Shooting in the Olympics is comprised of many events, with 5 different types of guns in use.
1) Air Pistol
Air Pistol is used in the 10m category with individual events for both men and women and a mixed team event. A 25m category is also available which is restricted to women. All shooters get to fire 60 shots in one hour and 15 minutes before the top 8 move into a medal round. In the final, there are a total of 24 shots each with knockouts after the tenth shot. Electronic targets are now used and the best shot gives you a 10.9 score but a small miss could land the shooter right at the back of the field.
Also Read: Indians and their major events on Day 1
2. 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
This is a men’s only event where shooters fire over short periods of eight, six and four seconds. The qualification has two rounds of 30 shots each. Top Eight shooters with the best score qualify for the medal round. The Scoring system is simple, you either hit or miss the target.
3. Air Rifle
Air Rifle has primarily 3 events with 10m competition in Men's, women as well as Mix Teams. All participants get 60 shots each in the qualification with the highest score possible at 654.0 points. Once again 10.9 is the best score you can achieve from a single shot and the finals have 24 attempts on target with regular knockouts. The targets are once again electronic with a similar points system as Air Pistol. Air Rifle is also used in 50m Rifle 3 Positions event has every shooter attempts 40 shots each while kneeling, prone and standing. The eight best shooters move into the final round.
4. Skeet & Trap
Skeet and Trap are shotgun events where athletes fire at a clay object which measures around 10cm in diameter flying at over 100 kmph. Both Trap & Skeet events feature the men’s and women’s category whereas Trap also has a mixed team event.
In Skeet, athletes stand and fire at clay targets from 8 different spots known as a ‘station’. The targets fly in and cross each other as the athlete gets 25 shots each in five rounds over three days as the best 6 get into the medal round.
In Trap, Shooters fire at clay targets coming from 5 different positions. Every shooter or team fires 75 shots in three rounds of 25 shots each. The top 6 then move into the medal round.