Olympic and ISSF shooting

At Paris 2024 the program had 15 events in three groups. Rifle: 10 meter air rifle for men and for women, 50 meter rifle three positions for men and for women, and a 10 meter air rifle mixed team event. Pistol: 10 meter air pistol for men and for women, 25 meter rapid fire pistol for men, 25 meter pistol for women, and a 10 meter air pistol mixed team event. Shotgun: trap and skeet, each for men and for women, plus a mixed skeet team event.

Rifle and pistol events are shot on electronic targets from fixed firing points. In three positions rifle, athletes shoot kneeling, prone, and standing. Rapid fire pistol is shot against timed target exposures. The shotgun events are shot outdoors at flying clay targets; they are covered in more detail in the clay target guide.

Match air rifles and air pistols shoot 4.5 mm (.177) pellets, and 50 meter rifle uses .22 caliber rimfire ammunition. The rules control weights, trigger pull, dimensions, and clothing in fine detail so that results reflect the athlete rather than the equipment.

Specialized shooting jackets, trousers, and boots support stable positions in rifle events, while pistol shooters compete one handed without support. Shotgun athletes use over and under shotguns built for the clay games.

Rifle and pistol targets are divided into scoring rings, and in the air events shots score in decimal increments up to a perfect 10.9, measured electronically. Shotgun events score each target simply as hit or missed.

Finals put the top qualifiers into progressive elimination shooting, with the lowest scoring athletes dropped in stages until the medals are decided.

The usual entry is through a club affiliated with your national federation, often starting with 10 meter air rifle or air pistol indoors. Coaches teach position, sight picture, and shot routine before distance or caliber increases.

National federations organize licensing where applicable, training, and competition ladders that lead from club matches to national championships and, for a few athletes, to ISSF World Cups and the Games.