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.22LR Prone Rifle

The UK's most popular target shooting discipline

Available at Pinhoe TSC

What is .22LR Prone Rifle?

.22LR prone rifle is the most popular target shooting discipline in the UK. Shooters lie in the prone position and fire rimfire cartridges at targets 25 yards to 50 metres away. It’s the traditional heart of British target shooting, with a rich competitive history spanning over a century.

.22LR prone shooting position

How It Works

The Basics

  • Distance: 25 yards (Short Range), 50 metres/yards (Long Range), 100 yards (Long Range)
  • Position: Lying prone with rifle supported by sling and body
  • Caliber: .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge
  • Sights: Aperture (diopter) sights - no magnification
  • Target: Paper targets with 10-ring scoring (Imperial or Decimal scoring)
  • Rounds fired: Typically 20, 40, or 60 shots per match

Main Competition Formats

English Match

Shot at 25 yards on Imperial targets. The classic format with 20 sighters and 60 shots to count. Scored on the Imperial system with bulls, inners, magpies, and outers. Maximum score: 600 points.

Scottish Match

Shot at 50 metres on Decimal targets (50m ISSF rifle target). Modern decimal scoring system with 10.9 maximum per shot. Popular format: 20 sighters + 60 to count. Maximum score: 654.0 points.

Dewar Course

International team competition format. 20 shots per shooter, 4 shooters per team. Shot at 50 yards/metres. Used for prestigious inter-club and international matches.

Long Range

Shot at 100 yards outdoors. Tests rifle accuracy and wind-reading skills. Often shot in pairs (2 shooters per target) with 20 sighters and 40 to count.

Firearms Certificate Required

.22LR rifles require a Section 1 Firearms Certificate in the UK. You’ll need to join a Home Office approved club as a probationary member (typically 3-6 months) before you can apply. Clubs facilitate this process. Learn more about getting started.

Why .22LR Prone is the UK’s Favorite

Rich History

Over 100 years of British shooting tradition with historic competitions and records.

Huge Participation

Thousands of active shooters, clubs nationwide, competitions every weekend.

Stable Position

Prone offers maximum stability, allowing focus on precision technique.

Clear Progression

Well-defined pathway from club to county to national to international level.

Affordable Ammunition

.22LR is the most economical centerfire shooting discipline.

Social Community

Strong club culture with team events, postal leagues, and social shooting.

Skills Developed

Technical Skills

  • Position building: Creating perfect prone position
  • Sight alignment: Precise front and rear sight alignment
  • Natural point of aim: Body positioning for natural target alignment
  • Trigger control: Smooth release without disturbing aim
  • Breath control: Timing shots during respiratory pause
  • Wind reading: Assessing and compensating for wind (outdoor)

Mental Attributes

  • Concentration: Maintaining focus through 60+ shot courses
  • Consistency: Repeating identical process every shot
  • Patience: Not rushing, taking time for each shot
  • Resilience: Recovering from poor shots mentally
  • Competition mindset: Performing under match pressure
  • Self-analysis: Identifying and correcting errors

Equipment Guide

Essential Equipment

  • .22LR Rifle: Target rifle with aperture sights (£800-£3,500+)
  • Ammunition: Match-grade .22LR cartridges (£8-£20 per box of 50)
  • Shooting Mat: Comfortable prone mat (£30-£150)
  • Sling: Leather sling for rifle support (£30-£80)
  • Shooting Jacket: Canvas jacket for stability (£100-£400)
  • Shooting Glove: Left-hand glove (£15-£50)
  • Spotting Scope: See shot holes at distance (£150-£800)
  • Ammunition Box: Store ammunition during shoot (£10-£30)
  • Cleaning Kit: Maintain your rifle (£20-£60)

Popular Rifle Manufacturers

  • Anschütz: German-made, gold standard of .22 target rifles
  • Walther: Excellent quality, popular at all levels
  • Vickers: British-made custom rifles, highly regarded
  • RPA: Rifles Precision Arms, UK manufacturer
  • Swing: Czech-made, good value for performance

Start with Club Rifles

Don’t rush to buy equipment. Most clubs have .22LR rifles available for probationary members to use while building skills and obtaining your firearms certificate. Experienced members can advise on purchases when you’re ready.

UK Competition Structure

Club Level

Weekly club nights, internal competitions, club championships. Most clubs run winter leagues (October-March) with regular competitions. Build scores and experience in friendly environment.

Postal Leagues

NSRA Winter League, Summer League, and specialist competitions. Shoot at your home club, submit targets for national ranking. Excellent way to compete without travelling.

County & Regional

County championships, inter-county matches, regional opens. Represent your county in team competitions. Travel to other clubs for open competitions.

National Championships

NSRA British Championships at Bisley (June/July). The pinnacle of UK smallbore shooting. English, Scottish, Dewar, and other championship events. National rankings and awards.

International

GB teams for international matches (Dewar Cup, Mackintosh, Pershing). ISSF World Championships (50m prone). Commonwealth Games (50m prone).

Targets & Scoring Explained

Imperial Targets (25yd)

Traditional British scoring system used for English Match:

  • Bull: 10 points (centermost ring)
  • Inner: 9 points
  • Magpie: 8 points
  • Outer: 7 points
  • Miss: 0 points (outside scoring rings)

Perfect score for 60 shots: 600. Excellent club score: 590+

Decimal Targets (50m)

International decimal scoring used for Scottish Match:

  • 10.9 down to 10.0: Center bull (divided into tenths)
  • 9.9 down to 9.0: Next ring out
  • Continues: Down to 1.0
  • Miss: 0.0 points

Perfect score for 60 shots: 654.0. Excellent club score: 630+

Prone Rifle at Pinhoe TSC

.22LR prone rifle is one of the most popular disciplines at Pinhoe TSC. We have dedicated prone ranges at both 25 yards (Pinnbrook Left) and participate in outdoor long-range events.

25-Yard Range

Pinnbrook Left range dedicated to prone shooting

Club Competitions

Regular internal competitions in both English and Scottish Match

Coaching Available

NSRA-qualified coaches for position and technique development

Detailed Prone Rifle at Pinhoe

For comprehensive information about .22LR prone shooting at Pinhoe TSC, including specific competitions we shoot, equipment recommendations, club records, targets used, and how to progress through English Match and Scottish Match formats, visit our detailed shooting styles page.

Prone Rifle at Pinhoe TSC →

Ready to Try .22LR Prone Rifle?

Experience the UK’s favorite target shooting discipline. Start with our Give it a Go programme to try air rifle prone, then progress to .22LR once you’ve obtained your firearms certificate.

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Related Disciplines

Similar shooting styles

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Join the UK’s most popular target shooting discipline at Pinhoe TSC.

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