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Become a Member

Steps to join a pistol club:

Before applying to join the Sporting Shooters Pistol Club, all applicants must be a current financial member of the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia (Vic). If necessary you can join the SSAA at the same time via the Springvale front office.

Application for membership MUST BE MADE IN PERSON. Application forms can be obtained from the Office at Springvale or can be downloaded here. All applications are considered on the 4th Tuesday of the month, with applicants being asked to attend at 7:00pm. Full payment must be submitted along with the application.

The steps listed below are based on joining the Sporting Shooters Pistol Club (Vic) and they can be applied to most SSAA (Vic) sub clubs and are typical of most pistol clubs in Australia. The major differences between clubs will be the fee structures as many of the requirements are set by Government regulation.

STEP 1: Visit a club and try out the sport Victorian Government regulations allow you to visit a Pistol Club and try handgun shooting under the supervision of a licensed shooter (usually a qualified Range Officer) a maximum of 10 times. You will be required to fill out a Police form stating that you are not a ‘Prohibited Person’ and that you have not done this 10 times before. The form, ‘Notification of Receiving Instruction’ is available either at the Victorian Police web site or from our Resources page. You should also be able to obtain a copy at the range on the day. If your identification is appropriate and you have signed the form, you will be asked to pay a range fee ($20.00 for non members $12.00 for members) and the cost of a box of ammunition (About $5.50 for .22). You will be given a thorough safety briefing and shown how to use a club handgun.

STEP 2: Join the SSAA If you are not already a rifle shooter and member of the SSAA you should join ASAP. The benefits are many, a subscription to the Australian Shooter magazine and insurance coverage to name just two. Membership fees range from $55 to $98 depending on the category or options you choose. This is mandatory for all sub clubs of the SSAA. Application forms available on the SSAA Vic web site or at the range.

STEP 3: Join the SSPC Membership forms are again available at the range or on the SSPC web site. You will need to bring a completed membership application and two personal references from people that have known you for more than 2 years (not direct relatives). You will also need to bring two passport sized photos so that we can make up a membership card. You will be asked to briefly meet with the Committee to help them put a face to the name and tell us a little about yourself. Your initial membership fee will be paid at this time $290 by credit card, cheque, money order or cash. The committee will discus your membership application in your absence and assuming there are no problems you will receive your membership card as soon as the Police 'accept' your membership. Membership fees for subsequent years are only $100 (plus the range fee $12 each visit or a ‘range pass’ for unlimited visits).

STEP 4: Apply for a ‘Provisional handgun Licence’ This step should be almost simultaneous with step 3. Once you have used your 10 visits as a non member, and have decided this is the sport for you, you need to start you application for your ‘provisional handgun licence’ as soon as possible. Forms again on Police or this web site. The cost is about $160. The Provisional Handgun License permits you to to use club guns under supervision on a approved range for a six (or 12)month period at which time you must apply for a full handgun licence (or leave the sport completely!).

STEP 5: Complete a Handgun Safety Course The SSPC runs an approved Handgun Safety course on the third Saturday of every month at the Springvale Range starting at 8:30 AM. It is a full 8 hour course, four hours of ‘theory’ covering firearm laws, storage requirements and Safety. There is a multiple choice theory exam followed by ‘practical’ session of another four hours, in the classroom, learning the safe handling of handguns and then finally on the range with dummy ammunition and then live ammunition. If you pass this you will be issued a Police certificate that you will require for your Handgun Licence but also so that the Club is satisfied you are safe to handle firearms without constant one-on-one supervision. The fee for this course is $45 for members ($105 for Non Menbers).

STEP 6: Start Competition shooting Under the new Firearms Laws, the only ‘genuine reason’ the Government will accept for holding a handgun licence for ‘Sporting’ purposes, is that you actually shoot competitions. The Government doesn’t want to know what your scores are, they simply want proof that you attended and shot under competition rules. The club has a number of Range Officers who are qualified coaches and happy to help show you how to do it. The law requires that you shoot at least 5 competitions in the 6 months of your probationary licence.

STEP 7: Apply for your Handgun Licence At the end of your 6 month probation you must move on and apply for your 'full' General Category Handgun Licence. By now you will have completed Fingerprint check and your Handgun Safety Course. If the club by then feels you are a fit and proper person to hold a handgun licence, they will endorse your licence application and the Police should accept the clubs recommendation and issue the licence. Forms are available in the usual places.

STEP 8: Arrange your Safekeeping facilities You will know from the safety course, exactly what is required in the way of a safe and alarm facilities to store firearms. Put these facilities in place now. The Club will ask to see these facilities meet club and Police standards before approving a Permit to Acquire.

STEP 9: Apply for a Permit to Acquire a Handgun By now you should have a good idea of what type of competitions you would like to shoot and what make and model handgun best meets your requirements. Obtain the forms and submit them to the Committee along with the club ‘Form 3’. If the club is satisfied that the type of firearm is appropriate for your needs, they will endorse your application and send it on to the Police.

STEP 10: Start shooting more Competitions Once you hold a handgun licence, whether you own a gun or not, you are required to shoot at least 10 competitions a year. Four of these competitions can be more in the nature of an unofficial competition or a practice for a competition but at least 6 must be competitions shot under formal (international) rules.

Last modified: 09.12.08 by mike