Welcome to Petone Rifle Club

Petone Rifle Club Inc. was founded in 1890 and our home is at the Trentham Rifle Range in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

We are a group of rifle enthusiasts who enjoy the challenge of long range shooting. We shoot on the Seddon Range from 300 yards to 1000 yards predominately with 7.62mm calibre. We shoot in the outdoors from September to the end of April in a prone position (lying on the ground).

What is 'long range target rifle shooting'?

Full bore target shooting involves shooting a string of 7, 10 or 15 shots at a target from varying distances of up to 1000yds. There are two main types of shooting, target rifle (aperture or iron sights) or scope shooting (F Open or F TR class) - more details on our fullbore rifle shooting page.

Target Rifle Shooting is very safe sport with stringent range rules and procedures for everyone's safety. It is a precision sport which involves hand eye coordination and the ability to read the conditions around you. Outdoor shooting involves analysing the range flags to determine the wind direction, speed and strength, reading the mirage and the topography of the range. Shooters learn self-discipline and decision making: you can not bring bullets back so you have to 'get it right' the first time.

How do I get involved?

We welcome visitors and if by prior arrangement we can gladly arrange equipment for you. So come along and meet us and have a go! Find out more on the How to Start Shooting page and the FAQ page.