Some definitions
The English language is quite magnificent, but within its nuances and shades of meanings can, and does, lead to confusion as to the specific meanings of words and phrases – no less within the comparatively technical field of the shooting sports. What follows is a guide to ‘definitions’ of words and phrases used by the NRC and PA.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The black circle on a target – see also Bullseye
A failure of the pistol to fire that is not due to shooter’s fault
The command given by the Range Officer to indicate that the series is about to commence (Standard, Center Fire/Sport Pistol)
The command given by the Range Officer to indicate that the series is about to commence (Rapid Fire Pistol & some ISSF Finals)
A term often erroneously used to describe a
Semi-automatic pistol – we do not use
‘automatic’ pistols (i.e. machine pistols) and expect to get some disapproval
if you use this term to describe a semi-automatic pistol.
The board that supports the target in the target frame
The blank target placed 1-2m behind the target to register hits on the target
Slight bevelling of the base of the projectile
A mixture of sulphur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate – for PA Black Powder events, only Black Powder may be used as a propellant: alternative propellants are not permitted
PA events using percussion caps and black powder propellant
· 25m Aggregate Black Powder event
· 50m Black Powder event
· 13-shot Black Powder event
Originally from archery, referring to the inner circle of a number of scoring circles on the target. On a precision target for pistol events, the bullseye is the black Aiming Mark
A nominal description of the projectile diameter: e.g. a.22LR has a projectile diameter of .224”, a .32 usually has a bullet diameter of .314”, .38Special and .357Magnum both have a projectile diameter of .357-358”.
A command given by the Range Officer to indicate that shooting must cease immediately.
An ISSF 25m pistol event
Measuring the velocity of a projectile using a chronograph – refer Power Factor
A sheet at the back of an EST target mechanism to register the placement of shots on a target more accurately than a backing target. The control sheet and backing target perform similar, but slightly different functions.
A procedure for resolving some tied placings where the ties are resolved by counting back. Usually this involves comparing the scores for the last stage/s, though for ISSF the first step is to compare the number of Inner 10s
Old (now politically incorrect) name for the rapid fire stage of ISSF 25m Pistol Womens, 25m Pistol Juniors, Center Fire Mens and ‘Mens’ rifire version of the Center Fire event.
Abbreviation for Electronic Scoring Targets
The official approval of a shooter’s equipment before shooting in a competition
In the ISSF Olympic events, the top eight (six for Rapid Fire Pistol) shooters from the Qualification Round go on to fire a Finals Round: the combined scores from the Qualification Round and Finals round determine the placings for these shooters
Line beyond which the shooter’s feet (or any part of the footwear) may not be. Note that for prone positions (Service, WA1500, 1920) refer to the specific rules for the event.
The firing line is the side of the line towards the shooter.
The defined area within which the shooter is positioned
Your actions following the release of the shot
IPC 50m Free Pistol (Mens) which is the same course of fire and rimfire pistols as ISSF 50m Pistol Mens
Old name for ISSF 50m Pistol Mens: expect to get some disapproval if you use this term to describe 50m Pistol Mens event, although ‘Free Pistol’ is still used commonly to describe the type of pistol.
A thin cup or disc made of copper, zinc, aluminium or brass that is attached to the base of a lead projectile – for PA, only allowed in Metallic Silhouette and International 1920 Match events.
Covering the chambers of Black Powder revolvers with grease to prevent any accidental flash-over when firing
Indicates an official warning
The part of a pistol held by the firing hand – the grip is the part of the pistol you hold, not the ‘way you hold’
The projectile is the same diameter of the case, and has a narrower "heel" portion that fits in the case – found in the .22 rimfire cartridges.
The way you hold the grip
Designed to allow the propelling gasses to expand the base of the projectile to match the barrel diameter
A smaller scoring ring, inside the ‘10’ ring – used for tie-breaking
The international controlling body for a sport
International Paralympics Committee
International Federation controlling the Paralympics shooting events
International Shooting Sports Federation. International body controlling ISSF events and Olympic shooting events
The ISSF pistol events are (Olympic events marked ‘*’):
There are also Junior categories for each of these events
An outer coating (usually of copper) on the projectile – not permitted where event rules specify lead projectiles
A general term applied to a semi-wadcutter design. In fact, Elmer Keith’s 1928 contribution was to the crimping and lubrication grooves to the earlier semi-wadcutter 1903 design of B. F. Wilder, which in turn is a development from the 1900 design of A. L. A. Himmelwright
· Used to distinguish between cartridges of the same calibre but different length: e.g. .32S&W (case length .710”) and .32S&WLong (case length .920”)
· The original .22 rimfire round became known as the .22Short when the .22Long was introduces – the .22Long has lighter projectile and velocity loading than in the later .22LR round
A multiple discharge of a semi-automatic pistol; usually due to maladjustment of the trigger mechanism and/or dirt
Higher velocity and energy than the standard commercial load – ‘magnum’ designated ammunition is typically 1/8” longer in the case than the ‘standard’ casing to prevent idiots from trying to fire the heavier loaded ammunition in unsuitable pistols
For centrefire pistols used in PA events, more than 600 Joules
A failure of the target to operate correctly
A failure of the pistol to fire
A multiple discharge of a semi-automatic pistol; usually due to dirt and/or maladjustment of the trigger mechanism – i.e. the pistol fires automatically without the trigger being released.
(as opposed to ‘optical’ sights) An open rear notch and a post, triangular or bead, front sight
the minimum score for a shooter to be eligible to take up a Quota Place at the Olympics
Often called for the value of a shot outside the scoring rings/area of a target – these shots should be called as ‘zero’ and recorded on the Register as ‘0’: expect to get some disapproval if you use the term ‘miss’ when calling scores to a Register Keeper.
The part of the barrel that the projectile exits.
Our national body is Pistol Australia Inc. PA is the only pistol body directly (or through its affiliation to AISL) affiliated to ISSF, IMSSU, WA1500, and NRA
The body recognised by the International Federation. Note that this will vary depending on the particular International Federation: e.g. for WA1500, the Australian National Federation is Pistol Australia, while for ISSF, IPC, IMSSU our National Federation is AISL
A failure of the pistol to fire that is due to shooter’s fault
An old terminology for a Non-Allowable (malfunction): expect to get some disapproval if you use this term.
Not containing any aperture/s, optical lenses or mirrors (refer ant. Optical sights)
Contain lenses (refer ant. Open sights)
An approved clear overlay used to determine the value of a shot; particularly:
o For cardboard or fluted plastic targets
A term (incorrectly) used by rifle officials to describe the situation when a shooter fires too many shots at a particular target
A generic term covering targets printed on paper, card, cardboard and corrugated plastic (as opposed to metallic or EST targets)
In 1892 E E Patridge developed the overall concept of a rectangular appearing front sight and a rectangular appearing rear sight notch.
Usually considered in relation to the front sight element where the rear face of the front sight blade slopes backwards (as opposed to a ‘ramp’ front sight element).
A thin metal cap containing an explosive substance, such as fulminate of mercury, that explodes on being struck. Used to ignite the propellant in Black Powder pistols.
Used as a common term for any type of handgun, but technically refers to a single-shot or semi-automatic handgun (i.e. not a revolver).
The national body for Australian pistol shooters
(although a military term dating back to the days of military archers, included as I really object to the misuse of this term by the media, police, etc.) – the maximum range at which the sights on a firearm do not need to be raised to hit a man-sized target. Note: ‘point blank’ is NOT the same as ‘close range’: there is usually +200m difference!
Projectile weight (in grains) x Muzzle velocity (in f/sec). Power Factor is an artificial measure of the ‘power’ of a cartridge whereas ‘power’ is measured in Joules or Calories
A device to accurately determine the scoring value of a shot. Note that plug gauges for ISSF/PA Service are not to be used for NRA-based events nor vice versa; they have different flange diameters
‘slow fire’: allowing more than 20 seconds per shot
Period before the Start Time for shooters to set up at the firing point
A set period of time after the posting of the Provisional Results, after which further protests will not be accepted, and the Official Final Results are released
Hodgdon's ® Pyrodex is a black powder substitute that is not allowed in PA Black Powder events
A position available for a competitor at the next Olympics. While Quota Places are earned by individual shooters, they are awarded to the shooter’s National Federation and can be allocated by the National Federation to any shooter who has earned an MQS.
To ensure that individual competitors do no receive ‘favoured’ firing points and/or relay times, squadding is ‘random’
Shot or shots fired in a time sequence less than 60 seconds
· One shot fired on each of five (5) targets in each series
· Two series fired in eight (8) seconds
· Two series fired in six (6) seconds
· Two series fired in four (4) seconds
These 30 competition shots constitute a stage. The shooters then repeat this course of fire for a second stage to make up the 60-shots event
A stage of an event fired in rapid fire timing
Indicates disqualification
Written record of the shot values
Person who writes the record of shot values
Where a course of fire is repeated several times to enable a greater number of shooters to compete – applicable to all events (except International competitions of ISSF 50m Pistol Mens)
A summary of the subtotals and total of the shot scores. There are various types of results:
The brain’s masking of the perception of actions when the eyes move rapidly (mainly applicable to Rapid Fire Pistol and the Falling Plate events)
The value of an individual shot
A self-loading pistol that ejects the fired case and loads the next round into the chamber ready for firing
A fixed number of shots in a given time: e.g. a 5-shot series fired in 20 seconds
A procedure for resolving some tied placings where the tied shooters fire additional series of shots
Every shooter at an ISSF sanctioned competition must have a Shooter ID: these are issued the first time a shooter is entered in ISSF sanctioned competition and remains for life. The format is ‘SH’+<country code>+<M=male or F=female>+<date of birth DDMMYYYY>+<2 digit code>; e.g. SHAUSM1210195501
The distance from the highest point on the front sight to the rear face of the back sight
Target provided for a shooter to check the zero of shots and functioning of the pistol before competition shots
‘precision’: allowing more than 20 seconds per shot
A device carrying the required number of rounds to enable a revolver to be rapidly refilled with ammunition in one action
IPC 25m Sport Pistol (Mixed) which is the same course of fire and rimfire pistols as for ISSF Sport Pistol
Term commonly used to include ISSF 25m Pistol Womens, 25m Pistol Juniors and ‘Mens’ rimfire version of the Center Fire event.
Equipment checks at the completion of a relay – usually only the trigger pull is checked (for Rapid Fire Pistol, the spot checks also include ammunition testing)
Shooters are allocated firing points and start times
A number of series fired either:
· In the same time sequence (e.g. the 20-seconds stage of Standard Pistol), or
· at a given distance (e.g. the 50 Yards Stage of Service Pistol)
An ISSF 25m pistol event
· Five shots fired on a target in each series
· Four series fired in 150 seconds
· Four series fired in 20 seconds
· Four series fired in 10 seconds
Number issued to a competitor at a competition
The command given by the Range Officer to indicate that shooting must cease immediately.
For ISSF and Black Powder the pistols are unloaded, left open and placed on the bench.
For Service, WA1500 and 1920 the pistols are unloaded, opened and the shooter waits for the Range Officer to check the pistol’s unloaded condition
The command by the Range Officer to indicate that the range section can commence firing for the series/stage
The published time for the commencement of an event/relay. Note that:
The bit that registers the shot/s to determine their value/s. Typically ‘paper’ (includes cardboard), EST, or steel plate/s
(General) the area of the targets, target mechanisms and any backing targets
(Specific) the face of the targets towards the shooter/s
The way you add pressure to the trigger to fire the pistol
For other than Precision Stages/Relays/Events – the “UNLOAD” command is given after the command “STOP”.
An old terminology for an Allowable (malfunction): expect to get some disapproval if you use this term.
a handle approximately 300 mm long and with a small disc on one end with a diameter of 30 mm to 50 mm, coloured red on one side and white on the other – used to indicate shot location when targets are scored at the target line
Projectile with flat front – designed to cut a ‘clean’ hole in paper targets
US name for the inner-10 scoring ring
Indicates a deduction of points penalty
The value given to a shot which is not counted in the shooters results