About the Club
The club was founded in 1900 offering both smallbore and fullbore target rifle shooting. It is a Home Office approved club within the terms of firearms legislation. Several of the current members shoot at international level, having represented either England or Scotland, and Great Britain. There is therefore a wealth of knowledge and experience from which relative novices may benefit.
The Small-bore Section (.22 rim fire) shoots under National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA) conditions at a 25 metres indoor range at an Army Reserve centre in Gateshead.
The fullbore section shoots Target Rifle (TR), with the more recent addition of F Class, both as defined by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Target Rifle currently uses 7.62 mm barrelled target rifles used prone at up to 1000 yards using a sling to support the rifle & open iron sights, although only at up to 600 yards at Ponteland DTE Range where we mostly shoot. We normally shoot on 8 to 10 weekend days per year, between April and October. Our usual course of fire is 2 sighters and 10 to count at 400, 500 & 600 yards. This is equivalent to Stage II of HM Queen’s Prize shot for at Bisley each July by many of our members.
F Class is a relatively new discipline. The essential differences from TR are that the rifle is rested, rather than supported by a sling; a telescope is used for aiming, rather that ‘open iron sights’; and there is greater freedom in the choice of calibre & rifle. Firing is still from the prone position over the same course of fire. Hand self loading of ammunition for this discipline is common, although division into two sub sections has recently occurred; that for full choice of ammunition and that restricted to issued commercial ammunition.
Both sections are open to new members. Those with little or no experience of target rifle shooting are advised to gain experience of smallbore shooting, trying fullbore once the elements have been mastered. Each are satisfying disciplines in their own rights; several members do both. The fullbore section has such limited range time that the essential regular practice that novices require to develop technique is not possible. It is also much more expensive than smallbore. Both sections have club owned rifles that may be made available for members or guests to use under supervision. Ammunition is also available for use on the range. Those prospective members with previous experience and especially their own Firearms Certificate, for appropriate target rifles, are usually easily assimilated into full membership. For others a probationary period is required by Home Office regulations.
Visits to either section to view or shoot as a guest may be arranged by application to the secretary.
The Small-bore Section (.22 rim fire) shoots under National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA) conditions at a 25 metres indoor range at an Army Reserve centre in Gateshead.
The fullbore section shoots Target Rifle (TR), with the more recent addition of F Class, both as defined by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Target Rifle currently uses 7.62 mm barrelled target rifles used prone at up to 1000 yards using a sling to support the rifle & open iron sights, although only at up to 600 yards at Ponteland DTE Range where we mostly shoot. We normally shoot on 8 to 10 weekend days per year, between April and October. Our usual course of fire is 2 sighters and 10 to count at 400, 500 & 600 yards. This is equivalent to Stage II of HM Queen’s Prize shot for at Bisley each July by many of our members.
F Class is a relatively new discipline. The essential differences from TR are that the rifle is rested, rather than supported by a sling; a telescope is used for aiming, rather that ‘open iron sights’; and there is greater freedom in the choice of calibre & rifle. Firing is still from the prone position over the same course of fire. Hand self loading of ammunition for this discipline is common, although division into two sub sections has recently occurred; that for full choice of ammunition and that restricted to issued commercial ammunition.
Both sections are open to new members. Those with little or no experience of target rifle shooting are advised to gain experience of smallbore shooting, trying fullbore once the elements have been mastered. Each are satisfying disciplines in their own rights; several members do both. The fullbore section has such limited range time that the essential regular practice that novices require to develop technique is not possible. It is also much more expensive than smallbore. Both sections have club owned rifles that may be made available for members or guests to use under supervision. Ammunition is also available for use on the range. Those prospective members with previous experience and especially their own Firearms Certificate, for appropriate target rifles, are usually easily assimilated into full membership. For others a probationary period is required by Home Office regulations.
Visits to either section to view or shoot as a guest may be arranged by application to the secretary.