What exactly is 10m Air Pistol?
10m Air Pistol is an Olympic and ISSF-governed precision shooting discipline fired indoors at a distance of 10 meters using 4.5 mm/.177 caliber air pistols. Athletes shoot standing, one-handed, unsupported, and the smallest inconsistencies in stance, grip, breathing, or trigger control show up on the target. At the Olympics and ISSF events, men and women shoot the same qualification course: 60 scoring shots in 75 minutes, typically followed by a high-pressure final.
Equipment: Pistols, Pellets, and Targets
Pistols & power
Any 4.5 mm (.177) compressed air/CO₂/pneumatic pistol that meets ISSF specifications is legal. The pistol must be fired with one hand; the wrist must be visibly free of support. A minimum trigger pull of 500 g applies, and dimensions/weight must fit the ISSF pistol spec box. Most elite shooters use pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) pistols with adjustable grips, sights, and balance weights.
Air cylinders & safety
Major manufacturers specify a 10-year service life for compressed-air cylinders (often stamped with a manufacture date). Some brands allow a one-time re-test for limited extension, but ISSF events generally enforce the 10-year rule—check the cylinder date before competition.
Pellets
Wadcutters in the ~0.50–0.55 g (7.7–8.5 gr) range are standard; premium “match” lots are sorted for consistency to minimize vertical spread and cut crisp holes for scoring. (Examples include RWS R10 Match). Final selection is made through grouping tests with your barrel.
Target & scoring rings
The 10m air pistol target’s 10-ring is 11.5 mm in diameter; the black bull covers rings 7–10 (≈59.5 mm). Finals use decimal scoring (each 10 subdivided to 10.0–10.9), which better differentiates world-class groups than integer scoring. Electronic targets (e.g., SIUS) are standard at top events.
Match format and finals (Olympic/ISSF)
Qualification
60 shots in 75 minutes (with additional time if paper targets are used instead of electronic), shot at the athlete’s pace within the limit. The top eight advance to the final.
Finals (Paris 2024 “Tokyo-format”)
After athlete presentation and sighting, shooters fire two 5-shot series (250 s each) and then single shots (50 s each) with eliminations after prescribed stages until two athletes remain; scores are in decimals. ISSF published detailed finals procedures for Paris 2024 to standardize timing and eliminations.
Mixed Team
A separate Olympic event features male-female pairs. Following qualification, head-to-head medal matches award points per shot until one team reaches the winning total. At Paris 2024, Serbia (Zorana Arunović/Damir Mikec) edged Turkey 16–14 for gold; India (Manu Bhaker/Sarabjot Singh) took bronze.
Recent Olympic benchmarks (Paris 2024)
Men’s 10m Air Pistol
China’s Xie Yu won gold with 240.9 in the final, ahead of Italy’s Federico Nilo Maldini (240.0) and Paolo Monna (218.6).
Women’s 10m Air Pistol
Korea’s Oh Ye-jin set an Olympic record 243.2 for gold; teammate Kim Ye-ji took silver (241.3); Manu Bhaker (India) claimed bronze (221.7). Official results are maintained by the IOC/Paris 2024.
Technique: how champions build 10s
1. Stance and Balance
Feet under the body with a stable base (often 30–45° to the target), hips neutral, shoulders level, head upright. With one hand stretched to full extension, tiny sway translates into millimeters on target—so lower-body stability and core control are foundational. ISSF coaching emphasizes physical components such as deltoid, wrist and forearm strength to improve hold stability.
2. Grip and Aiming
A correctly fitted anatomical grip lets the sights return naturally to alignment. Pressure should be even—too much finger or palm torque introduces lateral error. Sights are usually set for a sub-six hold (white space under the bull) to avoid chasing a dark-on-dark aim.
3. Breathing
Exhale gently into a brief natural respiratory pause as the sights settle; avoid breath-holding strain that triggers tremor.
4. Trigger control and follow-through
The clean, straight-back press through ~500 g is the heart of the shot. Training focuses on uninterrupted pressure as the sight picture oscillates within the acceptable area, then follow-through (maintaining sights and pressure after the shot) to prevent “snatching.”
Mental routines. Elite finals are decided by the ability to reproduce a process under lights, noise, and shot-by-shot announcements. Athletes use pre-shot routines, visualization, and “reset” cues between shots.
What pistols do they shoot in the Olympics?
In the Olympics, shooters in the 10m Air Pistol event use precision-engineered .177 caliber (4.5 mm) pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air pistols that meet strict ISSF specifications. These pistols fire using compressed air, not gunpowder, ensuring exceptional consistency and accuracy.
Popular Olympic-grade models include the Steyr LP10 and LP50, Walther LP400, Morini 162EI, Feinwerkbau P8X, and Pardini K12. Each features adjustable grips, electronic or mechanical triggers (minimum pull 500 grams), and customizable balance weights. Designed for one-handed shooting, these pistols deliver unmatched stability and precision—allowing athletes to achieve sub-millimeter accuracy at a 10-meter range.
What 22 ammo do Olympic shooters use?
Olympic and ISSF pistol events use .22 Long Rifle (5.6 mm) match ammunition specifically developed for short-barreled pistols; top competitors choose purpose-built pistol loads (not generic bulk .22) for extreme consistency. Elite brands—ELEY (Tenex/Match), Lapua (Pistol King/OSP), RWS (including the P25 Rapid-Fire round) and SK Pistol Match—dominate ranges because they offer extremely tight lot-to-lot uniformity, pistol-optimized bullet profiles and velocities tuned for short barrels. Shooters typically prefer subsonic or near-subsonic velocities to avoid transonic instability, but rapid-fire rules require minimum muzzle energy/velocity so manufacturers balance recoil, fouling, and reliability.
Bullet weights cluster around 38–40 grains (≈2.46–2.6 g) and manufacturers batch-test cartridges for grouping at 25–50 m; competitors always “sit down” with their pistol to test several lots and stick with the one giving the smallest groups. In short: Olympic shooters use premium, pistol-specific .22LR match ammo from specialist makers and select by empirical lot testing.
