use of the shooting range.
The discussions were fruitful, and on 10 June 2023, Centurion Branch held the first indoor regional shooting competition in cooperation with Irene Arms & Outdoor, which made their two shooting ranges available to the Branch for free. The 20m handgun shooting discipline was held on the 30m range, while the 25 and 50m precision shooting discipline was held on the 200m range.
Both these ultra modern shooting ranges are equipped with targets installed on overhead tracks that each shottist can control electrically to the desired distance – forwards and backwards – for the particular shooting exercise. The 200m range features TV monitors at the firing points to enable shottists to have a closer look at shot placement on the targets. Double-glazed glass partitions on each of the two shooting ranges isolate the noise and separate the range from spectator area or where shottists await their turn to shoot.
Ferdi Kilian and his team planned well ahead for this event that ran smoontly. Range officers of SA Hunters’ Centurion Branch were on duty to ensure the safety of all involved. The adminstration and scoring team used the waiting area to perform their tasks.
41 participants shot 164 shooting exercises in the two disciplines. The 20m Handgun discipline and the Precision discipline each has six classes of which two are rimfire classes, which are very popular among shottists because more affordable ammunition can be used.
Irene
Arms & Outdoor donated a 308 Win Monza rifle with a synthetic stock as the
big prize in a lucky draw.
Shooting
ranges in metropolitan areas in South Africa are scarce and usually located far
away, making it inconvenient and expensive for members of SA Hunters to
participate in shooting activities.Centurion Branch’s initiative to use a local
indoor shooting range is one way of addressing the sport shooting needs of its
members.
The partnership between Irene Arms & Outdoor en the Centurion Branch is a major benefit for SA Hunters’ members in this area.
SA Hunters expresses its deepest appreciation to Irene Arms & Outdoor for the opportunity to make use of this facility, and for the warm hospitality when welcoming members of SA Hunters at the shop and the range.
A club shoot is held at Irene Arms & Outdoor every Tuesday.
Address: Irene Link Centre, Shop 3, Ground Floor, Impala Avenue, Doringkloof, Centurion
