Penzance & St.Ives Rifle Club

Smallbore rifle shooting involves the use of . 22 calibre target rifles firing . 22 rimfire ammunition fired at paper or cardboard targets at distances from 15 yards up to 100 yards. The practical skills involved are very similar to those used for both full-bore and air rifle shooting with the main difference being the type of rifle and ammunition used. A little known fact about shooting is that it is a surprisingly common activity. There are over 600 clubs with over 10, 000 people shooting smallbore rifle on a regular basis in the United Kingdom alone. For some people shooting is a recreational sport to be enjoyed with friends and provides an environment to meet like minded people. For others it is an intense challenge requiring discipline and effort with the goal of competing at club, county or international level. Rifle shooting is one of a small number of sports that is open to almost anyone irrespective of any disabilities, age, gender and fitness, which do not by themselves define who will be good or bad at shooting as they do with some other sports. (There are limitations to the type of shooting that can be done by people with a criminal record). Each person takes something different from the sport. Some find it helps with concentration and patience, for others it provides them with an experience that is very different from their usual day to day activities. Although target shooting was one of the original founding sports for the modern Olympic Games started in 1896, its popularity amongst civilians only really took off in 1900 as a consequence of the Boer War. The Boers' superior marksmanship lead to increasing concern at the capability of the Army to defend the population against invasion. The call went out for the populace to learn to shoot to defend their country and in due course civilian small-bore shooting clubs were formed from which the sport grew. More detail on the History of Smallbore Rifle Shooting is available in our History section Shooting is accessible at over 600 clubs around the country that have a variety of indoor and outdoor ranges. Small-bore rifle shooting is mostly carried out over distances of between 15-25 yards (usually on indoor ranges), 50 yards or meters and 100 yards, both of these longer ranges are shot outdoors. Air gun shooting is at 6 yards and 10 meters The clubs provide all the equipment required to learn to shoot, together with all necessary coaching. All you need to bring is yourself and enthusiasm. This is one of the few sports where male and female and the able and those with disabilities compete equally against one another. Age is no bar to competition*. You can start as soon as you are physically strong enough to hold a firearm safely (with supervision) and you can continue well beyond retirement age. Once you are proficient there are many competitions around the country open to you so you are not restricted to just one venue. The governing body of the sport is the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NSRA) and you can either use the club finder on this website or the one on the NSRA website for anyone wishing to take up this challenging and enjoyable sport.

* Children must be over the age of 11 to shoot smallbore rifles

Smallbore rifle shooting involves the use of . 22 calibre target rifles firing . 22 rimfire ammunition fired at paper or cardboard targets at distances from 15 yards up to 100 yards. The practical skills involved are very similar to those used for both full-bore and air rifle shooting with the main difference being the type of rifle and ammunition used. A little known fact about shooting is that it is a surprisingly common activity. There are over 600 clubs with over 10, 000 people shooting smallbore rifle on a regular basis in the United Kingdom alone. For some people shooting is a recreational sport to be enjoyed with friends and provides an environment to meet like minded people. For others it is an intense challenge requiring discipline and effort with the goal of competing at club, county or international level. Rifle shooting is one of a small number of sports that is open to almost anyone irrespective of any disabilities, age, gender and fitness, which do not by themselves define who will be good or bad at shooting as they do with some other sports. (There are limitations to the type of shooting that can be done by people with a criminal record). Each person takes something different from the sport. Some find it helps with concentration and patience, for others it provides them with an experience that is very different from their usual day to day activities. Although target shooting was one of the original founding sports for the modern Olympic Games started in 1896, its popularity amongst civilians only really took off in 1900 as a consequence of the Boer War. The Boers' superior marksmanship lead to increasing concern at the capability of the Army to defend the population against invasion. The call went out for the populace to learn to shoot to defend their country and in due course civilian small-bore shooting clubs were formed from which the sport grew. More detail on the History of Smallbore Rifle Shooting is available in our History section Shooting is accessible at over 600 clubs around the country that have a variety of indoor and outdoor ranges. Small-bore rifle shooting is mostly carried out over distances of between 15-25 yards (usually on indoor ranges), 50 yards or meters and 100 yards, both of these longer ranges are shot outdoors. Air gun shooting is at 6 yards and 10 meters The clubs provide all the equipment required to learn to shoot, together with all necessary coaching. All you need to bring is yourself and enthusiasm. This is one of the few sports where male and female and the able and those with disabilities compete equally against one another. Age is no bar to competition*. You can start as soon as you are physically strong enough to hold a firearm safely (with supervision) and you can continue well beyond retirement age. Once you are proficient there are many competitions around the country open to you so you are not restricted to just one venue. The governing body of the sport is the National Small-bore Rifle Association (NSRA) and you can either use the club finder on this website or the one on the NSRA website for anyone wishing to take up this challenging and enjoyable sport.

* Children must be over the age of 11 to shoot smallbore rifles