Olympic shooting ranges are not just places to shoot; they are “precision laboratories” designed to rigorous engineering standards that allow no margin for error. Unlike tactical shooting, which focuses on reaction speed and decision-making, Olympic shooting is a pure sport focused on a single objective: achieving a perfect hit in the center of the target from fixed distances and in specific shooting positions.
Every aspect of these ranges, from lighting to range to target acquisition systems, is controlled and monitored by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). It is a “millimeter battle” that demands absolute mental and physical stability from the shooter, and a perfectly engineered facility that ensures a level playing field.
The Role of “Maknoon”: From Military Expertise to the Engineering of Precision Sports
Our military expertise may seem far removed from Olympic sports, but the opposite is true. Our deep expertise in precision engineering, software, and ballistic systems enables us to build these state-of-the-art shooting ranges.
What we do at Maknoon?
ISSF-Compliant Design Consulting
We provide sports organizations and Olympic committees with consulting services for designing ranges that are 100% compliant with the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) regulations, ensuring their eligibility to host international championships.
Turnkey Implementation
We handle the entire project, from precise civil works that guarantee accurate dimensions to the installation of specialized lighting and ventilation systems (for enclosed ranges), and the construction of shooting towers and trap stations.
Supply and Installation of Approved Technology
We supply and install ISSF-approved Electronic Scoring Targets (EST) systems. These highly accurate systems detect hits instantly and display the score on screens for shooters and spectators. Skeet & Trap Shooting Range Setup:
We install and program automatic clay launchers, audio systems, and precisely adjust shooting angles and trajectories according to skeet and trap shooting rules.
Strict Technical and Engineering Specifications for Olympic Shooting Ranges:
Specifications vary significantly depending on the type of competition:
10-meter (Air) Shooting Ranges
Type: Indoor (enclosed) exclusively.
Weapons: 4.5mm air rifles and air pistols.
Engineering Specifications:
- Distance: Exactly 10 meters from the line of fire to the target.
- Targets: Electronic target systems (EST) that detect hits with an accuracy of up to 0.1mm.
25-meter (Pistol) Shooting Ranges
Type: Indoor or outdoor.
Weapons: Rapid Fire Pistol and Sporting Pistol.
Engineering Specifications:
Target System: This is the biggest challenge. Targets must be able to rotate 90 degrees. In rapid fire competitions, targets appear to the shooter for a few seconds (e.g., 3 seconds) and then disappear. This requires a highly precise mechanical and electronic system to ensure all targets rotate at the exact same moment.
50-meter Ranges (Rifle and Pistol):
Type: Exclusively outdoor.
Weapons: 3-position rifle (Prone, Standing, Kneeling) and free pistol.
Engineering Specifications:
Targets: Electronic (EST) systems for remote hit detection.
Skeet and Trap Shooting Ranges:
Type: Exclusively outdoor, requiring very large areas for the landing zone of the skeet and shotgun shells. Engineering Specifications:
Trap Shooting Ranges: Consists of 5 shooting stations in a nearly straight line, and a forward bunker containing 15 launchers that fire clay targets away from the shooter at specific angles and speeds.
Skeet Shooting Ranges: Consists of 8 shooting stations arranged in a semicircle, with two towers (high and low) on either side of the range that launch clay targets across the shooter’s path in fixed, intersecting trajectories.