“Pistol Shooting at the Olympics” sounds like a headline you’d want to avoid, but in reality, it’s a sanctioned event governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). It’s very similar to the 10-meter rifle event we already talked about, but competitors shoot specialized pistols rather than precision rifles. Let’s talk about the event and what it takes to compete.
The Basics
The 10-meter pistol event is shot from 10 meters (11 yards). There’s a 60-shot qualification round that must be completed within 75 minutes. Like with the rifle event, the top eight shooters move on to the competition round, which consists of 24 shots. We’ll get into more detail later in this article.
The Shooting Range and the Target
The shooting range is meticulously staged indoors, a crucial factor that minimizes environmental interference. Even the light specifications are regulated to ensure a level playing field. While lower regional matches may still use paper targets, high-level national and international matches are all scored electronically. There’s no paper, just an incredibly precise target system that measures each shot with unparalleled accuracy.
A typical paper target is 17x17cm with a black area covering the 7 through 10 rings. The 10-ring is scored by tenths of an inch. This decimal scoring is used to break ties in the match. When paper targets are utilized, they are either exchanged mechanically or manually by event officials. Each target is scored individually. But, this is increasingly uncommon with the advent of modern, affordable, electronic target systems.
The Equipment
Basic equipment restrictions are based on size, weight, and trigger pull. 10-meter pistols can be relatively affordable, making the sport accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts. While most Olympic class 10-meter competition pistols are PCP-powered and cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, you don’t have to start there. Something like the pump pneumatic Air Venturi V10 Target Air Pistol at under $300 or the Air Venturi Comp10 Match PCP at $600 can deliver exceptional results and are more than suitable for local and regional competitions, offering a starting point for aspiring competitors. All competition pistols are single-shot and chambered for .177 pellets. The pellets are wadcutter diabolo pellets.
In contrast to 10-meter rifle shooting, competitors can’t wear clothing that helps them “lock” into place. They must have free movement. Some optional equipment includes extremely customizable shooting glasses. They may have restrictive irises and blinders. All of this is permitted, provided none of it is mounted to the pistol. The pistol can only have open sights. No electronic sights are allowed. All the competitors must have their equipment validated before the competition.
The Main Event
As mentioned above, shooters must shoot a qualifying round of 60 shots over 75 minutes. The top eight shooters advance to the final round. All scoring in the final round is done by tenths, with the highest possible score of 10.9. The ISSF requires electronic targets for the Olympic Games, ISSF World Cups, and ISSF World Championship. A win or loss is often down to hundredths of an inch, so the more precise the target system, the better.
After a short five-minute sight-in period, competitors have 250 seconds to shoot 5 shots after the “for the first competition series, load, start” command is given. After the first round of 5 shots is completed, competitors shoot another 5 shots in the same manner.
After the tenth shot, competitors shoot on command with 50 seconds to fire per shot. After the first two shots, the lowest-scoring competitor is eliminated with each shot until the last two shooters are left. The winner is decided on shots 23 and 24.
Are You Ready for the Challenge?
If you think competitive 10-meter pistol shooting might be in your future, then we have the gear to get you started and maybe even carry you all the way to the podium. If you would like to know more about what gear works best, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always here to help.
