SMALL BORE

In the rifle events, competitors earn points with their shots at a 10-ring target, and the shooter with the most points at the end of the competition wins. Shooters fire from standing, kneeling and prone positions. In the finals, the 10 rings on the target are divided to produce more rings, making the highest score for a shot 10.9. The final-round score is added to the qualification-round score to determine the winner. Normally, scores range from one point for hitting the outside zone to 10 for a hit in the 10 ring. The higher score generally is awarded when a shot hits a line between two zones. In the standing position for all rifle events, the rifle is held with both hands and rests on the shoulder, and the left arm may be supported on the chest or hip. When kneeling, the right-handed shooter may touch the ground with the toe of the right foot, the right knee and the left foot. The left knee may support the left elbow, but the point of the elbow must be no more than 10 cm past or 15 cm behind the point of the knee. Rifle shooters may use a soft, cylindrical roll to support the inside of the ankle when kneeling. In the prone position, a shooter may not let the rifle rest against, or touch, any object. The right-handed shooter's left forearm must form an angle of at least 30 degrees from horizontal. The maximum changeover time between positions is 10 minutes for 50m-rifle events.

Rifle Sights

Only metallic sights are permitted, which have no lenses or system of lenses. An aperture is used at the rear with a diameter in the region of 1.1mm and at the front either an aperture or a post or blade front sight. Coloured filters are permitted and the rear sight has fine adjustments for windage and elevation.

50m Rifle 3 Positions Men

The shooter fires three rounds of 40 shots each in the prone, standing and kneeling positions at a target 50 meters away. Prior to the first competition shot, any number of sighting shots may be fired. The rifle is a small bore rifle(single loaded) in 5.6 mm(.22 Long Rifle) calibre with a maximum overall weight of 8 kg with a well shaped stock incorporating adjustments to suit the individual, including a hook type butt plate and in the standing position only a palm rest if desired. Only metallic sights are permitted-see rifle sights. The center ten, which is as large as a "Dime" coin, must be hit at a distance of 50 meters within a time limit of 45 minutes in the prone position, 75 minutes in the standing position and 60 minutes in the kneeling position. The best eight shooters from this opening program are qualified for the final. The final consists of 10 shots in the standing position with a time limit of 75 seconds per shot. Each shot is evaluated in decimal tenths and added to the score of the opening program.

50m Rifle Prone Men

Sixty shots are fired in the prone position. Prior to the first competition shot, any number of sighting shots may be fired. The competition time, including the sighting shots, is 75 minutes. The distance of the target, the size of its center and the gun correspond to the 50m rifle 3 position match. In the final, 10 shots are fired with a time limit of 45 seconds per shot in the "prone" position. The decimal score is added to the opening score to determine the winner.

50m Rifle 3 Positions Women

Three rounds of 20 shots are fired in the prone, standing and kneeling positions. The time limit for all three positions, including the sighting shots, is 135 minutes. A small bore rifle as for the men but with a maximum weight limit of 6.5 kilos. The shots are once again fired at the target's center, which is the size of a "Dime" coin, at a distance of 50 meters. In the final, the best eight female shooters fire 10 shots in the standing position with a time limit of 75 seconds per shot, and the score is evaluated in decimal tenths. The final score is then added to the opening score to determine the total result.

10m Air Rifle Men and Women

Permitted are 4.5mm (.177?) air rifle with a maximum weight of 5.5 kg from which the pallet is propelled by air compressed either by an external lever or by a pre compressed air cylinder. The stock is shaped for comfort but this together with the rifle and sights have many restrictions regarding dimensions under the rules. Only ?metallic? sights are permitted-see rifle sights. In the main competition, only the entire rings are counted. The men complete 60 shots in 105 minutes with any number of sighting shots before the first competition shot is fired.

The women complete 40 shots within a maximum of 75 minutes, including the sighting shots. The shots are fired in the standing position at a very thin, "threadlike" center of exactly 0.5 mm at a distance of 10 meters. In the following final, each of the eight finalists only has 75 seconds to fire each of his 10 final shots. The points achieved are subdivided into decimal tenths. A shot that hits directly in the center of the ten counts as a 10.9, whereas a shot just barely touching the center counts as 10.0. The results from the normal program and the final are added together.

Running Target

In the men's running target event, competitors shoot at a moving paper target from a distance of 10 metres. The event involves a "slow run" and a "fast run". The shooter stands unsupported and shoots in a standing position, starting with their rifles at hip level and raising them only after the target appears.

10m Running Target Men

A. 4.5mm (.177?) air rifle with a maximum weight of 5.5kg including the sight, from which the pellet is propelled by air, compressed either by an external lever by a pre compressed air cylinder may be used. The stock is shaped for comfort and handling for this event but this together with the rifle has many restrictions regarding dimensions under the rules. A telescope sight is permitted with a maximum power of 4 x and a maximum overall length of 300mm.

This is the only rifle event in the Olympic program which permits a telescope sight. In the competition 60 shots are fired, 30 of them in a slow round and 30 in a fast round. In the slow round, the target, which is pulled across a 2 meter wide aisle, is visible for five seconds, beginning once from the left and once from the right. In the fast round, the target is only visible for 2.5 seconds. The match is shot at a distance of 10 meters, and the center of the target is 5.5 mm in size. The telescope may not exceed 300 mm in length and may only have a maximum fourfold magnifying power. The rifle, including the sight, may not weigh more than 5.5 kilos. In the following final, each of the six finalists shots 10 shots ?fast run? in the standing position. The shots are evaluated in decimal tenths. The scores of the opening program and final are added together.