As with any activity or sport, the acronyms and terminology can be a bit overwhelming for a newcomer. This information should help you understand some of the more common terms you’ll hear in our club.
Organizations & Governing Bodies
TRJS
Ten Ring Junior Shooters. A youth-focused precision shooting club dedicated to developing safe, responsible, and skilled marksmanship in young shooters through structured coaching, competition, and athlete development.
CMP
Civilian Marksmanship Program. A federally chartered nonprofit organization that promotes firearms safety, marksmanship training, and youth shooting sports in the United States. CMP conducts competitions, training programs, and sanctioned events for juniors and adults, including air rifle and smallbore disciplines.
USA Shooting (USAS)
The national governing body for Olympic-style shooting sports in the United States. USA Shooting oversees athlete development, competition rules, coaching education, and selection of U.S. teams for international and Olympic competition.
ISSF
International Shooting Sport Federation. The global governing body for Olympic shooting sports. ISSF establishes international rules, equipment standards, and competition formats for rifle, pistol, and shotgun events, and oversees World Cups, World Championships, and Olympic qualification events.
WMFGA
Western Montana Fish & Game Association. A nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana, that supports outdoor recreation, conservation, and shooting sports. WMFGA operates shooting ranges and facilities and partners with local clubs to promote safe, responsible marksmanship
Competition Pathways & Events
Junior Olympics (JO)
A series of state, regional, and national shooting competitions organized by USA Shooting for junior athletes. The Junior Olympics provide a structured pathway for youth shooters to qualify for national-level events and progress toward elite and Olympic competition.
Sanctioned Match
A competition officially recognized by an organization such as USA Shooting or CMP. Scores from sanctioned matches may count toward rankings, qualifications, or advancement.
Relay
A group of athletes who shoot at the same time during a practice or competition.
Finals
An elimination-style round following qualification, typically involving the top shooters. Finals emphasize consistency and mental control under pressure.
Match Formats & Disciplines
AR60
Air Rifle 60-shot match. A precision air rifle course of fire consisting of 60 shots, fired from the standing position under USA Shooting or ISSF rules. AR60 is the standard format for advanced junior and adult precision air rifle competition.
AP60
Air Pistol 60-shot match. A precision air pistol course of fire consisting of 60 shots, fired one-handed from a standing position under USA Shooting or ISSF rules.
3PAR
Three-Position Air Rifle. A discipline in which athletes fire shots from three positions: kneeling, prone, and standing. 3PAR develops well-rounded fundamentals and is commonly used in junior and developmental competitions.
CMP 3PAR
The CMP-governed version of Three-Position Air Rifle, following CMP-specific rules and equipment standards.
Safety & Range Operations
CBI (Chamber Bore Indicator)
Also known as a safety flag. A brightly colored, flexible indicator inserted into the barrel of a rifle or pistol when it is not actively being fired to visually confirm that it is unloaded and safe.
Cold Range
A range condition where all firearms are unloaded, actions are open, and CBIs are inserted. No firearm handling is allowed unless directed by a range officer or coach.
Hot Range
A range condition where firearms may be handled and fired under direct supervision.
Firing Line
The designated shooting area where athletes stand or kneel to fire during practice or competition.
Range Officer (RO)
The individual responsible for enforcing safety rules and managing the flow of a practice or competition on the range.
Athlete Technique & Fundamentals
NPA (Natural Point of Aim)
The position where the rifle naturally points when the athlete is relaxed and properly aligned with the target. Correct NPA minimizes muscle strain and improves consistency.
Sight Alignment
The relationship between the front and rear sights. Proper sight alignment is essential for accuracy.
Sight Picture
What the athlete sees when aiming, combining sight alignment and target placement.
Trigger Control
The smooth, steady pressure applied to the trigger to fire a shot without disturbing sight alignment.
Follow-Through
Maintaining position, sight picture, and trigger control after the shot breaks to ensure consistency.
Breath Control
Managing breathing to minimize movement and stabilize the rifle or pistol during the shot process.
Equipment & Gear
Precision Air Rifle
A competition-grade air rifle designed for maximum accuracy and adjustability, used in AR60 and 3PAR events.
Sporter Air Rifle
A more standardized and affordable air rifle category with equipment restrictions, commonly used in entry-level and scholastic competitions.
Air Pistol
A precision air-powered pistol used in Olympic-style and junior pistol competitions.
Pellet
The small, diabolo-shaped projectile used in air rifles and air pistols.
Shooting Jacket
A stiffened jacket designed to provide support and stability in precision rifle shooting.
Shooting Pants
Supportive pants worn in kneeling and prone positions to improve stability and comfort.
Shooting Glove
A padded glove worn on the non-trigger hand to reduce pressure and improve consistency.
Scoring & Match Terms
Sighter Shots
Practice shots fired before a match begins that allow athletes to confirm their sights. Sighters do not count toward the final score.
Qualification
The initial round of a competition used to determine rankings and advancement to finals.
Decimal Scoring
A scoring system used in advanced competition that scores shots to the tenth of a point for greater precision.
Athlete Development & Program Terms
Athlete Pathway
The structured progression from introductory shooting through advanced competition, including local, state, national, and international levels.
Coach
A trained and certified individual responsible for athlete safety, instruction, and development.
Practice Session
A structured training period focused on skill development, safety, and consistency.