Pistol Shooting

Introduction

Pistol shooting is a discipline of shooting sport in which shooters in standing position and with one hand fire a pistol at a circular target divided into ten concentric rings, the nearer to the center the shots land, the higher they score as the center (the bull's eye) scores ten. The sport takes place on a shooting range. There are a number of events, which are distinguished by the type of pistol used and the distance at which the shooter stands from the target.

Pistol shooting's roots date back to the first modern Olympics held in 1896 which consists of both rapid-fire target shooting and precision slow-fire event from distances 10, 25 and 50 m. The pistols are unique in its appearance as compared to normal guns and each event has its own pistols designed especially for it.

Objective

The objective is to score points by hitting targets within a specific time frame.

Events

10m Air Pistol

Both Men’s and Women’s event

25m Pistol

Women’s event

25m Rapid Fire Pistol

Men’s event

25m Center Fire Pistol

Men’s event

25m Standard Pistol

Men’s event

50m Pistol

Men’s event

Participants

Both men and women participate in the 10m air pistol event, only women compete in 25m pistol events and all other events (25m rapid fire, 25m center fire, 25m standard pistol and 50m pistol) are for men only.,

Equipment

Pistol Shooting - Shoes

Only low-sided shoes without ankle supports are allowed and can be worn during the competition.

Pistol Shooting - Pistol

Pistols with variations are used in different events of pistol shooting.For more read here - Pistols Equipment.

Pistol Shooting - Goggles

Protective eyewear made from shatter-resistant plastic lenses is worn by shooters to guard their eyes during the event.

Pistol Shooting - Gloves

In pistol shooting, the glove is used in shooting hand to cushion the hand and improve the performance.

Pistol Shooting - Ear protection

Shooters wear ear muffs or another form of protective gear to protect their hearing while in the vicinity of the firing line.

Pistol Shooting - Cap

Sun visors or other devices are sometimes used during shooting events that keep the wind and sunlight out of shooter’s eyes.

Pistol Shooting - Clothing

No specific clothing is required, but usually, shooters wear loose-fitting shirts and trousers that do not hinder their movement.

Playing Area

Pistol shooting events take place on a shooting or firing range which is a specialized facility designed for sport's practice. It can be indoor or outdoor where shooters fire at round targets which are normally composed of concentric rings marked with numbers which are the points scored when a shot falls in a ring. 

The targets are 10m, 25m and 50m away from the shooters, depending on the event.

Officials

Chief Range Officer

Incharge of the competition at the range and incharge of the range officers, who give the commands to the shooters.

Scoring Officers

Responsible for ensuring that targets are rapidly changed, scored and marked.