The Rapid Fire event is shot at 25 meters using either turning or electronic targets. A 22 caliber five shot repeating pistol (most use semi auto in 22 Short) can be used.

Five targets are set for each firing point. In each series the shooter must raise his arm from 45 degrees and place one shot on each target. The photo shows an indoor range in the shooting school at Wiesbaden, Germany. Most ranges would have two firing points controlled by one range officer (when turning targets are used). Electronics allow several such ranges to shoot concurrently.

The 60 shot match is split into two halves. At major international competition these are shot over two days. Five shots are allowed each half for sighters.

Series are 8, 6 and 4 seconds. Sighters are always fired in 8 seconds. Then a half course consists of two series of each time limit, totaling 30 shots, to give a possible score out of 300. Logically then the two halves are combined to give a total out of 600.

The course of fire on the line begins with the command to load. The range officer then gives sixty seconds for the competitors to load their magazine, load their pistol and assume a ready position. At or about the minute the range officer will start the countdown thus: “Attention! Five….four….three….two….one….start!” On “Attention” the targets face away. On “start” he will begin the timer, which allows a three second delay until the targets face. As soon as the targets begin to face the shooters can begin to raise their arm. They must then put one shot on each target within the time limit, at the end of which the targets turn away.

Electronic targets differ in that the faces never look any different. There are red lights above the targets and green lights below. The red lights indicate the targets are faced away, and when the green lights are lit the shooter may raise his arm.

A late shot could result in a “skid” (elongated hole in a partially turned target). The rules state the hole must not be more than 7mm wide to count. Electronic targets simply ignore a late shot.

Finals are shot at the end of a major championship. Like other Olympic events decimalized scoring is used, so the best possible score for each shot is 10.9. The course of fire for a Final is one 4 second sighting string followed by two four second scoring strings. This score is