There are many types of pistol matches conducted in Australia. Here is a summary of the matches offered and the types of pistols used.

50 METRE (FREE) PISTOL

One of the oldest matches, the Free Pistol match consists of shooting sixty shots at precision targets, off-hand at 50 metres. The 10 ring is 50 mm in diameter. The handguns normally used are long-barrelled 22 Long Rifle single-shot pistols that are exceptionally accurate, and have full wrap-around orthopaedic grips, very light-set triggers and high precision sights. Scoring well in this match is very difficult if the shooter has not mastered the elements of accurate handgunning. Because Centurion Pistol Club's primary range is an in-door facility, Free Pistol can only be shot at 25 m.

While presenting the new shooter with a formidable challenge, Free Pistol shooting is an excellent way of learning how to shoot handguns, as there is no time pressure to hurry through the match. Even so, this match is less and less popular for recreational target shooters and their audiences due to the lack of action and variation.

STANDARD PISTOL

The Standard Pistol match is shot at 25 metres with a 22 Long Rifle semi-auto on a standard Precision target with a 50 mm 10-ring, in timed series of five shots on turning targets. Four series, each of 150 seconds, four series each of 20 seconds and four series each of 10 seconds are fired for a total of 60 shots. Each series starts with the shooter’s arm at 45° to the horizontal. The handgun used in this event must have a barrel no longer than 150 mm and a trigger no lighter than 9.81 kN (1000 g). Recoil handling characteristics are important in a Standard Pistol, especially in the 10-second series.

The original Standard Pistol match was conceived to allow shooters to have an event to shoot with the standard sporting 22 semi-autos that were available. Ruger, S&W, High Standard, Browning, Margolin and others make appropriate handguns that fit the original concept and are popular for use at club level.

Standard Pistol is a challenge to old and new shooters alike, as a momentary lapse in concentration in the faster series can see many points disappear from the score. The Standard Pistol match combines both precision and rapid fire techniques in its course of fire, and the mixture of both guarantees an interesting match.

CENTRE FIRE

The Centre Fire match remains one of the most popular events, although it too has been around for a long time. The match consists of two separate 30 shot stages of fire. One is the “Precision” stage shot at 25 metres on a precision target (50 mm 10 ring), with five minutes allowed for each 5-shot series. The other is the “Rapid Fire” stage that is also shot at 25 metres, but on turning targets. One shot is fired with each exposure of the target as it turns toward the shooter for 3 seconds and away for 7 seconds, with the shooter lowering his arm to 45° between each exposure of the target.

Any centrefire calibre from 8.1 mm (.32") to 9.7 mm (.38") can be used in a revolver or semi-auto, with a barrel no longer than 150 mm and a trigger pull no lighter than 13.34 kN (1360 g). Many target grade revolvers are available for this match, mainly in 38 Special or 357 Magnum, although there are some 32 calibre revolvers and semi-autos available. The heavier trigger pull specified for Centrefire requires firm control of the handgun in both the Precision and Rapid Fire stages, and this coupled with the recoil of the centrefire ammunition makes this quite a difficult event for the new shooter, although one that is universally popular.