Bell Target Shooting: The Pub Sport With a Bang - Growing in Popularity Once More

If there’s one thing that unites the British, it’s our uncanny ability to sit in pubs for hours pretending we’re not ignoring our families. For most, that means darts or pool. But for the socially awkward who’d rather lob pellets than pints, welcome to Bell Target Shooting — essentially darts with an airgun, and quite possibly the most British idea ever. An armed drinking game? Don’t threaten us with a good time. All joking aside, of course, let's have a look at this pub-based past time and as to why it's growing once more in popularity

A Bit of History of Bell Target

Bell Target shooting isn’t some new fad. It dates back over a century, originally intended to sharpen marksmanship skills for the working man in industrial towns. According to archived accounts, leagues formed in the Midlands and beyond as far back as the early 1900s, where miners and factory workers would compete after hours. It was cheap, it was social, and it was deadly serious. Whole communities revolved around their pub team, and the sport spread through leagues much like darts or skittles.

The name comes from the distinctive “ding” when you nail the bullseye — a literal bell mounted in the steel plate target. Simple, loud, and satisfying enough to turn heads across the bar. Take a look at this reporting done by the BBC back in 2011, when there was a resurgence nearly a decade and a half ago.

Bell Target Shooting Open Evening at Walton Lions ARC on 27th September 2011 - Reported on by the BBC

The Rules (Or, More Accurately, Rules-ish)

Like any grassroots sport, rules vary depending on league, region, and how many pints the committee had when they wrote them. Still, here are the broad strokes:

• Distance: 6 yards (18 feet) is traditional, though some leagues use 7 yards (because… skittle alleys).

• Stance: Free-standing, no rests, no scopes. Prescription glasses? Allowed. Beer goggles? Probably not recommended.

• Teams: Usually 6–8 shooters, sometimes with reserves. Missing players may earn a “dummy score” to balance things out.

• Shots: Most leagues shoot 5–6 scoring shots, plus an optional “sighter.” Scoring is 5,4,3,2,0 — no 1s, no half points, unless your league fancies it. A bell strike often scores a bonus (5.5).

• Markers & RCOs: Targets are repainted after every shot, scores are called out, and the Range Conducting Officer (RCO) has final say. Arguing with the RCO is like arguing with the landlord — it won’t end well.

• Safety: Rifles must be .177 calibre, under 12 ft-lbs (pistols under 6). Diopter or open sights are standard. Domed pellets only.

Historic Guide to Bell Target Shooting, produced by the now dissolved Webley & Scott Air Rifle Company

What to Shoot With

Now, here’s where things get fun. You don’t need an Olympic-grade rifle, but in most cases, you do need something that takes diopter sights.

BSA Scorpion Cadet PCP Air Rifle - The Military Cadet Choice of Air Rifle has seen a resurgence as an entry-level bell target air rifle option

Some current options:

• Precihole Club Pro Junior – Affordable, light, simple, perfect for new shooters.

• BSA Scorpion Cadet – The “baby R10” reworked for Cadets. Single-shot, diopter sights, and proper BSA barrel pedigree. A very British choice.

• Precihole Match Pro – More serious, with self-regulated design and full competition adjustment at an accessible price.

• Hammerli AR20 Pro – Walther engineering with a ton of adjustability. A proper “serious” target rifle without getting into silly-money territory.

Of course, some leagues still see classics like Lincoln Jefferies springers and Feinwerkbau match rifles on the line. But whatever you pick, remember: it’s about the ding, not the bling.

Why We Like It

Bell Target is as quirky as it is competitive. It’s social without being overwhelming, technical without needing a physics degree, and traditional without being stuck in the past. Whether you’re into history, community sports, or just need an excuse to spend more time in the pub, this little discipline is booming again. Each week, we get a new batch of beginner bell target shooters walking through our doors asking for advice.

And let’s face it — anything that combines precision shooting with a pint glass audience is exactly the sort of British nonsense we can get behind.

Are you part of a a club or looking to start one, head down to the comments section to let others know about it!

---------------------------------------------------

Think we missed something? Let us know in the comments below.

---------------------------------------------------

Support this blog by buying the blog writer a coffee!

---------------------------------------------------

*Please note that some of the links may be Amazon affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission from your purchase. Affiliate links help support our blog and the valuable information we provide.

Image Use for Educational Purposes - This blog post includes images used for educational purposes, not all of which are not owned by the publisher. Efforts have been made to credit image owners/sources appropriately, and any concerns about attribution or copyright should be addressed by contacting us. These images are used solely for educational purposes within fair use guidelines, with no commercial intent. The inclusion of external images does not imply endorsement or sponsorship of our content by image owners/sources. We aim to comply with relevant copyright laws, and any questions or suggestions regarding image use or content are welcome through our contact information provided.