Lightweight
Sporting Rifle Shooting
A Lightweight Sporting Rifle uses a calibre of .22 and NSRA shooting rules apply to this discipline.
For the lightweight sport discipline the rifle used is similar to that used for field shooting. Magazines and telescopic sights may be used and shooting is normally done from the standing position. Unless you have significant previous shooting experience and some target shooting experience then lightweight sport rifle is not recommended as a staring point to learn to shoot competitively.
By far and away the most popular rifle for these competitions is the Ruger model 10/22 or its derivatives. There is a whole industry making 'go faster' parts for these rifles. In fact it is possible to buy a Ruger 10/22 that has no Ruger made part in it!
These rifles are popular because:
1. They are cheap.
2. There is an endless range of custom parts available.
3. The basic design is sound.
Other makes and types:
If you do not want a semi-automatic rifle, bolt-action sporters from BRNO (or CZ) are very popular.
These sporting rifles have been on sale for more than 50 years, and early models are beautifully made. Trigger tuning kits are available – not that there is much wrong with the standard trigger.
Given a minimum of care and attention such rifles will work for decades. Brand new they are around £300, although £150 or so will get you a good second hand example. These rifles additionally have integral scope rails, so fitting a scope is easy.
Allowed:
Calibre: .22" rimfire (smallbore) or up to 5.6mm (.22") air or CO2.
Overall weight: Unrestricted.
Trigger weight: Unrestricted but safe in the judgment of the Range Officer (RO).
Magazines: Not mandatory – single shot rifles allowed.
Not allowed:
Butt hooks
Shooting gloves: that provide additional support.
Specialist clothing: that provides additional support and stiffening.
Slings
The main difference between lightweight sport rifle and 25yd prone target rifle is that the rifle is magazine fed and is usually fitted with Optical (telescopic) sights, however, as shown in the definition above, any specialist clothing or equipment such as jackets, gloves or slings are not permitted.
Note ALSO the inclusion of .22 air rifles within the discipline definition.
The target discipline is usually shot at 20 or 25yds and can be shot at the bench (Benchrest) or standing; but can also be shot prone;
The standing competitions are shot on NSRA PL14/06 cards (5 or 10 shots per card).
The prone and Benchrest competitions are shot on NSRA 2510BM cards (1 shot per target centre).
Competitions for the LSR disciplines as shown above are shot at the Club via postal leagues organised by such bodies as the National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA) & Hendon Rifle Club.
As well as competitive target shooting (and zeroing) over either 20/25yds at Tondu, such rifles can also be used at longer ranges such as 50 and 100yds
For the "adventurous" there is also a yearly Phoenix shoot held in May at the "mecca" of target rifle shooting, Bisley, where there are both precision and timed (courses of fire at 150, 20 & 10 seconds) competitions shot over 25 metres plus other competitions shot over a distance of 50yds.
A Lightweight Sporting Rifle uses a calibre of .22 and NSRA shooting rules apply to this discipline.
For the lightweight sport discipline the rifle used is similar to that used for field shooting. Magazines and telescopic sights may be used and shooting is normally done from the standing position. Unless you have significant previous shooting experience and some target shooting experience then lightweight sport rifle is not recommended as a staring point to learn to shoot competitively.
By far and away the most popular rifle for these competitions is the Ruger model 10/22 or its derivatives. There is a whole industry making 'go faster' parts for these rifles. In fact it is possible to buy a Ruger 10/22 that has no Ruger made part in it!
These rifles are popular because:
1. They are cheap.
2. There is an endless range of custom parts available.
3. The basic design is sound.
Other makes and types:
If you do not want a semi-automatic rifle, bolt-action sporters from BRNO (or CZ) are very popular.
These sporting rifles have been on sale for more than 50 years, and early models are beautifully made. Trigger tuning kits are available – not that there is much wrong with the standard trigger.
Given a minimum of care and attention such rifles will work for decades. Brand new they are around £300, although £150 or so will get you a good second hand example. These rifles additionally have integral scope rails, so fitting a scope is easy.
Allowed:
Calibre: .22" rimfire (smallbore) or up to 5.6mm (.22") air or CO2.
Overall weight: Unrestricted.
Trigger weight: Unrestricted but safe in the judgment of the Range Officer (RO).
Magazines: Not mandatory – single shot rifles allowed.
Not allowed:
Butt hooks
Shooting gloves: that provide additional support.
Specialist clothing: that provides additional support and stiffening.
Slings
The main difference between lightweight sport rifle and 25yd prone target rifle is that the rifle is magazine fed and is usually fitted with Optical (telescopic) sights, however, as shown in the definition above, any specialist clothing or equipment such as jackets, gloves or slings are not permitted.
Note ALSO the inclusion of .22 air rifles within the discipline definition.
The target discipline is usually shot at 20 or 25yds and can be shot at the bench (Benchrest) or standing; but can also be shot prone;
The standing competitions are shot on NSRA PL14/06 cards (5 or 10 shots per card).
The prone and Benchrest competitions are shot on NSRA 2510BM cards (1 shot per target centre).
Competitions for the LSR disciplines as shown above are shot at the Club via postal leagues organised by such bodies as the National Smallbore Rifle Association (NSRA) & Hendon Rifle Club.
As well as competitive target shooting (and zeroing) over either 20/25yds at Tondu, such rifles can also be used at longer ranges such as 50 and 100yds
For the "adventurous" there is also a yearly Phoenix shoot held in May at the "mecca" of target rifle shooting, Bisley, where there are both precision and timed (courses of fire at 150, 20 & 10 seconds) competitions shot over 25 metres plus other competitions shot over a distance of 50yds.