About Grove

Founded in Norfolk and now extending across East Anglia and beyond, The Grove has approaching 350 members and supports a wide range of shooting disciplines, from black powder pistols, shotguns, small bore rifles as well as centre fire rifles, including HME rifles, at distances out to ¾ mile. The Club began as a commercial enterprise established by Norfolk farmer Tony Hardesty, who built an indoor range on his farm at Forncett St Peter, from which the Club takes its name.

In its early years, The Grove was primarily a pistol club, while also supporting smallbore rifle shooting and regular visits to Bisley. A Grove team won the final Norfolk Pistol Championships in 1998, with the individual title also taken by a Grove member. Following the handgun ban, the Club continued at its private range but transitioned to a member-run organisation under a formal committee, expanding into gallery rifle disciplines and increasing its focus on muzzle-loading firearms.

When the original range building was later repurposed, the Club again adapted, maintaining its activities through cooperation with local organisations including Norwich & District Parabellum Club, the Norfolk & Suffolk Muzzle Loaders Association, and Smallburgh Rifle Club. These partnerships enabled The Grove to continue shooting during a period of transition while preserving its core disciplines.

Today, the Club runs a wide and continually developing programme of shooting activities across a range of established venues. Shoots are held on the Thetford Converted Gallery Range (CGR), supporting rifle shooting at distances from 200 metres out to 600 yards, and on the Thetford Electronic Target Range (ETR), where electronic targets are typically configured at 100, 200 and 300 yards, providing efficient and feedback-rich shooting across multiple disciplines.

Longer-range rifle shooting takes place at the Barton Road Rifle Range near Cambridge, where firing is conducted from 800 yards through to 1,000 yards, with 1,200 yards available when required, enabling members to develop and maintain extended long-range marksmanship skills. Occasional club excursions take place to Bisley Shooting Ground, in Surrey, the home of target shooting in the U.K., where a diverse range of shooting disciplines may be experienced.

Short- and mid-range rifle shooting is also conducted on the Euston Estate range, which offers a flexible layout with firing points from 25 metres through to 100 metres, together with established firing points at 100 yards and 200 yards, and 300 yards where range conditions and approvals permit. This makes Euston particularly well suited to training, zeroing, and general skill development across a broad range of rifle disciplines.

Members also benefit from access to the new 100-metre tunnel range at Rose Hill Farm Rifle Range, providing enhanced all-weather capability for rifle shooting. Practical Mini Rifle has expanded significantly at the Viking HG Pistol Range, reflecting the growing popularity of this discipline. Practical Shotgun meetings take place at Wetherden, where the Club has planned development of improved target facilities to further enhance shooting opportunities.

The Grove has developed its co-operation with neighbouring clubs, particularly West Suffolk Rifle Club and King’s Lynn St Michael Rifle and Pistol Club. By sharing range dates and coordinating calendars, these partnerships increase range time availability for members of all participating clubs and help make best use of limited regional shooting facilities.

No prior shooting experience is required to join the Club. New members are supported through a structured induction process and ongoing supervision by senior committee and well-established members and NRA-qualified Club Instructors. The Club runs formal training courses for probationary members, designed to ensure a thorough understanding of safe firearms handling, civilian range procedures, range commands, and best practice across the disciplines shot by the Club.

Applicants with military or police small-arms training, even where that experience is recent, are normally accepted as Probationary members, subject to evaluation by the Club’s NRA-trained Club Instructor before elevation to full membership. This reflects the recognised differences between military and civilian firearms handling, range safety systems and procedures, and ensures all members operate to consistent civilian standards.

As part of its training provision, the Club delivers instruction to enable members to achieve the necessary knowledge and competence required to earn Shooter Certification Cards, which are required by the Ministry of Defence for members wishing to shoot independently on MoD-controlled ranges. These courses ensure members understand MoD range regulations, safety templates, danger areas, and the responsibilities associated with shooting on Defence Estate ranges.

The Grove also offers hand-loading (reloading) courses, providing members with structured instruction in safe and effective ammunition manufacture, including component selection, load development, pressure awareness, record-keeping, and legal responsibilities. These courses are intended to support accuracy, consistency and safety, particularly for longer-range and specialist disciplines.

Recognising the importance of welfare and emergency preparedness, the Club encourages regular shoot attendees to undertake First Aid at Work training, particularly those who volunteer to offer first-aid support at Club shoots. This strengthens the Club’s overall safety culture and provides reassurance to members when shooting at both civilian and MoD venues.

Prospective members are invited to attend induction shoots at Euston Range (see the Ranges section for details). While some members do compete in shooting competitions, some at an international level, there is no pressure to do so; the Club exists to appreciate, enjoy and learn about both sporting and historical firearms in a safe, responsible and supportive environment.

The Grove actively encourages younger shooters, ideally under parental supervision, to foster safe firearm handling, good sportsmanship and long-term participation in the sport. The minimum age for Club membership is 10 years. To shoot on Ministry of Defence (MoD) ranges, members must be at least 14 years of age, in accordance with MoD regulations.

The Grove is affiliated to the UK National Rifle Association and the Muzzle Loaders’ Association of Great Britain.

Membership Fees

Adult Member: £65 per year

Family Member (residing with the principal member): £45 per year

Junior Member (residing with the principal member): £25 per year

There is no additional charge for making an application

Please direct membership enquiries to: secretary@grovesmallarms.com