ACOG - Shooting - IBM

Spectator's Guide to Shooting

Rifle Events

Success in rifle requires near perfection on every shot. Scores approach maximum, especially in the prone and air rifle events. In the 50m competition, the ability to deal with the effect of the wind is critical. The position rifle events are the longest of all the shooting events and require a great deal of stamina. There are many shooters capable of shooting winning scores so the competition is almost always close and the top place finishers are often separated by less than a point.

Shooters start with sweatshirts and tights, then put on jackets and pants made of leather or canvas. This ensemble improves physical stability and helps muffle the pulse to improve precision. While heavy leather and canvas are hot, both the closed 10m and open 50m ranges are air conditioned, and the shooters are conditioned to cope with the heat.

Flat-soled leather boots aid the rifle shooter's stability from the standing and kneeling position and leather gloves (padded, with non-slip rubber palms) help minimize the discomfort of the heavy rifle and leather shoulder sling. Athletes use a leather sling (extending from the upper arm to the forend of the rifle) when shooting from the prone or kneeling positions, and a floor mat for support in prone only.

Between shots made in a standing position, competitors rest their rifles on a shooting stand. A few shooters use spotting scopes to see mirage and wind conditions down-range. All rifle events require metallic sights. No magnifying or corrective lenses may be attached to the sight, however, corrective glasses may be worn. Shooting glasses are specially designed to allow shooters to look through the center of the lens when aiming. Ear protection is needed for smallbore rifle and most shooters also wear it in air rifle to reduce distracting noises. All rifle clothing and accessories are governed by strict rules for thickness and stiffness.

10m Air Rifle

60/10 shots* men; 40/10 women

Competitors stand and shoot lead pellets from 4.5 mm / .177-caliber guns at targets 10 meters away. The bullseye, or 10-ring, is one-half millimeter wide, the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Air rifle joined the Olympic Programme in 1984.

Guns: Air rifles can be either air or gas-powered and weigh up to 5.5 kg / 12 lbs by international regulation. World-class guns (e.g. Feinwerkbau, Anshutz) typically retail for $1500 – $2000.

*Sixty shots are fired in rounds of 10.

Who to watch:

Men
ALEINIKOV, Evgeni RUS
HARBISON, Robert USA
LIM, Young Seub KOR
ROLLAND, Leif Steinar NOR
WAIBEL, Wolfrom AUT
Women
HORNEBER, Petra GER
KIM, Jung Mi KOR
LETCHEVA, Vesela BUL
MAUER, Renata POL
SHILOVA, Irina BLR

50m Free Rifle Prone

60/10 shots

Athletes lie on their stomachs and shoot .22 caliber rifles at bullseye targets 50 meters downrange. The target's center is 10.4 mm wide, about the size of an aspirin. This men's event has been on the Olympic Programme since 1908.

Guns: Athletes use free rifles, which have metallic sights and can be customized with special accessories and/or alterations that fit the shooter's needs and comforts. World-class free rifles (e.g. Anschutz) weigh up to 8 kg / 17.6 lbs and run about $2400 – $3000.

Who to watch:

BOTCHKAREV, Viatcheslav RUS
KHADJIBEKOV, Artem RUS
LEE, En Chul KOR
MEEK, William USA
PLETIKOSIC, Stevan YUG

50m Free Rifle Three Position (men); 50m Standard Rifle Three Position (women)

120 + 10-shot final round men; 60 + 10-shot final round women

In three position, athletes fire .22 caliber smallbore rifles from the prone, standing and kneeling positions at targets 50 meters downrange. The bullseye is 10.4 mm wide, about the size of an aspirin. Though today there are separate events for men and women, before 1984 three-position was an open Olympic event, meaning that men and women competed head-to-head.

In the qualification round, men fire four 10-shot series in each of three positions. Time limits are one hour for prone, one-and-a-half hours for standing and one hour and 15 minutes for kneeling. Women shoot 20 shots per position for a total of 60 shots. They have two-and-a-half hours for all three positions. The top eight advance to the 10 shot final round fired in standing position with 75 seconds allowed per shot. The final is added to the qualification round score to determine winners.

Guns: Men and women use different types of smallbore rifles. Men shoot free rifles (up to 8 kg / 17.6 lbs), which can be customized with special accessories and/or alterations designed to make the rifle fit the shooter. Women fire standard rifles, which weigh no more than 5.5 kg / 12 lbs and are not permitted palmrests or hook buttplates. Both men's and women's guns have metallic sights. World-class free rifles (e.g. Anschutz) run about $2400 – $3000 while world-class standard rifles (e.g. Anschutz) cost $1900 – $2000.

Who to watch:

Men
DEBEVEC, Rajmond SLO
GONCI, Josef SVK
KHADJIBEKOV, Artem RUS
KLIMENKO, Anatoli BLR
KRASKOWSKI, Robert POL
Women
GERASIMENOK, Irina RUS
MATOVA, Nonka BUL
OBEL, Kirsten GER
POGREBNIAK, Olga BLR
WEON, Gyung Sook KOR

Running Target Event

Competitors wear leather or canvas jackets that are tighter than those worn by rifle shooters. The jackets inhibit upper body movement, forcing more lower body movement in tracking targets. Flat-soled shooting boots are commonly worn for balance and stability.

10m Running Target

60 + 10-shot final round

There is only one running target event on the Olympic programme. Athletes stand and shoot .177 caliber guns with telescopic sights (not exceeding four-power) at targets moving across a track 10 meters away. The target has two bullseyes spaced roughly 6 inches apart. The 10-ring on each bullseye is 5 mm wide, about the size of a pencil eraser. Shooters focus on an aiming dot between the bullseyes to give the necessary lead on the moving target.

One of the most challenging of the shooting events, running target requires tremendous precision while shooting at a moving target in a very short time limit. Upper body strength is important to smoothly mount the rifle and track the target. Reaction time is critical since the shooter may not begin the mount until the target begins the 5- or 2.5-second run.

The qualification round consists of 60 shots divided into 30 for the slow runs and 30 for the fast runs. In slow runs, the athletes have 5 seconds to track, aim and fire at the moving target. In fast runs, the target is exposed for 2.5 seconds. Shooters start with their rifles at hip level and can only mount their guns once the target appears. A 10-shot fast-run final is added to the qualification round score to determine the winners.

Competitors wear leather or canvas jackets that are tighter than those worn by rifle shooters. The jackets inhibit upper body movement, forcing more lower body movement for tracking the targets. Running target is the only Olympic event where telescopic sights are permitted and they are limited to four-power magnification or less.

Running deer and running game target, 50m and 100m versions of this event, were part of the Olympic Games at different times between 1900 and 1988. Today's 10m event replaced running game target events on the 1992 Olympic Programme.

Guns: Shooters fire 4mm / .177 caliber rifles that use air or gas to propel lead pellets. Most shooters use carbon dioxide or pre-compressed air in order to speed up the loading process. Weights attached to the barrel provide balance and stability. World-class running target rifles (e.g. Feinwerkbau, Anschutz and Steyr) typically retail for $1500 – $2000.

Who to watch:

JANUS, Miroslav CZE
KURZER, Manfred GER
RACANSKY, Lubos CZE
XIAO, Jun CHN
YANG Lin CHN

Clay Target Events

The Olympic clay target events require the utmost in concentration and reaction time. The targets are thrown faster and at harder angles than in the popular American clay target games. In skeet, competitors have the added challenge of not being able to mount the gun until the target appears, and the variable delay from when they call for the target.

Shotgun shooters typically wear vests with ammunition pouches and extra padding where the gun is shouldered. Competitors wear glasses with colored lenses for safety and to aid their tracking under different weather conditions. For example, bronze lenses when it's sunny, and yellow or light orange lenses in overcast weather. Some competitors also affix blinders to the sides of their shooting glasses to keep wind out of their eyes and prevent distraction from side motion.

Olympic athletes are restricted to loads of 24 grams, approximately 7/8 of an ounce, compared to the standard 1-1/8 oz. loads in the more popular domestic games. Almost all competitors use 12-gauge shotguns, although there is no requirement that they do so.

Trap

125 + 25-target final

In trap, squads of six men move through a series of five adjacent shooting stations. At each station, competitors mount their shotguns, call for the target and fire up to two shots per target. The targets, 4-inch clay disks, are thrown from an underground bunker a minimum distance of 70 meters and at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. Trap has been a men's Olympic event since 1900. Prior to 1996, it was open to both men and women.

The qualification round consists of 125 targets shot in five series of 25 over two days. The top six competitors advance to a 25-target final. Medals are awarded based on the aggregate of the qualification and final rounds.

Guns: Trap is shot over longer distances than the other Olympic shotgun events. A trap gun's barrel is longer (30 – 32 inches), producing greater accuracy for the distance, and has a tighter "choke," meaning the barrel narrows at the muzzle end to prevent shot pellets from scattering before they're within striking distance of the target. World-class trap guns (e.g. Perazzi, Beretta) can retail from $4000 – $7000.

Who to watch:

BINDRICH, Karsten GER
BOZA, Francisco PER
LAKATOS, Josh USA
PELLIELO, Giovanni ITA
VENTURINI, Marco ITA

Skeet

125 + 25-target final

In skeet, men move through a semi-circular field featuring eight shooting stations. At each station, single and/or double clay targets are thrown at least 65 meters from the high (10 feet) or low (3 feet) house on either side of the range. The 4-inch clay disks travel up to 55 miles per hour, and competitors may fire one shot per target. Competitors hold their guns at hip level until the target appears, which can be 0 – 3 seconds after their call. Skeet has been an Olympic event since 1968. Prior to 1996, competition was open to both men and women.

The qualification round consists of 125 targets shot in five series of 25 over two days. The top six competitors advance to a 25-target final. Medals are awarded based on the aggregate of the qualification and final rounds.

Guns: Skeet guns have open chokes, which spread shot pellets in a wider pattern than trap guns. The barrels measure 26 – 28 inches in length. World-class skeet guns (e.g. Perazzi, Beretta, Browning and Krieghoff) cost from $4000 to $7000.

Who to watch:

AL-RASHIDI, Abdulla KUW
BENELLI, Andrea ITA
KOURTELLAS, Christo CYP
PULDON, Servando CUB
ROSETTI, Bruno Mario ITA

Double Trap

150 + 50-target final (men); 120 + 40-target final (women)

The men's and women's double trap events are first-time additions to the Olympic Programme in 1996. Competitors fire from each of five adjacent shooting stations. At each station, 4-inch clay targets are thrown two at a time from an underground bunker at speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Competitors get one shot per target.

For men, the qualification round consists of 150 targets shot in three series. The top six competitors advance to a 50-target final. Women shoot three series of 40 shots for a 120-shot qualification round. The top six women shoot a 40-shot final round. Medals are awarded based on the aggregate of the qualification and final rounds.

Guns: World-class double trap guns (e.g. Beretta, Perazzi, Krieghoff) typically retail for $4000 – $7000.

Who to watch

Men
BADE, Lance USA
BOLL, Rodney CAN
MARK, Russell AUS
PERA, Albano ITA
SIVIRKAYA, Servet TUR
Women
DEWITT, Theresa USA
GELISIO, Deborah ITA
MURTONEIMI, Riita FIN
RHODE, Kim USA
XU, Xiang CHN

Pistol Events

Pistol shooters compete without the benefit of special clothing, gloves or boots. Most athletes wear flat-soled shoes for increased stability, but footwear must not extend above the shooter's ankle. Competitors frequently wear special glasses with diaphragms to extend the depth of field and blinders to control the light and distracting elements in the visual field. Ear protection is needed for the .22 caliber events and most shooters also wear it in air pistol to prevent distracting noises.

Pistol events vary from the fastest shooting event with the 5-shot, 4-second series in rapid fire to the ultimate in human precision with a handgun in the 50m event. Due to the difference in skills required for the each event, the same shooters do not typically excel in all events. All pistol events take upper body strength to hold the pistol steady for long periods of time. Pistols must be held at arm's length with one hand only. The target pistols at approximately 2.5 lbs. are heavier than the average pistol. Like all of the shooting disciplines, success in pistol requires tremendous concentration.

50m Free Pistol

60 + 10-shot final

Free pistol was first contested in the 1900 Olympic Games. Competitors shoot .22 caliber pistols from 50 meters at an approximately 2-inch / 50mm 10-ring.

Guns: A free pistol typically has a grip which completely envelops and stabilizes the shooter's hand. Regulations require only that it fires .22 caliber cartridges and have metallic sights. The gun's barrel is longer than that of other pistols, providing greater accuracy at this longer shooting distance. World-class free pistols Hammerli, TOZ and Morini typically cost $1000 – $2200.

Who to watch:

DI DONNA, Roberto ITA
KIRIAKOV, Taniu BUL
KOKOREV, Boris RUS
WANG, Yifu CHN
XU, Dan CHN

25m Sport Pistol

60 + 10-shot final

Athletes use .22 caliber semi-automatic pistols to shoot 30 shots of precision and 30 shots of rapid fire from a distance of 25 meters. The precision target has a 50mm / 2-inch 10-ring, while the rapid-fire target has a 100mm / 4-inch center. The precision, or slow-fire stage, is fired in six series of five shots with 6 minutes allowed per series. In the rapid-fire stage, competitors shoot six series of five shots. Three seconds are allotted for each shot, followed by 7 seconds of rest. The final consists of 10 shots with 75 seconds allotted per shot. Sport pistol has been a women's Olympic event since 1984.

Guns: Sport pistols shoot .22 caliber ammunition from a five-shot magazine. Ported (vented) barrels and wrap-around grips are not permitted. World-class guns for this event, like the Walther, Hammerli, FAS or Pardini, cost $800 – $1400.

Who to watch:

Women
ASHOUMOVA, Irada BUL
BOO, Soon Hee KOR
GROZDEVA, Maria BUL
JORGOVA, Diana BUL
SALUKVADZE, Nino GEO

25m Rapid Fire Pistol

60 + 10-shot final

Shot with a .22 caliber pistol from 25 meters, men have 8, 6 or 4 seconds to fire once at each of five adjacent targets. As an added difficulty, pistols must be held downward at a 45-degree angle until a green light flashes. The 10-ring on this target is 100mm / 4 inches wide. Rapid-fire pistol has been an Olympic event since the first Modern Games in 1896.

Guns: Athletes use .22 caliber pistols that shoot rimfire short cartridges (ammunition) from a five-shot magazine. Ported barrels reduce recoil, and the gun's grip completely envelops the shooter's hand for additional stability. World-class rapid-fire guns (e.g. the Walther, FAS, Pardini) retail for approximately $800-$1200.

Who to watch:

IGNATIOUK, Miroslav UKR
KUCHARCZYK, Krzyszt POL
LEONHARD, Daniel GER
SCHUMANN, Ralf GER

10m Air Pistol

60 + 10 shot final (men); 40 + 10-shot final (women)

With separate events for men and women, air pistol shooting joined the Olympic Programme in 1988. Competitors use 4.5mm / .177 caliber pistols to fire lead pellets at targets 10 meters away. The 10-ring is 11.5 mm /.45 inches wide, about the size of an aspirin.

Men fire six 10-shot series in one hour and 45 minutes in the qualification round, while the women fire four 10-shot series in one hour and 15 minutes. In both the men's and women's competition, the top eight advance to the 10-shot final round with 75 seconds allowed per shot. The final is added to the qualification round score to determine winners.

Guns: World-class air pistols (e.g. Feinwerkbau, Anschutz) are compressed air or carbon dioxide powered guns that sell for roughly $800 – $1100. Trigger weight can be no lighter than 500 grams; the width of the grip and length of the barrel are also limited.

Who to watch:

Men
DI DONNA, Roberto ITA
KIRIAKOV, Taniu BUL
PAPANITZ, Zoltan HUN
WANG, Yifu CHN
Women
BELIAEVA, Galina RUS
GROZDEVA, Maria BUL
SALUKVADZE, Nino GEO
SEKARIC, Jasna YUG
SMIRNOVA, Svetlana RUS

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.Written by Jennifer Knight with Spectator’s Guide information provided by U.S.A. Shooting.


Olympic Factoid
More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined.