Practical Hunting Rifle
Real-world hunting scenarios — field positions, time limits and practical calibres.
Practical Hunting Rifle is the closest sport you’ll find to real hunting. It will test and improve your ability to judge distance, give you knowledge of your rifle’s ballistics and how to judge the influence of the wind on the bullet’s trajectory. In addition, it will give you the ability to shoot from various positions, shoot within time constraints and with correct shot placement.
Practical Hunting Rifle Video here
Competitions
Practical hunting rifle is a shooting contest of variable and non- standard format that examines practical marksmanship as it occurs in the hunting field. This means that every competition will be different to the next. Both centrefire and rimfire matches are conducted.
In every competition total of 30 shots will be fired on a minimum of 6 lanes; typically 5 shots per target. The targets are placed at unknown distances and the competitor needs to judge the distance and make the required ballistic adjustments.
A few typical lanes may be shooting offhand (without support) at a fox about 50m away, shooting from a prone position, using a rock as support at a springbok about 250m away and shooting at a camel from a kneeling position, using a tree for support, about 180m away.
Positions
Any position can be prescribed by the match officials
Different for every one of the six lanes per conditions
Offhand, kneeling, sitting or prone without supports or with a support to simulate actual field conditions.
Scoring
Vital zones scores vary from 30 to 5 points.
Other zones can attract a loss of 5 up to 15 points.
Targets
Life size paper prints of game and feral animals.
100mm and 200mm steel discs.
Classes of Rifles
Any centrefire hunting rifle allowed on SSAA ranges typically from .204Ruger to .300 Win Mag or .22LR Rimfire rifles.
Most competitors use off-the-shelf rifles with no modifications.
Slings are allowed, no limits to scope magnification maximum distance of 400m.
Laser range finder and wind meters are not allowed.
Practical Hunting Rifle Rulebook
Ssaa Standard Rules No 9 3 Rev Nov 2025
2025 Ssaa Wa Practical Hunting Rifle Rulesbook
WA Discipline Delegates
For more information on Practical Hunting Rifle in WA please contact:
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Jan van Niekerk 0406 833 368 email hidden; JavaScript is required
Tobie Deale 0402 680 975 email hidden; JavaScript is required
Ready to have a go?
Find a WA club that runs Practical Hunting Rifle, or talk to us about your first supervised shoot — no licence needed to try.