North Cotes Butts Shooting Club is a premier multi-disciplinary venue situated on a historic former RAF base in Lincolnshire. This site, once a strategic Bloodhound missile base during the Cold War, has been transformed into one of the UK’s most versatile shooting environments. It caters to all skill levels, from complete novices to elite competitors, offering a unique blend of modern sport and military heritage.
The infrastructure is designed to support virtually any shooting style regardless of the weather, featuring several specialized areas:
The Tunnel: A unique 100-meter enclosed tube range used for precision rifle calibration and all-weather practice.
Military Butts: An 8-lane, 25-meter covered gallery range originally built by the RAF for machine gun calibration.
Outdoor Ranges: Including a 50-meter open range, a dedicated Airgun range with a cozy log burner, and a specialized Western-style range for Cowboy Action Shooting.
The club hosts a massive variety of competitions and supports nearly all major shooting disciplines under national governing bodies like the UKPSA and NTSA.
Action Disciplines: Monthly events for Practical Shotgun, Mini Rifle (.22 caliber), and Long Barrel Pistol/Revolver (LBP/LBR).
Clay Pigeon: A dedicated area with over 40 automatic traps offering English Sporting and Skeet layouts.
Specialty Events: Regular Precision Rifle Shooting (PRS) matches and the world-famous "Baikal Challenge" fun shoot, which includes a free BBQ and prizes.
To ensure a smooth experience, the club utilizes the Claymate automated system for precise target counting and billing. Beyond the shooting lines, visitors can enjoy the spacious clubroom and the legendary "North Cotes Bacon Butties". For those traveling from across the country for major championships, the site even offers on-site bed and breakfast accommodations.
Inclusivity is a core value, with the facility being fully accessible for disabled shooters and offering specialized coaching for those with visual impairments. Beginners are warmly welcomed with access to club-owned guns and safety equipment for hire, while advanced competitors can participate in IPSC-style safety certifications and high-level training programs.
Membership is flexible, offered on a pro-rata basis to ensure fairness for those joining later in the year. The most notable benefit for members with their own firearms is 24/7 access to the facilities, 365 days a year—a level of freedom that makes it one of the most dedicated shooting communities in the United Kingdom.
