Our range building has been demolished to make way for the HS2 railway and the construction works around the tunnel mouth at West Ruislip. Currently, we cannot provide a local resource for people to experience and practice the sport of Target Shooting within the London Borough of Hillingdon. We cannot provide instruction or otherwise help newcomers to the sport. We are not accepting any new members as we cannot do anything to help them at the moment. We are working with HS2 to find a new location for a range and to build it.

Target shooting with small-bore rifles, air rifles and air pistols is part of one of the largest participant sports in the country. It is open to all, irrespective of age, gender or ability and has a proven track record of improving an individual's concentration and motivation.

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 from the head of the army, Lord Roberts, 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.

Small-bore rifle shooting is mostly carried out over distances of 25 yards, 50 yards/metres and 100 yards. Most 25 yard ranges are indoors, and almost all longer ranges are outdoors. Airgun shooting is at 6 yards, 10 metres or 20 yards. Clubs generally provide all the equipment required to learn to shoot, together with the necessary coaching. All you need to bring is yourself and your enthusiasm.

This is one of the few sports where male and female, and the able and those with disabilities can 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, and you can continue well beyond retirement age. Once you are proficient there are many competitions around the country open to you, so you need not be restricted to just one venue.

Ruislip Rifle Club only uses paper, diagrammatic targets. Humanoid targets are not allowed. Here are some examples of the targets we use:-

Short answer: No! But don't let that put you off...

Current legislation prevents people who are not members of an approved club just turning up and shooting. Although the law does provide for "Open Days", any club running such an event has to comply with the rules, which include notifying the local police in advance of the details: when, where, and the names and addresses of everyone that will be handling firearms. If you wish to try shooting at an Open Day, the National Small-bore Rifle Association or the National Rifle Association at Bisley may be able to provide details of clubs holding an open day.