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The first ISSF Air Pistol championship was held in 1970. It was a 40 shot course of fire for both the men and the women. In 1982 the men’s course was increased to 60 shots. In 1988 the 10m Air Pistol event first entered the Olympic Games.

The Course of Fire for men is 60 shots in one hour and 45 minutes, each shot placed on a separate target at a range of 10 Meters.

Women have one hour and 15 minutes for 40 shots.

For World-class events the targets are either Electronic; or for paper targets scored by target scoring machines. In clubs or competitions without automatic scoring facilities, sometimes groups of 2, 5 or 10 rounds are fired at a single target. The ISSF dictates the target square should be no less than 17cm x 17cm; the 7,8,9 and 10 rings are black with the 10 ring a mere 11.5 mm across.

The top eight competitors from the main match progress to the “Olympic Final” in which 10 more shots are individually fired and scored, with a maximum of 75 seconds allowed per shot. At the end of each shot, the scores are announced. The score for these 10 shots is marked in tenths of a point and the total added to the first score to make the final result. Even at club level each shot is fired on a separate target.

A Perfect Match Score would be 600 + 109 for a total of 709. However, scoring over 580 in the first round can be considered world class. To date nobody has achieved a perfect score in a major championship or the Olympic Games.

Modern World-class Air Pistols fire a 4.5mm (.177) caliber lead pellet using compressed air from a detachable cylinder or one built into the pistol. Detachable cylinders are often filled from a SCUBA diving tank for the PreCharged Pneumatic Air Guns (PCP) or a similar tank of CO2. Guns with integral cylinders usually contain a charging handle to “pump” the normal atmosphere up to a pressure within the cylinder. The ISSF has several restrictions on the pistols used. Pistols must be fired single shot, with a trigger weight not lighter than 500 grams and 4.5mm (.177″) in caliber. The size and style of the grip, the weight of the pistol, the overall size of the gun, the type of sights, the width of the grip and length of the barrel are also limited. There are also limitations on the competitors’ clothing, shoes, and eyewear.

At the time of writing the average age of the top ten competitors in the ISSF World Ranking is 33, the majority are older with two in their mid 40s. The current world number one, from China, however is a mere 20!

Many Air Pistol shooters also participate in the 50m Pistol event(Free Pistol) .

Competitors shoot at a stationary target consisting of ten concentric rings, with the innermost being the ‘inner ten’ with a diameter of 5 mm. The targets are placed 50m away and shooters fire from the prone (lying down), Standing and Kneeling positions in that order.

The Rifle is:

• .22 (“Small-bore”) calibre using .22 Long Rifle ammunition
• a maximum permissible weight of 8kg for men and 6.5kg for women
• Correcting lenses and telescopes must not be attached to the rifle.

Mens 3 Position (3×40) Event

The shooter fires 40 shots each in the prone (lying down), standing and kneeling positions at a target set 50m away, giving a maximum score of 1200. The best eight shooters from this opening program qualify for the final, which consists of ten further shots, each fired on command. Each shot is evaluated in decimal tenths (10.9 being the maximum). The decimal score gives a maximum “Final” score of 109. The “Final” Score is added to the score from the opening program, giving a Overall maximum score of 1309.

The Total time-limit allowed is 3hours, which is split into sections for each position as follows: Prone: 45 Minutes Standing: 75 Minutes Kneeling: 60 Minutes

Before the competition begins there is a 10-minutes preperation time, during which the shooter may shoulder the rifle and dry fire. They MAY NOT fire any rounds, blank or live.

For the Mens event there is a change-over between position of a maximum of 10 minutes.

Women’s 3 Position (3×20) Event

The shooter fires 20 shots each in the prone (lying down), standing and kneeling positions at a target set 50m away, giving a maximum score of 600. The best eight shooters from this opening program qualify for the final, which consists of ten further shots, each fired on command. Each shot is evaluated in decimal tenths (10.9 being the maximum). The decimal score gives a maximum “Final” score of 109. The “Final” Score is added to the score from the opening program, giving a Overall maximum score of 709.

The total time-limit allowed is 2 hours and 15 minutes. Unlike the men’s event, the time for each position is not designated, and shooters progress to the next position as and when they are ready. The beginning of the shoot is preceded by a 10-minute preparation period, during which the shooter may shoulder the rifle and dry fire. They MAY NOT fire any rounds, blank or live.

Minimum visible size of target card: width: 550 mm height:550 mm

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