Shooting

The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and air guns. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is an organization that governs international shooting sports.

Olympic shooting competition includes rifle, pistol and shotgun events and has a number of different competitions in each of these. Shooting technique differs depending on factors like the type of weapon used (from a handgun to a sniper rifle), the distance to and nature of the target, the required precision and the available time. The prone position, the kneeling position and the standing position offer different amounts of support for the shooter. As a competitive sport, shooting can be divided into two disciplines, clay pigeon and target.

Clay pigeon shooting: Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm.The discs are propelled upwards at various angles by a spring mechanism. The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) requires you to be a CPSA member to enter registered events and shooting competitions. If you're not a CPSA member, events and competitions are also open to members of shooting clubs that are affiliated with the CPSA or anyone who has purchased a CPSA Day Pass for that particular day. For shooting competitions, you're allowed to use club facilities for practice purposes in the days leading up to the competition. However, practising prior to a tiebreak isn't allowed and results in disqualification from the competition. Under CPSA regulations, hearing protection is mandatory. This refers to officials and spectators, as well as shooters. Eye protection is also a requirement for all shooters, officials and spectators. The CPSA require shotguns to have a bore of no more than twelve, which is the equivalent of a diameter of 0.729 inches. Barrel lengths can be anything from 26 inches to 32 inches.

Target shooting: Shooting using air rifles and pistols to hit specified targets is known as Target shooting. All guns used to take part in target shooting (particularly in field target shooting) must comply with the regulations set out by the British field target association (BFTA). Ammunition that is made from lead or lead alloy is not allowed under BFTA regulations.

Olympic Shooting Rules and Events

The rules for Olympic Shooting events differ according to the event, distance, and types of target and arm, firing position, number of shots and the time limit imposed that dictates how quickly the shots must be fired. Each event consists of a qualification round and a final round. The shooters score in the final round is added to the shooters score in the qualification round and the winner is the shooter who has the most points at the end of the match. There are also special rules that are used to determine rankings in the event of a tie.

Rules for different shooting competitions vary. The only consistent rules are safety rules:

1. All guns are always losaded, and must always be treated as such each time they are handled.
2. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
3. Never point your muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.
4. Always be aware of your target and anything that is behind it - you are responsible for every bullet that leaves your gun.