The union was established due to dissatisfaction with the official shooting association at that time called Centralforeningen for Udbrædelse af Legemsøvelser og Vaabenbrug (lit.
The first Folkevæpningssamlag was established after initiative by Inntrøndelag school manager Ole Five on a meeting with representatives from the shooting clubs in Northern Trondhjems amt on 29 January 1881.
The following year, the Folkevæpningssamlag had clubs in 12 of the 20 amts in Norway, and a board was established in Kristiania between 6 and 8 February 1882, with Ole Five as chairman.
The primary goal of the Folkevæpningssamlag's was to strengthen Norway's defense capabilities, especially by training the people in shooting and by ensuring that modern firearms became widespread.
In 1893, all rifle shooting clubs in Norway were gathered under one organisation when the Folkevæpningssamlags and the shooting part of Centralforeningen together formed the National Rifle Association of Norway (Det frivillige skyttervesen, DFS).