How does rapid fire pistol work?
I · Intermediate · Events and scoring · 2 of 7Each athlete fires 60 shots in two stages of 30. A series is five shots, one at each of five targets, starting from the ready position with the arm lowered. Each stage has two series in 8 seconds, two in 6 seconds and two in 4 seconds. The best eight go to a final.
How it works
- A stage: six series of five shots, in the order two in 8 seconds, two in 6 and two in 4.
- One shot a target: "one (1) shot is fired at each of the five (5) targets within the specified time limit for the series".
- Sighting: before each stage, three minutes of preparation and then one sighting series of five shots in 8 seconds.
- The commands: the range officer calls the series time and then "LOAD". After one minute comes "ATTENTION", the red lights go on and the athlete brings the pistol to the ready position.
- The start: the green lights come on 7 seconds after "ATTENTION". The pistol may be raised the moment they do.
- Every shot counts: a series has started after "ATTENTION", and every shot fired after that is a match shot.
- Between series: a pause of at least one minute.
- Scoring: full rings on the rapid fire target, which has a 100 mm ten ring and scoring rings from 10 down to 5 only.
- The pistol: the 25 m rimfire pistol, loaded with no more than five cartridges.
- Ammunition: the bullet must weigh at least 2.53 g and leave the barrel at an average of at least 250 metres a second. Samples are taken and test-fired.
- To the final: the top eight.
The glossary calls this event rapid fire pistol. The rule book lists it for men with the status "Olympic".
Tricky cases
Can the athlete start to raise the arm when "ATTENTION" is called?
No. The arm must stay in the ready position until the green lights come on.
Shooting is stopped for a safety reason in the middle of a series. Do the shots already fired count?
No. The series is annulled and repeated, and the repeated series is the one that counts.
The athlete believes the green lights came on too soon. What can they do?
Hold the pistol pointing down the range and raise the free hand at once, before firing. If the claim is justified the series starts again. If it is not, the athlete fires the series and two points are deducted from it. Once the first shot of the series has been fired, the claim is not accepted.
An athlete's ammunition tests below 250 metres a second. Are they disqualified at once?
No. Three cartridges are fired and, if the average is too low, three more. The athlete is disqualified if the average of the six is below 250.0 metres a second.
Why the rule exists
The falling time limits make each pair of series harder than the last, down to less than a second a target. The lowered arm gives every athlete the same starting point, so the clock measures the lift and the five shots and nothing an athlete has gained by starting early. The ammunition rule stops athletes using weak loads, which would kick less and make fast shooting easier.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 6.11.9.6; ISSF 8.7.6.3 |
| The final | Eight series of 4 seconds, hit or miss | ISSF 6.17.4 |
| Ready position fault | The series is repeated and the lowest hit on each target counts | ISSF 8.7.4 |
| Paper targets | The targets turn to face the athlete instead of lights changing | ISSF 8.7.6.3 (f) |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), General Technical Rules 6.3.4.4 and 6.11.9.6, Pistol Rules 8.4.4, 8.7.2 to 8.7.4, 8.7.6.2, 8.7.6.3, 8.8.1 and 8.8.5 and the table of recognised events. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).