International shooting federations
Each body on this page writes the rules for one kind of shooting worldwide: the Olympic shooting events, muzzle-loading guns, crossbow, biathlon or benchrest. The ISSF and the MLAIC have pages of their own; the others are listed here in full.
Benchrest rifles sit on a front rest and a rear sandbag. Biathlon races are shot at metal or electronic targets — paper is for zeroing the rifle.
ISSF
The world federation the Olympic movement recognises for shooting: its rules decide the Olympic rifle, pistol and shotgun events.
MLAIC
The world body for muzzle-loading shooting: precision and clay events for matchlock, flintlock and percussion guns, loaded with factory-made black powder only.
IAU
The International Crossbow-Shooting Union, founded in 1956 in Landshut: match crossbow at 10 and 30 m, and field crossbow.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| IAU 10m Crossbow | Crossbow | 10 m | 45.5 mm |
| IAU 30m Crossbow | Crossbow | 30 m | 114 mm |
IBU
The International Biathlon Union: skiing with a .22 rifle, stopping to shoot five targets prone or standing at 50 m.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBU Biathlon (hit zones) | Biathlon rifle | 50 m | 115 mm |
| IBU Biathlon (scoring rings) | Biathlon rifle | 50 m | 155 mm |
WRABF
The World Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest Federation: rimfire and air rifle benchrest at 25 and 50 m, with Europe’s ERABSF.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| WRABF BR25 25m Rifle | Air rifle | 25 m | 39 mm |
| WRABF BR50 50m Rifle | Rifle | 50 m | 38.1 mm |
WBSF
The World Benchrest Shooting Federation, formed in 2001: world championships in centrefire group and .22 rimfire score benchrest.
| Target | Weapon | Distance | Scoring area |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBSF 50m Rifle (22 Hunter) | Rifle | 50 m | 48 mm |
Sources: ISSF Rule Book, Edition 2025 (Second Print 07/2026), Constitution; MLAIC Rules, December 2024, rule 2.3; IAU Statutes (2015), art. 1; IBU Event and Competition Rules, 2026, rule 5.3; WBSF, “History”; WRABF & ERABSF Official Rule Book, 2023–2027, V4.4, read on .