Shooting
Air Rifle Shooting
Air rifle shooting is treated in the same way as any other type of shooting in the Air Cadet shooting. The emphasis is on safety then accuracy. Cadets are never allowed to point a weapon at anyone.
Some squadrons have an air rifle range on their premises. This is a lot smaller than the standard range, often as short as 5.5 metres. It is treated exactly the same as any other range and is run by a qualified range officer. In this way the cadets learn range discipline from the very start regardless of where they shoot.
Only single shot air rifles are allowed on these ranges, firing 0.177 calibre ammunition.
Cadets can gain their ATC marksman badge with this rifle.
Small Bore Shooting
Small bore shooting is firing a number of different rifles accurately, as is all Air Cadet shooting. The emphasis is on safety then accuracy. Cadets are never allowed to point a weapon at anyone.
The normal rifle cadets fire is called the "No.8". It is the rifle most cadets fire first and is the basic training rifle in he Air Cadets. This is a single shot bolt action rifle firing 0.22 calibre ammunition. The cadets fire indoors at ranges up to 25m.
Cadets can gain their ATC marksman badge with this rifle.
Full Bore Shooting
Full bore shooting is firing a number of different rifles accurately, as is all Air Cadet shooting. The emphasis is on safety then accuracy. Cadets are never allowed to point a weapon at anyone.
The "L98" is a version of the standard infantry weapon used by the British Forces. It cannot fire multiple shots (rapid) the way the "SA80" can. When cadets fire this rifle there is a separate, qualified member of staff supervising each cadet for safety. The cadets fire indoors at 25m and outdoors at ranges from 25m up to 300m.
The "L81" is a single shot target rifle that is used in competitions. Currently all of these rifles are being serviced and re-barreled to take the same ammunition as the L98.
Cadets can gain their ATC and RAF marksman badges with either of these rifles.
Archery
Archery is unusual within the Air Cadets as not many squadrons have suitably qualified staff to run an archery range. In this way it is treated in the same way as any other type of shooting in the Air Cadet shooting. The emphasis is on safety then accuracy. Cadets are never allowed to point a weapon at anyone.
The equipment for setting up an archery range is portable so the range can be set up where ever it is required, even indoors. Unlike other forms of shooting in cadets the ammunition is re-useable, therefore cadets can practice repeatedly until they are proficient without additional cost.