Utah Biathlon Club

Biathlon Rifles
Standard Rifle Biathlon rifles are .22 caliber long rifles that must weigh a minimum of 3.5 kilograms. There is no upper weight limit, but remember the guns has to carried while you ski. The trigger weight must set to at least a half kilogram. The rifles may not be of automatic or semi-automatic design. Loading or unloading may be executed only by the competitor’s muscle force. The muzzle velocity must not exceed 380 m/s, measured 1 m after leaving the muzzle. Rifles are loaded with 5-shot clips, also called magazines. Each bullet must be individually loaded through the use of the rifles bolt-action. Because the rifle are used in the winter time, snow covers can be found on the front and rear sights - as well as the barrell - to keep the weather from entering.
Air Rifle The Biathlon Air Rifle used compressed air to fire a pellet. Each magazine is capable of holding 5 pellets. The forced guided magazine exactly positions a pellet on the loading side of the barrel, then the rifle is ready to fire. These rifles are used by paralympic athletes, junior athletes and practicing biathletes.
Laser Rifle This new technology is helping to train biathletes in environments where the use of standard rifles and air rifles are not permitted. Laser rifles are not firearms in the sense of any firearm law, so it is possible in to use them even in the presence of restricive regulations. Even children as young as 6 years old can participate in the club activities and learn the sport.

Shooting Accessories Ammunition Biathlon rifles take standard .22 long rifle ammunition, but there are other considerations. Different types of ammunition are packed to burn more consistently at low temperatures - the sacrifice is the muzzle velocity. This is critical to Biathlons as events generally are held at temperatues far below freezing.
Cuff & Sling Most biathletes strap a cuff to their arm that hooks to the rifle sling for support during standing shots.
Harness A backpack-like harness is used to hold the rifle on the athlete's back.
Sight Biathletes are not allowed to use sights that enhance vision. Therefore, the sights used are of the peep-sight sort.
Snow Cover Because of the winter conditions that exist in the sport of Biathlon, rifles have special covers to protect the rifle's barrels and sights from snow.
Targets The targets used in biathlon are of two types, but both have the same dimensions. In prone, the athletes shoot at targets that have a scoring area of 4.0 centimeters. Standing targets have a scoring area of 11.5 centimeters.

Ski Equipment Skis Minimum length of skis is the height of competitor minus 4 cm; maximum: no limit. The ski waist, measured under the binding, can have a minimum width of 40 mm; maximum: no limit. The total weight of a pair of skis must be at least 750 grams.
Boots There are no restrictions on the type of material used or its make.
Poles The maximum length of the poles must not be longer than the competitors body height, measured by placing the pole tip on the ski in front of the binding;
Gloves There is no difference between regular cross country ski gloves and biathlon gloves, however some athletes choose to cut a hole in the index finger part of the glove so that they can get direct contact with the trigger.