What types of shooting disciplines are popular in NSW?

New South Wales has one of the most diverse and active shooting communities in Australia. Whether you’re interested in precision target shooting, dynamic competitions, or field-based events, there’s a discipline to suit nearly every interest.

Below are some of the most popular types of shooting sports in NSW:

Pistol Disciplines

Pistol shooting is particularly popular in NSW due to its accessibility and variety. Common disciplines include:

• Target Pistol (ISSF) – Olympic-style precision shooting at static targets.
• Action Pistol – Includes events like IPSC and PA Service Pistol, focusing on speed, movement, and accuracy.
• Silhouette Pistol – Long-range handgun shooting at steel animal-shaped targets.
• WA1500 – Precision revolver and pistol matches with structured scoring.

Many pistol clubs in NSW offer training and competitions year-round.

Rifle Disciplines

Rifle shooting offers both long-range precision and field-style events. Some of the most practiced rifle disciplines in NSW include:

• Fullbore Target Rifle – Long-range competition using centre-fire rifles, often at distances of 300 to 1,000 yards.
• Smallbore Rifle (Rimfire) – Precision shooting at shorter distances, commonly 50 metres.
• F-Class – A scoped version of fullbore that uses rests and bipods for enhanced accuracy.
• Field Rifle & Hunting Rifle – Designed to simulate field shooting scenarios, these events are popular in regional NSW.
• Benchrest – Ultra-precision shooting where accuracy is measured in fractions of a millimetre.

You can explore rifle clubs here.

Shotgun Sports

Shotgun shooting is ideal for those who enjoy reactive target sports and fast-paced events. NSW ranges offer:

• Trap Shooting – Shooting at clay targets launched away from the shooter.
• Skeet Shooting – Targets cross in front of the shooter from side stations.
• Sporting Clays – Simulates hunting scenarios with clays thrown at varying angles and speeds.

Shotgun clubs are found throughout NSW and often host national-level events.

Other Disciplines

• Black Powder – Historical muzzleloading firearms in both pistol and rifle formats.
• Metallic Silhouette – Targets of varying distances and sizes for pistol and rifle.
• 3-Gun and Multigun – Less common due to regulation, but available at select clubs with proper licensing.

Getting Started

If you’re new to shooting, most clubs recommend trying a few disciplines before deciding which suits you best. You can start with supervised sessions and progress into licensed participation.

Browse shooting clubs in NSW to see what disciplines are available near you.

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