Shooting sports facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Shooting sports
Characteristics
From the final shoot-off at the men's skeet competition during the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Highest governing body	Several organizations, see list
Nicknames	Shooting
First played	Switzerland in the second half of the 15th century
Contact	No
Team members	Yes or no, depending on competition
Mixed-sex	Yes or no, depending on discipline
Type	Indoor or outdoor
Venue	Shooting range
Presence
Olympic	Yes
World Championships	Yes
Paralympic	Yes

Shooting sports are fun activities where people test how well they can shoot. This involves using different types of ranged weapons. You might use small arms like firearms and airguns. These include handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Some shooting sports also use bows or crossbows.

These sports are all about being accurate, precise, and sometimes fast. They can be for fun or for serious competition. Shooting sports can be played alone or in teams. Team scores are usually made by adding up each person's score. Because shooting can be loud and powerful, it's done in special safe places. These are called shooting ranges or temporary fields away from towns.

Olympic Shooting Events

The Summer Olympics feature many shooting events. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, there were fifteen medal events. These were split evenly between rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Each had five events.

To make things fair for everyone, new mixed team events were added. These replaced some older events that were only for men.

Rifle Events

50 meter rifle three positions (for individuals)
10 meter air rifle (for individuals)
10 meter air rifle (for mixed teams)

Pistol Events

25 meter rapid fire pistol (for men)
25 meter sport pistol (for women)
10 meter air pistol (for individuals)
10 meter air pistol (for mixed teams)

Shotgun Events

Trap (for men and women)
Skeet (for individuals)
Skeet (for mixed teams)

Gun Shooting Sports

This photo shows a bullet leaving a Smith & Wesson Model 686 revolver. You can see the smoke from the gunpowder.

Gun shooting sports use either firearms or air guns. These can be handguns, rifles, or shotguns.

Handguns

Handguns are small small arms that you hold with one or two hands. They don't need a shoulder stock to shoot. The main types are pistols and revolvers. Handguns are easy to carry. But they usually don't shoot as far or as accurately as rifles. In sports, revolvers and semi-automatic pistols are most common.

Rifles

A rifle is a long gun with a special grooved barrel. You need both hands to hold it. You also brace it against your shoulder using a stock. Rifles generally shoot farther and more accurately than handguns. They are popular for hunting. In sports, bolt-action or semi-automatic rifles are often used.

Shotguns

A shotgun is like a rifle but often has a smooth barrel. It usually has a larger caliber. Shotguns typically fire a shell with many small pellets called shots. They can also fire a single large projectile called a slug. In sports, over/under or semi-automatic shotguns are common. Many shotgun events are part of clay pigeon shooting.

Types of Shooting Competitions

There are many different ways to compete in shooting sports. They can be grouped by how they are played.

Bullseye Shooting

This round shooting target has many hits right in the middle, which is called the "bullseye."

Bullseye shooting is a type of pistol and rifle sport. The goal is to hit the center of a round target. You get more points the closer you hit the middle. Shooters take their time to aim carefully. They focus on their breathing and how they pull the trigger. There are often long time limits for each shot.

The ISSF has many bullseye events. Distances are usually simple numbers like 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, or 300 meters. Competitions are usually held at permanent ranges. Each shooter often has their own target. Bullseye shooting is great for beginners to learn how to shoot well. It is also an Olympic sport.

Handgun Bullseye Shooting

The ISSF shooting events include six pistol events. Three of these are Olympic events. They involve slow and rapid shooting. Distances are 10, 25, and 50 meters. Shooters use special pistols with grips shaped for their hands. They shoot with one hand.
The CISM Rapid Fire match is like the ISSF 25 meter rapid fire pistol event.
NRA Precision Pistol uses up to three different handguns. Shooters fire one-handed at targets 25 and 50 yards away.
Precision Pistol Competition (PPC) started in 1960 for police training.

Men's ISSF 10 meter air pistol final at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Boris Kokorev from Russia at the ISSF 50 meter pistol 2007 World Cup.
Women's 10 meter air pistol at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Rifle Bullseye Shooting

The six rifle ISSF shooting events include two Olympic events. These are 10 meter air rifle and 50 meter rifle three positions. They involve slow, careful shooting. Distances are 10, 50, or 300 meters.
Fullbore target rifle involves shooting while lying down. It uses single-shot rifles at distances from 300 to 1200 yards. It is popular in Britain and other Commonwealth countries.
Gallery rifle shooting is popular in the UK. It uses carbine rifles that fire pistol bullets. This sport became popular after a handgun ban in 1997.
High Power Rifle in the United States involves shooting from three positions. These are standing, kneeling or sitting, and lying down. Distances are 200, 300, and 600 yards.
Military Service Rifle shooting uses rifles like those used by military and police. It is popular in the United States.
Project Appleseed teaches rifle shooting skills. It also shares history about the American Revolutionary War. Shooters practice at 25 meters, aiming at smaller targets. This simulates shooting at 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards.
Three position airgun competitions are popular in the United States.
Four position small bore shooting is also popular in the U.S. It adds a sitting position to the three international positions.

A young shooter in Switzerland practices bullseye shooting with a SIG 550.
An ISSF 50 meter rifle prone competition in Los Angeles, USA in 2012.
Two shooters during an ISSF 300 meter rifle three positions competition.

Field Shooting

Field-Shooting or Terrain-Shooting events happen outdoors. They use temporary shooting ranges in natural areas. The distances to targets can change and are sometimes unknown. This is different from permanent ranges with fixed distances.

Handgun Field Shooting

Nordic Handgun Field-Shooting uses pistols and revolvers. There are different classes for different types of guns. These range from small .22 LR to large .500 S&W Magnum. Matches are held outdoors all year. They use different targets and distances.
Swiss field shooting with handguns is a popular sport in Switzerland. It has been part of their annual championship since 1919.

Nordic Handgun Field Shooting in Arendal, Norway in 2007.

Rifle Field Shooting

Nordic Rifle Field-Shooting uses small .22 LR rifles at 100 meters. It also uses larger rifles at distances from 100 to 650 meters. These longer distances mean it can also be called a long range shooting sport. Matches are usually held in winter. They use varied targets.
Swiss field shooting with rifles has been a championship event since 1899.
Precision rifle competitions, like the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), combine field and long-range shooting. Shooters use rifles in outdoor areas. Distances vary from about 10 to 1000 meters.
Field Target is an outdoor air gun sport from the United Kingdom. Hunter field target is a similar version.

Nordic Rifle Field Shooting in Sweden during winter 2012.
The Norwegian Rifle Field Shooting Championship in 2007.
A field-like shooting competition in the USA using an M1 Garand.
Field target shooting in Germany.

Rapid Fire Shooting

Handgun Rapid Fire

The ISSF 25 meter pistol and ISSF 25 meter rapid fire pistol events are Olympic sports.
The Bianchi Cup mixes elements of IPSC and bullseye shooting. It focuses on accuracy under strict time limits. Shooters start with their gun in a holster. Distances range from 10 to 50 yards.
Fast draw, or quick draw, is a pistol sport from North America. It's based on old Western movies. Shooters use special blanks or wax bullets. Some competitions are about speed, while others are head-to-head matches.

A female athlete competes in a 25 meter pistol event.
Keith Sanderson from USA at the ISSF 25 meter rapid fire pistol event during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
John Pride at the 2008 Bianchi Cup.

Rifle Rapid Fire

The CISM Rapid Fire match is a faster version of the ISSF 300 m Standard Rifle event.
Felthurtigskyting (Field Rapid Shooting) and Stangskyting are fast-paced rifle competitions. They are popular in Scandinavia.

Stang-Shooting at the 2007 Landsskytterstevnet in Norway.
Field-Rapid-Shooting at the 2007 Landsskytterstevnet in Norway.

Clay Target Shooting

Clay pigeon shooting uses shotguns to hit flying clay targets. These targets are thrown by machines called "Traps."

The three Shotgun ISSF/Olympic events are all about quick reactions to these clay targets.
- Skeet: Targets are thrown one at a time or in pairs. They come from two throwers 40 meters apart.
- Trap and Double Trap: One (trap) or two targets (double trap) are thrown from 15 meters in front of the shooter.
The Fédération Internationale de Tir aux Armes Sportives de Chasse (FITASC) Compak Sporting is a shotgun sport like sporting clays, trap, and skeet.
Other shotgun sports include Sporting Clays, Down-The-Line/ATA, and Five stand.

Trap shooting in USA.
Skeet shooting in USA.
Clay targets being placed in an automatic throwing machine.
Trap shooting at the 2015 World Police and Fire Games in USA.
Sketch of a Skeet shooting range.

Running Target Shooting

Running target shooting involves targets that move. They might look like a running boar, moose, or deer.

ISSF 10 meter running target
ISSF 10 meter running target mixed
ISSF 50 meter running target
ISSF 50 meter running target mixed
100 m running moose, popular in Scandinavia.
100 meter running deer, also popular in Scandinavia and Great Britain.

Practical Shooting

Practical shooting, also called action shooting or dynamic shooting, is a sport where speed and accuracy are both important. Many events involve moving while shooting. If using handguns, they are often drawn from a holster.

The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) is the oldest and largest group for practical shooting. It's sometimes called the "Formula One" of shooting sports. It uses handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Shooters often move through different stages. They engage targets in many positions.
International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is an action shooting sport. It uses semi-automatic handguns and revolvers. It focuses on shooting from a hidden position.
Multigun events require competitors to use and switch between rifles, handguns, and shotguns.
Steel Challenge is a speed shooting championship. The goal is to shoot steel targets as fast as possible.
International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE) promotes action shooting with revolvers.
IPSC Action Air uses airsoft guns instead of real firearms. It follows the same rules as IPSC. It's popular in countries where real firearms are hard to own.
Bowling pin shooting involves knocking bowling pins off a table. Competitors race to do this in the shortest time.

An Open division practical pistol shooter during a stage.
A Norwegian practical rifle shooter at the 2017 IPSC Rifle World Shoot.
Three-time practical revolver world champion Ricardo López Tugendhat.

Long Range Shooting

Long range shooting means shooting at very far distances. At these distances, things like wind and air can affect the bullet. Shooters need to adjust their aim based on these conditions.

Fullbore target shooting involves targets from 300 to 1200 yards away. The ICFRA governs this sport. It's popular in the UK, US, Germany, and Commonwealth countries.
- "Target Rifle" (also known as Palma rifle) is an ICFRA competition. It dates back to 1876. Shooters use specific rifles and ammunition.
- F-Class is another ICFRA competition. It uses rifles with special sights and rests. This sport is growing fast.
Precision Rifle Competitions are newer long-range events. They balance speed and accuracy. Shooters often move and shoot from unusual positions. There are time limits and targets at known or unknown distances.
- National Rifle League (NRL) is a group that helps grow precision rifle shooting in the US.
- National Rifle League 22 (NRL22) is for .22 Long Rifle rimfire rifles. It's popular because most places have 100-yard ranges, and many people own .22 rifles.
T-Class Shooting Sport Competitions focus on practical sniping. Shooters aim at targets at different distances. They shoot from various positions under realistic, stressful conditions.

Fullbore target rifle ("Palma") shooting in Canada in 2011.
An ICFRA F-Class rifle with a scope and bipod.

Benchrest Shooting

Benchrest shooting is about shooting very small groups of shots. The shooter sits at a table, and the rifle is supported. This sport demands very precise equipment.

An Anschütz 1903 rifle used for benchrest shooting at 50 meters.
A BCM Europearms single shot benchrest rifle.

Metallic Silhouette Shooting

Metallic silhouette shooters aim at animal-shaped steel targets. These targets (chickens, pigs, turkeys, and rams) must be knocked down to score. Groups of five targets are placed up to 500 meters away. The distance and target size depend on the type of gun used.

Muzzleloading Shooting

Muzzleloading involves shooting replica (or antique) guns. These guns are loaded from the front of the barrel.

A competitor shooting at 1000 yards (914.4 meters) while lying on their back.
A competitor from Team Norway shooting at 1000 yards.
A replica Rigby rifle used at the 2015 MLAIC Muzzleloading Long Range Championship.
A member of Team USA loading his blackpowder rifle.

Para Shooting

Paralympic shooting, also called "shooting Para sport," is for athletes with disabilities. It first appeared in the 1976 Toronto Games. The International Paralympic Committee governs this sport. A special Para-shooting classification system helps make competitions fair.

The events are similar to those in the Olympic Games. Air Pistol is usually shot from a seated position. Air Rifle events include "Standing" (shot seated) and "Prone" (shot from a table).

Para shooting with a rifle while sitting in a wheelchair.
Para "Prone" shooting from a table.

Competitions with Standard Firearms

Shooting competitions for factory and service firearms use guns that are mostly standard. Few changes are allowed to these firearms. These events are often called Service Rifle, Service Pistol, Production, Factory, or Stock. The guns used are usually tough, useful, and affordable. These types of competitions can be found in many shooting sports.

Service rifle shooting in Slovenia with the Zastava M48 rifle.
Service rifle shooting in the United States with an M16/AR-15 style rifle.

Plinking

Plinking is informal target shooting done for fun or practice. People shoot at non-standard targets. These can be tin cans, logs, cartons, fruits, or other homemade objects. The best parts of plinking are that it's easy to find places to do it. It also costs less and is more relaxed.

Plinking targets often react clearly when hit. You might hear a "plink" sound or see the target bounce or fall. Steel targets are popular for plinking. They are easy to set up and show when you've hit them.

A woman plinking with a Hi-Point pistol in Alaska.
Plinking with a Ruger 10/22 rifle in Burro Canyon, Arizona, US.
Plinking on a Saturday in Burro Canyon, Arizona, US.

Athletic Shooting Sports

Athletic shooting sports combine shooting with physical activities. These sports often came from military training. They test both shooting skill and physical fitness.

IBU Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport. It combines cross-country skiing and shooting with .22 LR rifles.
Bike biathlon or velo biathlon combines cycling and shooting.
ISSF Target Sprint combines running (3 x 400 m) and airgun shooting.
Modern pentathlon is a Summer Olympic sport. It includes a combined event called Laser-run. This involves running and shooting with a laser air pistol.
Nordic Ski Field Shooting is a Nordic sport. It is based on the origins of modern biathlon. It usually uses classic cross-country skiing. Shooting is done with full-sized rifles in outdoor areas.
Nordic shooting with cross-country running combines running with shooting. It's like the summer version of Ski Field Shooting.
Military patrol was a team winter sport. Athletes competed in cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering, and rifle shooting.
Moose biathon combines cross-country skiing, distance guessing, and rifle shooting at moose targets. Moose shooting with cross-country running is the summer version, replacing skiing with running.
Orienteering shooting combines shooting with orienteering (finding your way with a map and compass).
Pistol shooting with cross-country running is organized in Finland.
Pistol skiing is like biathlon but uses pistols and revolvers.
Summer biathlon replaces skiing with running or rollerskis. It's popular in Germany.
Ski Archery combines archery and cross-country skiing.
Underwater target shooting tests how well you can use a speargun underwater. It's done in a swimming pool while holding your breath.

German military patrol in 1932.
Standing phase at the 2018 Biathlon World Cup.
Ole Einar Bjørndalen in Trondheim during the 2009 Biathlon World Cup.
Bike biathlon competition using handguns.

Bow Shooting Sports

Archery

Modern competitive archery involves shooting arrows at a target. You aim for accuracy from a set distance. A person who does archery is called an archer or bowman. The most popular competitions are called target archery.

Another type is field archery, popular in Europe and America. This is shot at targets placed at different distances in a wooded area. 3D archery uses animal models as targets. There are also other historical forms and fun archery games. The rules can vary between different organizations.

Target shooting with a recurve bow.
Archery competition in Mönchengladbach, West Germany, June 1983.

Crossbow

The International Crossbow Shooting Union (IAU) was founded in 1956. It is the world group for crossbow target shooting. The IAU holds World, Continental, and International championships. They have three types of events: 30 m Match-crossbow, 10 m Match-crossbow, and Field-crossbow shooting. The World Crossbow Shooting Association (WCSA) organizes competitions in seven different types.

Anna Sushko of Russia, 2006 Junior World Champion, holding an ICU 10 m Match Crossbow.
A competitor at the 30 meter event at the 2008 ICU Match-Crossbow World Championships.

Dart Shooting Sports

Sport Blowgun

There are different ways to compete in sport blowgun around the world. One standard way is based on fukiya. It's a 10-meter target shooting event. It uses a specific barrel size and length, and a standard dart.

Another style is like a winter biathlon. The shooter runs to a target lane, shoots, gets their darts, and moves to the next station. The course can be 400 to 800 meters long. It has 9 to 16 targets at different heights and distances. The last style is long-distance target shooting. The target is 24 cm wide, 20 meters away. Shooters fire three darts. If at least one hits, they move to the next round, moving back 2 meters each time.

Confrontational Shooting Sports

Confrontational shooting sports are newer team sports. They use non-lethal ranged weapons that are safe to shoot at other people. In the past, these games weren't possible because bows and guns were too dangerous. But new airgun and infrared technologies made them safe. These sports are now played for fun and in professional competitions. They are also used for training by military and police.

Olympic Dueling

Olympic dueling was an old individual sport. It tried to safely copy real pistol dueling. It was like fencing copying sword fighting. It used special pistols that fired wax bullets. It was a demonstration sport at the 1906 Olympics and 1908 Olympics. It was also popular in France.

A duel at the 1908 Olympics.
Olympic duelists showing their safety gear and special guns.

Paintball

Paintball is a competitive sport. Players on opposing teams try to hit each other with paintballs. These are round, breakable pellets filled with dye. They are shot from air-powered paintball markers. Paintball can be played indoors or outdoors. Players use natural or fake obstacles for cover.

Games can vary. They might include capture the flag, eliminating all opponents, or defending a certain area. Games can last from seconds to hours. The sport started in the 1980s. Now, there are major tournaments and professional teams.

National Xball League is the professional paintball league in the United States. It has divisions from pros to beginners. The league holds five national events each year. The biggest event is the World Cup.
National Collegiate Paintball Association is for college players in the United States. It helps promote the sport in colleges.

Players next to an inflatable Sup'Air bunker.
A view of a speedball game in progress.

Airsoft

Airsoft is a competitive sport like paintball. Players try to hit opponents with solid plastic pellets. These are launched from low-powered airsoft guns. Airsoft is different because the pellets don't leave a visible mark. So, players rely on an honor system. If you get hit, you must call yourself out.

Most airsoft guns use magazines. They also look more like real guns. This makes them popular for military simulation and historical reenactments. Airsoft pellets are tougher. This allows for better power systems and more realistic gameplay. Airsoft is also cheaper for casual players than paintball.

Airsoft games vary in style. They are played indoors and outdoors. Players often use real military tactics. They might even wear military uniforms. Games are usually watched by trained staff. Airsoft guns are checked to make sure they are not too powerful. There are no formal national or international groups for airsoft yet. Competitions are usually organized by private clubs.

Three airsoft team members defending an area during an indoor CQB game.
From an outdoor airsoft game.
Three airsoft team members during a field game.

Laser Tag

Laser tag is a tag game played with infrared light guns. Players wear sensors on their bodies. When a player is "shot," their sensors register the hit. Laser tag started in 1979. It has grown into indoor and outdoor games. Gameplay styles include eliminating opponents, capture the flag, or protecting a VIP.

Compared to paintball and airsoft, laser tag is painless and very safe. There are no projectiles hitting you. Indoor games might be less physically demanding. This is because running or roughhousing is often not allowed.

Zone Laser Tag World Championships were international tournaments.
There have been championships between countries like USA vs. Australia.
National tournaments are held in many countries.
Private clubs also hold events like TagCon and Tagfest.

More advanced forms of laser tag, like MILES, are used by militaries. They help soldiers practice combat without using real bullets.

An indoor laser tag competition in Long Beach, California in 2011.
Soldiers equipped with laser tag training equipment.

Archery Tag

Archery Tag is a combat archery sport. Players shoot each other with bows and arrows that have large foam tips. The rules are similar to dodgeball. The game starts with arrows in the middle of the playing area. Players race to grab them. Then they shoot at each other.

If a player is hit by an arrow, they are out. A player can bring a teammate back into the game by catching an arrow. To stay safe, players wear face masks. They also use bows that are not too strong. This sport was invented in 2011. It became more popular because of The Hunger Games movies.

Other battle games like Dagorhir and Amtgard also have archers. These archers play alongside people using foam weapons. This helps simulate medieval battles.

A game of archery tag in Toronto.