ISSF Electronic Targets - Athens 2004

If you aren't fortunate enough to live near an ISSF-style range with international standard electronic targets, odds are that they are an unknown quantity for you. Given that your goal may be to become an international-class athlete, being unfamilair with these targets may initially place you at a slight disadvantage. At a minimum, you would probably be more comfortable going into the match knowing what to expect. Even without being an international competitor, getting a closer look at the electronic targets is very interesting.

Basic Air Setup

While attending the Athens World Cup in April 2004, I wandered into the main hall, where the finals for this match, as well as the 2004 Athens Olympics would be held. The hall was still under construction, with workmen and their pizza boxes (yes, even in Greece, construction worked have lousy eating habits) all over the place. I wandered down on to the floor and started taking pictures of the various target stands: 10m air rifle and pistol, 50m rifle and pistol, 25m pistol, and 10m running target. Additionally, while on the field of play (where the competitors shoot), I took closeups of the target monitors, the officials' printout for shot records, and the spectators' overhead displays.

Above the Finals Hall, in addition to the monitors, you'll see projection screens. Athlete bios, shot placements and results will be displayed there as the match progresses.

10m Air Range Finals Hall Finals Hall Finals Hall Finals Hall Finals Hall 25m Rapid 25m Rapid 50m Precision 25m Rapid 25m Rapid 10m Air Rifle 10m Air Rifle 10m Running Target 10m Running Target Score Printers Shot Monitors 25m Sport Pistol 25m Sport Pistol Score Printers 25m Sport Pistol 25m Sport Pistol 25m Sport Pistol Shot Monitors

Essentially, how the 25-50m targets work is as such:

• There is a metal frame which holds a manilla coloured piece of paper which conforms to the external dimensions of the target.
• Within the paper is a hole which conforms to the diameter of the black target.
• Behind the paper runs a roll of black paper which I believe is the width of the bull.
• With each shot, the paper roll advances, thus preserving a record of each shot.
• The bullet passes through the black paper and then through another piece of target paper at the rear of the metal frame. Apparently, this will allow the officials to determine if a cross-fire has taken place. (To verify a crossfire, the path of the bullet will not line up perpendicularly with the surface of the target.)
• The bullet will then pass through a rubber-like, re-sealing material into a "V"shaped metal trap which stops and captures the bullet.
• The competitors will have a remote control attached to the system which will alter the view that they have and signal the officials when they are moving from sighters to record shots.

The 10m air targets work similarly with the possible exception of the re-sealable material for the pellet trap.