The sporting blaster rifle represented a reduced-lethality variant of the blaster rifle. It gained traction with the galaxy's upper class, along with fringers residing in far-flung, isolated settlements.
This rifle derivative of the sporting blaster pistol was quite akin to the hunting blaster. Their main purpose was for hunting game on frontier planets abundant with wildlife. Their lightweight construction made them easy to transport, and they were known for their precision. Compared to standard blaster rifles, sporting blaster rifles had a reduced effective range and lower energy output. However, they were more budget-friendly and involved less red tape to acquire. Consequently, this firearm became a favorite among assassins and bounty hunters who bypassed legal limitations imposed on heavier rifles. Often, sporting blaster rifles were equipped with a targeting scope.
Luke Skywalker possessed a sporting blaster rifle within his landspeeder on Tatooine. Furthermore, he utilized it to "bullseye womp rats in his T-16."