Sport shooting in Italy
The UITS is at once a public body overseen by the Ministry of Defence and the national federation for target shooting recognised by CONI. It grew out of the Società per il Tiro a Segno Nazionale (TSN), founded in 1861 to train the young people of the regions newly joined to the Kingdom of Italy in firearms, and its local sections were given ranges built at the State’s expense, free of charge. Clay shooting, tiro a volo, has a federation of its own, FITAV.
A TSN section has two kinds of member: volunteers who shoot for sport, and those the law obliges to enrol — people who carry arms at work, and applicants for a gun licence who must enrol first. The sport-shooting long-gun licence (porto d’armi uso sportivo), issued by the police for five years, needs a medical certificate and a certificate of competence in handling arms, which a TSN section issues.
Gun licence in Italy
- The porto d’armi uso sportivo (tiro a volo licence) may be issued by the Questore for five years, on a medical certificate and proof of handling skill, usually a TSN certificate.
- Every gun must be declared to the police within 72 hours; you may hold three common guns, twelve sport guns and any number of hunting guns.
- There is no activity requirement for sport shooters: instead, a new medical certificate is due at each renewal, or every five years if you hold guns without a licence.
Federations
- UITS ·
Targets
UITS
Italy’s national shooting union: besides the ISSF events, its own Production benchrest classes for listed factory .22 rifles, shot seated from a front rest.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| UITS Production 50m Rifle | Rifle | 50 m | 74.4 mm |
Sources: UITS, “Profilo”; UITS, “Storia”; ISSF, “Member Federations”; Polizia di Stato, Questura, “Documentazione per richiesta porto d’armi uso sportivo”; UITS Regolamento Production 2026, §§ 1, 9 and 12, read on .