Is Precision Air Rifle Gear Necessary: The $10,000.00 Question

Olympic and Paralympic air rifle athletes alike know how important their gear is. Many people also know about the Turkish air pistol athlete, Yusuf Kikek, who went viral after the Paris 2024 Olympics because he wasn't all decked out and still took the silver medal.

Rifle events require more gear, per the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF rules), the governing body for Olympic and Paralympic shooting sports. Paralympic rifle athletes require additional equipment that also must meet the World Shooting Para Sport rules (WSPS).

But does all of that fancy gear need to be that expensive? Yes and no, but mostly yes. Most of what we use and wear is custom-made for us so there's the best fit possible. Could you use an off-the-shelf shooting jacket at this level of competition? Sure, but all medalists can be seen wearing higher-end, customized jackets to offer the best advantage the rules allow. It's not just for show, it's to keep the athlete that extra bit more locked into their position. My own custom jacket is the Capitex Topline made in Mumbai by Capapie, a $1,000 addition to my set-up. Paralympians in this respect are lucky, since we only need the jacket and a special liner shirt (mine is the Sauer Seamless Technical shirt), where Olympians need to also invest in similarly-priced shooting pants, plus boots.

What's with those fancy rifles? In air rifle most top athletes are using one of two brands, Feinwerkbau or Walther, with a few using Anschutz. A rifle like my own, the FWB 900 ALUM, which is made in Germany, has a price tag just over $5,000, and that's just for the rifle. I also have the upgraded rear Centra sight, Centra front sight and irises for the front and rear, as well as the MeshPro grip, cheekpiece and palm rest (used in the standing position for Olympic and Paralympic shooters).

Feinwerkbau 900 ALUM air rifle with upgraded Centra sights and MeshPro add-ons.

Then there's the support hand glove, which is another needed item. I have two I rotate between but my favorite is the Sauer Top Ten. The glove rests very firmly in the handstop, a device that goes into a bottom rail on the air rifle. Mine is the AHG Integral and can rotate in all directions for further customization, although many athletes only use a basic, round handstop.

Paralympic air rifle athletes, depending on their disability and international classification, will either use a table and fixed seat or they may use a wheelchair with a free-standing table or one that is attached to their chair. All Paralympic tables and seats/wheelchairs must meet stringent international rules for dimensions and materials, which are checked using extraordinarily precise and unique measuring devices. My set-up is shown here, although I'm working to find a lighter weight material and better aesthetic design for my table.

2025 Arequipa Grand Prix, Peru. (Photo: USA Shooting)

Permobil Foundation and Comfort Company did an amazing job customizing my competition wheelchair seat back and cushion, meeting the international regulations which are checked in equipment control (EC) prior to key matches.

So ultimately, it's the skill of the precision rifle athlete that ultimately wins or loses matches. But in today's uber-competitive Olympic and Paralympic air rifle universe, the gear absolutely matters. To think otherwise would be be like asking the Olympic track star medalist wearing top Nike or Adidas running shoes that were nearly banned for "technical doping" to try running at the same speed and intensity in canvas Converse Chuck Taylors (no disrespect to those kicks!).