Skip to content
Compare & Choose guide

Axe throwing vs archery vs air rifles: which should you choose?

Three precision sports on covered ranges, compared.

Axe throwing, archery and air rifle shooting compared: price, ages, group sizes, privacy and feel. Find the right precision activity near York, or do all three.

Updated 2 October 2026 · Written by the Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park team · 1 min read

Battlezone Archery

The short answer.

All three are instructor-led precision sports on covered ranges, with a scored competition at the end. The differences are age, group size, privacy and the feel of the activity.

Axe Throwing for drama and the lowest price (£20). Archery for families, from Year 3. Air Rifles for calm precision and guaranteed privacy.

Can’t choose? Zombie Apocalypse Training does all three in two hours.

Side by side.

Axe ThrowingArcheryAir Rifles
Price£20£25£25
Time60 mins60 mins60 mins
FromYear 7Year 3Year 7
Group4 to 284 to 154 to 18
Private?From 14 peopleBy arrangementIndividually sectioned bays
FinishZombie competitionScored round and certificateScored shooting

Axe Throwing.

Axe throwing

The most dramatic of the three: tomahawks and three-bladed Angel axes on a covered, floodlit range with seven steel-mesh bays, ending in a zombie competition.

Choose it if you want a big, satisfying throw and individual bragging rights.

Archery.

Archery on the covered range

Calm and technical: stance, grip, draw, anchor point, aim and release, moving back through about 5, 10 and 16 metres.

Choose it if your group includes children from Year 3, or you prefer quiet focus.

Air Rifle Shooting.

Air rifle shooting

Stability, sight alignment, breathing and trigger control, on a covered range with individually sectioned bays. The range is wheelchair accessible.

Choose it if you want calm precision, or accessibility matters.

Or do all three.

Zombie Apocalypse Training combines air rifles, archery and axe throwing in a private two-hour session, for £50 per person. Your scores become your Zombie Survival Percentage.

Your questions, answered.

Which is easiest for beginners?

All three are built for beginners, with tuition before any scoring. None depends on strength.

Which is best for children?

Archery, from School Year 3. Axe Throwing and Air Rifles start at Year 7.

Which is cheapest?

Axe Throwing, at £20 per person.

Which is wheelchair accessible?

The air rifle range is wheelchair accessible. Call before booking to talk through any access needs.

In summary.

  • Axe ThrowingDrama, from £20.
  • ArcheryFamilies, from Year 3.
  • Air RiflesCalm and accessible.
  • All threeZombie Apocalypse Training.

Can't choose?

Zombie Apocalypse Training combines all three in two hours. 10 minutes from York.

  • 4.9 stars from 480+ Google reviews
  • Running since 1988
  • Free parking

Keep reading.

About this guide. Written by the team at Yorkshire Outdoor Activity Park, who have run games here since 1988. Prices and session details are checked against our activity pages. Updated 2 October 2026.

Book a Game