A pistol shooting club is a shooting club that facilitates shooting activities that include the use of pistols. A pistol shooting club does not have to exclusively involve pistol shooting, but if a shooting club does include activities involving pistol shooting at any time, then it is a pistol shooting club. A non-pistol shooting club would be any club that does not facilitate shooting activities that include pistol shooting but may have a range or ranges that are certified for use of pistols. These ranges can only be used by an approved pistol club and must be listed as an approved user in the range standing orders. The approved pistol club is deemed to be conducting pistol shooting activities on such ranges at the time of use, not the SRO.

Pistol shooting clubs must hold a certificate of approval issued by the Commissioner of Police, or their delegate. Non-pistol shooting clubs must apply to be enrolled, and the Commissioner of Police, or their delegate, will maintain a roll of non-pistol shooting clubs. 

A similar approach is taken with pistol shooting ranges compared to non-pistol shooting ranges. Pistol shooting ranges are required to apply for and be issued with a certificate of approval from the Commissioner of Police. Non-pistol shooting ranges must apply for enrolment by the Commissioner of Police, and if approved, the range will be added to the roll of non-pistol shooting ranges. 

For a pistol shooting club to hold a certificate of approval it must also be an incorporated society under either the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 or the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 (section 38C, Arms Act). 

A non-pistol shooting club needs to be an incorporated society only in select circumstances. If the club intends to sell firearms, it needs to be an incorporated society to be enrolled. If the club sells ammunition it needs to be an incorporated society to be enrolled, unless it is only selling ammunition for use on the day of sale and the ammunition is used by the purchaser at the club shooting activity or the ammunition is stored on the club premises after the shooting activity.

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 has replaced the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and is working to phase out societies that were incorporated under the 1908 Act. This is due to happen gradually and by April 2026, all incorporated societies will be registered under the 2022 Act. More information regarding this can be found here. Where this is relevant to Police is that until the 2026 deadline passes, there will still be clubs that are incorporated under the 1908 legislation and are to continue to be treated as incorporated. It is the responsibility of individual clubs to manage their obligations to be incorporated, and failure to do so can result in the cancelling of the club’s certification or enrolment. 

If a non-pistol shooting club sells ammunition or firearms on behalf of the club, then the club must be registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. Section 38L refers.

Pistol shooting clubs and non-pistol shooting clubs are both subject to conditions if ammunition is sold on behalf of the club. Regulations 28GI and 28GX only apply if the ammunition is sold on behalf of the club, and the ammunition is not used in a shooting activity on the day of sale and is then taken off the club premises. 

If these Regulations apply, then the club must keep records. These records can be in either hard copy or electronic. The details that need to be recorded differ for pistol shooting clubs compared to non-pistol shooting clubs.

Pistol shooting clubs need to record the following details:

• Information about the seller, including their name and their firearms licence number.
• Information about the purchaser, including their name, their firearms licence, or if the ammunition was sold to that person for use under the immediate supervision of another licence holder, then that other person’s name and firearms licence.
• The quantity and type of ammunition sold. 

Non-pistol shooting clubs do not need to record information about the seller, but must record the following details:

• Information about the purchaser, including their name, their firearms licence, or if the ammunition was sold to that person for use under the immediate supervision of another licence holder, then that other person’s name and firearms licence.
• The quantity and type of ammunition sold. 

Both pistol and non-pistol shooting clubs can, once the Commissioner allows it, provide these records in the Firearms Registry to meet their legislative obligations. 

These records about ammunition sales need to be retained for at least five years from the date of the last entry, whether the records are kept in hard copy or electronically. 

When a pistol shooting club’s certificate of approval is either cancelled or surrendered, or a non-pistol shooting club’s enrolment is cancelled, both clubs have further obligations. In these situations, the club must, within 90 days after the suspension or cancellation, surrender to Police all ammunition sales records that have not already been included in the Registry. 

Pistol shooting clubs, non-pistol shooting clubs and shooting ranges subject to the conditions of secure storage and transportation of firearms and ammunition. 

Learn more within the secure storage and transportation guide for firearms and ammunition.

Pistol clubs and non-pistols shooting clubs are both subject to a condition around their status. Status in this context means whether the club is continuing to operate or has changed its operations significantly (Regulations 28GC and 28GT). 

A pistol shooting club must notify the Commissioner if the club undertakes any of the following activities. 

• If the club ceases to operate.
• If the club ceases to be registered as an incorporated society.
• If the club amalgamates with another pistol shooting club or with a non-pistol shooting club. 

A non-pistol shooting club must notify the Commissioner if the club undertakes any of the following activities.

• If the club ceases to operate.
• If the club amalgamates with a pistol shooting clubs, or with another non-pistol shooting club.
• Ceases to be an incorporated society, but only if it ceases to be an incorporated society and continues to sell firearms or ammunition.

All regulated entities are required to maintain an up-to-date record of any incidents or safety breaches that have occurred during any shooting activity organised by the club or range. The record needs to include any incidents or safety breaches that did not result in injury or death to any person but did have the potential to do so (Regulations 28GJ, 28GY, 28GZL and 28GZZ refer). 

For clubs, it is the club that needs to keep records. For ranges, it is the range operator. 

Records may be kept in hard copy or electronic form to meet this requirement. These records must be kept for at least 5 years after the date of the incident or safety breach. 

As noted above relating to the Firearms Registry, regulated entities can meet their record keeping requirements by providing the information in the Registry, once the Commissioner allows clubs and ranges to use the Registry. 

Different regulations apply to different regulated entities. When dealing with each entity, be sure you are using the correct regulation that refers to that regulated entity.

Pistol shooting clubs, pistol shooting ranges, and non-pistol shooting ranges are all subject to a condition to notify Police if they change their contact person (regulations 28GF, 28GU 28GZG, and 28GZU refer). 

These three regulated entities must ensure notice is given to the Commissioner that there has been a change in a contact person for the club, or a change in the name or contact details of a contact person for the club or range. The notice by the club or range must be given to the Commissioner within 28 calendar days of the change. 

Non-pistol shooting clubs must notify of changes also. This is a condition on them. This condition applies if a non-pistol shooting club has any change of information as they provided in their application. Notice of any change to these details must be provided to the Commissioner within 28 calendar days of the change.