Classic shooting is the sport of target shooting with original firearms from the pre-1945 era or reproductions of these arms.

Rifles and pistols are both used in classic shooting but in this country after the 1997 Firearms (Scapegoats) Act, pistol shooting in normal clubs is restricted to muzzle loading pistols. Breech loading pistols can be owned if they are kept and used in special "Heritage Centres" but not in competitions, even in these centres. As there are no authorised centres in Scotland classic pistol shooting has virtually been destroyed in this country by the above-mentioned act of political expediency. However, hope remains, and muzzle loading pistol shooting provides a fulfilling and challenging toe-hold on the pistol branch of classic shooting.

The four Classes of firearms in classic shooting are defined by time period.

• Muzzle Loaders: Muzzle loading firearms which date from several hundred years ago to the mid-19th Century.
• Vintage: Breech loading firearms designed prior to the end of 1890.
• Classic: Breech loading firearms designed between 1890 and the end of 1918.
• Veteran: Breech loading firearms designed between 1919 and 1945.

Getting Involved. If you are interested in getting involved in classic shooting you can contact one of the associations listed below for more general information. If you are not already a shooter you will also need to get into the firearms shooting world. The way to do this is to contact and join a convenient shooting club. There are very few clubs which just do classics shooting but you can readily do your own thing in a more broadly based club. I have described the process in my Starting Shooting page. For existing firearms owners the sport could hardly be more accessible.

• If you are not already in a suitable club (you must be a member of a Home or Scottish Executive Approved Club) join one. A list of the clubs I know about is given on the clubs page.
• Get a variation for a suitable firearm (advice link below)
• Obtain firearm - a list of dealers specialising in classics is given on the Dealers page
• ENJOY!!

Find more information about the different branches of the sport, clubs to join and competitions to attend at the following pages:

• Classic Pistol Shooting
• Classic Rifle Shooting
• Home or Scottish Executive Approved Clubs
• Classics Dealers
• Variation Case Advice

You can't buy classic rifles on Ebay but you can pick up lots of ancillary items.  Check out my About Me page on Ebay About Me

The main associations involved with Classic Shooting are:

• The Lee Enfield Rifle Association
• The Historical Breech Loading Small Arms Association
• The Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain
• The National Rifle Association

A new development on the Classics front is Highpower Rifle Shooting. HPR is the most popular full-bore rifle competition in the USA. It is 3-positional shooting for the full bore shooter and is certainly a challenging discipline. It includes a class for Classic Rifles. For full details visit the HRA site.

Some links for Classics shooters:

The Lee Enfield Rifle Page.

Richard's Lee Enfield Page

Historic Sniper Rifle Scopes

Go back to my Home Page

Updated 5 June 2004