A good introduction is very important for a solid start and this is true for sports as well. So this article will talk about another Olympic Event, 10M Air Pistol Shooting. This article is not only for those who want to know more about 10M Air Pistol Shooting but also for those who are already involved with the sport. Like other Olympic Shooting Events, 10M Air Pistol Shooting is also governed under the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).
As the name suggests, this is a sport that is shot over a short distance of 10M by an air pistol in an upright standing position with one hand. The shooter uses an air pistol with a 4.5mm or .177in caliber, which is a lightweight pellet and the weight of that pistol is around 2kgs. It is important to note that unlike 10M Air Rifles, 10M Air Pistols have a shorter barrel though the pressure range is the same for both.
This event among those played indoors in ranges that may have electronic, manual or semi-electric lanes and the distance between the shooter and the target they are firing at is supposed to be 10M. Amongst these only those lanes that are fully electronic have been used for national and international level competitions for the past couple of years now. In these types of lanes, there is a monitor that is placed on one end of the 10 meters and the target placed on the other end has sensors on it that have the ability to read the shots fired by the shooters. These readings are extremely accurate, to the decimal.
Now that we know a bit about the layout of a 10M Air Pistol shooting range lets move onto the dimensions of the target that is fired upon. The target is 17cm by 17cm or 6.7 inches by 6.7 inches in dimensions. It is traditionally made if light-coloured slightly thick paper with scoring rings traced on top of it from 1 to 10. There is a central black portion of the target that consists of score zoner from 7 to 10, the remaining zones are part of the outer white portion. There is also an inner ten ring that is present at the very center of the target but is only considered in scoring during situations of tie-breakers.
In this event no use of any specialised clothing, like in Rifle shooting, is required. Simple T-Shirts with track pants or lowers, with some restrictions for example, no mesh above the knee or anything on your wrist is allowed during the event. One can wear either casual shoes in which the ankles of the shooter should be completely free to move, preferably with flat sole like P.T shoes in school. The second option Pistol Shooters have are specialised shoes designed specifically for Pistol Shooting with flat and hard soles. However, it is important to note that this depends on the shooter’s personal choice because in the end the main purpose of shoes is to help in maintaining proper balance and stability.
However there are other small accessories like ear plugs, blinders, caps and belts that Pistol Shooters add to their shooting gear and equipment according to their wants and needs. All in all a set of all these, i.e. clothes and accessories, is called a shooters kit. Similarly even a shooter’s pistol’s weight can be modified with additional accessories according to every shooter’s individual need.
In Pistol Shooting, the pistol grip plays an important role as in this event the shooter is only using one hand to hold their weapon. The basic techniques that are taught to amature or beginner shooters revolve around understanding the importance of a grip and how to properly grip it. The grip of a pistol comes in a variety of sizes ranging from XXS to L depending on the palm size of every individual shooter. The grip can also be further modified according to the shooter’s need, of course within the set standards given by the ISSF!
10M Air Pistol Shooting is not a sport that requires physical movement but requires a lot of technical knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge when needed. A stable body, good presence of mind, micro-coordination and a calm mind are just some of the things a shooter must practice and perfect to succeed in this sport. Physical and Mental fitness are essential to all sports just like pistol shooting but a sense of grounded calmness during high pressure matches and final situations can only come when shooters learn to temper them both with perfection.
Now also watch this video on 10M Air Pistol Shooting by International Shooter and Coach, Oshin Tawani.