Spencer wrote:conradin wrote:... any type of sidearm or caliber you like with no restriction at all whatsoever...
I think the pistols were required to be of the 'usual calibre': i.e. .44". Back then .44 Russian ruled supreme.
1896 Olympic Report:
Revolverschiessen freihändig auf 30 Meter. An dem Wettkampf beteiligen sich 6 Bewerber, darunter 2 Griechen, N. Morakis und I. Phrangudis,
Hauptman der Artillerie. Jeder von ihnen darf 30 Schüsse abgeben. Als Sieger geht hervor der Amerikaner Sommer Paine mit 24 glücklichen
Treffern und 442 Points; zweiter ist der Däne Jensen
1900 Olympic Rulebook:
The competition is actually known as "Free Revolver 50M"
The only rule about the Revolver is:
"Pour le revolver, le tir doit avoir lieu à bras franc; l’emploi successif des six cases du barillet est obligatoire."
The organizer can provide ammo if needed, and these are the choices for the pistol competition:
Cartouches réglementaires pour revolver d’ordonnance (le paquet de 6 balles)
Cartouches pour revolver de précision (le paquet de 6 balles)
1908 Olympics Rulebook:
REVOLVER AND PISTOL SHOOTING
(j) INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION.
Limited to twelve individual entries from each territory having
separate representation on the International Olympic Committee, or, where no such representation exists, any territory under one and the same sovereign jurisdiction. Competitors participating must conform as to nationality with Articles 19 and 20 of the General Regulations.
1. Weapon.— Any revolver or pistol with open sights.
2. Ammunition.— Any with metal cartridge case.
3. Distance.— 50 yards.
4. No. of Shots.— Two sighters and sixty shots in ten series of six
5. Target.— White, 0 m. 50 c. diameter ; central black, 0 m. 20 c.
The whole target is divided into ten equal zones, counting from 1 to 10 shots each. A fresh target will be provided for each series.
6. Position.— Standing; right or left hand, with arm extended.
7. On the afternoon of the day preceding the competition targets will
be at the disposal of competitors for practice.
8. The edge of the shot-hole will determine the value of the shot."
*Notice that there is no time limit for making the 60 shots.
Interestingly, the Olympic Report concerning the competition noticed that competitors were switching from Revolvers to "Saloon Pistols".
"Amongst incidental shooting, the work with the pistol is extremely
interesting again, because more elastic conditions widen the area to which
appeal is made. Great as is the interest of revolver shooting, its natural
place is to follow practice with the ·22 pistol, otherwise the saloon pistol,
to use a term which has ceased to be familiar. The benefit derived from
the use of the small calibre is the power to practice in odd places and the
avoidance of the recoil and report, both of which enhance the difficulties
of the initial stages."
1912 Olympic Rule Book:
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION WITH REVOLVER AND PISTOL.
DISTANCE 50 METRES.
Monday, 1 July.
Any revolver or pistol with open fore- and back-sights. Ammunition
with metal cartridge case. The use of hair trigger not permitted.
Number of shots: 60 shots in series, with 6 shots in each series.
2 sighters.
Time: 4 minutes for a series of 6 shots.
Target: white, 50 cm. in diameter. The target divided into IO
zones each; 2I/, cm. in breadth. Centre, black; 20 cm. in diameter;
The highest possible number of points was 600.
1920 Olympic Report:
No rules were listed, but for the first the free pistol event finally is officially named:
"Pistolet, armes libres, 50 mètres"
This is because there is another event called
"Révolver, 30 mètres".
1936 Olympic Report:
ANY TARGET PISTOL AT 50 m.
Weapon: All kinds of pistols were permitted without restriction. The weapons were tested in respect of their safety only. Glasses could not
be attached to the weapons.—Distance: 50 m.—Target: Model of the “Union Internationale de Tir,” of 0.50 m. outside diameter with bull’seye
of 0.20 m. The target was divided into 10 rings, counting 1 to 10 points. The central circle was of 5 cm. diameter and counted 10 points.—
Position: Firing was carried out standing and off-hand. By the latter was understood that the hand was stretched out, completely free, and
that the butt-end had no prolongation which could serve as a support to the hand beyond the wrist.—Number of shots: 60 shots to be fired
in 6 series, each of 10 shots. Each series of ten shots was to be fired without interruption. 18 sighting shots were allowed.—Time: Every
marksman was allowed two hours in which to complete his targets including trial shots. The order of shooting for each marksman was decided by lot.-
This is for the very first time the Free Pistol Competition resembles to what we have now.
1948 Olympic Report:
50 METRE PISTOL
CONDITIONS
The event is contested in 60 shots (6 series of 10 shots each), with a break of 30 minutes after 3 series.
The time allowed for each series of 10 shots is 20 minutes.
The target has a diameter of 50 cm. with a black bullseye of 20 cm., the whole target being divided
into 10 zones with values varying from 1 to 10 points.
(Hence 2.5 hours)
Notice the tie-breaking procedure:
...R. Schnyder (Switzerland), T. Ullman (Sweden) and H. Benner (U.S.A.) who finished second, third and fourth, respectively, all totalled 539 points, the first two with 60 hits on the aiming mark as against 58 by Benner, while Schnyder had 21 tens as against Ullman's 16.
While there is no rules about the pistol in the FP competition, for the RPF event it does have rules for the equipment:
All pistols or revolvers of calibre .22 are allowed, once they have been passed as safe, provided that no telescope sights are fitted. Cartridges of any make .22 short, long, or long rifle are allowed; the bullet must be of uncovered lead, weighing not more than 40 grains.