The Section Committees of the ISSF met in January and amongst other items on the agenda were a number of proposals to amend the technical rules and regulations as from 1 January 2005.

PISTOL
25m Rapid Fire Pistol
It was discussed as to how to encourage participation in the 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol event and it was proposed that the pistol be changed to the Standard Pistol in .22 Long Rifle with the rules that currently govern the Standard Pistol. A minimum bullet weight and a minimum velocity were considered necessary to prevent special ammunition being used that was no other than the ammunition currently used but in a Long case. Suggestions have already been received from a major manufacturer and others will also be contacted.
Although the present target for Rapid Fire Pistol was designed in 1987 with a large ten ring owing to the lack of accuracy of much of the .22 Short ammunition then available, it was decided to continue with the current size ten ring but to reduce the size of the black aiming mark to that currently used for the 25 m Precision target of 200 mm and to remove the aiming lines.
After deliberation it was decided to continue with the current timings of 8, 6, and 4 seconds.
It is hoped that those who shoot Standard Pistol will also shoot this event and hopefully in the future sufficient women will find this event attractive so that a women's event could be viable, as they both already have the pistol required.

One allowable malfunction permitted for each half course of fire, that for Standard Pistol being separated into 150 seconds, with 20 seconds combined with 10 seconds as at present. No refiring or completion in the case of a non-allowable malfunction, only the value of the shots fired to be credited to the shooter.

Summary of Decisions from the ISSF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Meeting
Madrid, May 18th 2003
The Committee endorsed the Pistol and Technical Committee’s recommendations that the .22 short pistol be replaced with the .22 Long Rifle Standard Pistol for the Rapid-Fire Pistol event. To control the possibility of reduced power cartridges, a 39-grain minimum bullet weight and 280 m/sec. minimum velocity will be enforced. The current timings will remain and the target will have a 200 mm aiming mark (8-9-10 rings) with no white horizontal lines.