Our Club and What We Do
The Holsworthy Rifle Club formed in 2001 from a merger between Randwick Rifle Club (est 1901) and Sydney VDC (Volunteer Defence Corp) Rifle Club (est 1946).
Our Club shoots are held on Saturdays with members shooting from a prone position at electronic /paper targets from ranges between 300 and 800 metres (which is the limit at our home range - Anzac Rifle Range, Malabar).
Many of our members also attend country prize meetings and major competitions within Australia and overseas, over distances of up to 1000 yards.
Currently our members, men and women, shoot traditional Target Rifle, ‘F-Class’ and Sporter/Hunter disciplines all of which are detailed below. We welcome new participants in all of these disciplines.
If you are a responsible, safety-conscious person interested in seeing what’s involved – we’d be very happy to show what we do, provide safety training and let you try our sport using our equipment under a temporary licence arrangement.
If you enjoy it as much as we do and would like to join, we can help you with all the required police checks and licensing. We can also guide you to get the right equipment and provide supervision and coaching to meet your needs.
Please get in touch by completing the webform on our ‘Contact’ page.
Program and Events
The Metropolitan District Rifle Association ("MDRA") manages the Anzac Rifle Range. The MDRA sets the RANGE PROGRAM - which includes which range we're shooting at each week and who will be the Duty Club.
Hoslworthy News
Our latest news can always be found on our facebook page, which also updates on our website's Home Page.
Our Shooting Disciplines
Target Rifle
Target rifle (TR) is shot at ranges from a distance of 300 up to a 1000 yards/metres. It is known as the traditional Fullbore shooting throughout the world and is one of the shooting sports included in the Commonwealth Games. This type of shooting dates to the 1860s when it was used for training civilian militia and is now known for equality for all competitors. Everyone can compete side by side regardless of gender, age or size.
It is shot with the bare eye or using prescription lenses. Scopes are not used in this discipline. Shooters wear a jacket with a sling connected to the rifle, for support while in the prone position. See QRA Videos on setting up new shooters and correct positioning for Target Rifle with our members Jim and Mitch Bailey demonstrating. Rifles are loaded one shot at a time and fired on either paper or electronic targets. The rifles used are .308 or .223 (calibre) which reflects the size of the ammunition.
When starting out, a coach will instruct you with adjusting the rifle’s sights, depending on distance and weather conditions like wind, which all come into play.
One of the most prestigious competitions for Long Range Target Rifle Shooting to take part in is the ‘Queen’s/King’s Prize’. The winning Target Rifle Shooter is traditionally chaired to the prize giving.
Target Rifle Key Points
- Shoot with the bare eye - no scopes are used
- Rifle entirely supported by the shooter - using a firm coat and sling connected to the rifle while shooting prone position
- Shot over 300 to 1000 yards/meters - covering one or multiple distances during a competition shoot that can be organised over multiple days
- Specific calibres used - shooting with .308 Win or .223 Rem calibres only as per guideline of the (inter)national rules of the game
- Participation - can be enjoyed recreational and competitive at club, state and (inter)national level shooting side by side with the F-Class disciplines.
F-Class
F-Class target shooting is performed at ranges from 300 up to a 1000 yards/metres in prone position, using scoped rifles. This sport is divided into three different categories, known as F-Standard, F-Open and F-TR. Each of these categories has their own criteria of various calibres, weights and equipment specifications that effect the precision of the shot. What they have in common is that single rounds are loaded at a time.
F-Standard is using .308 or .223 calibre rifles that can be held by a bipod or stand with a sandbag rest for support. It was developed in Australia in the 1990s to assist aging shooters transition from Target Rifle to scoped rifle shooting on rests. Now, the discipline attracts shooters of all backgrounds and levels of experience.
F-TR and F-Open are very similar to F-Standard, though F-TR is using the same rifles but has no specifications on the projectile (bullet) weight, and F-Open can use a wider range of calibre (up to 8mm). This means that F-Open and F-TR provide greater potential accuracy, using projectiles that are less affected by wind.
F-Class Key Points
- Telescopic sights - using a scope for target sight improvement
- Rifle supported by equipment - a bipod or front rest can be used and a sandbag at the rear
- Shot over 300 to 1000 yards/meters - covering one or multiple distances during a competition shoot that can be organised over multiple days
- Different calibres per F Class category – F-Standard and F-TR using .308 Win, .223 Rem calibres and F Open up to 8mm calibres
- Participation - can be enjoyed recreational and competitive at club, state and (inter)national level shooting side by side with the Target Rifle discipline
Sporter / Hunter
Sporter/Hunter is designed to allow shooters with standard shop bought sporting type rifles to shoot on the National Rifle Association’s rifle ranges. The prime purpose for its introduction is to encourage participation, rather than competition. This doesn’t mean that there is no competition at all. There are still local competitions to be enjoyed.
This young discipline is growing from the eagerness of numerous shooters who own high quality hunting rifles that are accurate and ready to go at long range. Add a good quality scope and shooters are able to engage in long distance target shooting.
The regulations on what type of equipment can be used are pretty flexible, although your choice will have impact on the distances that you will be able to reach. Be aware that there are also range regulations like calibre and/or energy limits as designated in the Range Standing Orders and/or Police Range Approval.
Sporter / Hunter Key Points
- Choose your own sights - shooting takes place in prone position and any sights can be used, including magnifying or telescopic
- Rifle supported by shooter or equipment - magazines are allowed, a hunting bipod can be used at the front, and a sandbag at the rear
- Shot over 300 to 600 yards/metres - with the option to go further, though the equipment may not reach further distances
- Max. 26inch barrel length - with range regulations or event rules determining the specific allowed calibre, mainly based on energy limits
- Participation - this sport allows the average hunter or sporting shooter to participate in the club environment and join organised events.
History
As with most Rifle Clubs you can step back in time as you walk around our Club House viewing old photos, sketches, printed materials and other memorabilia from our founding clubs and members. Have a yarn to some of our older members who can regale you with stories and fond memories of people and events of our past. Then chat to our younger members who have plenty of their own stories to tell about their journeys and experiences.
During 2023, we gratefully received a number of Sydney VDC Annual Reports dating back to 1950, donated from the family of one of our very early Members Ivan Yaniuk. They make interesting reading and most are adorned with sketches and cartoons, many by Ivan himself. Included in the donation is "A History of the SYDNEY VDC RIFLE CLUB" compiled for the Club's Tenth Anniversary by Bob Yewdall - written in 1957 - which we've scanned and attached to the bottom of this page.
All the documents are available for review on request.
