Para Shooting

The following events are currently contested at the Paralympic Games:

Rifle

• 10m Air Rifle Standing
• 10m Air Rifle Prone
• Free Rifle
• Sport Rifle

Pistol

• 10m Air Pistol
• 25m Sport Pistol
• 50m Free Pistol

At the Paralympic Games, Shooting Para sport is open to athletes with a physical impairment. World Shooting Para Sport also provide competition opportunities for athletes with a vision impairment.  Athletes are required to submit medical reports and meet the minimum impairment criteria in order to compete.

For more information on Eligible Impairments and Classification please see the Para shooting Information Sheet (PDF – 137KB) – updated August 2024.

Rifle and Pistols
Athletes use .22 calibre rifles and air guns (CO2 gas, pneumatic or spring). Upon trigger activation, the CO2 liquid changes to gas and activates the projectile toward the target. The pneumatic rifle uses a multiple pump system to store air pressure in a reservoir and trigger compression activates the projectile toward the target.

Bullets
For 10m Air Rifle and Pistol events, bullets with a diameter of 4.5mm are used. For 25m Pistol events, and 50m Pistol and Rifle events, 5.6mm bullets are used.

Target
The standard target is a cardboard square with concentric white and black rings around a black centre ring (or bullseye). For the Paralympic Games, five different targets are used depending on the type of gun. These targets are electronic for increased accuracy.