How to find a new club
If you are looking for a new target club, there are a few lines of inquiry to follow beyond a simple Google. Definitely have a google, be aware that searching for "<Area> Gun Club" will likely bring back clay pigeon sites and shotgun clubs. If you are after rifle/airgun/pistol clubs, use specific, relevant search terms - e.g. "Portsmouth Rifle Clubs", "Target sport", "Target club" or just "shooting club".
Scotland - Most smallbore clubs in Scotland now affiliate to Scottish Target Shooting rather than the NSRA. But STS don't have a Clubfinder. So have a look on the Clubfinder Project (which does attempt to cover Scotland), and be prepared to break out your Google-fu.
Clubfinder Project
A Clubfinder of all Rifle Clubs in the UK - Smallbore, Fullbore, FT. If I come across it, I add it. Perversely it now numbers >800 clubs - more than the NSRA and NRA Clubfinders combined. Don't ask me how that works. The NRA and NSRA lists are woefully incomplete.
British Shooting
Although British Shooting's remit is to manage UKSport funding for ISSF/Olympic squad activities, their club finder covers clubs of all disciplines including Field Target and Fullbore Rifle.
It is not comprehensive and they would appreciate club details being submitted for inclusion.
NSRA
For .22, airgun and target crossbow clubs, consult the NSRA Club Finder.
Also e-mail the NSRA at:
info (at) nsra (dot) co (dot) uk
as some clubs have not given permission for their details to be published on the website(!?). The NSRA will be able to send you a complete and unabridged list of clubs in your area.
Also check the listings for counties adjoining yours (this goes for all the club-finders listed). There may be clubs on the border, within easy striking distance of yourself, but they will usually only be listed under the county they are physically located in, even if they service part of another county. Check you're not missing a club just down the road on the other side of the county line!
NRA
For fullbore, gallery rifle, service rifle, match rifle, some practical rifle clubs, and various miscellaneous disciplines I've probably forgotten, check the NRA Club Finder
Again, contact the NRA directly to check if there are any other affiliated clubs in your area not listed online.
The NRA are also on Facebook.
CPSA
For Clay Pigeon sites, use the CPSA Club Finder.
OTHERS
For clubs or disciplines not covered by those groups, again, contact the governing body for the discipline you are interested in, such as:
British Field Target Association
UK Practical Shooting Association
UK Fifty Cal Shooters Association
Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain
UK Association of Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Shooting ("UKBR22")
Four Islands (Practical Shooting / 3-Gun)
MAPS
http://www.shootforum.com/forum/sfmap.html
Airgun Club Map
Bear in mind maps will feature numerous omissions as many clubs - particularly those with armouries and firearms stored on site - prefer to avoid publishing their geographic location widely (or on the internet) for security reasons, and only hand out directions individually as people enquire. Do not rely on them to list all the clubs in your area.
Last edited by Hemmers; 23-04-2019 at 03:25 PM.
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud
Shooting is my meditation