At first glance, 50 m free pistol and 25 m pistol look like variations of the same idea: a pistol, a target, and a trigger. But the target tells a different story.

At 25 m, the black is generous. The scoring rings are large enough that small aiming errors can be absorbed, especially with good timing and rhythm. Technique matters, of course—but the discipline allows you to manage imperfections.

At 50 m, there is nowhere to hide.

The ten-ring is tiny. The slightest disturbance in grip pressure, sight alignment, or trigger release is immediately visible on the paper. What feels like a clean shot at 25 m can become a wide eight at 50 m. Every technical flaw is magnified, every mental lapse punished.

Free pistol strips shooting down to its essentials:

• one hand
• minimal grip support
• light trigger
• extreme precision

There is no rapid-fire cadence, no recovery shot, no margin. You must accept the wobble, trust the process, and release the shot without interference. That is what makes free pistol so demanding—and so honest.

The target doesn’t lie. At 50 m, it explains exactly why free pistol is hard.