On your first shooting range visit at Shooters Range, you arrive 10 minutes early, check in at reception, get a full safety briefing from a range officer, put on your safety equipment and then spend a full hour shooting electronic smart targets. Everything is provided and no experience is needed, so the only thing you have to organise is getting there on time.
This guide walks you through exactly what to expect, step by step, from the moment you book to the moment your score lands on the national leaderboards. It applies to all three venues: Shooters Range Leicester, Shooters Range Nottingham and Shooters Range Sheffield, which all run the same format.
If you have never held an airsoft replica before, you are in good company. Complete beginners are welcome on every session, and experienced shooters use exactly the same lanes, so a mixed group of friends, family or colleagues works well.
At a glance
- Session length: a 1-hour session on the range, whichever package you choose.
- When to arrive: 10 minutes early, to check in, have your safety briefing and get kitted out.
- Price: from £25 per person for the Rifle Experience.
- Minimum age: 11. Ages 11 to 16 need a responsible adult (18+) who stays and supervises for the whole session.
- What to wear: comfortable clothes that cover your arms and legs, and closed-toe shoes (required).
- What to bring: nothing. Your replica, BBs and full safety equipment, including eye protection, are included.
- Capacity: 4 lanes per venue and up to 3 shooters per lane, so up to 12 people shooting at once.
- Supervision: trained range officers supervise every session.
Your first shooting range visit, stage by stage
Every first visit follows the same simple order: book, arrive 10 minutes early, check in, have your safety briefing, get kitted out, shoot for an hour, then see your scores on the national leaderboards. The table below shows each stage and what, if anything, you need to do.
| Stage | When | What happens | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Book | Before your visit | Pick a venue, package, date and time online | Book ahead for weekends and school holidays, which sell out |
| 2. Arrive | 10 minutes before your slot | Make your way to the venue and head to reception | Wear clothes covering arms and legs, and closed-toe shoes |
| 3. Check in | On arrival | Reception checks you and your group in | Have your booking details to hand; 11 to 16s check in with their adult |
| 4. Safety briefing | Before you shoot | A trained range officer gives a full safety briefing | Listen carefully and ask anything you are unsure about |
| 5. Kit up | Before you shoot | You are fitted with safety equipment, including eye protection, and given your replica and BBs | Take off loose jewellery |
| 6. On the range | Your 1-hour session | You shoot Attacksense smart targets across solo and head-to-head game modes | Follow the range officer's instructions and enjoy it |
| 7. Scores | During and after | Your scores go onto the live national leaderboards | Look yourself up and see how you compare |
| 8. Leave | When your hour ends | You hand back the equipment and head off | Plan where you are going next |
Before you go: booking your first session
The easiest way to book is online, through your chosen venue: book Shooters Range Leicester, book Shooters Range Nottingham or book Shooters Range Sheffield. Walk-ins are accepted subject to availability, but weekends and school holidays sell out, so booking ahead is the safer plan for a first visit.
Which package should you choose?
Every package is a 1-hour session on the range and includes your weapon or weapons, BBs, full safety equipment and the safety briefing. The difference is what you shoot with.
- Rifle Experience, £25 per person: great for casual or first-time shooters.
- Pistol Experience, £30 per person.
- MP7 Experience, £35 per person.
- Dual Firearm Experience, £40 per person.
- Elite Experience, £60 per person.
If you get through your BBs and want more, extra 500 BBs cost £4. You can also add an Arcturus full metal pistol with 500 BBs for £15, or an MP7 gas blowback with 1,000 BBs for £20.
Booking for a group
Each lane takes up to 3 shooters, and each venue has 4 lanes, so up to 12 people can shoot at the same time. For a group of 13 or more, contact us for a tailored group package rather than booking lane by lane.
If your plans change
Bookings are non-refundable but can be rescheduled. Your first reschedule is free with at least 24 hours' notice; otherwise it costs £5 per person, and later reschedules cost £5 to £10 per person. You can move your booking yourself at manage my booking.
What should you wear to a shooting range?
Wear comfortable clothing that covers your arms and legs, and closed-toe shoes, which are required. Avoid loose jewellery. That is the whole dress code: the safety equipment, including eye protection, is provided when you arrive.
- Do wear: trousers or leggings, a long-sleeved top or a hoodie, trainers or other closed-toe shoes.
- Avoid: sandals, sliders, open-toe shoes, dangling earrings, necklaces and bracelets that could catch.
- Leave at home: your own airsoft guns and BBs. Personal equipment is not allowed, and only our equipment is used on the range.
Because the range is indoors, the session runs whatever the weather. You do not need waterproofs or a change of clothes, and you leave looking much as you arrived.
Getting there and checking in
Aim to arrive 10 minutes before your slot. That gives time to check in at reception, have your safety briefing and get kitted out, so your hour on the range starts on time. If you are bringing anyone aged 11 to 16, their responsible adult (18+) needs to check in with them and stay for the whole session.
- Shooters Range Leicester: 65D Bedford Street South, Leicester LE1 3JR, in the city centre. There is no on-site parking, but there is a nearby NCP car park and on-street parking.
- Shooters Range Nottingham: 20 Norfolk Place, Nottingham NG1 2AA, in the city centre. The venue is at the very end of Norfolk Place, an alleyway with a big Shooters Range banner. Enter from Upper Parliament Street, as there is no access from Market Place. There is no on-site parking; there are NCP car parks and pay-and-display nearby.
- Shooters Range Sheffield: 163 Rutland Road, Sheffield S3 9PT, a short walk from Kelham Island. There is on-street parking on the surrounding streets.
All three venues are closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Thursday 17:00 to 21:00, Friday 17:00 to 22:00, Saturday 11:00 to 22:00 and Sunday 11:00 to 19:00. Hours can change, so check the venue page for the latest times.
The safety briefing: what to expect
Every session starts with a full safety briefing from a trained range officer, and that range officer supervises your session from start to finish. The briefing is the point where first-timers stop wondering what to do: it covers how to handle the equipment safely and the rules you follow while you are on the range.
You do not need to remember anything in advance or know any jargon. Listen, ask questions if something is unclear, and follow the range officer's instructions during the session. If you would like to read up before you go, our safety page and the guide is airsoft safe? explain how sessions are run.
Getting kitted out
Once the briefing is done, you are fitted with full safety equipment, including eye protection, and handed the replica or replicas that come with your package along with your BBs. Shooters Range uses premium airsoft replicas, including the electric M4 rifle, an HPA pistol and the Tokyo Marui MP7.
This is a good moment to take off any loose jewellery and settle on the order your group will shoot in, as up to three of you can share each lane.
What happens during your hour on the range?
Your hour on the range is spent shooting Attacksense electronic smart targets, which detect every hit in real time and score it automatically. The system runs 14 game modes, from timed challenges to tactical scenarios, and you can play them on your own or head to head with the others on your lane.
Solo game modes
Solo modes test you against the targets and the clock. They include Endurance, Target Practice, Shooting Gallery, Sudden Ambush, Rhythm and Clear the Board. They are a good way to settle in at the start of your hour before the competition between you and your friends begins.
Head-to-head game modes
Multiplayer modes put 2 or 3 players against each other on the same lane. They include Blitz, Streak, Draw, Endurance and Clear the Board. Because scoring is automatic, there is no arguing over who hit what: the targets settle it.
Do you need to be a good shot?
No. No experience is needed, and complete beginners are welcome alongside experienced shooters. Everyone uses the same equipment and the same targets, so the scores reflect how you shoot on the day rather than what kit you own.
Where do your scores go?
Every score from every venue goes onto live national leaderboards, so your first visit gives you a ranking against shooters in Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield. Endurance is the headline board, and recent scores show live on the site.
After your session, find your name on the national leaderboards. Plenty of groups use them to keep a rivalry going, booking a rematch to see who can climb higher.
After your session
When your hour is up, you hand back the equipment and you are free to carry on with your day. Because the session is an hour and there is no mess, it fits easily before a meal or a night out. If drinks are on the plan, book the shoot first and the bar afterwards.
For ideas on what to do next, see our guides to things to do in Leicester for groups and things to do in Nottingham for groups. If you want to know more about the activity itself, read what airsoft target shooting is.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience for my first visit?
No experience is needed. Complete beginners are welcome on every session at Shooters Range, and experienced shooters use the same lanes. A trained range officer gives you a full safety briefing before you start and supervises the whole session, so you are never left to work things out on your own. All equipment is provided, including your replica, BBs and safety equipment.
How early should I arrive?
Arrive 10 minutes before your booked time. Those 10 minutes are used to check you in at reception, give you your safety briefing and get you kitted out, so your 1-hour session on the range can start on time. If you are in a group, try to arrive together so the whole lane can be briefed and ready at once.
What should I wear to a shooting range?
Wear comfortable clothing that covers your arms and legs, such as trousers and a long-sleeved top, and closed-toe shoes, which are required. Avoid loose jewellery. You do not need special clothing or eye protection of your own, because full safety equipment, including eye protection, is provided. The range is indoors, so the weather makes no difference.
Can I bring my own airsoft gun or BBs?
No. Personal guns and BBs are not allowed at Shooters Range, and only our equipment is used on the range. Every package includes your weapon or weapons, BBs and full safety equipment. If you want more ammunition during your session, extra 500 BBs are available as an add-on for £4.
How old do you have to be?
The minimum age is 11, and there is no upper age limit. Anyone aged 11 to 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or over, who stays and supervises for the whole session. That makes it a good activity for families with older children as well as adult groups. Our guide on how old you have to be to do airsoft has more detail.
How long does a first visit take?
Plan for about an hour and ten minutes in total. Every package is a 1-hour session on the range, and you should arrive 10 minutes early for check-in, your safety briefing and getting kitted out. Leave a little extra time to find the venue if you have not been before, particularly in Nottingham, where you enter Norfolk Place from Upper Parliament Street.
What if I can't make my booking?
Bookings are non-refundable, but you can reschedule. Your first reschedule is free if you give at least 24 hours' notice; with less notice it costs £5 per person. Any later reschedules cost £5 to £10 per person. You can change your date and time online through the manage booking page, without needing to call the venue.