Sport shooting in Sweden

Sweden splits target shooting by gun. SPSF runs the national pistol and revolver sport — precision, field, military rapid-fire and more — while SvSF is the country’s ISSF member, with the Olympic rifle, pistol and shotgun events and the national “Nordic” rifle shooting with 6.5×55 rifles such as the old m/96. Both are official voluntary defence organisations.

Both climb badge ladders from bronze to gold that double as class qualifications — SvSF’s rifle Skyttemärke dates from 1893 — and both start children on air guns: SPSF from age 9, seated with a rest; SvSF from 11.

Gun licence in Sweden

  • First handgun: six months as an active club member, shooting twice a month on average, and a passed skill test.
  • Applying again when you already hold a handgun, for another one or to renew a five-year licence: shooting once a month on average over the last six months.
  • A licence for a multi-shot handgun granted from 1 June 2026 has no time limit, but every five years Polisen asks for underlag (evidence) that you still need it.

The whole road to a licence

Federations and makers

  • SPSF · Svenska Pistolskytteförbundet
  • SvSF · Svenska Skyttesportförbundet
  • Sportec

Targets

SPSF

Sweden’s pistol and revolver federation, founded 1936: precision, field, military rapid-fire, PPC, magnum and air pistol.

All 7 SPSF targets

SvSF

Sweden’s ISSF member: Olympic rifle, pistol and clay, the national “Nordic” rifle events, running target, field target and submachine gun.

All 3 SvSF targets

Sportec

A Swedish shooting-equipment shop in Åkarp, not a federation, with ranges of its own at 10, 25 and 50 m. It sells cards and centres for rifle, pistol and revolver, and targets for IPSC, PPC and biathlon; its practice card, made by Krüger, is a 10 m air-pistol face reduced for 7.5 m, sold by the hundred.

TargetWeaponDistanceScoring area
Sportec 7.5m Air PistolAir pistol7.5 m115.5 mm

Sources: Svenska Pistolskytteförbundet, Skjuthandbok, 21st edition (2026), D.2.5 and M.2.11; Stadgar för Svenska Skyttesportförbundet (2025), §§ 2–3; Svenska Skyttesportförbundet, Regelbok Nationellt skytte (2026-03-02), 4.4, 13.3.1.1 and 13.13; Svenska Pistolskytteförbundet; Sportec, “Lp-tavla, övning 7,5 m, 100 st”; Sportec, “Måltavlor”; Sportec, “Kundinformation”, read on .