Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Your NRAA Membership

NRAA is the recognised body for long-range target shooting (Target Rifle (TR), F Class, Sporter, Service) in Australia. It is a member of Shooting Australia, which is recognised by the Australia Federal Government, Australian Olympic Commission and Commonwealth Games Association. The NRAA is also a member of ICFRA (International Confederation of Fullbore Rifles Associations), which holds the World Championships for TR and F Class every four years.

NRAA’s disciplines are focused on target shooting competition at all levels, beginning with club practices, to inter-club competitions, state competitions, national teams and individual competitions right up to international level.

Equipment costs for basic Sporter category start at just a few hundred dollars. While equipment for Target Rifle and F Class competitions can cost  a few thousands of dollars depending on your ambitions for the sport. There is a good market for second-hand equipment, where you might recover up to half of the new value or more.

Factory ammunition in .223R and .308W can be purchased from licensed State Association shops from around $1.50 a cartridge upwards. They also stock components for those wishing to handload, which can considerably reduce the cost with volume over time.

Many members also compete in a variety of air rifle and .22 calibre rimfire and smallbore disciplines, The firearm and ammunition costs of these disciplines are less than Target Rifle and F Class.

NRAA’s membership fees are not overly expensive and it’s a sport that you can do all year round. Minimum age to join is driven by the minimum age for a firearms licence, mostly 12yrs across Australia.

Membership fees are structured as follows:

• National Rifle Association of Australia (NRAA) membership fee for 2025/26:
• New members: $46.25 for full adult membership. $26.25 for Under 25 memberships.
• Renewing members: $87.50 annually ($1.70 per week) for full adult membership. U25 membership is $52.50 annually ($1 per week).
• Your State or Territory Association membership fee: This varies by State and the fees are determined by your State Association.
• Club Membership fee: This varies depending on the services and facilities provided by your Club. Many clubs include shooting fees in their annual membership. Others charge a small membership fee plus a per-shoot fee, which can be less expensive for occasional shooters. Visitor fees may apply for those trying the sport. To stay within our insurance requirements, the NRAA requires those trying the sport (as authorised visitors) to become a member within 6 months of first attendance/participation or within 15 shooting sessions, whichever comes first.

Like many sports in Australia, our target shooting sport operates under a federated model. NRAA as the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) has State Sporting Associations managing the sport in each State, which are recognised by their State & Territory governments. Clubs are members of their State & Territory Association, therefore are affiliated with NRAA. Every member of a NRAA State & Territory Association and their affiliated clubs becomes a member of NRAA through the membership process.

Affiliation with the NRAA permits members to participate in shooting activities carried out in accordance with the Standard Shooting Rules (SSR) which are owned and administered by NRAA. The Standard Shooting Rules (SSR), which outline requirements for conducting all competitions, are free for affiliated members use.

NRAA membership through an affiliated State Association and club permits individual members to compete in club and district open competitions (commonly called ‘prize meetings’). It also entitles these members to enter and compete in State and National Championships (commonly called the ‘King’s prize series). NRAA members are also entitled to nominate for state/territory teams competing in the National Teams Championships as well as for selection into Australian and NRAA teams competing in international matches.

The NRAA provides comprehensive insurance coverage across all of its State & Territory Associations and affiliated Clubs, with the cost covered by affiliation fees. This includes:

• • Public Liability insurance for State and Territory Associations, affiliated clubs, their executives and committee, shooting members, voluntary workers, range staff, coaches, and authorised visitors, for activities conducted in accordance with the NRAA SSR. This provides cover for injuries, mishaps and other matters which may occur to a member through no fault of their own during an activity covered by NRAA insurance.
  • Professional & Management Lability covering State and Territory Boards/Councils and committee members. Other parts of the policy protect Range Officers, Coaches, and Club Administrators from liability through Professional Indemnity and Management Liability cover.
  • Group Personal Accident (GPA) provides sports accident cover for individuals, clubs, and associations, including lump sum payments for disability, loss of hearing, an eye, or a limb, as well as cover for non-Medicare medical expenses or loss of income.
  • Optional additional Building and Contents Property Insurance (clubs only, not for individuals). There has been increasing difficulty for clubs to obtain building and content insurance, with many experiencing high premiums, restrictive cover, or refusal of renewal. The NRAA has sourced an “Industrial Special Risks” policy through Shooting Australia and Marsh Australia to cover clubs experiencing difficulty. Without a club being able to source insurance, their club is potentially exposed to unlimited liability and expense. The NRAA Industrial Special Risks policy ensures all clubs can obtain insurance coverage.
  • Travel Insurance for members of NRAA teams travelling overseas to compete and train as part of their competition.
  • Firearms Insurance is another option which is currently being investigated.

Everyone on a shooting range needs to be insured; otherwise, you could face significant financial loss without compensation. If your club is not NRAA affiliated through your State and Territory Association, it likely will not have the above insurance coverages, nor will you as an individual member. More details on insurance coverage are available on the NRAA website under Info Hub > NRAA Insurance.

• Somewhere to shoot Unless your club owns its own range (which is rare), it likely exists because it’s part of a National Association with a State body to represent and support it. Most clubs lease land approved by the State Police and/or Defence as a shooting range. Police approvals and leases are very difficult for unaffiliated private clubs to obtain, especially for a sport involving firearms. Without affiliation with NRAA and its State & Territory Association, you probably wouldn’t have a place to shoot.
• Somewhere else to shoot NRAA membership, through your Club and State & Territory Association, covers you to shoot at any level of competition in Australia and at international events. Depending on arrangements in your State, it usually also permits you to visit other NRAA affiliated clubs and shoot at their facilities. If you want a change of scenery, there’s often no extra cost or need to join other clubs; just present your membership card and pay the shooting fee. You may even be able to transfer your membership if you decide to stay.
• A better place to shoot Government grants and services are available via State Sporting Associations or directly to clubs, funding programs for sporting activities, including those involving women and children aged 12 and above, as well as for club infrastructure and facilities. As the National body, NRAA can provide letters of support for grant applications.

The NRAA has developed an online grading system, called Open Prize Meeting Program (OPMP), which ranks shooters based on events entered and results achieved, allowing for grading at competitions and ongoing classification. This encourages shooters to improve, leading to greater enjoyment of the sport. State and National competition records are also kept, often required for selection to national teams.

The OPMP system also allocates each member with their own unique identifier number called a Shooter Identification (SID) number. This is necessary for members to enter competitions and have their scores recorded for grading proposes.   Being a member of NRAA through your Club and State & Territory Association allows you to seamlessly enter any level of competition you wish, even if you start as a club-level shooter. This would not be possible if your club was not part of an affiliated pathway through State & Territory Associations and NRAA.

If you have a concern regarding unfair treatment, bullying or inappropriate behaviour, your Club and State & Territory membership extending upwards to NRAA provides access to a complaint management process for members. NRAA has adopted the Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) National Integrity Framework (NIF) policy documents, which includes a process to raise concerns and complaints that are independently assessed by NRAA’s appointed Integrity Officer – SAPA (Sports Advisory Partners Australia). SAPA operates across Shooting Australia’s member associations, ensuring complaints are managed independently of NRAA, its State & Territory Associations, and their Clubs. The NRAA website outlines the process and how to raise a complaint or concern.

NRAA is responsible for the accreditation of Range Officers (RO). Clubs and Ranges shooting NRAA disciplines cannot operate without accredited Range Officers. Information on how to become an NRAA accredited RO is on the NRAA website, generally requiring two years of club membership and a recommendation from your club.

Direct benefits of NRAA membership include:

• Governance and provision for all shooting disciplines: 300m ISSF, Biathlon, Field and Rimfire, F Class Open, FTR, F Class Standard, Long Range Black Powder, Match Rifle, Precision Service Rifle, Service Rifle Target Shooting, Sporter, Target Rifle, and Target Rifle Optical Class. Other disciplines may be added by approval.
• Provision of formalised individual and teams competition pathways through State/National/International participation.
• Potential for selection to compete in ICFRA and ISSF World Championships.
• Potential for selection to compete in NRAA teams in other international matches.
• National online articles covering historical matters, member profiles, competitions and technical matters, with contributions by members.
• Support to State Associations through State/Commonwealth Government liaison as required, including input to firearms legislation.
• Support to State Associations and clubs on range design and approvals through liaison with technical specialists and various Firearms Registries.
• Online Prize Meeting Program (OPMP).
• National Grading and Ranking System.
• Range Official Course and register.
• National Membership database (currently under development).
• National Coaching System (currently under development).
• Other policies for good governance of our sport at all levels.

Strengthening the NRAA’s membership base, and thereby the States and Territories and clubs, means that all associations harness collective strength to assist with positively publicising the sport in the media and to various government departments and political parties. Current issues such as National and State Reviews of Firearms Laws and Regulations, and the change in attitude towards firearms, highlight why the NRAA is positioned to act on all Associations’ and members’ behalf.

NRAA does not pay the travel costs or coaching costs of its international teams.  International teams are self-funded, except for travel- insurance, competition entry fees, and part contribution to uniform pieces and ammunition costs. Very little money contributed by club members goes to support international campaigns. Every Club member competing in TR and F Class competitions has the potential to represent Australia in a national team. While many don’t aspire to this, the existence of these teams and the fact that their members shoot at local clubs provides an inspiration to new and upcoming shooters. Many new shooters begin with aspirations of achieving the highest level possible, and without NRAA’s international teams and their success and participation at ICFRA events, these aspirations would not be possible.

Membership fees of NRAA, its State & Territory Associations and the Club you will be a member of are most reasonable given our sport is available all year round and the benefits outlined above.  It enables strengthening our sport and protecting our mutual interests.

For more information on NRAA, its role, and activities, please access the NRAA website.