Cadets at all levels have the opportunity to take part in target shooting, and it remains one of the most popular activities.

The No. 8 rifle is the first rifle a cadet will be taught to use. The rifle started life as the Enfield No 4 rifle used in the second world war which has been modified to fire a .22 caliber round. The rifle has almost no recoil, and is very simple to operate - it is a bolt action, single shot rifle. 

Cadets over the age of 14 can progress onto the L98 Cadet GP Rifle.  The L98 is again a modification of an existing design, but in this case it is modified from the standard British rifle on current issue - the Enfield L85A1. It fires the same ammunition (5.56mm) as the L85 but is manually cocked and can only fire one round at a time so it is just like the No.8. The primary difference in operation is that ammunition is supplied in a magazine which is fitted to the rifle rather than loose to be fed by hand each time the rifle is fired.

Cadets who are proving to be excellent shots may well get the opportunity to fire the L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle. This is a rifle system made by Parker Hale; it is a 7.62mm calibre rifle and is capable of considerable accuracy.   

Safety is paramount with all ATC activities and shooting is certainly no exception. Training is an integral part of the system and each cadet is fully trained in whichever rifle they will be using. Supervising staff are similarly trained to deal with any eventualities and to ensure that the range is run safely and efficiently. All rifles are fired from the prone position (the firer is lying on their stomach) at static, targets.

No 8 Bolt Action Rifle	L81 A2 Cadet Target Rifle	L98 A2 Cadet GP Rifle

Deliberate

This practice is fired at a target with marked, concentric scoring rings. The firer aims at the centre of the target with the intention of placing the shot as near to the centre as possible. The firer's score is marked depending on how near to the centre of the target they manage to get. The firer can take as long as they like to make the shots as the goal is optimum accuracy.

Grouping

The firer fires a number of rounds at a single aiming point. The aim is for all the rounds to fall as close to the aim point as possible and the firers performance is measured by the diameter of a circle encompassing all of the holes in the target. Grouping practise is excellent for concentrating on perfecting your technique. There is no limit to how long the firer may take when firing a grouping practise.

Rapid

All that is required is that the shooter places the round within the target area. However, they now have a time limit applied to the practice whihc challenges their ability to fire accurately under pressure.

Snap

Again, all the shooter needs to do is get the rounds to fall within the target area. However, the targets only appear for a short time before disappearing again and the firer must typically hit the target with one or two rounds whilst it is visible. Targets appear at random intervals for several seconds at a time.

Marksman Qualifications

All cadets have the opportunity to achieve standards of marksmanship shown below. Each standard can be achieved on several weapons and consists of various practices designed to test the firers ability. The badges awarded are shown below.

Squadron Marksmen	Wing Marksmen	Regional Marksmen	Corps Marksmen	Cadet 100

Competitions

If you have a flare for shooting, and you can demonstrate how good you are, you could qualify to shoot with the best in the country at the Bisley and Purbright competitions. There are several events for individuals and teams throughout the year, from local to national to international, but the highlight is the Inter-Service Cadet Rifle Meeting (ISCRM) on the ranges at Bisley, a target shooting competition where you get to compete against members of the Army Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps. The Cadet Inter-Service Skill At Arms Meeting (CISSAM) takes place annually on the ranges at Purbright and like the meeting at Bisley, it is a top level competition for teams and individuals.