When we think of Sydney, our minds go straight to house prices and slow internet. However, the harbour city offers forms of entertainment beyond sitting at the beach and sinking tins down at your local. Despite the wealth of extra-curricular activities, Sydney’s shooting ranges are among Australia’s best. The reality is shooting is a sport, not so dissimilar to darts. They’re toys, but for adults — and make no mistake, because they’re lethal, and this isn’t Southern Texas where everyone can tote a gun. Thanks to the safety of these gun and rifle range in Sydney, one can partake in this exhilarating pastime that hits the mental g-spot like no other activity. Now, let’s take a look at the best spots.
Table of contents
- 1. SSAA Silverdale Rifle Range
- 2. St Ives Pistol Club
- 3. Hornsby Rifle Range
- 4. Peninsular Firearm Academy
- 5. Sydney International Shooting Centre
- 6. St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre
- 7. Condell Park Indoor Firearms Range
- 8. Southern Highlands Rifle Club
- 9. Sydney Clay Target Club
- 10. Holroyd Rifle Range and Pigeon Club
- 11. The ANZAC Rifle Range
- 12. New South Wales Gun Club
- Auburn Shooting Academy (Temporarily Closed for Renovation)
- How do you Get a Firearms License in New South Wales?
- General FAQs
RELATED: These are the best paintball venues in Sydney right now.
1. SSAA Silverdale Rifle Range
Silverdale Rifle Range is owned and operated by SSAA Sydney Branch—which has four ranges on this list under its umbrella—and is one of the finest shooting ranges in Australia. The club provides many firearms when target shooting: pistols, shotguns, rimfire flies, silhouettes, and single-action shots. Their range is extensive, and all shooting areas are sound baffled and undercover. There’s also a concession area in their air-conditioned clubhouse, where they purvey ammunition for members at the range. And interestingly, they offer a deer butchering & caping course for hunters.
Address: 395 Avoca Rd, Silverdale NSW 2752
Hours: Mon-Sun 9 am-3:45pm
Phone: (02) 4653 1440
2. St Ives Pistol Club
For over 50 years, the St Ives Pistol Club has hosted the likes of the Olympic shooting disciplines, IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) & Service Pistol Matches. The club offers a comprehensive range of competitions that allow shooters of differing abilities to compete. And with its vast club membership and highly experienced staff, new members will be harnessed to become skilful shooters poised for competition. Their members also complete their work at state, national, and international levels. So, if you’re leaning towards joining a top-tier gun club for the competitive edge, look no further than this club.
Address: 437 Mona Vale Rd, Belrose NSW 2084
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5pm, Sat-Sun 8-6pm
Phone: 0422 342 949
3. Hornsby Rifle Range
The Hornsby Rifle Range is a sublime function not just for target shooting; it’s a place where you can make mates of similar tastes, where there’s a sausage sizzle fest every competition, and be immersed in its leafy environment and not some dungeon of an indoor shooting range. Boasting four targets ranging from 300-800m, bench rest at 50m on the 100m range, and bench rest and field positions at 100m, 200m or 300m. The facility allows members to compete in three target shooting disciplines: Target Rifle, F-Class and F-Class Open.
Address: Rosamond St, Hornsby NSW 2077
Hours: Mon-Sun 9-4:30pm
Phone: 0417 201 606
4. Peninsular Firearm Academy
Peninsular Firearm Academy is a state-of-the-art facility in Belrose that gives members a chance to learn and promote target shooting as a sport and help and teach juniors and members about the safe use of firearms. Owner Tony has personally designed this facility with built-in noise mitigation and electronic targets, and he’s even thought about the surrounding grounds and gardens, which will eventually become a natural reserve with more than ten thousand indigenous trees and shrubs. Impressively, the facility is also completely off-grid with solar panels, rainwater collection, waste disposal, a worm farm, and an NBN satellite disc. This is Sydney’s most up-to-date shooting range and would be a great place for newcomers to learn the craft.
Address: 439 Mona Vale Road, Belrose NSW 2084
Phone: 0431 581 259
5. Sydney International Shooting Centre
Built for the shooting events at the 2000 Summer Olympics, the Sydney International Shooting Centre is a state-of-the-art venue that offers top-notch shooting events and other activities on its 80 hectares of semi-rural bushland. So, if you’re a licensed firearm holder, you can use the centre’s 10-metre, 25-metre and 50-metre shooting ranges. And, if you’d like to try your hand at shooting but don’t have a firearms licence, give their Try Shooting Program a go. The venue also offers a range of sporting and commercial events.
Address: Range Rd, Cecil Park NSW 2178
Hours: Tue & Thur & Sat-Sun 9am-5pm, Fri & Wed 9am-10pm
Phone: (02) 8782 0100
6. St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre
St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre is another supreme spot on our list. Home to a large and well-stocked firearms dealership that stocks products from leading gun manufacturers and features electronically controlled target carriers that can be set at distances from 7m-50m, suitable for centrefire, rimfire and pistol shooting — what more can an indoor shooting range have? St Marys also offers firearm storage facilities for members, stocks a wide range of ammunition, and sells a gamut of knives, scopes, clothing, accessories, and firearm safes.
Address: 30 Power St, St Marys NSW 1790
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm
Phone: (02) 8889 0406
7. Condell Park Indoor Firearms Range
For over 25 years, Condell Park Indoor Firearms Range has been one of Sydney’s leading firearms dealerships and indoor firearm ranges. It provides licenced shooters and club members with a safe and top vicinity to test the talent of their trigger finger with a 9mm pistol, .460 Magnum, 44 Magnum revolver or shotgun in their 25-meter indoor shooting facility. It allows licenced shooters and club members to try out their top gun range: 44 magnum rifle, Desert Eagle and 357 Revolver. The range additionally sells ammunition, apparel, accessories and firearms.
Address: Unit 2/28 Harley Cres, Condell Park NSW 2200
Phone: (02) 9796 0600
8. Southern Highlands Rifle Club
Based at the Hill Top Rifle Range 1 hours’ drive southwest of Sydney is a club that’s shooting ranges span from 20 metres to 800 metres and boasts a multitude of disciplines including rimfire, F class and target rifle, and shooting activities tailored to beginners and adept shooters. The Southern Highlands Rifle Club’s impressive 800m range allows for long-range shooting at distances and hosts events for rifle calibres ranging from air rifles to 8mm centrefire rifles. The facility has recently introduced a new 500m & 50m range that will enhance the echelon of thrill for members and licenced visitors.
Address: Wattle Ridge Rd, Hill Top NSW 2575
Hours: Sat 9:15am-4:30pm
Phone: 012 406 337
9. Sydney Clay Target Club
The Sydney Clay Target Club, originally the Sydney Gun Club, has been reeling in ammoheads since the ‘30s with its stately shooting grounds. Since its heyday, the club has hosted competitions with lofty prizes and splendid occasions for corporate functions, hens & bucks parties, birthdays and even religious celebrations. This Sydney favourite has steadfastly brought joy to shooting target practice with a competitive edge. Under the wing of their adept and easy-going staff, you’ll experience the exhilaration that no other sport brings.
Address: Heathcote Rd, Lucas Heights NSW 2234
Hours: Wed 11:30am-4pm, Fri 6-10 pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
Phone: 0461 399 003
10. Holroyd Rifle Range and Pigeon Club
In Greystanes, you’ll discern some indiscreet buildings known as the Holroyd Rifle Range and Pigeon Club, one of West Sydney’s best-kept secrets. Part of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA), this range club offers .22 rimfire rifles from a bench rest up to a range of 50 metres with standard velocity ammunition only. And every Sunday night is the International Rimfire Benchrest competition. Casual shooters are welcome to try their shooting, and Safety Awareness testing for longarm firearms (categories A & B) are additionally conducted at the club.
Address: 2a Hyland Rd, Greystanes NSW 2145
Hours: Fri 6pm-9 pm, Sun 6 pm-9 pm
Phone: (02) 8078 4438
11. The ANZAC Rifle Range
Another one is the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA), which has four ranges on this list under its umbrella and is the ANZAC Rifle Range. It’s also the headquarters of the New South Wales Rifle Association and hosts many shooting comps. This facility is like Area 51. It’s highly secure and has a clandestine feel that reeks of a government intelligence agency. Anyhoo, you can expect plenty of .22, rimfire, and centrefire rifles of up to 8mm at this range. It also has an ammunition shop where members and those licenced can pick and choose ammunition and shooting gear.
Address: Franklin St, Malabar NSW 2036
Hours: Tue-Thur 9am-3pm, Sat 9:30am-5:30 pm
Phone: (02) 9661 4532
12. New South Wales Gun Club
It is the oldest club yet most beloved club on this list. New South Wales Gun Club is the OG of clay target shooting and features a gamut of services and professional shooting practices such as coaching and licencing of firearms. They offer sporting clays, trap shooting, skeet and ISSF Olympic Trap. Its outdoor range layouts are top-tier, and its grass grounds are kept enough for golf or a lawn bowl session. So, if you carry a firearm license and enjoy social interactions with all the easy-going members at a stately facility, this NSW Gun Club awaits.
Address: 131 Booralie Rd, Duffys Forest NSW 2084
Hours: Wed 2-9:30pm, Sat 10am-6pm
Phone: (02) 9450 1775
Auburn Shooting Academy (Temporarily Closed for Renovation)
If you’re itching for Sydney’s finest indoor shooting range, which’s tailored to handgun and pistol firearms, then the Auburn Shooting Academy is your best bet. Boasting an indoor archery range, three indoor ranges of 19 lane pistol lanes spanning 25-metre in length range with electronically-controlled targets, it’s safe to say this facility brings it hard. And if you’re not in the mood to shoot at a target, help yourself recline in their members’ lounge while watching TV or members in action. The Academy also hosts ‘Try-Shoot days’ for unlicensed participants to help them try their hand at this extreme sport.
Address: 16-18 Byrne St, Auburn NSW 2144
Phone: (02) 9737 9099
How do you Get a Firearms License in New South Wales?
The legal age for an individual to get a firearm license in NSW is 18. But apparently, anyone who’s 12 years of age or older (under the age of 18) is permitted to use firearms at a shooting range. They just need to meet the NSW Police requirement by completing the P650 declaration form (for unlicensed shooters) and:
- Be permitted to undertake the activity by the club, range or an instructor
- Be supervised by a licensed club/range official or firearms instructor.
When applying for a firearms licence in NSW, you must provide evidence of your legitimate reason for possessing and using firearms.
There are two reasonable grounds for this application:
- The first is that the genuine reason can not be for the protection of yourself or others
- And you can have more than one genuine reason for your firearms licence.
Who’s Eligible?
To be entitled to a firearms licence, you gotta:
- be residing in NSW
- be 18 years old or older
- be a physically fit person to have access to firearms
- have completed a firearms training & safety course appropriate to the type of firearm licence you’re applying for
- provide evidence & justify a legitimate reason for possessing or using a firearm(s).
What are the Requirements?
There are several things you need to get a permit for a firearms license:
- evidence of an active NSW driver’s licence & Medicare card
- a MyServiceNSW Account
- one of the following:
1. a firearms safety training certificate
2. your previous firearms licence number, or
3. your current interstate firearms licence number - documentation to support each genuine reason
- a current credit or debit card for your payment
There are also four categories of firearms in NSW: Category A, B, C, D, H. And depending on your legitimate reason(s):
- if you’re applying for a licence over and above a category A firearms licence, you’ll need:
1. evidence that a ‘special need’ exists for a category B, C, D or H licence - if you’re applying for a category H firearm licence with a legitimate reason of business or employment as an armed security guard, then you’ll need:
1. a copy of your current 1F security licence
2. a current firearms training and safety course certificate
3. a letter of intent and endorsement from an approved master licensee.
Where do you Apply?
- Click on this link to the application for a firearms licence.
- Click on the ‘Apply online’ button at the bottom of the screen.
- You’ll be taken to the NSW Police Force Community Self-Service Portal.
- Ensure that you’ve got all the documentation required.
- Click on the ‘Login with Service NSW’.
- Follow the prompts to complete your application.
General FAQs
The best shooting range in Sydney is Marconi Clay Target Club located at 228 Heathcote Rd, Sydney.
Do you need a gun license to shoot at a range? Yes, a gun licence is required for people 18 years or over to shoot at a range. And anyone between the ages of 12-18 who wants to partake in target shooting must meet the NSW Police requirement of being approved through a P650 declaration form (for unlicensed shooters).
The Sydney International Shooting Centre is the biggest shooting range in Sydney. The centre has many facilities and boasts a multitude of activities on its 80 hectares of semi-rural bushland.
You’ll also like:
