Biathletes use a specialized small‑bore .22 caliber rifle, not a hunting or military gun.

Basic specs

  • Caliber: .22 Long Rifle (also written .22 LR) rimfire.
  • Minimum weight: about 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) under international biathlon rules.
  • Magazine: 5‑round clips; athletes load five shots for each shooting bout.
  • Typical action: straight‑pull bolt action, which lets the shooter cycle the rifle very quickly while staying in position.
  • Sights: non‑magnified aperture (diopter) rear sight with a globe front sight, designed for precise aiming on small targets at 50 m.

Design features for biathlon

  • Built‑in harness so the rifle can be carried securely on the skier’s back while racing.
  • Weather protection like sight covers to keep snow and ice off the sights.
  • Highly adjustable stock (cheek rest, length of pull) so the athlete can fit the rifle perfectly in both prone and standing positions.
  • Light, crisp trigger, often adjustable in the few‑hundred‑gram range to aid precision.

Common brands you’ll hear about

  • Anschütz and Izhmash/IZh/Bi‑7 series are among the classic “top‑level” biathlon rifles used in World Cup and Olympic competition.
  • There are also training and club rifles (for example Savage .22s, CZ 457 variants) used in local or novice biathlon events, but elite international races are standardized to dedicated .22 LR biathlon rifles.

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