Previously to the setting up of the national body, the miniature rifle sport had been catered for by a number of small, independent local associations. The New Zealand Miniature Rifle Association, now known as the New Zealand Small-bore Rifle Association, was formed following an informal meeting at Christchurch on 19 July 1924. During the succeeding months further meetings were held. On 28 March 1925 the first annual meeting, attended by delegates from 15 local associations, approved the constitution and rules of the new association. It thus became possible to regulate the conduct of competitions, and one of the first actions taken was to adopt the Ashburton printed target as the New Zealand standard target and to arrange for a uniform system of scoring. Points ranged from one to five so that the seven-bull match would count for a possible 35, and the 10-bull match for a possible 50. This system continued until 1927 when the value of the shots was changed to conform with those of the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs, London. In July of that year the New Zealand association affiliated with the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs and indicated that it wished to take part in the international competitions. In 1928, as a result of this, the New Zealand Association discarded the Ashburton target in favour of the Roberts target, and the checking system was changed from “out the line” to “a touch”. The Roberts target continued to be used for competitions until 1936, when it was replaced by the metric target.
One of the principal functions of the New Zealand Small-bore Rifle Association is to arrange the conduct of competitions. The first New Zealand small-bore rifle championship and men's teams' championship was held in 1925. In the following year a ladies' championship (“R” Cup) event was inaugurated. During the next few years the scope of the competitions was widened as new events were introduced. The men's interclub event was divided into five grades, special trophies being the Master Grade Association Cup; the Winchester Cup (1931) for A Grade; the Palma (1935) for B Grade; the Whitcombe and Caldwell Cup (1929) for C Grade, and the Sidney Tisdall Cup (1928) for D Grade. Since 1932 the Turner and Le Brun Cup has been awarded to the competitor gaining the highest aggregate score for the season. A special trophy – the Rhen-West “R” Cup – has been competed for since 1938 by teams using “R” type ammunition. For the duration of the war the New Zealand small-bore rifle championships were abandoned.
Until 1940 New Zealand competitions were organised by the Wellington executive with comparatively little aid from other associations. In 1946 an attempt was made to spread representation and a more fully representative executive was set up. The competitions were widened and several new events were introduced. In that year an annual inter-association match was instituted and, since 1949, a junior championship (Stoddart Cup) and junior inter-association competition have been held. In addition to these, the Ross Shield is awarded to the winner of the annual North v. South Island match.
Since 1927 New Zealand teams have participated in overseas competitions. As these are postal matches it is comparatively easy for local teams to compete. In 1931 a Wellington team was placed fourth in the London B.S.A. teams' match and in the following year this team came second. R. H. Nicholl, of Wellington Harbour Board club, won the international Presidents Match in 1931. In 1937 New Zealand took fourth place in the Dewar Trophy tournament. Canterbury won the B.S.A. Cup match in 1938 and again in 1960. During the 1950–51 seasons Wellington and Christchurch teams were successful in Empire postal matches. In addition to these, the Slazenger Shield is competed for between Australian and New Zealand teams.
Although the possession and use of pistols have been illegal in New Zealand for many years, the New Zealand Small-bore Rifle Association was granted a permit in 1961 to introduce pistol shooting for a trial period. The Christchurch East club held the first pistol shoot in March 1962, and since that date several more permits have been granted. The association eventually intends to include pistol events in its normal competitions.
| New Zealand Small-bore Rifle Championship | |
| 1925 | C. R. Walker (Sydenham) |
| 1926 | W. Bradshaw (Timaru) |
| 1927 | A. Pratley (Willowby) |
| 1928 | R. H. Nicholl (Harbour Board, Wellington) |
| 1929 | H. V. Croxton (Public Service, Wellington) |
| 1930 | P. B. Goldfinch (Hutt, Wellington) |
| 1931 | C. Farley (RSA, Christchurch) |
| 1932 | G. E. Naylor (Cashmere, Christchurch) |
| 1933 | W. Duncan (Timaru) |
| 1934 | K. Lumsden (Sanson) |
| 1935 | J. M. Carmichael (Hastings) |
| 1936 | H. Barker (Sydenham) |
| 1937 | S. O. Hay (United) |
| 1938 | C. L. Timbrell (Sumner) |
| 1939 | S. A. Pruden (New Plymouth) |
| 1940–45 | No competition |
| 1946 | A Grade: A. Birmingham (Christchurch F.B.H.G.) |
| B Grade: P. Mallon (Gore) | |
| C Grade: A. T. Fletcher (Levin) | |
| D Grade: K. Haycock (Richmond) | |
| 1947 | A Grade: Miss Y. J. Anderson (Westmere) |
| B Grade: F. Forbes (Napier) | |
| C Grade: W. Stark (Wanganui Citizens) | |
| D Grade: Mrs J. Newton (Wanganui Citizens) | |
| 1948 | A Grade: A. Zimmerman (Tamaki) |
| B Grade: Mrs Matheson (Dunedin Railways) | |
| C Grade: T. Beecroft (Christchurch East H.G.) | |
| D Grade: G. Knox (Hutt) | |
| 1949 | A Grade: R. E. Taylor (Cashmere) |
| B Grade: T. Kendall (Palmerston North RSA) | |
| C Grade: N. Moosman (Wanganui Citizens) | |
| 1950 | A Grade: J. Murdoch (Wellington Municipal) |
| B Grade: A. McNaughton (Weston) | |
| C Grade: F. Medlicott (Hook) | |
| 1951 | A Grade: K. Macdowell (Wellington Municipal) |
| B Grade: W. Birch (Palmerston North) | |
| C Grade: S. Luttrell (Wharepara) and J. Graham (Dannenevirke) | |
| D Grade: G. Weston (Palmerston North) | |
| 1952 | M Grade: C. Thom (Heathcote) |
| A Grade: J. C. Faulkner (Willowbridge) | |
| B Grade: R. Coleman (Citizens) | |
| C Grade: G. Donovan (Aotea) | |
| D Grade: A. S. Williams (Darfield) | |
| 1953 | M Grade: B. Weston (Palmerston North RSA) |
| A Grade: J. B. Stevenson (Pleasant Point) | |
| B Grade: E. Smith (Oamaru Railway) | |
| C Grade: M. Shailes (Sanson) | |
| D Grade: A. Quittenden (Marton) | |
| 1954 | M Grade: B. J. Perry (Hastings) |
| A Grade: Miss B. Earl (Ormondville) | |
| B Grade: B. McSweeney (Pungarehu) | |
| C Grade: Mrs Tapp (Riverbank) | |
| D Grade: R. Sangster (Invercargill RSA) | |
| 1955 | M Grade: G. G. Hornung (Heathcote) |
| A Grade: Miss F. Preston (Culverden) | |
| B Grade: C. Churcher (Hastings) | |
| C Grade: M. A. Clement (Gore) | |
| D Grade: V. Orr (Anchor) | |
| 1956 | M Grade: E. R. Strong (Palmerston North) |
| A Grade: I. R. Harper (Dunsandel) | |
| B Grade: Mrs Downes (Masterton) | |
| C Grade: Mrs A. Lynch (Pauatahanui) | |
| D Grade: Mrs H. Knowles (Poroutawhao) | |
| 1957 | Open Grade: A. Churcher (Municipal, Wanganui) |
| A Grade: A. Fake (Pungarehu, Taranaki) | |
| B Grade: Miss M. Bathgate (Tapanui East, Southland) | |
| C Grade: Mrs V. Ellis (Tamaki, Auckland) | |
| D Grade: Miss B. Haynes (R. R. & Gun, Manawatu) | |
| 1958 | Open Grade: Mrs C. Matheson (Dunedin Railway), M. F. |
| Blakemore (Pleasant Point), and A. J. Mann (Balclutha) | |
| A Grade: K. J. Eising (Makomako-Bush) | |
| B Grade: J. Rutherford (Hawarden) | |
| C Grade: M. Berry (Sydenham) | |
| D Grade: R. Kelsall (Tauranga-Waikato) | |
| 1959 | Open Grade: R. E. Taylor (Cashmere, Christchurch), R. |
| Jones (Utiku), G. McArthur (Ashburton), and J. S. | |
| Gibson (Awamoko) | |
| A Grade: D. Webster (Hawera) | |
| B Grade: P. Haynes (Utuwai) | |
| C Grade: J. Stewart (Marton) | |
| D Grade: L. Greig (RSA, Christchurch) | |
| 1960 | Open Grade: R. Flintoft (Rotherham) |
| A Grade: G. Brass (Invercargill City Guards) | |
| B Grade: B. Arthur (Upper Hutt) | |
| C Grade: E. Lockyer (Avon, Christchurch) | |
| D Grade: G. Warman (Kaikoura) | |
| 1961 | Open Grade: B. Darrock (West End, Timaru) |
| A Grade: R. C. Kragg (Tauranga) | |
| B Grade: J. Harris (Putaruru) | |
| C Grade: Mrs J. Weston (RSA, Palmerston North) | |
| D Grade: R. Hamlin (Utuwai) | |
| 1962 | Open Grade: N. W. France (Matamau) |
| A Grade: D. Spiers (Rongotea) | |
| B Grade: Mrs R. Weston (RSA, Palmerston North) | |
| C Grade: N. Brown (Cambridge) | |
| D Grade: C. Weston (RSA, Palmerston North) | |
| 1963 | Open Grade: I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham) |
| A Grade: R. L. Peterson (Waitara) | |
| B Grade: L. Hills (Waiau) | |
| C Grade: C. Burt (Mangamutu) | |
| D Grade: C. Austin (Thames) | |
| 1964 | Open Grade: I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham) |
| A Grade: J. F. Johnson (Clandeboye) | |
| B Grade: S. Nairn (Hamilton) | |
| C Grade: G. Ashton (Inglewood) | |
| D Grade: D. Robertson (Legion) |
| 1932 | S. O. Hay (Sydenham) |
| 1933 | J. M. Carmichael (Hastings) |
| 1934 | T. Pritchard (Bulls) |
| 1935 | L. Hare (Hutt) |
| 1936 | R. H. Nicholl (Harbour Board, Wellington) |
| 1937 | T. Pritchard (Taumarunui) |
| 1938 | C. Bain (South Featherston) |
| 1939 | L. Hare (Hutt) |
| 1940 | D. McKenzie (Christchurch W.M.C.) |
| 1941 | L. Hare (Hutt) |
| 1942–46 | No competition |
| 1947 | S. L. Luxford (Hastings) |
| 1948 | E. S. Hughes (Wanganui Citizens) |
| 1949 | R. E. Taylor (Cashmere) |
| 1950 | E. White (Barnetts) |
| 1951 | E. White (Auckland) |
| 1952 | G. J. Perry (Ngaio) |
| 1953 | B. Weston (Palmerston North RSA) |
| 1954 | A. Crimp (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1955 | G. S. Hornung (Heathcote) |
| 1956 | C. Thom (Heathcote) |
| 1957 | A. Churcher (Municipal, Wanganui) |
| 1958 | T. Blomfield (Auckland) |
| 1959 | R. E. Taylor (Cashmere, Christchurch) |
| 1960 | R. E. Baker (Tauranga-Waikato) |
| 1961 | I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham) |
| 1962 | J. T. Hart (Marumaru) |
| 1963 | I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham) |
| 1964 | I. R. Ballinger (Sydenham) |
| 1926 | Mrs L. Pimm (Ward's Brewery, Christchurch) |
| 1927 | Mrs Greathead (Brooklyn, Wellington) |
| 1928 | Miss M. Nix (Featherston) |
| 1929 | Miss Harper (Karori, Wellington) |
| 1930 | Mrs Cavaye (Hutt, Wellington) |
| 1931 | Mrs Smith (Ward Ladies, Christchurch) |
| 1932 | Mrs Cavaye (Hutt, Wellington) |
| 1933 | Mrs Cavaye (Hutt, Wellington) |
| 1934 | Miss Calder (Hutt, Wellington) |
| 1935 | Mrs Andrews (Railways, Oamaru) |
| 1936 | Mrs J. Brown (Pleasant Point) |
| 1937 | Mrs J. Nuttall (Ward Ladies) |
| 1938 | Miss D. Weston (Ward Ladies) |
| 1939 | Miss N. Marriott (New Brighton Ladies) |
| 1940–44 | No competition |
| 1945 | Mrs J. B. Sutcliffe (Gisborne) |
| 1946 | A Grade: Miss Y. J. Anderson (Westmere) |
| B Grade: Miss James (Invercargill) | |
| 1947 | Miss Y. J. Anderson (Westmere) |
| 1948 | Mrs Matheson (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1949 | Miss Y. J. Anderson (Westmere) |
| 1950 | Mrs J. Bradley (Barnetts) |
| 1951 | Mrs Matheson (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1952 | Mrs E. L. Hughes (Citizens) |
| 1953 | Mrs H. Cave (Westmere) |
| 1954 | Miss B. Earl (Ormondville) |
| 1955 | Mrs H. Cave (Westmere) and Mrs C. Matheson (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1956 | Mrs I. Thompson (Kelso) |
| 1957 | Mrs H. Cave (Westmere) |
| 1958 | Mrs C. Matheson (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1959 | Mrs M. Baker (Tauranga-Waikato) |
| 1960 | Mrs C. Matheson (Dunedin Railway) |
| 1961 | Mrs M. Baker (Tauranga-Waikato) |
| 1962 | Mrs E. M. Wray (Hamilton) |
| 1963 | Mrs M. Wilson (Cambridge) |
| 1964 | Mrs T. Blee (Kiwi) |