You do not need an arms licence to start target shooting in Chennai. Air rifles and air pistols with a muzzle energy of 20 joules or less and a bore no bigger than 0.177 inch (4.5 mm) can be bought without one, though only from dealers licensed under Form VIII-A, who must take proof of your identity and address, according to the Union Home Ministry’s FAQs on the Arms Rules, 2016. That is the class of gun used in 10-metre events, where almost every shooter begins.
Firearms for 25-metre and 50-metre pistol and rifle events, and shotguns, are a different matter, with tighter rules and paperwork. Here is where to shoot in and around the city, how the state championship works, and what the law says for sport shooters.
Where to shoot in and around Chennai
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Periamet: the SDAT campus includes a 10-metre shooting range, according to the state’s 2024-25 sports policy note.
- Chennai Rifle Club: the city club fields pistol and rifle teams in state competition. Its team won four golds in pistol team events at the 46th Tamil Nadu State Shooting Championship, held in Chennai in 2021, DT Next reported.
- Guru Nanak College, Velachery: hosted the shooting events of the 2023 edition of the Khelo India Youth Games, held in Tamil Nadu, where the state’s shooters won three silver medals and a bronze, the policy note records.
- Recreational ranges: some private commercial ranges offer supervised sessions for first-timers. They are good for a trial, but are not a route to competition by themselves.
Rifle clubs elsewhere in the state are part of the same circuit. The 47th state championship, in July 2022, was held at the Trichy Rifle Club and organised by the Tamil Nadu Shooting Association, and NCC cadets from the Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar directorate took 16 gold medals, DT Next reported.
From club member to national shooter
The Tamil Nadu Shooting Association, affiliated to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), runs the annual state championship, which is the usual first step towards national competition. The NRAI conducts national events under ISSF rules and its own match book, in three disciplines: rifle, pistol and shotgun. The NRAI website posts the national calendar, selection criteria and the forms for a shooter ID, including an ISSF ID form and an affidavit. In October 2026 it listed the Khelo India Youth Games shooting events in Hyderabad from 16 to 21 December.
- Try a session. Book an air rifle or air pistol session at a club or range with a qualified coach.
- Join a club. Membership of a club affiliated to the state association lets you train regularly and enter the state championship.
- Buy your own air gun later. After a few months, buy through a licensed dealer, keeping the bill and dealer details.
- Get a shooter ID. Apply through the NRAI before your first national event.
- Move to firearms only if needed. Events with .22 or centre-fire guns, or shotguns, need a licence, which the next section covers.
The licence rules for sport shooters
Any firearm needs an arms licence from the licensing authority. The MHA FAQs set out the points that matter most to sport shooters:
- Juniors: under Rule 36, a person aged at least 12 and under 21 may use permissible arms for training, but only in the immediate presence of, or under direct supervision by, an adult instructor or licence holder.
- Proof of sport: an applicant for a sport-shooting licence must show evidence of taking part in sport shooting or being in a structured learning process. A medical certificate stating the applicant does not depend on intoxicants or narcotics is among the documents required.
- Bigger air guns: air weapons above 20 joules or with a bore over 0.177 inch need a licence and count towards the firearm limit.
- Renewal: apply at least 60 days before the licence expires.
- All-India validity: dedicated sportspersons are eligible, and the District Magistrate may grant it.
The ceiling on firearms changed after those FAQs were written. The Arms (Amendment) Act, 2019 cut the limit for an ordinary licence holder from three firearms to two, SCC Online reported when follow-up rules were notified in February 2020. Shooters get allowances on top of that. Renowned shooters may hold up to 8 weapons for one event, 10 for two events and 12 for more than two, while junior target and aspiring shooters may hold up to two in each category in which they hold that status. The yearly practice ammunition limit rose to 5,000 rounds for .22 LR and shotgun calibres, and 2,000 for other pistols and revolvers.
Confirm the current forms and fees with the licensing authority before you apply, and take legal advice if your situation is unusual.
Quick answers
Do I need a licence for an air rifle in Chennai?
Not if it is at or below 20 joules and 0.177 inch bore, but you must buy it from a Form VIII-A licensed dealer.
Is there a government shooting range in Chennai?
Yes. SDAT’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium campus at Periamet has a 10-metre range, according to the 2024-25 policy note.
Can children take up shooting?
Yes. From age 12, juniors may train with permissible arms under direct adult supervision, under Rule 36 of the Arms Rules.
How many firearms can a renowned shooter own?
Up to 12 for more than two events, on top of the two allowed to any licence holder.
Information checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- FAQ on Arms Rules, 2016 (Ministry of Home Affairs)
- Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department Policy Note 2024-25 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Ajith bags four gold medals (DT Next)
- Cadets of NCC Directorate set record with 16 gold in shooting championship (DT Next)
- National Rifle Association of India
- Amendments in Arms Act, 1959 and Arms Rules, 2016 notified (SCC Online)
