ihmsa forums

On the 100 yd/m categories (except 1/5th scale), why are small bore categories (SB & PH22) shot at 3/8 scale targets and the pistol cartridge (FP & PHS) shot at 1/2 scale targets?

Secondly, again in the 100 yd/m categories, how did smallbore evolve to 9 categories but pistol cartridge has only 3?

Just curious how this came to be.

Don't know the reason for the differences in scale but suspect since FP is only shot standing the extra size may have been used to help standing shooters. I also suspect the are more categories in .22lr since you can have additional freestyle categories but again FP is only standing.

main reason was who created the sport first.

I do know that IHMSA created smallbore first then was adopted by the NRA.

NRA created Hunter pistol first, then IHMSA followed with field pistol and adopted most of NRA's rules.

The smallbore categories followed the lead of the big bore categories that were already in place. As new categories were added, they applied to both disciplines. BB & SB complement each other, BB 1/2 scale and SB 1/5 scale complement each other. Field pistol was created in such a way that 100y ranges could shoot a couple centerfire events without the distances being so insanely close that targets would be destroyed, hence the straight wall cartridge designation.