Selecting Firearms

The full-bore/ small-bore divide

The National Rifle Association Meeting on Wimbledon Common, Shooting for the Queen's Prize on Wednesday Week. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 20 July 1861.

When the National Rifle Association (NRA) was founded, its primary focus was promoting the use of the contemporary military rifle, the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle. This was a .577 calibre muzzle-loader. Thanks to Sir Joseph Whitworth's research, the optimal calibre for black powder muzzle-loading rifles was determined to be .451.

As a result, those seeking the ultimate accuracy adopted .451 calibre rifles designed by Whitworth or Rigby. This led to two primary calibres in the Victorian era: .577 (the standard P53 Enfield rifle calibre) and .451 (the Whitworth calibre). Eventually, .577 became the accepted full-bore calibre, while .451 became the small-bore calibre. 

Around 1890, Britain adopted the .303 inch cartridge as the standard military calibre. However, during the Boer War, British forces faced challenges against farmers armed with Mauser bolt-action rifles. This led to an inquiry that determined the need for more rifle practice. Thanks to Lord Roberts, the National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) was formed and .22 ranges began to appear throughout Britain.

Today, the NRA governs full-bore shooting (essentially any cartridge except .22 rimfire), while the NSRA governs .22 rimfire and airgun shooting. It's important to note that while .22 rimfire is considered small-bore, there are also .22 calibre centre-fire cartridges that are high-velocity and more powerful than .22 rimfire. The current NATO rifle cartridge, the 5.56mm/.223 Remington, is a small-bore calibre but can deliver full-bore performance when loaded with the right bullet and shot from a suitable rifle. This is in contrast to the .22 rimfire, which has a more limited range of around 100 yards.

Small-bore rifle

In the UK, the vast majority of small-bore target shooting is 25-yard prone competition, best suited for heavyweight prone-stocked rifles. German manufacturers dominate the sport, with Anschütz being one of the most successful, producing world-class competition rifles for years.

Small-bore rifles are known for their accuracy and require minimal maintenance, making them good options for second-hand purchases. If you're looking for a new rifle, consider brands like Anschütz, Feinwerkbau, and Walther.

For second-hand options, explore models from manufacturers like:

• Anschütz
• Feinwerkbau
• Walther
• Unique
• Valmet
• Remington
• BSA

Older models may be available at lower prices. When buying new, budget up to £2000.

Most of these rifles are single-shot bolt actions, except for the BSA, which is a unique English-made Martini falling-block action. Models II, III, IV, and V were exceptional examples of Birmingham gunmaking. Unfortunately, BSA lost market share to Anschütz due to a lack of marketing efforts, such as offering thumbhole stocks, adjustable cheek pieces, and butt plates.

Lightweight sporting rifle

These competitions are shot standing with a lightweight magazine-fed rifle, often against the clock. The Ruger model 10/22 and its derivatives are by far the most popular choice for these competitions. A thriving aftermarket provides numerous customisation options, making it possible to create a highly personalised Ruger 10/22.

The popularity of the Ruger 10/22 stems from:

• Its affordability.
• The wide range of available custom parts.
• Its reliable design.

Other popular options include bolt-action sporters from BRNO (or CZ). These rifles have been on the market for over 50 years and are known for their quality craftsmanship. Trigger tuning kits are available, though the standard trigger is already quite good. With proper care, these rifles can last for decades. Brand new, they cost around £300, but second-hand examples can be found for as little as £150. These rifles also have integrated scope rails for easy scope mounting.

Gallery rifle

In the UK, the MOD defines a gallery range as one where shooters engage fixed targets from fixed positions. Most civilian ranges fall under this category. However, a common interpretation of a gallery rifle is one designed for short-range indoor shooting, often used in shooting galleries.

Following the 1997 Firearms Amendment Act, many pistol shooters in the UK opted for rifles chambered in pistol cartridges. These short-barrelled rifles, or carbines, are typically lever or bolt action and chambered in calibres like:

• .38 Special
• .357 Magnum
• .44 Special
• .44 Magnum
• .45 Colt
• .45 ACP
• 9mm
• 44/40

Lever action rifle

Winchester rifles are iconic lever-action firearms, and modern versions remain popular. The Winchester (or American Repeating Arms) models are available in .38, .357, .44, and .45 calibres, all suitable for gallery rifle competitions. If considering a Winchester, the AE (Angle Eject) Version allows for the use of a telescopic sight.

Marlin, another US manufacturer, has been producing lever-action rifles for over a century. Known for their strength and simplicity, Marlin rifles are well-suited for scopes due to their flat-top actions. While Marlin briefly used micro-groove rifling, which worked better with jacketed bullets, they have since reverted to deep-cut (Ballard) rifling, which is more suitable for lead bullets. Marlins are available in various calibres and barrel lengths.

Rossi and Puma from Brazil offer Winchester-style rifles, including stainless steel models. Ruger produces a .44 Magnum lever action with a unique rotary magazine. The Italian gun industry also features several manufacturers, such as Uberti, Pietta, and Pedersoli, who produce historical Western gun replicas. While these reproductions are accurate, they may not be ideal for mounting a telescopic sight.

Bolt action rifle

UK laws have led to some custom-built bolt action rifles chambered in pistol calibres. Armalon Ltd, led by noted pistol-smith Peter Sarony, has created such rifles based on heavily modified No. 4 Enfield actions. These rifles are often chambered in 9mm Parabellum or .45 ACP.

The rifles are modified to accept pistol magazines, have short barrels, and feature modified wood stocks. They can be fitted with scopes, and the No. 4 Action can be modified for a smoother shooting experience by cocking on opening.

Calibres

While there are subtle differences between gallery rifle calibres, the choice often comes down to personal preference. For those planning to shoot significant volumes, handloading is a viable option.

Calibre considerations:

• .38 Special/.357 Magnum: Loading to .38 Special pressures in longer barrels may yield suboptimal performance. Hard lead bullets and small charges of fast-burning powders are recommended.
• .44 Special/Magnum: Offers better performance than .38 Special/.357 Magnum but still requires moderate charges of fast powders. Round nose, flat point, or Keith-style semi-wad cutter bullets work well. Magnum cases are recommended for reliable magazine feeding.
• .45 Colt (or Long Colt): Similar considerations apply to .45 Colt as .44 Special/Magnum.

Buying a second-hand gallery rifle

When purchasing a second-hand gallery rifle, consider the following:

• Feeding mechanism: Ensure the rifle feeds cartridges from the magazine smoothly.
• Trigger function: Check for consistent trigger operation.
• Bore condition: Carefully inspect the bore for any damage, especially dark rings, which can indicate previous bullet issues. Avoid rifles with such damage.

Remember: Small charges can sometimes leave bullets in the bore, potentially causing damage when the next round is fired. A thorough inspection is crucial to avoid such issues.

Full-bore rifle

Full-bore shooting has seen a surge in popularity within shooting clubs for several reasons:

• Diverse disciplines: The range of disciplines is extensive, including Target, Match, Service, Sporting, Veteran, 300m ISU, F-Class, Benchrest, and Muzzle-loading.
• Technical variety: Full-bore shooting offers a wider range of calibres, rifles, ranges, and cartridges.
• Outdoor challenge: The long-range outdoor nature of full-bore shooting requires shooters to understand their rifle and cartridge combinations, the impact of weather conditions, and how to compensate for them.
• Handloading flexibility: Shooters can customize their ammunition through handloading.

Here's a quick roundup of the type of competitive full bore rifle shooting done in the UK.

Target Rifle (TR):

Target Rifle (TR) is the most popular full-bore rifle shooting discipline in the UK. Introduced in the 1950s, it was designed to make the sport more accessible with affordable equipment. While many early competitors repurposed .303 target rifles, today's TR rifles are high-tech and often come with a significant price tag.

Key Specifications:

• Calibre: 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester, .303,  5.56 NATO/.223 Remington.
• Rifle weight and trigger pull: Specific weight and trigger pull limits are in place.
• Sights: Iron or aperture sights only; no telescopes allowed.
• Distances: Typically 300-900 yards, with longer distances sometimes included.
• Position: Rifles are shot prone.
• Support: Sling only.
• Ammunition: Match organisers usually provide ammunition, which can vary in quality.

Match Rifle (MR):

Match Rifle is considered the "Formula 1" of rifle shooting due to its high level of competition.

Key Specifications:

• Calibre: 7.62 NATO/.308 Winchester, 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington with handloading permitted.
• Rifle Weight: Rifles can be heavier than those used in Target Rifle.
• Sights: Scope sights are allowed.
• Distances: Shot at 1000, 1100, and 1200 yards.
• Position: Both prone and the "back position" are permitted.
• Support: The front shooting hand can be supported on a rest.

Match Rifle demands precision, skill, and top-of-the-line equipment. It's a challenging but rewarding discipline for experienced shooters seeking to push their limits.

Service Rifle

Service Rifle competitions use the current service rifle. As UK citizens cannot possess or use semi-automatic rifles, most participants use manually operated versions of rifles like the M16 or its clones. Some competitions also allow the use of suitable bolt action magazine-fed rifles, often referred to as "tactical" rifles.

Veteran

These competitions are designed for veterans using bolt action military rifles. They are typically shot prone at shorter ranges.

F-Class

A relatively new format, F-Class is shot prone at all ranges using any safe rifle, calibre, or sights. Both front and back rests are allowed, and hand-loaded ammunition is permitted.

Originally intended for shooters with declining eyesight, F-Class initially saw many participants simply adding telescopic sights to their existing target rifles. Unfortunately, F-Class has evolved into a competition focused on expensive custom rifles. To address this, the NRA introduced 7.62 F-Class, limiting rifles to 7.63 NATO calibre to help reduce costs.