SMALLBORE RIFLE

INDOOR SMALLBORE

The smallbore rifle section shoots at an indoor range during the winter months (1 April to 30 September) at the Manawatu Indoor Smallbore Range, Totara Road, Palmerston North.

This is a shared facility; we shoot on Tuesday nights from 7.30 pm.

Our discipline uses a .22 cal. target rifle to shoot at a target 25 yards (22 metres) away while in the prone position. The rifles used are .22 calibre single-shot target rifles. Sporting rifles using magazines are not permitted. The section supplies target rifles and ammunition for new shooters to use.

There is no age restriction on shooting. Provided you are big enough to hold the rifle, you can participate. We have members of school age right through to those well past retirement age. Smallbore rifle shooting is an “equal opportunity” sport; men and women compete equally.

All new shooters have a trainer assigned to them. They will start using the rifle on a rest until they demonstrate correct and safe use. As their skills develop, the rifle rest is replaced with an arm sling and shooting jacket.

With more experience and skill, shooters will want to purchase their rifle, ammunition, and gear, either secondhand or new, from suppliers such as Target Shooting New Zealand shop.

You can be as competitive as you like or come along for the sociality. There is no obligation to enter competitions; however, members of this section are encouraged to participate in local, regional, and national competitions to make themselves available for selection for Club, Manawatu, North Island, and New Zealand teams as they progress from starting as a D-grade shooter through the C, B, A, and Master grades.

OUTDOOR SMALLBORE

During the summer months, Smallbore is shot outdoors over 50 meters using the same rifle as indoors.  We shoot on Range 2 at the Clubs Turitea Road property.  The normal course of fire is 30 or 60 shots plus sighting shots. The effects of wind and sun mean this a challenging discipline, especially in the well-renowned Manawatu wind. 

If you would like to know more about smallbore rifle shooting, contact the section leader by clicking this link

For more information, please contact the Club secretary by clicking this link.