RPI Air Rifle Club

RPI Air Rifle Club runs one of the region's longest-operating shooting ranges. The facility started as a military shooting range in the early 1950s and evolved into a student-led club in the 1970s when Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute took it over.

The club uses Anschutz .177 caliber air rifles—precision instruments that shoot through the same hole if positioned identically. Unlike traditional firearms or airsoft guns, these rifles eliminate variables, making them ideal for learning marksmanship fundamentals.

Switched from .22 caliber rifles to .177 air rifles in 1983 due to lead poisoning risks in enclosed spaces. The German-made rifles have been the standard ever since.

Members train in International and Olympic-style shooting. The club regularly sends competitors to matches and hosts competitions on-site. Whether you're new to shooting or serious about precision marksmanship, the focus is on technique and consistency.

• •Email: [email protected]
• •President: Kyle Sharp ([email protected])
• •Follow: Facebook, Instagram, Discord for event updates

This is a serious marksmanship club with Olympic-style training, not casual plinking. If you're at RPI or in the Troy area and interested in air rifle, they're the real deal.