Phoenix Range Indoor Shooting Centre

This week we remember D Day, and those who took up arms to defend our freedoms. We are a proud nation of Riflemen, no more so than at our own club here in Barnsley.
We at Phoenix Range support our Armed Forces. I personally served 13 years from logistics, Special Forces to Military Police. I employed men over the years who served, a number of them lost friends in battle, many more by su***de since returning from Afghanistan. Freedom is why we support them; freedom is why we do what we do here today. Freedom isn’t given, but fought for by the brave who are skilled in marksmanship, skill at arms, and that all started in local clubs.
After the great wars, our government realised how poor we were then, (and are now) as a nation in marksmanship. They permitted the formation of thousands of Miniature rifle clubs throughout our land to keep these skills alive in our communities. Even today our own club here is approved by the Secretary of State, and within our own approved Club's constitution... it states in our primary purpose:
"To promote and encourage Marksmanship throughout the Kings Dominions, in the interests of Defence and the Permanence of the Volunteer and Auxiliary Forces, Naval, Military and Air."
Furthermore, those are also the aims and objectives of our governing body; the National Rifle Association & Smallbore Rifle Association "to fit his Majesty's subjects for the defense of His Realm by the advancement of Skill in rifle and other shooting and the opportunity to practice for the furtherance of such objects".
In fact, those principles are the very reason the association was given the Royal Charter, the Crowns support, with the patron of the association today being our head of state. All of our men and women who serve are first and foremost; riflemen, and skilled at such. Many of them who learned the basics in local rifle clubs. Membership and rifle practice build confidence, camaraderie, self-discipline, empowerment, sense of responsibility, respect, and of individual skill achieved, for both personal benefit and that of the larger greater public good.
Freedom and weapons are inextricably linked. So yes, we remember the fallen, and we do our bit….30,000+ new customers learning rifle shooting through our doors, in just one town alone, Barnsley. The ability to own and shoot your own rifle is the pinnacle of freedom. It’s a lethal weapon and gives power over others, and of course, should not fall into the wrong hands. So, to be trusted with such a thing under good regulation, you can genuinely say you live in a free democratic and just society; for anywhere in the world where you are disarmed as a people….you will never be free, you will live in a dictatorship, disarmed for a reason. History, if anything has taught free men that.
So yes, we remember the sacrifice given to be free, and how it is kept free, by the brave keeping these skills alive serving their country. So high five for our armed forces, the very best of British.
God save the King!
There is an infamous motto forgotten about in our politically correct times, that’s printed on one of the UK’s early targets of the 1900’s, resurrected here at Phoenix Range…. “Fear God - Honour The Queen - Learn to Shoot” our target number 9.
So yes, today we remember them. Amen.

Glenn G Smith
Founder Member
Empire Shooting Sports Club.

Home Office Approved (since 1992)
🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk

When you apply for a firearm or shotgun certificate from the Police, the medical verification process involves a GP reviewing your full medical records to assist the police in determining whether you currently or previously have had medical conditions that may affect your ability to possess fi****ms without being a danger to the public or peace.

Members of our club can take advantage of our own ‘in house Doctor’ who can provide you your Medical Pro Forma required by the Police.

In all instances, you will need two proofs of identity, one with photograph and one with proof of address. E.g. a driving licence and a utility bill. You will also need a “Full GP Summary Sheet” which should be freely available from your own GP’s receptionist. You will need to have completed your Medical Proforma Form section on your firearm certificate application and bring this with you.
There are two options for members:

1) Contact the Practice Manager Louise to arrange an evening appointment, (6.00pm or 7.00pm Mon to Fri) held at The Surgery 65, Old Brumby Street, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AJ. Tel: 07544 831574. The Doctors fee would be £80.

2) Alternatively, if someone needs a URGENT convenient appointment for your medical interview, this can be done at Phoenix Shooting Range in private. There would be a Doctors fee of £180.

Dr. Steven R. Hopkins MB ChB., BSc., FRSPH.
Medical Director Paragon Medical Services
(Council Member of the Forensic & Legal Medicine Section / Fellow of the Royal College of Medicine.)

Another great reason to be a part of one the best clubs in the North of England.

Home Office Approved (since 1992)
🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/prod.../gift-vouchers/voucher

Have you ever wondered where the amazing sounds come from when you are watching a movie or playing a video game? It all comes down to a dedicated sound effects team done at ranges like ours! The majority of the sounds you hear in movies are not the original sounds, they are pre recorded to deliver the best possible movie or video game experience. Well, here at Phoenix Range we had the honour of assisting such a special effects company. Arch Post Audio to capture the most iconic firearm noises; from inserting the magazine, to gun fire using their high tech equipment. https://archpostaudio.com/work/
These guys also work with sound production companies in the states; so watch this space, the next movie you watch may feature us in the credits! We are more than happy to utilise our range where possible for companies outside of the shooting world.
Any enquiries regarding the hiring our range, please contact our team.
Home Office Approved (since 1992)
🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/prod.../gift-vouchers/voucher

Lawful GUN OWNERSHIP is not a CRIME. Nor is having an interest in fi****ms. How many times have you heard in the media… “we need to get guns off the streets”, “if you own one, we will find it” or “surrender it at your local police station”, implying something inherently wrong with any OWNERSHIP without any differentiation between LAWFUL and UNLAWFUL possession and use. Failing to state this is a characterisation that demonises the lawful sporting use and possession of fi****ms to the public, often released and repeated often by our trusted authorities.
It’s a fact that GUN OWNERS who possesses a Firearm Certificate (FAC) are one of only 150,000 people in England who have passed the most stringent background checks for gun ownership, thus demonstrating “GOOD CHARACTER”.
The fundamental reason you must be of "good character" to own a firearm is to protect public safety and preserve peace. Because fi****ms are inherently dangerous weapons capable of inflicting lethal harm, the UK Government view gun ownership as a conditional privilege rather than an automatic right. You have to meet and maintain the mark to be a licensed GUN OWNER.
A "good character" assessment ensures that weapons only end up in the hands of individuals who are safe, predictable, and accountable.

Preventing Public Danger:
The primary objective of the vetting process is to ensure an applicant poses no threat to public safety. Background checks scan for any history of violence, criminal activity, or general law-breaking. A history of aggressive behaviour or a lack of personal integrity is the strongest indicator that an individual might misuse a weapon or use it to intimidate others.

Assessing Emotional Stability and Restraint:
Fi****ms require extreme discipline and emotional control. Licensing authorities look at an applicant's character to gauge how they handle pressure, anger, and conflict. Evidence of emotional volatility, reckless behavior, or domestic turmoil suggests that an individual might act impulsively during a crisis.
Ensuring Responsibility and Secure Custody:
Owning a gun involves strict logistical responsibilities, such as adhering to complex laws, keeping meticulous records, and utilising secure storage. A person of good character demonstrates the reliability needed to safely store fi****ms out of reach from children, criminals, or unauthorised users. Issues like dishonesty, extreme financial distress, or unmanaged debt can raise concerns about whether an applicant might be vulnerable to illegally selling or trafficking their weapons.

Verifying Fitness through Strict Vetting:
To evaluate an applicant's true character, licensing bodies look far beyond a basic criminal background check, heavily relying on:
Medical Review: Verifying with the applicant's general practitioner that there is no history of severe depression, acute stress reactions, substance abuse, or emotional trauma.

Character Vetting: Requiring formal references from verified, long-standing citizens who can personally attest to the applicant's honesty and level-headed nature.

Good Reason: Checks that you satisfy the “good reason” required to possess a firearm. Officers will check at your local Home Office approved Club as to your membership status, training level and regular attendance. In the case of possession for vermin control, the land will be checked to see if is suitable for that particular firearm you wish to possess for that purpose.

Social and Behavioural Checks:
Inspecting social media accounts and conducting interviews with family members to identify any underlying domestic instability or extremist views or possessing and using fi****ms for self-defense.

So, if you know a Firearm Certificate Holder? they are one the most law-abiding people of our community, having been thoroughly checked and certified by the Chief Constable as a “person of good Character”…. I ask, can you say that about yourself? Or even your friends?

So no, GUN OWNERSHIP is not a crime, you should be proud of our rich fi****ms history and the freedoms that we all enjoy, and those who make the mark, the privilege to possess fi****ms.

Have you got what it takes? Join Us. 23,000 Members and growing.

It all starts with a Try shooting Session.....See you on the Range.

Glenn G Smith
Club Police Liaison Officer
Empire Shooting Sports Club
Home Office Approved (since 1992)

🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/prod.../gift-vouchers/voucher See less

Contact us, book a try shoot with real fi****ms....if you like it, why not join us? We have over 50 fi****ms to hire and shoot along with all the firearm training you will need. Then if you wish, you could apply for your own Firearm certificate from the Police to enable you to purchase any of these wonderful fi****ms right here from our fully licensed gun shop. Also you will need a Brattonsound Security Gun cabinet, a must for the protection of your fi****ms at home. Remember, as a FAC holder you will be a member of a very exclusive group of people, as there are only 150,000 FAC holders in England. In fact, how many people do you know that can say that they have a certificate issued by the Chief Constable, confirmation that you are indeed a person of good character? Exactly! So, once you have passed all the relevant checks, references and of course being a member of Home Office Approved Club such as ours, you too could be a gun owner. Good luck and we may well see you on the range one day with your very own fi****ms enjoying your freedom. It all starts with a tryshooting session.
🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/prod.../gift-vouchers/voucher

Announcement : RIP to our one of our colorful RANGE OFFICERS, who recently passed away. Our lovable Jinxy (The late Gary Caswell) survived cancer several times, fell off a bus stop roof on a mountain bike, only to be hit by a bus, then later in life suffered a death roll in a HGV and was seriously injured, to surviving an IRA bomb blast during the 1996 Manchester attack, where he nearly lost his leg, only later to have multiple organ failure and lived for years fighting on whilst on dialysis. Then finally to lose a leg, kept on fighting forever quoting Churchill " Never Surrender". This is only a summary of his life, he earned his name, Jinxy.
Despite his illness, he kept working as a Range Safety Officer here at Phoenix Range Shooting Center, with a mindset of: " i can be at home in pain, unpaid, or at work in pain, paid". He never missed a shift. A grafter and strength of charter to be admired.
Finally in early 2026, he finally was forced to give up the fight and passed away in Barnsley Hospital. Jinxy was a great character, a friend to many who will be sadly missed by us all.
As a keen target shooter, Jinxy wished that if the worse happened, that his rifles be donated to his shooting club for members to hire and raise further funds in his memory. Despite him having to attend hospital every week, he loved the staff and spoke highly of them all in their efforts to keep him alive and well. He particularly loved the free sandwiches provided weekly on his visits to dialysis, and said looked forward to it! Its funny how the little things keep your spirits up. His wishes were to raise funds for this great organisation to which we will endeavor to do by holding a annual fund raiser shooting event in his name: the 'Jinxy Memorial Competition' (JMC) right here at the shooting centre. In addition, all of the hire proceeds from the rifles he donated to the club will be donated to the Charity forever providing funds for donation throughout the year.
All of this will be a fitting legacy for him and our club of which he loved so much. In his own words, "without the club and the people i met there, i would have given up years go".
Jinxy our friend, you will be forever in our hearts. x

The date will be announced shortly for the Jinxy Memorial Competition (JMC), and of course the challenging course of fire, with many more prizes to bag. All funds raised from the yearly event will be donated to his chosen charity.

Any donations for Jinxy are gladly received and paid directly to the Barnsley Hospital Charity via the Gofundme account here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jinxy-raise-funds-for-the-barnsley-hospital-charity

Glenn G Smith
Club Police Liaison Officer
Empire Shooting Sports Club

🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club

I am pleased to announce that Phoenix Range are now Registered Fi****ms Dealers.

See you in the gun shop and on the range !

Becky Wright
Managing Director
Phoenix Range (Heritage Holdings AI Ltd)

🇬🇧 UK Indoor Shooting Range and Home Office Approved Club
🏆 1st Class Corporate Entertainment
🏆 Hand Crafted Award Worthy Venue
🏆 Registered Fi****ms Dealers with South Yorkshire Police
🇬🇧 Veterans Club
(01226) 885130.
www.phoenixrange.co.uk
****ms
http://www.phoenixrange.co.uk/prod.../gift-vouchers/voucher