As I understand it, the 6 yard distance was selected originally because the spare space in pubs was very restricted.

Why pubs?

Well, NARPA was founded mainly to foster [sorry about that] the sport of air-rifle shooting at bell targets - an activity that took place mainly in pubs and clubs, particularly in the north and north west of the UK in the seventies.

I could be wrong, after all, I'm a strange here....

tac