what type of gun do they use in the olympics

Olympic shooting uses highly specialized sporting firearms, not military- style guns.

Quick answer

They use three main types of guns, depending on the event:

• Precision rifles (small‑bore .22 and air rifles)

• Precision pistols (.22 pistols and air pistols)

• 12‑gauge over‑under shotguns for trap and skeet

The three main gun types

1. Rifles

In Olympic rifle events (10 m air rifle and 50 m small‑bore):

• 10 m air rifle:
  • Air rifles in 4.5 mm (.177) caliber, single‑loaded, used at 10 m indoor ranges.

• 50 m rifle (three‑position / prone):
  • Small‑bore rifles using 5.6 mm (.22) rimfire cartridges, single‑loaded, with strict limits on weight (up to about 8 kg).

These rifles look like futuristic target machines, with adjustable stocks, sights, and weights to maximize stability and precision.

2. Pistols

In Olympic pistol events (10 m air pistol and 25 m pistol):

• 10 m air pistol:
  • Air pistols in 4.5 mm (.177) caliber, single‑loaded, with limits on overall size, weight (around 1.5 kg max), and minimum trigger pull.

• 25 m pistol / rapid‑fire pistol:
  • .22‑caliber (5.6 mm) pistols, usually semi‑automatic with 5‑shot magazines, again with strict rules on weight, dimensions, and trigger pull.

These are purpose‑built target pistols with long barrels, very light, crisp triggers, and ergonomic grips, very different from typical defensive handguns.

3. Shotguns

In trap and skeet events:

• Shooters must use 12‑gauge shotguns, almost always over‑under competition models.

• Typical features:
  • Weight around 3–4 kg (about 6.5–9 lb), with barrel lengths up to ~81 cm (32 in), tuned chokes for pattern spread depending on trap or skeet.

• Only light 12‑gauge target loads are allowed, with a maximum of about 24–24.5 g of shot and small pellet size limits.

Brands like Perazzi and Beretta are especially common in Olympic trap and skeet because they build shotguns specifically optimized for these disciplines.

Winter Olympics note (biathlon)

In the Winter Games biathlon (skiing + rifle shooting):

• Athletes use lightweight .22 LR small‑bore rifles with magazines, but still highly specialized for precision and fast shooting in cold conditions.

TL;DR

When people ask “what type of gun do they use in the Olympics,” the core answer is:

• Air rifles and air pistols in 4.5 mm,
• Small‑bore .22 rifles and pistols,
• 12‑gauge over‑under shotguns for clay targets — all under very strict sport‑shooting regulations.

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