Pinhoe Target Shooting Club

This evening I brought out my trusty old Anschutz .22 for a proper tune up, and it reminded me that getting back on center is sometimes less about rushing and more about patience.

My target card told the story shot by shot a few careful adjustments, a quick check of my position, a pause to recheck parallax, then back into place until the final X appeared. It took me 10 rounds to get there, and I’m perfectly fine with that. A more seasoned marksman may need only three well trained placed tries, but this evening was about finding the rhythm again.

It makes you think about all the little things that can move a setup off balance: a different batch of ammo, a change in seating position, the time of year, or even the small habits that come from helping put up other people’s cards. Plenty of factors can influence where a round lands on the card.

A good reminder that progress is still progress, even when it takes a few extra rounds.

Alex

Hey Pinhoe Club!

The Rimfire Festival applications are now live!

Get yourselves signed up as soon as you can. Spots fill up incredibly fast for this one, and you don't want to end up stuck on the waiting list! ⏱️

Here is what you need to know:

Dates: 10th & 11th October 2026

Who can enter: Open to BOTH full Pinhoe Club members and Provisional members!

It's fun, friendly, and welcoming. You absolutely do not have to be an ace, this weekend is all about enjoying the sport!

A quick note from me: This is hands down my Number 1 favourite competition. I actually shot my very first one as a provisional member. I was rostered with folks from other clubs I’d never even met, and we got along famously. Fun fact: I came in last place overall my first time out... and I still had an absolute blast!

How to get involved:
Provisional Members: Have a chat with Dan or Tibor and tell them Alex sent you!

Want more info? Find me at the club! I'll gladly give you the full lowdown and tell you everything you need to know before you make your mind up. I asked to be rostered on Sat or Sun Afternoon, so pick these and lets see if we get to team up!

So come along and have some fun with us. Can't wait to see you all there! 💥

Cheers,

Alex

Signup Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiVc3nIeZ5bYLO2CWshB0zyDGJQN3dFFcXRt21PdTVyWkwCg/viewform

YouTube: https://youtu.be/39-YVXOKoLc

Steel Challenge and Rimfire Festival - Budleigh Farm We visited Budleigh farm for the Steel Challenge and Rimfire Festiv...

Outdoor 50m Range ☀️ – Induction / Requalification Notice

Tuesday 12th May
If you would like to use the 50m outdoor range for LSR / standing rifle shooting, please be aware that the rules for using the outdoor range have recently changed.

*All members are now required to attend an Induction / Requalification session* and be formally signed off before using the outdoor range.

If you have used the outdoor range in the past and wish to do so again, you *must* attend a requalification session.

If you are new to the outdoor range, you will need to attend an induction before use.

I will be running the first Induction session on the evening of *Tuesday 12th May* , with additional sessions scheduled later for those who are unable to attend this date.

Please use the form to let me know if you are planning to attend on the *12th May or at a later date:*

https://forms.gle/EBoH2AtVhqEGj2NC8

Probationers are welcome to attend. Using the outdoor range is not onerous provided you have a sound grasp of the principles of shooting safety.

For more dates, please join the WhatsApp groups

I had the absolute privilege of being interviewed by the BBC today for Pinhoe Target Club.

It was such an honour to shine a light on this incredible community. What makes Pinhoe in Exeter so special is its commitment to being truly inclusive, it’s a place where disabled and able bodied shooters enjoy a sport side by side, sharing the same passion. Seeing that level of accessibility and support in action is exactly what the sporting world needs more of.

I also got the chance to walk down memory lane and share the story of how I first got started in target shooting. It’s been quite a journey, and being able to talk about it with the BBC team was the icing on the cake.

A huge thank you to everyone at the club for being so welcoming, and to the BBC for helping us share the magic of target shooting!

Keep an ear out for the segment! 📺👂Saturday 18th on BBC Radio Devon

Alex

A good lesson for provisional members from this evening at Pinhoe Target Shooting Club! 🎯

I was aiming at the bottom row of targets and stayed sitting in the same position the whole time. I may have moved a few muscles, but I didn’t move my bum! 😄

The targets showed exactly why that matters.

In target shooting, it’s not enough to just move your arms a little. You need to move your whole position and get yourself comfortable so your natural point of aim is right. Small changes in how you sit can make a big difference on the target.

Always something new to learn, and that’s part of the fun!

Alex

Social media is full of perfectly Photoshopped targets posted by precision snipers who “haven’t shot in six months” and yet somehow produce the most magical card known to mankind.

And honestly… as a relatively new target shooter, that can mess with your head.

You scroll socials, you see another perfect little cloverleaf with a caption like “just a quick casual practice, nothing special” and suddenly you’re thinking:

“Am I even improving?”
“Why don’t mine look like that?”
“Is everyone else shooting 10s in their sleep?”

So tonight I’m posting something a bit more real.

On the left: a card shot by someone far superior to me with an air rifle on our LSR rage. Absolutely nailed it.

On the right: what I shot this evening with a club .22 R***r.

And do you know what?

I’m happy with my card 🏆

Is it perfect? Nope.
Any excuses? Also nope.
I hadn’t shot in a couple of weeks, I turned up, did the scope, did the safety checks, and put five rounds downrange.

For me, that’s pretty good and I’m proud of it.

I’m probably never going to be the shooter who posts perfect inner-10s all the way through and collects 500 likes and a sponsorship offer from a FB post.

I’m like the rest of us, more interested in showing what “normal progress” looks like after about a year and a half in the sport, especially when you’re shooting a well used club rifle that’s seen more hands, more ammo, and more opinions than the kettle in the clubhouse.

If you’re shooting air or smallbore .22 and your cards don’t look like they’ve been printed by a laser printer:

Good. You’re actually shooting 😀

Post the real cards. Celebrate the real wins:
a steadier hold
a better group than last time
a clean, safe session
learning what you need to work on

You don’t need perfect cards to be happy in this sport.

You just need to turn up, take your shots, and enjoy the process. 🎯 (Okay yes, I used one target emoji, couldn’t resist.)

Alex

Spent this evening on the Benchrest range at Pinhoe Target Shooting Club, with a great view through the scope down onto the targets and even better company behind the firing line.

We shoot smallbore .22 and air, and it’s always a brilliant mix of new and experienced shooters.

The contrast never fails to make me smile: new shooters are rightly chuffed with their cards (flyers and all), while the seasoned hands are giving themselves a hard time over shots I’d be proud to claim on mine 😂 Either way, it made for a superb evening.

Provisional member? You’re more than welcome to come along on Tuesday if you fancy skipping the Wednesday madness and having a quieter, relaxed session with us.

Club nights run Monday–Friday, 7pm–9pm. See you on the ranges.

Alex

Reminder!

The Steel Challenge at Budleigh Farm on Sat 18th & Sun 19th April 2026 is set to be another runaway success.

Sign up on the link below to be part of a very well run and exciting competition.

If you have not been to this competition before, talk to Dan, Tibor or Alex - all huge fans of this competition and will help guide you into taking part.

Form: http://www.teignbridgefullbore.co.uk/page38.html

The Club Christmas Party will be on Friday 18th December starting 7pm. Come along and join in the fun! Quiz, Skittles & Raffle and bring some food to share and your own drinks of choice. Tea & Coffee available at the club. All members, friends and family very welcome. Accordingly the ranges will be closed for shooting from 6:30pm until Saturday morning.