The sport evolved as a British and Commonwealth of Nations discipline in the late 1960s. Its development was heavily influenced by the British National Rifle Association (NRA).[4][5] Due to this history, it is usually contested amongst the shooting events at the Commonwealth Games, although not at the Olympics. World championships are held on a four-year cycle. The annual NRA Imperial Meeting at Bisley in the UK is globally recognised as an historic annual meeting for the discipline.
Many rifles can be described as "target rifles" or "match rifles" in the general sense (being accurate rifles suitable for shooting targets). Within the context of fullbore rifle shooting, "target rifle" (TR) and "match rifle" (MR) refer to specific classes in NRA and ICFRA competition.
ICFRA target rifle – discipline defined by ICFRA.[7]: T3 Slightly more permissive than NRA TR, rifles can typically be used for either with minor adjustments such as minimum trigger weight. Sometimes referred to as "Palma rifle" (esp. in the United States) in reference to the world championship Palma Match.[8]
Match rifle – discipline defined by Rule 156 of the British National Rifle Association.[6]: 73, Rule 156
F-class – discipline using TR-type rifles with rests and telescopic sights[9]
History
Originally derived from service rifle, target rifle was shot with rifles of military origin, and the rules followed the adoption of cartridges by the military – from the .451 Whitworth rifle to the .303 Lee-Metford, and eventually to 7.62 NATO and .308.[10] Modifications such as aftermarket stocks and barrels became increasingly common but rifles were nonetheless built around actions of military design. NRA rules required rifles to be "available in quantity", intended to level the playing field and prevent the use of fully customised one-off designs.
In 1970, George Swenson and Laurie Ingram developed the Swing rifle as an alternative to the dominant designs of the day, which were built around the Lee-Enfield No. 4 and Mauser 1898.[11] Alongside the Australian Omark Model 44, the Swing was one of the first actions designed explicitly for target shooting, with attention paid to a short lock time and clean trigger break. The Swing ultimately evolved into the Paramount and RPA Quadlock rifles.[11][12] The 1970s also saw the development of the Mauser-influenced Musgrave target rifle in South Africa, with the Australian Barnard Model P action entering production in 1982.
Match rifle developed concurrently with target rifle, focussed on longer ranges (1000–1500 yards, where target rifle was contested at 300–1000 yards). The rules were less stringent and allowed more experimentation and deviation from the basic military rifles that designs were based on. Telescopic sights were permitted, and shooters had the choice of shooting prone (lying on their front) or supine (lying on their back).
F-class is a relatively modern development, gaining popularity in the early 2000s. Developed in Canada by George "Farky" Farquharson (from whom "F"-class is derived), it began by resting a TR-compliant rifle on a bipod and adding a telescopic sight. This permitted continued participation amongst older shooters with deteriorating sight, or who could not adopt a typical prone position. With time, innovation led to the creation of the F-open class, which allowed more experimentation than was allowed in F-TR.[13]
Equipment
Standardised rifle
Swing Mk4 target rifle with wooden thumbhole stock
NRA target rifle is characterised by stringent standardisation of rifle characteristics such as sights and calibre. To level the playing field and to make it possible for riflemen of all budgets to compete seriously, the rifle or all its component parts must be 'readily available in quantity'.[6]: 69, Rule 150 Rifles are limited to a weight of 6.5 kg and a minimum trigger pull of 1.5 kg. Where a magazine is fitted, it may only be used as a loading platform for single rounds.[6]: 69, Rule 150
Under ICFRA rules, the minimum trigger pull is reduced to 0.5 kg.[7]: T3, Rule T2.5
Sights
Aperture sights which are fully adjustable for elevation and windage. A single magnifying lens (known as an "eagle eye") may be used in the front of the foresight[6]: 69, Rule 150 to enlarge the image of the target in relation to the foresight element and diopter, without providing a telescopic sight.[14]
Calibers
.303 British (standard military) was used until the late 1950s when NATO adopted the .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm NATO as the new military interoperable choice of ammunition. Under NRA and ICFRA Rules, .223 Remington/5.56x45 NATO is permitted as an alternative.[7]: T3 [6]: 68–70, Rule 150 However, many matches such as the NRA Imperial Meeting require competitors to use issued ammunition - which is typically only offered in .308.[15] The .303 British calibre is still in use by service rifle shooters and was exclusively used by in the Short, Magazine Lee–Enfield (SMLE) No.1 Mk. III and Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles.
Clothing
A US shooter with sling and glove visible
Modern target rifle shooters commonly use specialised stiff leather or canvas shooting jackets to maintain a stable prone position. Riflemen also widely wear shooting gloves on their support hand to stabilise the rifle and to protect the hand from a single point sling[citation needed].
Competitions
World championships have been organised by ICFRA since 2003 and are held on a four-year cycle. Championships for TR-class and F-class are held separately, offset by two years. The TR championship includes both an individual and a team event. The team event is known historically as the Palma Match and the team champions are awarded the Palma Trophy, which dates to 1876.
Fullbore rifle is contested within the Shooting events at the Commonwealth Games. These are the only major multi-sport games to include the discipline, with other events such as the Olympic or Asian games focussing on ISSF-regulated smallbore and air rifle disciplines. The Commonwealth Shooting Federation (CSF) also holds a CSF Championship in the run-up to the Games, serving as a test-event for the games venues and final selection opportunity for games squads.
The Imperial Meeting, organised by the British NRA at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley is regarded as one of the leading target rifle events globally, and has been hugely influential in the development of the sport. National teams routinely travel to the meeting, particularly from Commonwealth nations.[16] The Kolapore Match is contested annually by the international teams in attendance. The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association constructed the Macdonald-Stewart Pavilion (a.k.a. "Canada House") on Bisley Camp in 1897 specifically to accommodate the Canadian team.[17] Bisley's influence is further illustrated by the South African terminology, where target rifle is called "Bisley shooting", the governing body is the South African Bisley Union (SABU)[18] with almost any target shooting competition known as a "Bisley".
In Canada, target rifle competitions at the national level are regulated by the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association.
The annual US national championship is currently held during August at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio.
Variations
Match rifle
Match rifle is a long-range target shooting discipline shot at 1,000 to 1,200 yards (approximately 914 to 1,097 meters), peculiar to the UK and several Commonwealth of Nations countries, and run according to rules set out by the British National Rifle Association.[6]: 71–72, Rule 156 The Elcho Shield is an example of an annual match rifle competition.
Match rifle can be thought of as an extreme, experimental version of target rifle (TR).
The key technical differences to target rifle are:[6]: 71–72, Rule 156
Telescopic sights are permitted.
Hand-loaded ammunition is permitted. For .308 / 7.62, match rifle would typically use bullets weighing between 190 and 230 grains, as opposed to the 155 grain bullets normally used in TR
A rest may be used to steady the hand supporting the rifle (a sling as used in TR is also an option), but the rifle may not be directly supported by a rest or bipod.
Whilst most people shoot match rifle prone, the supine (“back position”) is permissible and used by a sizeable minority
A small number (who would be unable for medical reasons to shoot prone or supine) shoot seated at tables.
Most shoots involve 15 or 20 shots to count (usually with two convertible sighting shots permitted) at each of 1000, 1100 and 1200 yards. With few ranges extending back to match rifle distances, most shooting in the UK takes place on Stickledown Range at Bisley. Any NRA-compliant target rifle will also be compliant with match rifle rules provided the barrel does not exceed 2.5 kg.[6]: 71–72, Rule 156
F-class rifle
In F-class, telescopic sights, rear bags, and either a bipod or front rest is permitted. The nearest shooter has a bipod, the next one a pedestal rest
F-class is a recent variant of fullbore target rifle which permits optical telescopic sights and shooting rests such as a pedestal rest or a bipod at the front of the rifle and a tightly packed sandbag at the rear of the rifle. Competitions are fired at distances from 300 to 1000 yards. The center of the target has an extra scoring ring which is half the size of the smallest one used in traditional target rifle shooting and each ring scores one point less than it does for target rifle. Competitors can choose to compete in one of the two classes F(Open) or F/TR:
F-open (open class): All rifle calibres up to 8 mm (0.31 in) may be used, along with a scope, and one can choose between using front rest and rear bag, or a bipod/ backpack, also with a rear bag. The weight limit including optics is 10 kg (22 lb).[19]
F/TR (F-target rifle): A restricted class permitting a scope, bipod/ backpack and rear bag (no front rest), but the rifle has to be of either calibre .223 Remington or .308 Winchester and the bullet may be of any weight. In addition, the weight limit (including optics) for the rifle is 8.25 kg (18.2 lb).[19] The designation "target rifle" here reflects the original intention that it would appeal to elderly or less physically able TR shooters who wished to remain in the sport while using their original equipment.
^ abc"TECHNICAL RULES & REGULATIONS for FULLBORE TARGET RIFLE SHOOTING"(PDF). International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations. 2019. Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022. T2.1. Rifle: May be built around any manually loaded action designed to safely fire either of the permitted cartridges. In target rifle category the only permitted cartridges are the .308 Winchester / 7.62x51 commercial metrification equivalent and .223 Remington / 5.56x45 commercial metrification equivalent. Unless prevented under match conditions, the .223 Remington / 5.56x45 is permitted as an alternative to the .308 Winchester / 7.62x51 subject to the provision that a competitor may not change from a rifle of one calibre to the other, at any stage within a match, whether team or individual, single or multi distance or aggregate.
^Serena Juchnowski (3 June 2021). "Palma Rifle Competition". Guns Magazine. FMG Publications. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
^"NRA Handbook 2022 ("the Bisley Bible")"(PDF). National Rifle Association. 2022. p. 69. Archived(PDF) from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022. 151 In NRA TR competitions where ammunition "as issued" is specified: (a) only 7.62 x 51 mm or .308" Win target rifles may be used. (b) only ammunition issued by the NRA, without any modification, may be used (see Para 544). (c) NRA issued ammunition will conform to CIP dimensions for Win .308" and will develop a maximum average pressure under CIP test procedures of 3650 Bar. Competitors are responsible for ensuring that their rifles are safe to fire such ammunition. Ammunition "as issued" is specified for all TR competitions in the Imperial Meeting, and at some other NRA events. At other times any ammunition may be used, all users of which are responsible for ensuring that it is in every respect safe and within range safety parameters
