FAQ's

Q1) How can I join Vektor Shooting Club?

1. Ensure your fire arms/s comply to requirements for IPSC shooting (Contact anyone of the committee members if unclear)

2. Fill in both forms on the website and forward (e-mail or fax) the secretary or treasurer.

3. With response from the committee that your application is successful – pay club fees (electronically preferred) and forward proof of payment to Treasurer.

4. Attend next club meeting as soon as possible and have fun!

Q2) What facilities does the club have?

1. A shooting range with seven separate shooting areas/stages fully equipped for IPSC type competitions, and fully accredited by SABS according to SA Police requirements for Pistol and shotgun shooting up to 50m ranges

2. Clubhouse.

3. One pistol only for use by the members

4. Full affiliation with Northern Gauteng Practical Shooting Association and South African Practical shooting association which is affiliated to the International Practical Shooting Confederation.

Q3) Do I need any formal training to join the club?

No.

Note, too own a firearm you need training as required by the law/Police. The club will provide all training needed for the sport – mostly active during club shoots.

Q4) What is practical pistol/shotgun shooting?

1. Practical pistol shooting is an international sport under the International Practical Shooting Confederation umbrella, practiced from Club, Provincial, National, Regional and International levels.

2. The shooting is at a selection of stationary and or moving paper and or steel targets, from a few to about 32 max number of rounds. Your performance is measured by dividing your score by the time you took per stage.

3. It can be considered as one of the best methods to hone your skills with your firearm to be able to protect yourself

4. NOTE: it is NOT a blood sport but a PURE SPORT, PROVIDING THE BEST CHALLENGE, FUN AND ENTRTAINMENT imaginable.

5. In South Africa Three Gun competitions are also popular; at our range we only shoot pistol and shotgun at the moment. We use either pump action or semi auto 12 bore shotguns – ideally 9 rounds capacity but 7 or is also OK.

Q5) What is the smallest caliber pistol allowed for Practical Shooting?

9mm parabellum, Remember to be competitive you require a number of extra magazines to complete a stage (up to 40 rounds at times)

Q6) What is the Largest Caliber pistol allowed for Practical Shooting?

Not limited to caliber, but the more rounds your magazine can carry the better. Most commonly used are 9mm parabellum, 40 S&W, and 38 Super (- not special ! for open class)

Q7) What is 3 Gun?

It is a discipline with-in IPSC shooting where you compete with pistol, shotgun (pump or semi auto) and semi auto rifle)

Q8) Does the club have facilities for 3 Gun?

Only partially – pistol and shotgun – in the Pretoria area however there are three ranges that include rifle as well, where we take part.

Q9) Does the club have facilities for Rifles?

See Q8

Q10) How big are the Shooting Ranges?

From 15 to 50 meters ranges and wide enough to host a provincial league with seven stages.

Q11) Do I have to know someone that is a member of the club to join?

Q12) Can I come to an event just to be a spectator?

Yes you are very welcome. Just please remember, for safety, everyone on the range must wear spectacles or safety glasses and ear protection. Also, when you arrive at the range, please contact a Range Safety officer or committee member (ask around), so that we can welcome you and show you around.

Q 13) I am a member of another shooting club. Can I participate in the club shoots hosted by Vektor Shooting Club?

Yes, you are welcome if you are a member of an accredited IPSC club. If not, you are still welcome but it require pre arrangement for an introduction and screening to IPSC safety rules. At the moment you are not charged a range fee, but this may change in the future

Q14) How do I become a Dedicated Sport Shooter?

To become a dedicated Sport Shooter with us, you must be a current, fully paid up member (club, provincial and national fees) with at least six points earned during competitions for a period not longer than a year.

Point counts are earned by participating in competitions as follows: Club level = 1, Provincial level = 2 and National level = 3.

Q15) Can the club help me to obtain a Firearm license?

The letter from SAPSA stating your membership and point status as well as a letter from the club will make a big difference to the success of your application.

The club members may advise on motivations informally, but do not provide a service of formally assisting with applications.

Q16) May I use my friends’ pistol on the shooting range?

Yes, but only according to law. – He must be present at the shooting range at all times when you are shooting. You may share a pistol with him if he takes part as well.

Q17) Does the club have facilities to shoot a shotgun?

Yes, only for practical shooting disciplines (No clay or pigeon shooting facilities).

Q18) Are there some requirements that my shotgun should meet for practical shooting?

Yes, at least a pump action or some form of semi auto action with preferably a magazine capacity of at least eight rounds in the magazine with one round in the chamber.

Q19) I don’t have a licensed pistol yet. Does the club have pistols available for me to use in the meantime? (This question has been asked by every single person that I have interviewed)

Yes, but very limited – the law is very restricting.

Q20) How expensive is this sport?

Cost of equipment plus ammunition, membership fees (see info elsewhere on website) and competition fees which are R0 for clubs, about R80 provincial and R400 National.

Equipment: A pistol, plus at least two extra magazines, plus extras.

Extras are magazine pouches, ear muffs, safety glasses (spectacles are ok) and holster: from R a few hundred rand to some thousands, depending on your own ambition/preferences.

Ammunition required for competitions are about: Club, 120 rounds, Provincial 200, and Natinal 300 to 400.

Note, should you decide to compete seriously, it is by far better to load your own ammunition. There are however some dealers that sell reloaded ammunition at reasonable prices.

Q21) How old must I be to join and participate in the club?

From twelve years of age you may shoot with us, but only if accompanied by your parent or responsible adult – owning the fire arm you are shooting with,

Or else, if you are a legal owner of the firearm (Note – a dedicated shooter will be issued a license by the Police at an earlier age (at their discretion).

Q22) Who is SAPSA and what is the clubs relationship with them?

SAPSA, South African Practical Shooting Association is affiliated to the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) and is the highest body accountable for Practical Pistol Shooting and South Africa, SAPSA is a fully accredited shooting sport body by the SAPS.

South Africa is divided in affiliated provincial shooting bodies (e.g. Northern Gauteng Practical Shooting Association), which in its turn has various affiliated clubs whose members are the actual shooters in the SA.