What & Where Can I Shoot?
With an airgun, there are two primary types of shooting: target shooting and live quarry shooting, often used for pest control.
Target Shooting
Air rifle target shooting is a rapidly growing sport in the UK. Numerous clubs across the country welcome both novice and experienced shooters, offering a range of shooting opportunities.
We recommend booking a lane at our 100 metre range at Bristol Activity Centre to develop and hone your skills.
Target Shooting At Home
If you follow safety rules and act sensibly, you can even practice airgunning at home using appropriate targets. Here’s what you need to set up a safe air rifle range at home:
- A garden with a minimum range of 20 meters.
- Secure boundaries: Ensure no pellets can stray beyond your garden to comply with the law.
- Considerate neighbours: Inform them about potential noise to avoid any issues.
- Household agreement: Make sure everyone at home is aware of the shooting range to prevent accidents.
- A solid backstop: Use a material that prevents ricochets, such as a brick, stone, or concrete wall. Paving slabs can also work well and are affordable.
Avoid using chipboard, plywood, or any thick composite material with a polished surface, as they can cause ricochets.
You can be prosecuted if any pellet goes beyond your property, whether it’s directly fired or a ricochet.
Young shooters aged 14 to 17 can borrow and use an airgun without supervision on private premises with permission. Those under 14 must be supervised by someone over 21.
Pest Control
Pest Control is common on private land or where you have explicit permission. The species you can shoot are regulated by law and the power of your air rifle.
You can legally shoot certain pest bird species under general licenses, provided you have the landowner’s permission and you’re doing it for specific reasons such as:
- Preventing serious damage to crops or livestock, or preventing disease.
- Protecting and conserving flora and fauna (plants and animals.)
- Preserving public health or safety.
General licenses vary by country and are reviewed annually. It’s advisable to regularly check the BASC’s advice on general licenses here.
For mammals, you can shoot pests like brown rats, grey squirrels, stoats, mink, and rabbits at any time with the landowner’s permission, using an appropriate air rifle.
About Bristol Airguns
A Pastime
Bristol Airguns officially started in 2015, but the story goes back much further. David, the owner, grew up shooting his dad’s old BSA airgun in the 1970s, and also spent time deer-stalking and shooting .22 rimfire for target work.
Why The Shop Started
While running a pawnbroking business, David noticed something interesting. A lot of airguns were passing through, and there was real enthusiasm behind them. People were genuinely passionate. That’s when he realised the opportunity to step away from pawnbroking and into something far more rewarding.
What Makes Us Different
We don’t just sell airguns. We care about the person buying them. For us, selling an airgun isn’t the finish line, it’s the first step in someone’s journey as a shooter.
Instead of pushing the first gun on the shelf, we take time to understand what you want and why you want it. We know how important that feeling is when you walk out with a new bit of kit, ready to shoot.
Flexible Buying Options
We also know wallet pressure is real. That’s why we offer finance options, including 3, 6, 12, and 24 month plans.
To make the 12 and 24 month options possible, David personally became FCA registered, something not many RFDs do.
We’ve also added a deposit system, so you can secure your airgun now and pay the balance later, whether that’s in full or through finance.
Who We See Everyday
Our customers are a real mix, from complete beginners to long-time airgunners with a specific idea of what they want. And we love that variety.
Compared to the days of pawnbroking, the airgun community is a breath of fresh air. Airgunners are generally welcoming, friendly, and a pleasure to deal with. It makes our job genuinely enjoyable.
How We Help You Choose
When someone asks for advice, we start with them, not the product list.
We talk about:
- Your budget
- Your experience
- What you want the gun for
- How it feels when you pick it up
One of the most common mistakes we see is people buying something just because it’s popular. If you’ve handled a gun and you love it, great. But don’t buy what everyone else has just because social media says so.
Community Matters
We wouldn’t be here without shooters talking to each other and sharing knowledge. That’s why we:
- Run bi-annual open days at our range
- Chat with people online
- Engage with forums and social channels
It’s all part of helping more people enjoy the sport.
What We Enjoy Most
Above everything else, what keeps us going are the people we meet. Shooters come from all walks of life, but they’re almost always welcoming and passionate, and that’s one of the best things about this hobby.
Want To Talk Airguns?
If you’ve never dealt with Bristol Airguns before, expect a relaxed, honest conversation with no pressure and no hard sell.
If you want a chat about what might be right for your next purchase, we’re always happy to help:
📞 0333 335 0096
📧 [email protected]
🏠 22 Regent St, Bristol, BS15 8JS
Or follow us:
We’re always up for talking airguns.
