Rifle and pistol competitions are held on shooting ranges, with distances of 10, 25 and 50 metres.

Shotgun competitions have competitors shooting at clay targets.

Competition at Rio

The Rio Olympics shooting competition will take place from Saturday 6 August to Sunday 14 August 2016.

Venue: Olympic Shooting Centre, Deodoro.

Medal Events

Men (9)

- 50m Rifle Prone (60 shots qualification plus final)

- 50m Rifle 3 Positions (120 shots qualification plus final)

- 10m Air Rifle (standing, 60 shots qualification plus final)

- 50m Pistol (60 shots, qualification plus final)

- 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (60 shots, qualification plus final)

- 10m Air Pistol (60 shots, qualification plus final)

- Trap (125 targets qualification plus final)

- Double Trap (150 targets qualification plus final)

- Skeet (125 targets qualification plus final)

 Women (6)

- 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3x20 shots qualification plus final)

- 10m Air Rifle (standing, 40 shots qualification plus final)

- 25m Pistol (30+30 shots qualification plus final)

- 10m Air Pistol (40 shots qualification plus final)

- Trap (75 targets qualification plus final)

Timeline

1896 - Shooting was included in the first modern Olympic Games (and every other Olympic Games except 1904 & 1928 Games)

1984 - Women's events introduced at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games

1992 - Pistol events introduced at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games

2012 - ISSF rules changed at the London 2012 Olympic Games so all finals start from zero (qualification scores not carried over)

2016 - Debut Womens 10m Air Rifle at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Olympic Medals

Bronze Medal

1968 - Ian Ballinger 50m Rifle Prone - Men (Mexico City)

Terminology

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.

Airgun - 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 pulled with the finger, operates the mechanism and discharges a firearm or air gun.