Why air rifles at Olympics?

[JohnKSa]

It's not a switch. They still have firearm competitions in rifle, pistol and shotgun.

Is an air rifle like the ones used in competitive olympic shooting going to ALWAYS BE MORE ACCURATE than a gun powder rifle competition set up exactly the same way?

A top quality airgun is going to be pretty accurate within the limitations it's designed for. For one thing, a firearm is somewhat dependent on ammunition (primer, powder, bullet, case) for accuracy while an airgun is completely self-contained with the exception of the pellet.

You eliminate a lot of accuracy variables when you get rid of the primer, powder and case. All that's left is the pellet. The air charge released to fire the pellet is very tightly controlled by a regulator so it's very consistent. Also, the discharge is much less violent so things like barrel whip and vibration that are present even in rimfires are virtually eliminated.

They're pretty accurate, but they operate in a completely different performance envelope than firearms so comparing them isn't really very practical, IMO. I mean, who really cares how accurate their .22 rifle is at 10 meters? The shortest range that rifle firearm accuracy is typically evaluated at is 50 meters.

 

[Bullseye]

I thought this was an informative read
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/shooting/2016/02/28/rio-2016-olympics-shooting/
They use 6 guns

 

[jmorris]

Could be worse, like the pentathlon where they shoot "laser" guns.

 

[Acera]

Could be worse, like the pentathlon where they shoot "laser" guns.

I think that was a wise move, it helped kept the sport relevant. The spectators can get closer to the action, practice and competition facilities are much cheaper and more flexible on the multi-sport athlete. You don't have to build a traditional range at the place where the running is held, as the shooting is tied to the running. Zero worry about projectiles leaving the 'range', or toxic clean up after the games.

You still have to have shooting skills, as the guns are basically high quality target air pistols that fire a burst of air, a delay, then a laser beam pulse instead of a pellet leaves 'barrel'. So all the shooting fundamentals still must be mastered.

You got to look at the other sports those athletes must be highly proficient at, It is hugely expensive. Considering the associated costs they must appreciate how much money it saves and training time on a competitor. Plus it opens it up in firearm restricted places.



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[jmorris]

I think that was a wise move, it helped kept the sport relevant. The spectators can get closer to the action, practice and competition facilities are much cheaper and more flexible on the multi-sport athlete. You don't have to build a traditional range at the place where the running is held, as the shooting is tied to the running. Zero worry about projectiles leaving the 'range', or toxic clean up after the games.

Just do away with all of them then and they can do the video games right next to the BMX course.

 

[1KPerDay]

LOL

they changed the biathlon also, right? air rifles now instead of powder rifles? or are they laser now also?

 

[ATLDave]

What makes you think they changed biathalon to non-firearms?

 

[Mike OTDP]

Air rifle and pistol offer the ability to shoot indoors without an expensive ventilation system. Very convenient in a cold winter.

If you've never tried the Olympic events, it's worth it. Humbling, but worth it.

Modern pentathlon is a mess. The laser toy was shoved down their throats...I suspect kickbacks.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I'll add that I shot on the range for the 2014 ISSF World Championships a week later (World Muzzle-Loading Championships, FWIW). Jaw-dropping facility.

 

[Tacoma]

I don't know specifically what shooting discipline you are speaking of but air rifles and pistols have been a part of the Olympics for longer than I can remember (and I can remember back into the 70's). I personally own several "Olympic grade" air guns and can testify that the are asprin splitting accurate at 10 meters if I do my part. Amazing machines by their own right.

 

[zeek96]

Bart B and Jim Watson...best answers I have read so far. If these rifles are comparable in accuracy with no significant advantage between the two, which I suspected all along, why did the olympic committee even open up an air rifle course of events? Safety? Regulations between countries pertaining to firearms?

Air Rifle competition vs 22LR are apples and oranges. Its like comparing skiing competitions down hill vs cross country. Time in barrel for the projectile is a key difference between the two skills because follow through is much more critical in air rifle vs 22lr. In 22lr you may have the bullet barely influenced by a slight flinch or movement where in air rifle it may be a 7 instead of a 9.1. It is the art of the sport. Also the amount of shots are different along with positions in these competitions.

If you are just looking to put a gun in a vice and see which is more accurate you also have to account for drafts doors and ventilation in air rifle much more than you would at 22 lr competition lengths if at all based on the 22lr mass {40 grain). If in perfect conditions in a vice could both types shoot as accurate yes. you pay big bucks for those rifles to shoot like that. One difference in airgun is that when pellets just came loose competitors would weight and resize pellets in special devices to uniform the pellet and skirt to ensure accurate pellets. Production now is much more uniform but some still do self checks in sizing and weighing the pellets. Just like rifles shooters will find specific lots of ammunition that they use and then adjust to the next lot set when one runs out.

The sport is in the human influence and ability. Take the human out and each at its specific range should be as equally accurate. As for countries many of the people that shoot in the Olympics shoot in other countries then where they were born yet represent the birth or selected home country based on parentage at the Olympics mainly for the country to have a shot at medaling even through the laws and regulations in their home country would make ownership or availability impossible for some ages or very difficult to train or obtain the amount of ammunition. Also many countries don't have the training facilities the person would need to train at and with. It is no long just needing a gun, ammunition, pellets, and a piece of paper but electronic targets, computers and scoring software to get the level of accuracy that is needed to train and compete.

If there wasn't such a difference between the two disciplines one would see the same people winning both events more often. To win 22lr standing and Air rifle is extremely difficult. Is it impossible no and it does happen but it is very difficult. You should go to a collegiate match and see how things work and if lucky enough ask to come to a practice to try the difference. You would be surprise at how different the two skills are.

 

[jmorris]

...and each at its specific range...

Agreed and that stipulation removes "always" from the op's post #11 question.

 

[Sunray]

There is no switch. There are just different competitions.
"...air rifles are more accurate..." That's daft, but the "where firearms are banned can still compete" is not. More about firearms not being easily owned than banned though. Certain amount of a lack of range facilities as well.
"...10 shots into a single hole..." Used to do that with a No. 7 Lee-Enfield and the Anschutz rifles I had at my Cadet Corps.
"...been used since the 1700's..." Long before then. Air powered rifles were used in the defence of a Swedish castle in the 14th Century(1300's). There's another one in a Stockholm museum that dates from 1580. People hunted deer with air rifles in the 16th Century(1500's) too.

 

[1066]

For anyone who has not kept up to day with modern airgun development, this is food for thought.

In the Netherlands they take their long range air rifle shooting seriously, here's a five shot group at 100m (109 yards)
of C to C of just 9.5mm (about .3 inch) Now it may not compete with a good bench rifle in 6ppc but it would certainly give most, .22lr high end match rifles a run for their money.

http://100mairgun.nl/post/2013/08/EDguns-domineren-100m-wedstrijd-te-Helmond.aspx

 

[greenmtnguy]

Shooting air rifle accurately is more challenging than powder rifle, and, as has been already said, the bullseye is absolutely tiny.
I practice around our property with air rifle - it definitely helps to improve powder burner accuracy. Follow through and smooth trigger control is very important
with the long barrel time of air rifles' projectile, plus, various air rifles, such as spring air piston rifles, have an odd forward, then back recoil pulse that takes getting used to.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Laphroaig hit most of it. You can shoot air rifle and air pistol indoors - I've got a 10m range laid out in my home. Convenient in the winter. And match-grade pellets are $12/500 for top-of-the-line stuff.

 

[barnbwt]

The US Army MTU did a lot of work in the 1960s with accurized 760 Remington pumps to get an edge over bolt actions in the doubles runs.
Then they backed down to a Running Boar shot with a .22LR at 50 meters

Older quote from the thread, but; who the heck shoots a running boar with a 22LR at 50 meters?!

 

[tuj]

I get to shoot this in my garage. Can do it any time, even at 4am. Can't say that about any of my firearms...

Oh and it is almost as accurate as an FWB for about 1/6th the price or less. Using good pellets of course.

 

[Pete D.]

"almost as accurate as a FWB". Yep. Air pistol match shooting, however, is a game of tens. If you are not shooting lot of tens, You are not in the running. Modern target scoring...like at the air gun facility at Camp Perry....is amazingly precise. that little bit better that the high end guns offer is what the top shooters are paying for. A 9.2 beats a 9.1 every time. The Russian gun IS a good shooter; It is what they use as a loaner at the Camp Perry range.

 

[patmccoy]

"Bart B and Jim Watson...best answers I have read so far. If these rifles are comparable in accuracy with no significant advantage between the two, which I suspected all along, why did the olympic committee even open up an air rifle course of events? Safety? Regulations between countries pertaining to firearms?"

Airgun shooting began after WWII, when Germany (among others) could no longer have firearms. The Germans developed the airgun into precision equipment.

The difference in accuracy between the two has much to do with their use, as the airgun is fired indoors (no wind, even lighting) and the firearms are fired outdoors (wind, changing light). Shooting both indoors, from a shooting vise, the airgun will probably be slightly more accurate due to the variance in ammunition for cartridge guns (many like not only a specific brand of ammo, but specific lot numbers of said brand.