How to join a shooting club in the UK

If there’s one thing to take away about getting into target shooting, it’s this: join a club. Everything else, the training, the firearms, the ranges, the path to your own certificate if you want one, flows from being a club member. This guide covers how to do it.

If you haven’t already, it’s worth reading our complete beginner’s guide to getting into target shooting first for the bigger picture. This article zooms in on the joining process itself.

Why a club comes first

You can’t really do target shooting outside a club. Clubs hold the firearms, run the ranges, carry the insurance and provide the experienced members who teach newcomers. For rifle shooting, the clubs you want are usually Home Office approved, which is the status that lets them take on beginners and hold firearms for members to use.

The good news is that this makes starting simple. You don’t need to buy anything or arrange anything yourself. You just need to find a club and get in touch.

Step one: find a club near you

Browse our directory to find target shooting clubs by area and discipline, see them on a map, and get their contact details. It’s worth finding two or three within a sensible distance, since clubs differ in what they shoot, when they meet and how quickly they can take new members on.

When you’re choosing, think about:

• What they shoot. A club’s disciplines tell you what you’d be learning. If you’re drawn to one in particular, our disciplines guide will help you read the listings.
• When they meet. Make sure their session times actually work for you, because regular attendance matters during probation.
• How far it is. You’ll be going often at first, so closer is better.

Step two: get in touch

Always make contact before turning up. Ranges run on supervision and booking, so you can’t just walk in off the street.

A short, friendly message does the job. Something like: “Hi, I’m completely new to shooting and would love to learn. Do you take on beginners, and could I come and visit or try a taster session?”

Most clubs are run by volunteers and genuinely welcome newcomers, it’s how the sport survives, so don’t be shy. If you don’t hear back quickly, try the next club on your list; volunteers are busy and emails get missed.

Step three: visit or have a taster

Many clubs will invite you to visit, watch a session, or have a supervised go. Some let you attend a handful of sessions as a visitor before you commit to joining.

This is your chance to see whether the club suits you: the people, the atmosphere, the discipline, the facilities. It’s a two-way thing. The club is also getting a sense of you. Turn up on time, listen, and follow every instruction on the range, and you’ll make the right impression without trying.

Step four: apply to join as a probationary member

When you decide to join, you’ll apply for probationary membership. As part of this you’ll give some personal details, and you’ll be asked to declare whether you’ve ever had an application for a firearm or shotgun certificate refused, or a certificate revoked. Be straight about it; honesty is part of being a suitable member.

Then the probationary period begins. This is the structured introduction every new shooter goes through, and it’s where you actually learn to shoot.

What the probationary period involves

• You attend regularly. This is the big one. Clubs want to see genuine, consistent participation, not a name on a list.
• You shoot under supervision every time, with an experienced member alongside you.
• You learn the fundamentals: range commands, safe gun handling, the relevant law, and basic marksmanship. It’s taught patiently and from scratch.
• You’re assessed towards the end, usually a safety and competence check, before full membership.

How long does it take? Home Office guidance sets a minimum of three months, and in practice many clubs run a probationary period of around six. Ask your club what theirs is when you join.

What clubs are looking for

It’s simpler than people fear. Clubs aren’t looking for natural marksmen; they’re looking for people who are:

• Safe and sensible, who listen and follow the rules.
• Reliable, who turn up regularly and take it seriously.
• Genuinely interested in the sport for its own sake.
• Honest, including about any certificate history.

Get those right and you’ll be a welcome member. The shooting itself, they’ll teach you.

After probation: becoming a full member

Pass your assessment and you become a full member. From there you can shoot more independently within the club’s rules, take part in club competitions, and, if you decide you want a firearm of your own, you’re in a position to apply for a certificate, with the club named on it.

Whether you need a licence at all, and how that works, is covered in do you need a licence to start target shooting? Short version: not to get started.

Ready to take the first step? Find a target shooting club near you.