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Make it your sport
Membership gives you a place to practise, learn and enjoy the sport with other shooters. You might be starting a new interest, joining with your family or working towards your next competition. There is room for all of those ambitions at CLDPC.
Juniors and families
A sport the family can enjoy together
We aim to keep membership affordable, with generous discounts for juniors, spouses and partners. Families can learn the same skills, encourage each other and enjoy being part of the club together.
Contact the club for current membership fees and the options that suit your household.
Membership
Membership options
New to shooting? You don’t need to choose a membership category before speaking with us. We’ll explain the options and help you understand the steps involved.
Category H pistol membership
For Category H licence holders. Full access to all five ranges, club competitions, and the sanctioned matches we host each year.
A/B target-shooting membership
For A/B licence holders who need target shooting as a genuine reason. We are an approved target shooting club, and monthly competitions support your participation requirements.
Collector membership
Our collectors group meets on the last Sunday of each month, with featured items every meeting — historic through to modern.
No commitment
Try first. Decide later.
If you haven’t tried pistol shooting, start with a supervised introduction. It gives you a chance to experience the sport and meet people at the club before deciding whether to join.
If you would like to continue, we’ll explain membership, training and the relevant licensing or permit pathway.
Licensing
Obtaining your pistol licence
Firearms licensing in NSW is overseen by the NSW Police Firearms Registry. The pathway to a full Category H (handgun) licence takes at least twelve months and runs in three stages.
This page covers Category H licensing for sport and target shooting. Occupational and other Category H licensing pathways are outside the services CLDPC provides.
Join an approved pistol club
You begin by joining an approved pistol club and completing the club’s initial Pistol Safe Handling Course. CLDPC is an approved pistol club. The completion certificate supports your application for a twelve-month Probationary Pistol Licence.
Probationary Pistol Licence
In the first six months you must complete the club’s Pistol Safety Training Course and at least three recorded competition shoots. In the second six months you must complete at least another three — a minimum of six competition shoots across the probationary period.
Once the first-six-month training requirements are complete, the club sends your PPL Completion Certificate to the Firearms Registry.
Full Category H licence
You must hold the Probationary Pistol Licence for its full twelve-month term. Before it expires you will receive instructions about applying for a full Category H sport/target-shooting licence. Progression is not automatic — the Firearms Registry decides whether to issue it.
Full Category H licence holders must remain members of an approved pistol club and meet the applicable ongoing participation requirements. At least six activities must be competitive matches, while the total number of required activities can vary according to the kinds of pistols registered to the licence holder.
Not licensed yet and not sure you want to be? Start with an introductory session — no licence needed, and nothing committed.
Getting started
Where to begin
Three ways in, depending on where you are starting from.
New to shooting
Arrange a supervised introduction and find out whether the sport is for you.
Ready to join
Speak with the club about membership, training and the next steps.
Already licensed
Tell us what you shoot and we’ll help you explore membership and opportunities at CLDPC.
Firearms safety training
Courses run at the club
Handgun — Probationary Pistol Licence
The club’s initial Pistol Safe Handling Course is arranged by contacting the club directly. At CLDPC it runs as an initial presentation and practical session in which you fire a pistol, two further visits within the following 30 days again demonstrating safe handling and observance of range orders, and a final assessment of your safe handling practice.
On completion the club issues a Pistol Safe Handling Course completion certificate, which supports your application to the NSW Police Firearms Registry for a Probationary Pistol Licence.
Longarms — A and B safety training
CLDPC runs a longarms course approved by the NSW Police Firearms Registry. It is intended for people applying for Category A or B licences and is separate from the Category H pistol pathway. You do not need to be a CLDPC member to take the course.
If sport or target shooting is your genuine reason, membership of an approved target shooting club can provide the supporting club evidence required for your application. Other genuine reasons have different requirements.