The first target pistol shooting in Christchurch occurred in 1961 indoors at the Christchurch East Smallbore Rifle Club. Only .22 calibre rim-fire single shot pistols were allowed at that time.  The club still has two of these first four pistols -- ask the armorer if you want to see one.

1969 saw the formation of the New Zealand Pistol Association (NZPA) from which time various matches were approved by the New Zealand Police. The Christchurch Pistol Club as it is now known was incorporated in 1972 and affiliated to the NZPA and moved to its present ranges at McLean's Island.

1973 saw the redevelopment of the ranges for the 10th. Commonwealth Games with new 25 metre and 50 metre pistol ranges and the 100 metre smallbore rifle ranges being completed at the Burnett Range. These were designed to International Standards for the games in 1974, and were gifted to the clubs at the conclusion of the Games. Later our ranges were rebuilt to form four 25 metre and one 50/100 metre range which are currently in use. Recently, two more ranges have been constructed to the south of those ranges.

The club also completed a 12 bay Air range in 1990 equipped with automatic target positioning and retrieving winches for 10 metre air pistol matches.