what caliber are biathlon rifles

Biathlon rifles used in modern international competition are almost all .22 caliber , specifically .22 Long Rifle (also written .22 LR or 5.6 mm smallbore).

Quick Scoop

• Standard caliber: .22 LR smallbore.

• Bullet diameter: about 5.6 mm.

• Usage: Required by international biathlon rules (IBU, Olympic biathlon).

In Olympic and World Cup biathlon, athletes must use a .22 LR rimfire rifle that meets strict weight and ammo rules.

A Bit More Detail

• The International Biathlon Union standardized .22 LR for competition in the late 1970s, and it is now the only allowed cartridge in Olympic-style biathlon.

• Typical rifles weigh at least 3.5 kg (about 7.7 lb) and are carried on the athlete’s back during skiing.

• Ammo is standard .22 LR rimfire, lead bullets with relatively low muzzle velocity compared with larger hunting calibers.

Some niche or related “field biathlon” or moose biathlon events use larger calibers like 6.5×55 mm or .308 Winchester, but those are separate disciplines from Olympic biathlon.

TL;DR: If you’re asking “what caliber are biathlon rifles?” in the context of Olympic or World Cup races, the answer is: .22 LR smallbore, 5.6 mm rimfire.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.