BLACKPOOL & FYLDE FULLBORE PISTOL & RIFLE CLUB was formed in 1962 and currently has a membership of over 100. In the early days, it was a club dedicated to Target Rifle practice, making quite the name for itself. At this time there was no home range so all competitions were held at Altcar Military Range. In the 1970s/80s the use of pistols became more common and members also had access to the old barracks range at Weeton Camp. Competitions followed more UKPSA style action shooting (which the club still follows today with gallery rifle shooting) and target rifle shooting declined. Even so, all aspects of shooting are still followed – target, sporting, gallery, clays and practical shotgun. In the late 1980s the MOD closed the old Barracks Range as being unsafe. The club solved this problem by simply building its own 30 metre 6 lane indoor range on land purchased near Lytham St Annes, Lancashire where we still hang our hats.
Gallery rifle shooting became popular in the late 1990s after the banning of pistols and is one of the main activities of the club. A number of competitions were changed to suit the use of .22 calibre semi automatic rifles and centrefire “pistol calibre” lever action and bolt action rifles and carbines. These guns are used at our indoor range every Wednesday evening. We shoot competitions each month as part of the national Phoenix League.
These come in a number of different calibres that depend on the type of shooting to be undertaken. Popular target shooting calibres are .223, .303 & .308. This category includes many of the collectible rifles, such as the dependable Lee Enfield as well as number of other First and Second World War Rifles. Some of our members also shoot them at Altcar ranges at distances of 100 to 1000 metres. Although long range shooting is not currently a formal activity of the club, we can arrange this type of shooting for you.
Muzzle loading and black powder shooting has become more Popular over the past few years, both pistol and rifle musket. We can introduce you to this type of shooting on Tuesday evenings and there is a club muzzle loading revolver for beginners to use.
The club holds a clay pigeon shoot each month at Blackpool Sporting Clays, which is a great opportunity to try this discipline. The club has a sporting shotgun for new members to use.
Practical Shotgun has become popular with club members. A tactical form of shooting it requires specific skills and agility to be successful. The club can arrange the specialist training for members interested in pursuing this discipline.
BFFPRC - Great Birchwood, Lytham Road, Warton, Preston PR4 1TE
fylderifles@gmail.com
Competition & meets at other ranges can be found on the calendar above