Sport shooting in Germany
Germany has several recognised shooting federations, and none may change its rules at will: the Federal Office of Administration must approve them under the weapons act. The DSB runs the Olympic disciplines and the tradition of the Schützenverein — on the national list of intangible cultural heritage since 2015 — the BDS large-calibre and IPSC shooting, the BDMP service-arm matches, and the Kyffhäuserbund, Germany’s oldest soldiers’ association, a programme of its own.
Shooters move up in fixed steps: light rifles from 6, air guns from 12, .22 rimfire from 14 and every other firearm from 18. Two of the country’s largest sports events are shooting championships — the DSB’s in Munich-Hochbrück and the BDS’s in Philippsburg.
Gun licence in Germany
- To buy a gun: 12 months of shooting in a club of a recognised association, at least once a month or 18 times in the last 12 months, certified by the association.
- Five-yearly check: club shooting with your own licensable guns quarterly, or six times in each of the two years before as the WSV reads it; after ten years, membership is enough.
- Age 21 for most sport guns, 18 for .22 l.r. rimfire up to 200 J and magazine-less shotguns up to 12 gauge; under 25, a mental-suitability report for a first permit for other guns.
Federations and makers
- DSB ·
- BDS ·
- BDMP ·
- KB ·
- Schlottmann ·
Targets
DSB
Germany’s federation for shooting and archery: Olympic rifle, pistol and shotgun, plus crossbow, muzzle-loaders, running target and rested shooting.
BDS
Founded in 1975: Germany’s largest federation for permit-requiring firearms — classic precision, IPSC, field target, western, silhouette and black powder.
BDMP
Founded in 1979 by soldiers, police and sport shooters: service pistol and rifle, PPC 1500, Bianchi Cup and long range — with no combat-style shooting.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| BDMP Nr.1 100m Rifle | Rifle | 100 m | 340 mm |
KB
The Kyffhäuserbund, Germany’s oldest soldiers’ association, with roots in 1786 and a sport-shooting programme from light-point to large-bore.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| KB 10m Air Rifle (Kyffhäuser) | Air rifle | 10 m | 83 mm |
Schlottmann
A German gun shop in Schwerin that sells air guns and runs state-recognised courses for shooters and hunters. Its 17 × 17 cm card, printed for training at home, is a 25 m pistol face reduced for air pistol at 7.5 m, with a white centre for scopes and red-dot sights, and not an official target; a 14 × 14 cm version is scaled for 5 m.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schlottmann 7.5m Pistol (mini) | Pistol | 7.5 m | 150 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 |
|---|---|---|
| DSB 25m Sport Pistol | Precision, duel | 60 |
| DSB 25m Center-fire Pistol | Precision, duel | 60 |
| DSB 25m Large-bore Pistol | Precision, 20-second series, final | 50 |
| DSB 10m Air Pistol Combined | Precision, rapid fire | 40 |
Sources: DSB, “Sportordnung des DSB”; Deutscher Schützenbund, Sportordnung (as of 1 January 2027), rule 0.2; DSB, “Immaterielles Kulturerbe”; BDS, “Der BDS 1975”; BDMP-Handbuch, Vorwort und Chronik; BDS, “Allgemeines”; BDMP Sportordnung (24 February 2026), A.0; Kyffhäuserbund, “Über uns”; Waffen Schlottmann, “Zielscheiben, Ziele, Kugelfang”; Waffen Schlottmann, “Proportional verkleinerte Kurzwaffenscheibe für Distanz 7,5m”; Waffen Schlottmann, “Infos zu verschiedenen Schulungen für Schützen und Jäger”, read on .