Register for An International Match
International shooting is becoming more popular. With the advent of the Olympics and our own Empire State Games, more shooters are switching to the more challenging disciplines of International pistol. All pistol competitions are performed according to the International Shooting Union, the sponsoring and controlling organization for all authorized International Pistol Matches. This organization is also known in most other countries as the Union International deTir (UIT) with headquarters in Wiesbaden, West Germany. All pistol competitions are performed according to (UIT) rules to achieve uniformity in the conducting of shooting competitions throughout the world. The competitions are included in programs of major international shoots such as the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, and Pan-American and Asian Games.
Because of the uniformity of targets, course of fire, and equipment specifications, competitors can easily measure their achievement against each other.
For the pistol shooter there are five International disciplines:
A competitor may shoot one or more of the disciplines in an International Match.
Free Pistol is one of the longest-established pistol
competitions: it has been included in the Olympic programs from the very onset.
This is the ultimate in precision shooting, demanding a
high degree of technical skill and considerable powers of endurance. The Free
Pistol match is shot on the International Precision target at a distance of 50
meters.
Pistols Used
Any .22 caliber rim fire pistol can be used. Only open
sights are permitted. No part of the gun may be extended or constructed to give
support beyond the hand. the wrist must remain free when the pistol is held in
the normal firing position. There is no minimum trigger weight and the
dimensions of the grips, barrel length, the distance between the front and rear
sights, and the weight of the pistol are without restriction.
Course of Fire
The program consists of 60 shots, with an unlimited number
of sighter shots. The time limit, including the sighter shots, is two and
one-half hours. Sighters may only be fired at the beginning of the competition.
It is fired in six series of 10 shots for a possible score of 600 points.
Standard Pistol is a comparatively newcomer to the International Shooting program. The course of fire closely resembles the 2700 Conventional Match course. It requires little equipment and is often shot on stationary targets.
Pistols Used
The weight of the pistol (including all accessories) must
not exceed 3 lbs. 2 oz. (1400 grams) The length of the barrel must not exceed 6
inches (153 mm). The sight base must be no longer than 8.6 in. (220 mm). Muzzle
breakers are not permitted. No part of the grip may encircle the hand. The palm
and the thumb rest may be at right angles to the grip only. The rear projection
of the frame or grip that rests on the top of the hand may not exceed 1.2 inches
(30 mm).
Any .22 caliber rimfire pistol or revolver, with the exception of single-shot pistols may be used provided it complies with the general conditions and with the specification detailed above. The weight of the trigger pull must be at least 2 lbs. 3.2 oz. (1000 grams)
Course of Fire
The Standard Pistol Match is shot on the International precision target at a
distance of 25 meters (approximately 25 yards). The program consists of 60 shots
divided into three courses of twenty shots each. Each course of twenty shots is
further divided into four series of five shots each. In the first course, the
time limit is 150 seconds for each five-shot series. In the second course the
time limit is 20 seconds, and in the third, 10 seconds. Before the start of the
competition, five sighting shots may be fired within a time limit of 150
seconds.
The arm must be in a 45 degree position and cannot be raised to the target until the targets begin to face.
These two competitions share the same course of fire. The Center Fire match is by far the most senior of the two, the Women's Sport Pistol being a comparative newcomer. However, Women's Sport Pistol now forms part of the shooting program of the Olympic Games, its inaugural competition was held in Los Angeles in 1984. Both these competitions combine elements of slow and rapid fire shooting.