Sport shooting in France
France has one delegated shooting federation, the FFTir, which licenses shooters through its clubs — every licence needs a medical certificate. UFOLEP, a multi-sport federation, runs team championships of its own, which FFTir licence holders may join only if they shoot no FFTir competition.
French children learn at 10 m: the FFTir’s schools shoot only at 10 m, and UFOLEP gives under-10s a class of their own with a fixed rest. Shooting with military-issue arms is run by the FFTir with the reserve officers’ and NCOs’ associations.
Gun licence in France
- An FFTir licence with a medical certificate under a year old, and three controlled sessions at least two months apart in the 12 months before a first application.
- The préfet grants a five-year authorisation through your SIA account; renewal needs regular shooting, with no break of 12 months or more.
- Up to 15 catégorie B sport guns, or 6 in your first five years unless you compete.
Federations
Targets
FFTir
France’s Olympic shooting federation, acting for the sports ministry, with about 1,650 clubs in twelve disciplines.
UFOLEP
A French multi-sport federation whose shooting commission runs team championships in 10, 25 and 50 m rifle, pistol, crossbow and black powder.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFOLEP 25m Pistol | Pistol | 25 m | 250 mm |
Events shot on two targets
Most events are described on their target's page. These are shot on two targets – precision on one, rapid fire or duel on the other – so each has a page of its own: the whole course stage by stage, with the federation's rules.
| Event | Stages | Shots |
|---|---|---|
| FFTir 25m Pistol | Precision, duel | 60 |
Sources: FFTir, “S’inscrire à la FFTir”; FFTir, “Écoles de tir”; UFOLEP, Règlement des Compétitions Nationales 2025–2026, 2.2; UFOLEP, Règlement technique général v14 (2025), 3.2; FFTir, Fiche institutionnelle (September 2026); UFOLEP, “Tir sportif”, read on .