1. Air Pistol
With separate events for men and women, Air Pistol shooting joined the Olympic program in 1988. Competitors use .177 calibre air pistols to fire lead pellets at targets 10 meters away. The bulls eye has a 11.5 mm 10th ring, with the entire target being just 15 cm across.
The Guns:
World-class air pistols (eg. Feinwerkbau, Walther, Steyr and Morini) are air or gas powered guns. Trigger weight can be no lighter than 500 grams; the width of the grip and length of the barrel are also limited.
Course of Fire:
Men take 60 shots in one hour and 45 minutes, while women have one hour and 15 minutes for 40 shots.
Perfect Match Score:
For men, 600 is perfect and 585 is world-class. For women, 400 is perfect and 385 is a world-class score.
Finals:
The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds allotted for each shot. The final is scored in tenths of a point and added to the match score to determine medallists.
A perfect final score is 109.
Perfect Aggregate (Match Score + Final Score) Score: 709 for men, 509 for women.
2. Free Pistol
Free pistol, a precision men’s event, has been part of the Olympics since 1896. Competitors shoot.22 calibre pistols from 50 meters at precision targets with a 5cm 10 ring.
The Guns: A free pistol is easily identified by its grip, which may completely envelope and stabilises the shooter’s hand. Regulations require only that it fires .22 calibre long rifle cartridges and has metallic sights. The gun’s barrel is longer than that of other pistols, providing greater accuracy at this longer shooting distance. World-class free pistols are Walther and Hammerli.
Course of Fire: Competitors fire 60 shots in two hours.
Perfect match Score: 600 is a perfect score, and 565 is world-class.
Finals:
The top eight competitors advance to a 10-shot final round, with 75 seconds allotted for each shot. The final is scored in tenths of a point and added to the match score to determine winners. A perfect final score is 109.
Perfect Aggregate (Match + Final) Score: 709 points.
3. Rapid Fire
Rapid-fire pistol has been an Olympic event since the first moderm Games in 1896. Shot with a .22 calibre pistol from 25 meters, competitors have eight, six, or four seconds to fire one shot at each of five adjacent targets. As an added difficulty, pistols must be held downward at a 45-degree angle until a the targets rotate from edge on to face the shooter. The 10-ring on this target is 10 cm wide.
The Guns:
From January 2005, ‘Standard’ Pistols of .22 calibre ammunition from a five-shot magazine, without the advantage of ported barrels or wrap-around grips, as previously permitted. The trigger pressure must be 1000g. World-class guns for this event are Walther, Morini, Fas. or Pardini.
Course of Fire:
Two five-shot series in eight seconds, two series in six seconds and two series in four seconds comprise a half course, fired in one day. The following day, the same course is repeated.
Perfect Match Score:
600 is a perfect score, with 592 being world-class. Finals: After 60 shots, the top six shooters fire a final consisting of four five shot series at four seconds. The final is scored in tenths of a point and added to the match score to determine medal winners. A perfect final score is 218.
Perfect Aggregate (Match Score + Final Score) Score: 818 points.
4. Center Fire
Competitors use ‘centre fire’ pistols (.32, .38, .357 calibre) to shoot precision and rapid-fire competition from a distance of 25 meters. The precision target has a 5 cm 10-ring, while the rapid-fire target has a 10cm centre.
The Guns:
Centre Fire pistols shoot .32, .38 or .357 calibre ammunition from a five-shot ‘semi automatic’ pistols or revolvers with a trigger pressure of at least 1360g. World-class guns for this event, are Walther GSP, Hammerli, Fas. or Pardini.
Course of Fire:
The 60-shot match is divided into 30 shots precision and 30 shots rapid-fire. The precision, or slow-fire stage, is fired in six series of five shots, and competitors have six minutes per series. In the 30-shot rapid-fire stage, competitors shoot strings of five shots. Three seconds are allotted for each shot, followed by seven seconds of rest.
Perfect Match Score:
600 is a perfect score, with 585 being world-class.
Finals:
Finals are not contested in this event, however, if two or more shooters are tied for 1st, 2nd or 3rd, a ‘shoot off’ is held This consists of 3 sets of 5 shots as per the rapid fire stage. A perfect shoot of score is 150.
5. Sport Pistol
Sport pistol has been a women Olympic event since 1984. Athletes use.22 calibre standard pistols to shoot precision and rapid-fire competition from a distance of 25 meters. The precision target has a 5 cm 10-ring, while the rapid-fire target has a 10cm centre.
The Guns:
Sport pistols shoot.22 calibre ammunition from a five-shot magazine without the advantage of ported baffles or wrap-around grips. Trigger pressure must be at least 1000g. World-class guns for this event, like the Walther, Morini, Hammerli, Fas or Pardini, cost $800-$2400.
Course of Fire:
The 60-shot match is divided into 30 shots precision and 30 shots rapid-fire. The precision, or slow-fire stage, is fired in six series of five shots, and competitors have six minutes per series. In the 30-shot rapid-fire stage, competitors shoot strings of five shots. Three seconds are allotted for each shot, followed by seven seconds of rest.
Perfect Match Score: 600 is a perfect score, with 585 being world-class.
Finals:
The top eight competitors advance to a final, which consists of 20 shots fired in 4 series of the ‘rapid fire’ stage. Targets are scored in 10ths after each shot and added to the match score to determine medallists. A perfect final score is 218.
Perfect Aggregate (Match Score + Final Score) Score: 818 points.
6. Standard Pistol
Standard Pistol is a combination of slow fire and rapid fire shooting. Competitors shoot .22 calibre pistols from 25 meters at precision targets with a 5cm 10 ring.The Guns: Standard Pistols shoot.22 calibre ammunition from a five-shot magazine with a trigger pressure of at least 1000g. World-class guns for this event, are Walther, Hammerli, Morini, Fas. or Pardini.
Course of Fire:
Competitors fire 60 shots in three timed series. The first series is shooting 5 shots in 150 seconds. This is repeated until a total of 20 shot has been fired. The second series is shooting 5 shots in 20 seconds. This is repeated until a total of 20 shot has been fired. The third series is shooting 5 shots in 10 seconds. Again, this is repeated until a total of 20 shot has been fired.
Perfect match Score:
600 is a perfect score, and 570 is a good score.
Finals:
Finals are not contested in this event, however, if two or more shooters are tied for 1st, 2nd or 3rd, a ‘shoot off’ is held. This consists of 3 sets of 5 shots in 10 seconds. A perfect shoot off score is 150.
Pistol Rules (Basics):
The pistol events include one at 50 metres, two at 25 metres and two at 10 metres.
In the men’s 50m pistol, sixty shots are fired at a target 50 metres away and must be completed within 120 minutes.
In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol, two rounds of 30 shots (in six series of five shots each) are fired at a target 25 metres away.
In the women’s 25m pistol, there are six series of five precision shots and six series of five rapid-fire shots.
Finally, in the 10m air pistol, shots are fired at a target 10 metres away; 60 shots within 105 minutes for men and 40 shots within 75 minutes for women.