Competition(fullbore) shooting

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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I've done a quick google but not much information regarding local 'teams' or anything has showed up so I imagine it's a fairly niche sport if one that even exists up and down the country.

I was just having a clear out and found my old trophies and plaques from when I was in the army cadets as a young teenager. I was very good(without sounding arrogant) and represented my region a few years in a row at London and other locations before I gave it up.

Anyone have any information or knowledge on the subject? It's something I'd fancy taking up in my spare time.

Cheers :)
 
There are a few clubs about but its not hugely popular because of all the restrictions. If you enjoy shooting best to get into sub 12ft/lb stuff, so much more open and more going on, HFT and FT is great fun and something im pretty good at.
 
robj20 said:
There are a few clubs about but its not hugely popular because of all the restrictions. If you enjoy shooting best to get into sub 12ft/lb stuff, so much more open and more going on, HFT and FT is great fun and something im pretty good at.
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I disagree. Join a "proper" club and get your FAC as soon as possible in order to develop your skills. By all means give HFT and FT a try, but it's a completely different skillset.
 
Do you already have a FAC? I'm looking at 'mini rifle' myself, 22 rimfire (Ruger 10 /22 etc) that seems quite popular, and if cost is a consideration, a lot cheaper apparently.
 
shifty_uk said:
I've done a quick google but not much information regarding local 'teams' or anything has showed up so I imagine it's a fairly niche sport if one that even exists up and down the country.
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You might have to go back to the old fashioned method of finding things, gun clubs tend to be very 'web avoiding'.

From what I know, a lot of smaller clubs may well have an indoor range (usually in an old industrial unit somewhere) but then organise day shoots at military ranges, which is pretty much the only place you can shoot full bore in the UK.

I've shot a mucky mix of guns at Catterick before, everything from a lovely old .303 Lee Enfield, to a Kar98K, and a Mosin Nagant carbine that doubled up as a flamethrower! :eek:
(Might have been the cheapy russian ammo, but hey ho)
 
All these acronyms, I have no idea what any of them mean :p

Smallbore, that's generally 50 metres or thereabouts?

Back in the day it was 600 metre competitions I was taking part in.

Cheers for the link BlairH, I'll even drop them an email asking what the script is, even advice or recommendations if they can provide it.

I hadn't considered the cost, I assumed 'gun clubs' would hold equipment and it would simply be a cost of membership as I imagine you can't privately buy these types of weapons in the UK?
matt_fsr said:
You might have to go back to the old fashioned method of finding things, gun clubs tend to be very 'web avoiding'.

From what I know, a lot of smaller clubs may well have an indoor range (usually in an old industrial unit somewhere) but then organise day shoots at military ranges, which is pretty much the only place you can shoot full bore in the UK.

I've shot a mucky mix of guns at Catterick before, everything from a lovely old .303 Lee Enfield, to a Kar98K, and a Mosin Nagant carbine that doubled up as a flamethrower! :eek:
(Might have been the cheapy russian ammo, but hey ho)
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I've fired the Lee Enfield, awesome little rifle. Very good point about them avoiding the web, though! You can see why :p
 
I remember back in 1992 my school brought some US Army guy in with a load of old guns like Winchester repeaters etc. We shot them in the playing fields. All these opportunities that my kids will never have due to the nanny state :(.
 
shifty_uk said:
All these acronyms, I have no idea what any of them mean :p

Smallbore, that's generally 50 metres or thereabouts?

Back in the day it was 600 metre competitions I was taking part in.

Cheers for the link BlairH, I'll even drop them an email asking what the script is, even advice or recommendations if they can provide it.

I hadn't considered the cost, I assumed 'gun clubs' would hold equipment and it would simply be a cost of membership as I imagine you can't privately buy these types of weapons in the UK?


I've fired the Lee Enfield, awesome little rifle. Very good point about them avoiding the web, though! You can see why :p
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You've a lot to learn ;)

Smallbore generally refers to small rounds such as .22LR, or .177HMR which typically have relatively low energy, and can be fired indoors with appropriate rubber/material backstops and walls to stop the bullet.
Can also include pistol calibres of things like .38 Special or 9mm, but as these are low power rounds the same applies.

Full bore usually refers to military grade or calibre rifles firing high power rounds, that would blow straight through the back wall of an indoor range, and continue going for a mile or so...

For an example, a .38 special round (homeloaded) might have 3 to 6 grains of powder.

A .303 rifle round will have something in the order of 45-50 grains. :D

Edit: As for guns, some clubs will have 'club' weapons, but really these will be fairly basic, often well-used and rarely cleaned, and typically will only have open sights, no optics - as everyone's eyes are different.

You can own fullbore rifles yourself in the UK, you just need a firearms certificate, which requires club membership and a reason for each gun, or calibre... can't remember offhand which. Guns need to be stored in a secure cabinet (think chemically anchored wall bolts into a structural wall) and for firearms, ammo needs to be in a separate cabinet to the guns.
 
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