Shooting (Olympic sport since 1896)

   About

   Olympic history abounds with tales of athletes who overcame crippling adversity to win gold medals, but Karoly Takacs' comeback may be the best. Takacs was part of Hungary's world-champion pistol-shooting team in 1938 when an army grenade exploded in his right hand. Ten years later, he won the first two golds in rapid-fire pistol - after teaching himself to shoot left-handed.

   In a sport where the bullseye looks about the size of the full stop at the end of this sentence, a sport where shooters compete amid a cacophony of noise and still concentrate on firing between heartbeats, Takacs' achievement tests the imagination.

   From just three shooting events at the 1896 Olympic Games to 17 today, the sport has grown steadily. In part this leap can be ascribed to advances in the technology of firearms and equipment, which have led to constant changes in the shooting competition. But it can also be ascribed to the passion shooters have for their sport.

   Competition

   At the Olympics there are 15 events: seven for women and ten for men.

   The shooting events are divided into four different groups: shotgun, rifle, pistol and running-target events. The shotgun events see competitors shoot at clay targets propelled in different directions. The rifle and pistol events are held on shooting ranges with competitors aiming at targets from distances of 10 metres, 25 metres and 50 metres.

   List of events

   -- 10m air pistol (60 shots) Men

   -- 10m air rifle (60 shots) Men

   -- 25m rapid fire pistol (60 shot Men

   -- 50m pistol (60 shots) Men

   -- 50m rifle 3 positions (3x40 sh Men

   -- 50m rifle prone (60 shots) Men

   -- double trap (150 targets) Men

   -- skeet (125 targets) Men

   -- trap (125 targets) Men

   --10m air pistol (40 shots) Women

   -- 10m air rifle (40 shots) Women

   -- 25m pistol (30+30 shots) Women

   -- 50m rifle 3 positions (3x20 shots) Women

   -- skeet (75 targets) Women

   -- trap (75 targets) Women

History

   Discipline's origin

   Shooting originated as a means of survival, as it was practised in order to hunt game for food. In the 19th century, however, as the industrial revolution made hunting for food less necessary for many people, shooting evolved into a sport. The sport was first popular in English-speaking countries, notably England and the United States, as well as Ireland and South Africa. The National Rifle Association (USA) was formed in 1871 and provided the impetus for the development of shooting as an organised form of sport in the United States.

   Olympic history

   Shooting has been contested at most of the Olympic Games. The sport first appeared in 1896. There were also events in 1900, but none were contested during the 1904 and 1928 Games.

   The programme has varied just as much as any of the other sports (with the possible exception of sailing/yachting). In 1908, 1912, 1920 and 1924 there were dozens of events, including multiple team events. Thus it was possible for shooters to win many medals at these Olympics. After a hiatus in 1928, the sport returned to the Olympics in 1932 with only two events - one for pistols and one for rifles. Since World War II the programme has become relatively standardised.

   Women were first allowed to compete in Olympic shooting in 1968. In that year Mexico, Peru and Poland each entered one female contestant. In 1984 the International Shooting Union (UIT) now called the ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation introduced separate events for women. Between 1984 and 1992 the number of women's events increased gradually. In addition, several of the events on the programme remained mixed, i.e. open to both men and women. As of 1996 in Atlanta, the shooting programme was segregated, with men's events being separated from the women's.

Equipment

   Air pistol

   A pistol that uses compressed air or carbon dioxide to discharge lead pellets.

   Air rifle

   A rifle that uses compressed air or carbon dioxide to discharge lead pellets.

   Air gun

   A rifle or pistol that uses compressed air or carbon dioxide to discharge lead pellets.

   Barrel

   The tube of a gun.

   Blinkers

   Devices sometimes affixed to the sides of shooting glasses to keep the wind out of shooters' eyes and prevent distraction from motion to the side.

   Bunker

   A long concrete structure in front of a firing line from which machines throw clay targets in trap shooting; also known as a "trench".

   Cartridge

   The complete unit of ammunition, including the projectile, case, powder and primer.

   Chamber

   The rear portion of a gun barrel into which a cartridge is inserted for firing.

   Choke

   A narrowed part of a shotgun barrel, as in a chokebore.

   Chokebore

   A bore in a shotgun that narrows toward the muzzle to prevent shot from scattering too widely.

   Clay target

   A saucer-shaped target of clay.

   Metallic sight

   A non-magnifying device on the front or rear end of a firearm to assist aim.

   Free pistol

   A .22-calibre pistol relatively free of specifications.

   Magazine

   A receptacle for a number of cartridges which is inserted into a firearm and must be removed and replaced when empty.

   Pistol

   A short firearm intended to be held and fired with one hand.

   Rifle

   A shoulder firearm with spiral grooves cut in the inner surface of the gun barrel to give the bullet a rotating motion and render its flight more accurate.

   Shotgun

   A smooth-bore firearm for firing round shot.

   Stock

   The wooden, metal, plastic or fibreglass portion of a rifle or shotgun to which the barrel, action, trigger, etc. are attached.

   Trap

   A device for suddenly releasing or tossing clay targets into the air in trapshooting.

   Trench

   A long concrete structure in front of a firing line from which machines throw clay targets in trap shooting; also known as a "bunker".

   Trigger

   A small projecting piece which, when squeezed with the finger, operates the mechanism and discharges a firearm.

Glossary

   10 ring: The centre ring of the target for pistol, rifle or running-target events, worth 10 points; also known as a "bull" or "bullseye".

   Bore: The interior diameter of a gun barrel.

   Broken target: A shotgun target that falls apart before being fired upon.

   Bull: The centre circle of the target for pistol, rifle or running-target events, worth 10 points; also known as a "bullseye" or "10 ring".

   Bullseye: The centre circle of the target for pistol, rifle or running-target events, worth 10 points; also known as a "bull" or "10 ring".

   Calibre: The unit of measure for the bore of a rifle or pistol.

   Call for the target: To call out a command when ready for the shotgun target to be released.

   Crossfire: To call out a command when ready for the shotgun target to be released.

   Double trap: A trapshooting event where two targets are released simultaneously at different heights and angles and the shooter must fire a shot at each target.

   Firing line: The line where shooting competitors position themselves to shoot their targets.

   Gauge: A unit of measure for the bore of a shotgun.

   High house: The trap house from where targets are thrown from a point higher than the low house in skeet events.

   Hit: A shotgun target that has been struck and broken by the shooter.

   Irregular target: A shotgun target that travels off course.

   Lost: The description for a shotgun target that has not been hit.

   Low house: The trap house from where targets are thrown from a point lower than the high house in skeet events.

   Malfunction: The failure of a gun or ammunition to work properly.

   No bird: An illegal shotgun target, usually because it is broken when it emerges, is not propelled or is released before the shooters call.

   Offhand: The standard shooting position for pistol.

   Primer: The explosive which ignites the gunpowder, in turn propelling the projectile or shot.

   Regular target: An unbroken shotgun target.

   Rimfire: Relating to a cartridge where the explosive that ignites the powder is contained in the rim of the case.

   Running target: A target moved across a track to simulate a moving animal or other target.

   Shooting station: The marked area where shooters must stand when firing.

   Shoot-off: A form of tie-breaker in a shooting competition.

   Sighter: A practice shot fired at the beginning of a match to check sight adjustments. Sighters are not counted toward the final score.

   Skeet: A form of clay-target shooting where targets are thrown from two traps about 40 metres apart and the shooter moves in an arc to different stations, firing from various angles.

   String: A series of shots, normally five or ten.

   Target: A board marked with concentric circles which shooters aim to hit.

   Three-position rifle: A shooting competition where shooters fire rifles from the prone, standing and kneeling positions.

   Trapshooting: The sport of shooting at clay targets thrown into the air by a trap.

   Trigger pull weight: The minimum pressure that must be exerted on the trigger before a firearm will fire.