Oxford University Pistol Club

It is with immense sadness that we report the death of Jim Hawkins at the age of 67.
 
Jim joined OUPC in Michaelmas 1978. He became Secretary in 1979, and captained the winning Fullbore Varsity Match team in the Summer of 1980 (for which he collects the Heslop cup in the photograph above). On its founding at the beginning of 1981, Jim, then in his final year at Oxford, became the Treasurer of the Faded Blues, which organizes the ever-enjoyable annual Past and Present match at Bisley. 
 
After coming down from Oxford, Jim continued in the world of shooting, contributing to the popular, if somewhat erratically-published, Handgunner magazine, and would ultimately contribute to the evidence presented at the Dunblane Enquiry (his contributions to which were published in Guns & Violence: The Debate Before Lord Cullen). Shortly before the end of pistol shooting in Britain, Jim promoted the idea of a Pistol Grand Aggregate at Bisley, where all competitions were to be shot with the same gun to avoid over-specialization; this idea has been retained in the Hawkins Aggregate in British Alpine Rifles Championships in Switzerland. 
 
When attempts to prevent the handgun ban failed in 1997, Jim helped found and became Secretary of the British Alpine Rifles, which has allowed the proud tradition of pistol shooting in Britain to continue in exile. After the ban in Britain, as well as taking up muzzle-loading pistol, gallery rifle, and air pistol, Jim also joined the British Sporting Rifle Club at Bisley and was a keen Running Deer shooter. 
 
Although, as treasurer of the Faded Blues, Jim never really left the world of university shooting, he went once more into the fray as CURPC’s coach, a rôle which he has (to OUPC’s chagrin) very successfully fulfilled for more than a decade. In 2025, he became president of the club. Last year, OUPC was privileged to have Jim as the speaker for the annual dinner for the first time. 
 
The hole left in all the clubs to which Jim meant so much is immeasurable, but the memory of Jim’s kindness, indomitable will and unshakeable optimism in the face of extreme adversity will shine as a light in the darkness in which his passing has left us.

A superb showing from all our shooters in this year’s Gallery Rifle & Pistol Imperial Meeting. Although .rpc secured a narrow victory in the Varsity, we were proud to strike back in style by winning both the Peel Cup and the Universities Aggregate.

Well done to everyone who competed, and many thanks to the range officers for their smooth and professional running of the events!

Images courtesy of the NRA.

punted away the week 5 blues ☀️💙

see yall at our next social!!

OUPC members were kindly invited to the B.A.R Spring Meeting 2025–marked by a most convivial atmosphere and a superlative standard of marksmanship, with many elegant and exacting targets presented by B.A.R. members. OUPC and .rpc extend our sincere gratitude for the generous hospitality shown throughout.

A particular note of congratulations is due following the Fullbore Varsity Match, hosted by B.A.R., in which Oxford prevailed — securing the trophy after a closely-fought and distinguished contest.

Over the course of the week, we enjoyed a full programme of pistol and rifle shooting, set against the ever-changing beauty of the Thunersee — glimpsed variously in sunlight, mist, snowfall, and dusk.

Air Pistol Varsity 2025 – A phenomenal display from both OUPC and .rpc! Congratulations to our B team for securing the trophy with a dominant victory 🏆.

Herein, I quote our Captain: “Against all odds, over the past two terms, you have done a remarkable job worth celebrating.”

OUPC Annual Dinner 2024/25 💙 ft. .rpc and alumni

Last night, we celebrated another great year for the club with significant improvements in scores and fresher intake. This also officially marks the end of Varsity Season 2025! Great job to all Varsity teams for their hard work over the past year. Here's to an even better 2025/26!

OUPC took the crown in Town vs Gown match 🥳 Getting ready for Varsity at 8th March 🔜

OUPC was invited to 2025 B.A.R Winter Meeting 🇬🇧
We felt the mastery of this sport and its tradition of being carried forward by generations.
The astonishing targets are credited to BAR members

A night of escaping death and arranging tarts! Hope everyone had a good time screaming and solving puzzles together ♡ See yall at the next social! (laser tag?!?!)

The team went to Bisley for our annual Past vs Present competition! Thanks so much to British Alpine Rifle and our friends at Cambridge .rpc for a great day out. See you all next time!!

Thanks everyone for braving the cold and fog on a truly spooky Halloween night 🎃🎃 Hope you guys enjoyed the small social, and a little birdie told me our next one might be an escape room... keep an eye out for messages in the group chat!!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for tasters this past week! Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as we did!

We hope to receive your applications soon! Deadline is this Friday, 25 Oct :D