Target shooting is, as its name implies, the sport of shooting at artificial targets as opposed to live quarry.

Target rifle shooting grew out of the need to improve and maintain high standards of marksmanship within the armed services. Today it is a major international sport enjoyed by thousands of participants at clubs across Britain.

Smallbore rifle shooters use the .22 rimfire rifle, and shoot at ranges up to 100 yards. The compact nature of the facilities required means that these clubs are often found in urban areas, including Scout and Cadet groups.

Great Britain has an excellent track record of International shooting success, whether at an Olympic, Commonwealth or European level.  For example check out the medal totals for the Melbourne CommonWealth Games.  Shooting is a sport at which the UK excels, For example in the last Commonwealth games our tally of 27 medals was second only to the number obtained by the swimming team.

Fullbore target rifle shooters mostly use military calibres and fire from the prone position at ranges from 200 to 1,000 yards, whilst the exacting skills of Match rifle shooting are exercised over ranges out to 1,200 yards. Other disciplines exist for muzzle-loading, classic, service and sporting rifles.

Target rifles come in many different shapes and sizes, old and new, mass produced or one-off manufactured.

A basic Anschutz 1907 target rifle

An Anschutz Supermatch - slightly more adjustable, much more expensive.

A low-volume G+E stock, secoond-hand a rifle like this could cost over £2500, then you add some sights!

Not an example of a BSA Mk1 rifle (British Small Arms) see see rifleman.org.uk for further details of this rifle - awaiting permission to use a BSA image

The best thing about shooting is that it is not an exclusive sport – and it is a great leveller! Across the country, individuals from all walks of life enjoy a safe and exciting hobby that can be extremely rewarding. Shooting is also one of the few sports that offer a genuine opportunity for disabled sportsmen and women to compete on an equal footing to their fellow able-bodied competitors - as an International sport, also featured at the Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games.

The sport is about marksmanship skill; the ability to repeatedly place shots in as small an area as possible in the centre of the target. Real guns firing real projectiles are used so the activity takes place on appropriately designed ranges and safety is of prime importance.

This focus on safety makes target shooting amongst the safest of all sports and shooting develops in its participants a strong safety culture with a self-disciplined approach to the handling of hazardous objects.  Recent statistics show that twice as many people were hospitalised with mishaps from cotton buds than with accidents with guns.

As in many aspects of athletics, shooters compete as much against themselves for the satisfaction of improving their own performance as to be 'the best on the day'.

Shooting is both an individual and a team sport and is one in which people of both genders and a very wide age range can compete on equal terms. The sport can be enjoyed by wheelchair users and, with modified equipment, by the blind. Success in the sport involves learning fine control of the body and, less obviously, also of the mind in order to overcome the stresses of competition.

Target shooting is also carried out using 'small-bore' rifles firing 0.22 inch 'rimfire' cartridges at ranges typically of 25 yards. Usually, ranges of 25 yards and less are indoors and those from 50m upwards are outdoors, where the effects of the weather (most notably the wind!) present additional challenges. For this type of shooting the rifles used require Firearm Certificates (issued by the police) and the ranges need to be officially approved for safety. For these reasons the activity must be followed through a Home Office Approved Rifle Club. 

Long Range Target shooting takes place on outdoor ranges at distances of 300/400/500/600 and even 1200 yards and here the effects of the weather become really significant.  Clachnacuddin is a 25 yd indoor 0.22 rimfire range only.  Cawdor Fullbore Rifle Club is one of the few full-bore ranges remaining in Scotland, it is possible to shoot outdoor targets up to 600 yards.

In Scotland the SSRA looks after ISSF style shooting for rifle and pistol.

In the UK (at present) full-bore rifle shooting is governed by the National Rifle Association (Tel: 01483 797777 or visit please use this link to visit their web site), While the small-bore rifle shooting is looked after by the National Small-bore Rifle Association (Tel: 0845 1306772 or please use this link to visit their web site)