International Shooting Sport Federation

  

•  10M Air Pistol

•  50M Pistol

• 25M Pistol  

• 25M Rapid Fire Pistol

• 25M Centre Fire Pistol

• 25M Standard Pistol

  

About ISSF

  

The ”Union Internationale des Federations et Associations Nationales de Tir”, was founded by eight national shooting federations in 1907 in Zurich Switzerland.  In 1921 the organisation was renamed the “Union Internationale de Tir (UIT) and then in 1947 the name International Shooting Union was adopted however it was still referred to as the UIT to avoid confusion with the International Skating Union.  In 1992 the Union became known as the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) as it is known today.

  

The ISSF is the only organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the governing body of amateur international shooting sport for all international shooting competitions.  Thus the ISSF controls the technical regulations in all the target shooting disciplines including pistol, rifle and shotgun.

  

In all target pistol shooting events, competitors aim at a 10 ring target in the standing position, use only one hand to fire the pistol and the wrist must be completely free of support.  Target pistol shooting events include 10m Air Pistol, 50m Pistol, 25m Pistol, 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, 25m Centre Fire Pistol, and 25m Standard Pistol.

  

ISSF Matches

  

10M Air Pistol (Men and Women)

  

10m Air pistol are ISSF events shot by both men and women, at all levels of competition up to and including the Olympics and Paralympics.

Distance                            = 10m

Calibre                               = .177”, 4.5 mm air pistol – compressed air or gas

Minimum trigger pull          = 500g.

Number of shots/time       = 60 shots for Men & Junior Men in 105 minutes

40 shots for Women & Junior Women in 75 minutes

 Target                                = 10 ring of 11.5 mm diameter, each

 ring increases by 16 mm

  

The 10m Air Pistol events, and the 50m Pistol event are arguably the most mentally demanding events

  

The top 8 women contestants, and the 8 top men contestants having the highest scores progress on to the Men's and the Women's finals, which consists of ten shots, each fired within 75 seconds.  The final score is added to the qualification score

  

50m Pistol

  

Formerly known as Free Pistol, the 50m Pistol event is shot at all levels of competition up to and including the Olympics and Paralympics using .22 calibresingle-shot pistols

  

Distance                                    = 50 metres

Calibre                                       = .22 long rifle Rimfire

  

There is no minimum trigger pull specified for this event

  

Number of shots/time                = 60 competition shots in a total

 competition time of 2 hours

Target                                       = 10 ring of 50mm diameter, each

 ring increases by 50mm

 

In this event the pistol may only be loaded with one round of ammunition at a time and must be operated with only one hand, which cannot be supported in any way. 

 

There are practically no rules for the pistol itself, trigger force may be as low as the competitor chooses, the grip may be designed in any way provided it does not give support beyond the wrist, and there are no restrictions on size and weight of the pistol

 

The top 8 contestants having the highest scores progress on to the final, which consists of ten shots, each fired within 75 seconds.  The final score is added to the qualification score

50m Pistol is described as the purest form of precision shooting amongst the pistol events, which has undergone minimal rule changes over the past 75 years

 

25m Pistol 

 

Formerly known as Sport Pistol, 25m Pistol women’s event was introduced in the 1960s.  Internationally 25m Pistol isonlyshot up to and including the Olympics by women, and up to and including the Paralympics by men and women, and by juniors at the World Championships. In Australia the event isalsoshot by men at many State competitions

 

25m Pistol combines both precision and rapid-fire, in two stages each of 30 shots

Distance                                 = 25 metres

Calibre                                   = .22 long rifle Rimfire

Minimum trigger pull               = 1000g

 

Precision Stage

 

Number of shots/time            = 30 shots, in six series of 5 shots,

    each series is 5 minutes

Precision Stage target           = 10 ring of 50 mm diameter, each

     ring increases by 50 mm

 

After all competitors have completed the Precision Stage, they then fire the Rapid Fire Stage

 

Rapid Fire Stage

 

Number of shots/time            = 30 shots, in six series of 5 shots

 

Each series consists of 5 exposures of the target, each exposure is for 3 seconds; the shooter fires one shot per exposure

 

Rapid Fire Stage target       = 10 ring of 100 mm diameter, each ring increases by 100 mm

 

The top 8 contestants having the highest scores progress on to the final, which consists of four additional rapid-fire stage series of 5 shots each.  The final score is added to the qualification score

 

25M Centre Fire Pistol

 

25m Centre Fire Pistol is one of the ISSF shooting events and is normally a men-only event

 

Other than the calibre used, the Centre Fire event is exactly the same as the 25m Pistol events

 

The 25m Centre Fire match is shot with a handgun of any calibre between 7.62 mm (.30”) and 9.65 mm (.38”).  The most popular choices by far are specially designed sport pistols and revolvers in .32 calibres.  

 

Using a revolver is not a disadvantage because there are nospeedyseriesofshotsinvolved.  The name Centre-Firecomesfrom the ignition system of these calibres asopposed to the Rimfireof .22 cartridges

 

There is no Final round for the Centre Fire Pistol event

 

25M Rapid Fire Pistol

 

In 25m Rapid Fire Pistol competitorsusesemi-automatic pistols in .22 calibre (5.6mm) at all levels of competition up to and including the Olympics.  Aseries(orstring) consists of five (5) shotsfired, one at each of five target within a limited time

 

Five targets stand next to each other at a 25m distance from the shooter.  When the targets appear, the competitor must raise his/her arm from a 45 degree angle and fire his/her five shots.  If a shot is too late, it will score as a miss

 

Distance                                 = 25 metres

Calibre                                   = .22 long rifle Rimfire

Minimum trigger pull               = 1000g

Number of shots/time            = 60 competition shots, fired as two

     stages of 30 shots

Targets                                  = 10 ring of 100 mm diameter, each

     ring increases by 100 mm

 

There are three different time limits: 8 seconds, 6 seconds and 4 seconds for the series.  A stage consists of two series in each time, and a full course of fire comprises two such stages

 

The top 6 contestants having the highest scores progress on to the final, which consists of four additional rapid-fire stage series of 5 shots each, fired in the 4-seconds sequence.  The final score is added to the qualification score

 

25M Standard Pistol

 

25m Standard Pistol is one of the ISSF shooting events introduced at the World Championship level in 1970

 

Distance                                    = 25 metres

Calibre                                      = .22 long rifle Rimfire

Minimum trigger pull                  = 1000g

Number of shots/time               = 60 competition shots, fired as

four stages of 20 shots

Targets                                      = 10 ring of 50 mm diameter each  ring increases by 50 mm

 

The 60-shot match is divided into 5-shot series with different timings:

• 4 series of 5 shots within 150 seconds for each series

• 4 series of 5 shots within 20 seconds for each series

• 4 series of 5 shots within 10 seconds for each series

•  

 There is no final round for the Standard Pistol event