Prone Air Rifle

Prone air rifle involves shooting from a lying position at targets 15–25 yards away. Maximum stability, minimal wobble, and no recoil make it the ideal discipline for learning the fundamentals of precision marksmanship. The skills built here — sight alignment, natural point of aim, breath control, trigger technique — transfer directly to every other discipline including .22LR prone, three-position, and 10m standing.

No Firearms Certificate required. Air rifles under 12 ft/lbs (England and Wales) are unregulated. Must be 18 or over to purchase; under-18s may shoot under supervision at an approved range.

The prone position

The shooter lies flat on their stomach, both elbows on the ground, rifle supported by the elbows and a shooting sling. The sling wraps around the upper arm to transmit the rifle’s weight through bone structure rather than muscle — making the position far more stable than it initially appears.

The prone position achieves two things beginners value: it dramatically reduces wobble compared to standing, and it eliminates the fatigue that comes with supporting the rifle with muscle alone. Most beginners achieve their first consistent groups from prone well before they can replicate the same control from standing.

Competition formats

• Short course: 20 or 30 shots
• Standard course: 40 or 60 shots
• Postal leagues: Shoot at your home range, submit scores for national ranking — no travel required
• Open competitions: Head-to-head matches at other clubs

Competitions typically use either aperture-sighted or scoped air rifles; some events have separate classes for each. The NSRA runs dedicated prone air rifle leagues and includes the discipline in the British Championships.

Equipment

Beginners use club equipment. When ready to buy:

• Air rifle: Match-grade with aperture sights (£300–£1,500+)
• Pellets: Match .177 or .22 (£8–£15 per tin)
• Shooting mat: Comfortable prone surface (£30–£100)
• Sling: Leather or fabric (£20–£60)
• Shooting jacket: Canvas jacket for stability (£80–£250)
• Shooting glove: Protects the supporting hand (£15–£40)
• Spotting scope: See shot holes at distance (£100–£500)

Aperture sights vs telescopic sights: Many beginners find aperture sights better for learning fundamentals — they train the eye to align precisely. Scopes can be easier for extended sessions. Either works for club competition.

Technique

Six key elements of prone position:

1. Body angle: Lie at 15–30 degrees to the target line, not straight on — this uses bone support rather than muscle
2. Elbow placement: Position elbows for comfort and natural support; neither too wide nor too narrow
3. Sling tension: Tight enough to transfer load through the arm, not so tight as to cut circulation
4. Cheek weld: Same point of contact on the stock every shot for consistent eye alignment to the sights
5. Natural point of aim: Close eyes, relax completely, open eyes — sights should be on target. If not, move the body rather than muscling the rifle
6. Breathing rhythm: Breathe normally, pause at the natural respiratory pause, shoot during the pause

Even one session with a qualified coach can make a dramatic improvement. Small position adjustments produce large score improvements at beginner level.

UK competition

1. Club level — weekly club nights, internal competitions, winter leagues; build consistent scores in a friendly environment
2. NSRA postal leagues — submit targets from your home club for national ranking; compete without travelling
3. County and regional — county championships, inter-club matches, open competitions at other ranges
4. NSRA British Championships (Bisley) — includes prone air rifle events; earn national classifications

Prone air rifle at Pinhoe TSC

Pinhoe TSC has dedicated facilities for prone shooting at 20 and 25 yards. Club air rifles, mats, and slings are available for beginners. NSRA-qualified coaches are available for position work and technique development.

Prone air rifle is excellent preparation for .22LR prone — the position and techniques are identical, the only difference being the rifle and the need for a Firearms Certificate. Many of our most successful .22LR prone shooters started here.

Related disciplines also offered at Pinhoe: .22LR Prone Rifle, Air Rifle Benchrest, 10m Air Rifle, Three-Position Rifle.