Pistol and revolver sport target shooting are very popular recreational and competitive activities in Canada. The highly competitive recreational sport target shooting events serve as pathways to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, to long-term sport participation and to Sport for Life.

Pierre De Coubertin, the creator of the modern Olympic Games, was a pistol shooter, and pistol events have been at every summer Olympic Games since the birth of the modern Olympic movement in 1896.

For more detailed information, check out the links on pistol sports below, consult the official rules or contact us by email.

Information

Bullseye shooting (also called Precision Pistol), IPSC and CISM (see below) are the sport target shooting disciplines seen as the gateways to international competition.
SFC runs the popular, introductory Recreational Target Shooting Program and the Coast-to-Coast Championship in this format .
There are many other highly competitive target shooting disciplines not affiliated with the SFC that are enjoyed by Canadians, but each is unique and utilizes specialized sport target pistols. The SFC depends on these sports to identify talent and spot future Olympians.
The following events fall under the rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).
Air pistol - 10M
- Women
- Men
- Mixed team
25m Rapid Fire Pistol
25m Pistol
Athletes with a disability (AWAD) compete in Shooting Para Sport in Pistol in the Paralympic Games
The following events are also included in the ISSF World Shooting Championships.
50 M Pistol
25M Center Fire Pistol
25M Standard Pistol
Want to train, compete or coach in a shooting discipline on the programme of the International Olympic Committee?
Get started today. Join the SFC. Seek out a club to hosts competitions. Get your local club to start matches. Find an established pistol League such as the OIHL or The Metro Toronto Pistol League. Become a match director or even a coach. Check out our Recreational Target Shooting Program and prepare to compete in the Coast to Coast Championships . Participate in regional matches and learn about the next Provincial Championships in your province.
How to start Olympic type Shooting?
Most people begin by shooting Standard Pistol or Centre-fire pistol. To zip things up, you can try 10M Five-Shot Air Pistol (ISSF page) - a great introduction to Olympic Rapid Fire
Are you a junior?
Then set your sights on the CANADIAN JUNIOR NATIONAL AIR GUN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Start going to Matches
Find what is going on at the SFC Calendar.
1. Train
2. Train
3. Train
How to execute the perfect shot?
Concentrate, breath, lift, aim, pull the trigger.
To win a match?
Repeat above.
Above all, prepare!

Exemption Letters

Under the current legislation, the Shooting Federation of Canada, as the national governing body in Canada for competitive shooting in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, has been granted the authority to issue Handgun Exemption Letters.
To comply with current legislation and to qualify for a Exemption Letter, the following provides an overview of what SFC requires to consider an exemption letter request.
Note: at the current time, SFC only issues exemption letters for .22 calibre and .177 air pistols.
- Must have a RPAL
- Applicants must be a member in good standing of the SFC
- Must be a member of a club
- Must be able to substantiate that they compete or coach in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee.
How do I submit a request for a letter?
If you are a member, please contact operations@sfc-ftc.ca for further information.
The SFC retains full discretion in issuing Exemption Letters and accepts no liability whatsoever to any individual or entity resulting from the issuance or nonissuance of an Exemption Letter.

List of ISSF pistol events

The 10 metre air pistol is an Olympic precision shooting event governed by the ISSF, where competitors use 4.5 mm (.177 caliber) air pistols at a distance of 10 metres.
Event Format
Qualification Round
- 60 shots in 75 minutes (90 minutes if no electronic scoring is available).
- Includes a 15-minute preparation period with unlimited sighting shots.
Final Round
- Top 8 shooters compete in 24 shots.
- After 10 shots, progress is announced to the audience.
Key Rules
- Pistols must meet restrictions on size, weight, and trigger pull.
- Shooting is done one-handed in a standing, unsupported position.
The 25 meter center-fire pistol is a 2 staged event with a precision stage and a rapid fire stage. It has roots in 19th-century military-style pistol competitions. It is shot with center-fire handguns (caliber 7.62 mm to 9.65 mm), with the .32 S&W Long Wadcutter being the most popular choice due to its performance. In Canada, this calibre is allowed for target shooting.
Event Format
60 shot match with two separate stages. Each stage at 25 meters
- Precision Stage: 5 shot series in 5 minutes. 6 series in total.
- Rapid-Fire Stage: 1 shot within 3 seconds before target “turns”. 7 Seconds between cycles. Each series is 5 shots. 6 series in total.
Key Rules
- Shooting is done one-handed and unsupported.
- Targets differ between stages, with smaller scoring zones in the precision stage and larger zones in rapid-fire.
- In the rapid stage (also called “Duello”), the arm starts from a 45-degree angle before each shot.
- In Rapid, you must not rest your gun on the bench between shots.
The 25 meter rapid fire pistol is an ISSF event using .22 LR pistols and has been part of the Olympics since 1896. The rules have evolved significantly, with major revisions in 1989 and 2005, restricting pistols to sport models and standardizing ammunition. These changes led to slightly lower scores in competitions.
Key Features
Equipment
- 60 shots in two stages of three time limits: 8 seconds, 6 seconds, and 4 seconds (two series each).
- Shots fired one-handed at five adjacent targets, 25 meters away.
- Starting position: arm at a 45-degree angle, raised only when the green light or target appears.
Course of Fire
- Four series of 150 seconds each.
- Four series of 20 seconds each.
- Four series of 10 seconds each.
Scoring
Maximum Score
- 600 (based on 10-point target zones).
Final Round
- Top six shooters compete in four additional 4-second series.
- Shots scoring 9.7+ are counted as hits.
- Ties are resolved with another 4-second series.
The 25 meter sport pistol event is identical to centre-fire pistol, except that a .22LR pistol is used.
Event Format
60 shot match in two 30-shot stages at 25 meters
- Precision Stage: 5 shots in 5 minutes. 6 strings of 5 for a total of 30 shots
- Rapid-Fire Stage: 1 shot within in 3 seconds, starting with arm at 45-degree angle position. Arm is lowered after each shot but can not touch the bench. 7 seconds between shots. each series is 5 shots. Total is 30 for the stage.
Key Rules
- Shooting is done one-handed and unsupported.
- Targets differ between stages, with smaller scoring zones in the precision stage and larger zones in rapid-fire.
- For the rapid stage, the targets might turn or there might be a bell or a whistle between shots when the arm must be lowered.
The 25m Standard Pistol event, introduced at the ISSF World Championship in 1970, combines precision and rapid-fire elements.
Event Format
60 shots in 5-shot series in Three Stages
Slow Fire Stage
- Four series of 150 seconds each.
Time Fire Stage
- Four series of 20 seconds each.
Rapid Fire Stage
Four series of 10 seconds each.
Key points
- Shot with .22 Calibre only and one handed.
- Only iron sights.
- A sighting series of five shots (150 seconds) precedes scoring but does not count towards the score.
- One alibi (malfunction series) is allowed for each stage. 5 additional shots given. Only 10 lowest shots count.
- Formally, the 22 calibre pistols cannot exceed a 156mm barrel and must have a minimum trigger weight of 1000g.
- No Pre-charged magazines.
The original Olympic pistol discipline. ISSF 50-meter pistol, or "Free Pistol," is arguably the premier precision pistol discipline and to many, the most challenging.
Has been a staple at ISSF competitions like the World Shooting Championships since the very beginning.
Key Details
Equipment
Uses .22 Long Rifle ammo, single-shot pistols with "open" sights. Grips, trigger weight and barrel length is unrestricted.
Rules
- Shooters fire 60 shots in two hours at 50 meters one handed. The target is identical to the 25-meter pistol but at double the distance.
Records
- A world-class score is 570/600. The record is 583, set by Jin Jong-oh in 2014. The Olympic record of 581 (1980) still stands.
In general, very similar to ISSF shooting. The NRA conventional pistol competitions, are often styles as “1800” or “2700” matches, involve precision shooting at 50 and 25 yards using different firearms. Shooters compete in slow, timed, and rapid-fire stages.
Matches are usually the aggregate of many smaller matches shot under the umbrella of a larger match.
Typical Match Breakdown
The 900-point match configuration
Slow Fire Stage: 20 shots (2x10-shot strings, 10 minutes each) at 50 yards.
National Match Course: 10 shots slow fire (50 yards), 10 shots timed fire (25 yards), 10 shots rapid fire (25 yards).
Timed Fire Stage: 20 shots (4x5-shot strings, 20 seconds per string) at 25 yards.
Rapid Fire Stage: 20 shots (4x5-shot strings, 10 seconds per string) at 25 yards.
Match Types
1800 Match: Shooters fire the 900-point course twice. First with a .22 caliber rimfire pistol. Then again with a centerfire pistol.
2700 Match configuration: Shooters fire the 900-point course three times
- 1st with a .22 caliber rimfire pistol.
- 2nd with a centerfire pistol.
- 3rd a .45 caliber pistol.
Key points
- Rules are very similar to ISSF matches (one handed, one alibi for each stage etc.)
- Different range commands
- Red dot sights are allowed.
- For Centrefire, a larger calibre has greater scoring potential. (The bullet diameter only needs to touch the outer line of the scoring ring to be counted.)