Target Rifle Australia calls air rifle the best and cheapest event for young shooters to take up. On the pistol side, St Ives Pistol Club starts all its unlicensed new members, adults and juniors, on air pistol before anything else.
Air rifles and air pistols are still firearms under Australia's licensing framework, and the rules for young people using them vary. Requirements differ by state; check with the club and your state firearms registry.
What the events involve
The international events are 10 metre air rifle and 10 metre air pistol. Both are Olympic and Paralympic events, with junior categories.
Distance. Targets are 10 metres away, and air rifle is usually shot on an indoor range.
Equipment. Target air rifles are .177 calibre and fitted with an air cylinder. Target air pistols are also .177 calibre.
Format. The full international match is 60 shots. Club training can be shorter: one pistol club's program sets juniors 40 shots where adults shoot 60.
Position. Air rifle is shot standing. Air pistol is shot standing, with the pistol held in one hand.
Why it suits beginners
Target Rifle Australia says air rifle ammunition costs little and indoor ranges let you practise day or night in all weather. Beginners are usually given a supporting frame to help with the standing position. Both are Olympic events. In Australia, air rifle is run by Target Rifle Australia and air pistol by Target Pistol Australia, so a junior who starts on air is already shooting a recognised discipline with its own competitions.
Target Rifle clubs usually supply the equipment while juniors learn. Target Rifle Australia says most of its clubs have equipment newcomers can use, and that there's no need to buy your own until you and your coach feel you're ready. The SSAA ACT junior section has club rifles to hire.
Air guns are still firearms
It's easy to assume an air rifle is a toy. It isn't. Australia's National Firearms Agreement includes air rifles and air pistols in its licence categories, so they come under the licensing framework. Target Rifle Australia's range safety rules apply to every rifle, air rifles included: treat every rifle at all times as though it were loaded. How young people can use them under supervision varies by state. See Safe handling rules.
What a first session looks like
Expect a safety briefing, then close supervision. Target Rifle Australia says beginners get one-on-one help from qualified safety officers, and the SSAA ACT junior section says its instructors and range officers supervise juniors at all times. St Ives Pistol Club starts unlicensed new members with air pistol sessions directly supervised by coaches.
Before you book, ask the club:
what ages it takes and whether a parent needs to stay
whether juniors need a consent form or any other paperwork
what equipment is provided and what it costs
when junior sessions run
Moving on
Air rifle and air pistol are full disciplines, not only a starting point. See Air rifle and pistol for the discipline in more detail, and Finding a junior program for where to start.
Reviewed against: Introduction: Target Rifle Shooting (Target Rifle Australia), Air Rifle and Smallbore Rifle (Target Rifle Australia), Participation (Target Rifle Australia), ISSF Rule Book 2026 (International Shooting Sport Federation), History (Target Pistol Australia), Training program (St Ives Pistol Club), National Firearms Agreement (Department of Home Affairs), Junior Development Section (SSAA ACT)Reviewed Suggest a correction
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