Exsight introduced the sport of acoustic target shooting to the Illawarra in 2015. For several years, Exsight developed the sport and negotiated the rules with the NSW Firearms Registry. In 2023 we had to abandon this work as we ran out of resources to run it. However it has been a blessing to numerous vision impaired shooters who have continued on with other clubs.
Acoustic target shooting uses cameras and sound to replace vision to allow a vision impaired shooter to aim a rifle. The system uses a special scope that provides a variable pitch sound through headphones to guide the shooters’ aim.
Exsight VI shooters competed annually in the Home Range Cup (HRC), an international postal target shooting competition involving European and USA blind or vision impaired target shooters. Seven of Exsight’s VI shooters competed regularly in the HRC and their results were impressive. Rhonda won her division in 2020 and Steven, Peter, Rhonda and Sarah were well placed in the 2021 competition.
Vision Impaired acoustic target shooting is now a World Shooting Para Sport and a Paralympic sanctioned event and is likely to be included in the 1928 Paralympic Games with World Championships held annually at various cities throughout the world including Sydney, Australia in 2019.