The target: total Ø = 154.4 mm. 4 ring Ø = 106.4 mm. 9 ring Ø = 26.4 mm. 10 ring Ø = 10.4 mm, height 0.75 m above the floor

50 meter rifle three positions (formerly known as one of four free rifle disciplines) is an International Shooting Sport Federation event, a miniature version of 300 meter rifle three positions. It consists of twenty shots in each of the kneeling, prone, and standing positions, fired in that order. Historically men fired 3×40 shots and women shot 3×20. In January 2018, the number of shots was equalised between genders with the Women's 3x20 being abolished in favour of a 3x40 match identical to the men's event. The caliber is .22 Long Rifle (5.6 mm). In January 2022 the format was changed with men and women all firing the shorter 3x20 format.

In both the men's and women's event, athletes must complete the course of fire within a single time block of 1 hours, 30 minutes. Before January 2018, the Women's 3x20 event had a time limit of 1 hour, 45 minutes. These time limits are applicable to matches conducted using electronic targets; longer times are used if the slower manual scoring system is used. Until 2018, women's rifles were limited to 6.5 kilograms (14 lb), as opposed to 8.0 kilograms (17.6 lb) for men. This was the only remaining difference between men's and women's equipment after the switch from standard rifles to sport rifles. In January 2018 with the women's event extended to a 3x40 match, the 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) limit was abolished, with Women permitted to use rifles up to 8.0 kilograms (17.6 lb). This rendered the men's and women's events identical in both number of shots and equipment permitted.

In major competitions, including World Cups and World Championships, the top eight competitors reach a finals match, where the medal positions are decided. Beginning in 2013, a new finals format was instituted, in which the qualification score is discarded, and the standings among the top eight shooters are determined by their finals scores alone. The course of fire was also changed significantly with the new rules, from the previous 10-shot program in only the standing position, into a 45-shot elimination format in all three positions. After 10 of the 15 shots of the final, standing stage, the two lowest-ranked shooters are eliminated. For the remaining five shots, the lowest-ranked shooter is eliminated after each shot, before the final shot decides the gold and silver medalists among the final two survivors.

World Championships, Men

YearPlaceGoldSilverBronze
1937Finland HelsinkiJacques Louis Mazoyer (FRA)Viljo Leskinen (FIN)Gustav Lokotar (EST)
1939Switzerland LuzernKarl Steigelmann (GER)August Liivik (EST)Kurt Johansson (SWE)
1949Argentina Buenos AiresPauli Aapeli Janhonen (FIN)Arthur Edwin Cook (USA)Erling Asbjoern Kongshaug (NOR)
1952Norway OsloErling Asbjoern Kongshaug (NOR)Robert Bürchler (SUI)Johan Hunæs (NOR)
1954Venezuela CaracasAnatoli Bogdanov (URS)Vasily Borisov (URS)Vilho Ilmari Ylönen (FIN)
1958Soviet Union MoscowVictor Shamburkin (URS)Marat Niyazov (URS)Moysey Itkis (URS)
1962Egypt CairoGary Anderson (USA)Marat Niyazov (URS)Erwin Vogt (SUI)
1966West Germany WiesbadenGary Anderson (USA)Marat Niyazov (URS)Henryk Górski (POL)
1970United States PhoenixVitali Parkhimovitch (URS)John Writer (USA)Lones Wigger (USA)
1974Switzerland ThunJohn Writer (USA)Lones Wigger (USA)Lanny Bassham (USA)
1978South Korea SeoulLanny Bassham (USA)Malcolm Cooper (GBR)Ulrich Lind (FRG)
1982Venezuela CaracasVladimir Lvov (URS)Peter Heinz (FRG)Viktor Vlasov (URS)
1986East Germany SuhlPetr Kůrka (TCH)Malcolm Cooper (GBR)Pavel Soukeník (TCH)
1990Soviet Union MoscowEun Chul Lee (KOR)Robert Foth (USA)Hrachya Petikyan (URS)
1994Italy MilanPetr Kůrka (CZE)Thomas Tamas (USA)Wolfram Waibel Jr. (AUT)
1998Spain BarcelonaJozef Gönci (SVK)Pascal Bessy (FRA)Rajmond Debevec (SLO)
2002Finland LahtiMarcel Bürge (SUI)Konstantin Prikhodtchenko (RUS)Péter Sidi (HUN)
2006Croatia ZagrebArtem Khadjibekov (RUS)Stevan Pletikosic (SCG)Lei Zhang (CHN)
2010Germany MunichPéter Sidi (HUN)Han Jin-seop (KOR)Nemanja Mirosavljev (SRB)
2014Spain GranadaZhu Qinan (CHN)Sergey Kamenskiy (RUS)Vitaly Bubnovich (BLR)
2018South Korea ChangwonTomasz Bartnik (POL)Petar Gorsa (CRO)Michael McPhail (USA)
2022Egypt New Administrative CapitalSerhiy Kulish (UKR)Tomasz Bartnik (POL)Jon-Hermann Hegg (NOR)

World Championships, Men Team

YearPlaceGoldSilverBronze
1949Argentina Buenos AiresFinland Finland Olavi Elo Pauli Aapeli Janhonen Kullervo Leskinen Toivo Maenttaeri Vilho Ilmari YlönenSweden Sweden Uno Hilding Berg Isac Holger Erben Walther Sigfrid Fröstell Kurt Johansson Jonas JonssonNorway Norway Mauritz Amundsen Johan Hunæs Erling Asbjoern Kongshaug Willy Røgeberg Thore Skredegaard
1952Norway OsloSwitzerland Switzerland Robert Bürchler Ernst Huber Otto Horber August Hollenstein Schmid E.Sweden Sweden Uno Hilding Berg Isac Holger Erben Walther Sigfrid Fröstell Kurt Johansson Lindquist T.Norway Norway Mauritz Amundsen Johan Hunæs Erling Asbjoern Kongshaug Halvor Kongsjorden Thore Skredegaard
1954Venezuela CaracasSoviet Union Soviet Union Anatoli Bogdanov Vasily Borisov Moysey Itkis Grigori Kupko Boris PereberinSweden Sweden Uno Hilding Berg Isac Holger Erben Walther Sigfrid Fröstell Anders Helge Kvissberg Sundberg O.Norway Norway Mauritz Amundsen Iver Aas Anker Hagen Erling Asbjoern Kongshaug Thore Skredegaard
1958Soviet Union MoscowSoviet Union Soviet Union Vasily Borisov Moysey Itkis Yuri Kudryashov Marat Niyazov Victor ShamburkinWest Germany West Germany Hans Werner Harbeck Peter Kohnke Bernd Klingner Helmut Schlenker Rudolf SiglUnited States James Carter Herr J. Daniel Puckel Gordon Taras Verle Wright Jr.
1962Egypt CairoSoviet Union Soviet Union Vladimir Chuian Vasily Borisov Moysey Itkis Marat NiyazovUnited States Gary Anderson Tommy Pool Daniel Puckel Verle Wright Jr.Switzerland Switzerland August Hollenstein Kurt Müller Hans Rudolf Spillmann Erwin Vogt
1966West Germany WiesbadenUnited States Gary Anderson Tommy Pool Margaret Thompson Lones WiggerSoviet Union Soviet Union Aleksandrs Gerasimjonoks Valentin Kornev Vladimir Konyakhin Marat NiyazovEast Germany East Germany Werner Lippoldt Guenter Lange Dieter Munzert Hartmut Sommer
1970United States PhoenixSoviet Union Soviet Union Vladimir Agishev Oleg Lapkin Vitali Parkhimovitch Sergei YermilovUnited States David Boyd John Robert Foster John Writer Lones WiggerWest Germany West Germany Peter Kohnke Bernd Klingner Gottfried Kustermann Klaus Zähringer
1974Switzerland ThunUnited States Lanny Bassham Margaret Murdock Lones Wigger John WriterSoviet Union Soviet Union Anatoli Bulgakov Gennadi Lushikov Alexander Mitrofanov Vitali ParkhimovitchWest Germany West Germany Bernd Klingner Gottfried Kustermann Wolfgang Ruehle Klaus Zähringer
1978South Korea SeoulUnited States Lanny Bassham Edward Etzel Rod Fitz-Randolph Lones WiggerWest Germany West Germany Gottfried Kustermann Ulrich Lind Werner Seibold Karlheinz SmieszekSweden Sweden Sven Johansson Carl-Erik Oeberg Esbjoern Svensson Stefan Thynell
1982Venezuela CaracasSoviet Union Soviet Union Kirill Ivanov Vladimir Lvov Alexander Mitrofanov Viktor VlasovUnited Kingdom Great Britain Alister Allan Malcolm Cooper Barry Dagger John DavisNorway Norway Arnt-Olav Haugland Terje Melbye-Hansen Harald Stenvaag Geir Skirbekk
1986East Germany SuhlCzechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Milan Bakeš Petr Kůrka Pavel SoukeníkSoviet Union Soviet Union Kirill Ivanov Hrachya Petikyan Viktor VlasovFrance Jean-Pierre Amat Pascal Bessy Michel Bury
1990Soviet Union MoscowSoviet Union Soviet Union Viatcheslav Botchkarev Kirill Ivanov Hrachya PetikyanCzechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Milan Bakeš Petr Kůrka Miroslav VargaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Rajmond Debevec Nemanja Mirosavljev Goran Maksimović
1994Italy MilanFrance Jean-Pierre Amat Michel Bury Roger ChassatUkraine Ukraine Artur Ayvazyan Oleg Dementyev Oleg MykhaylovCzech Republic Czech Republic Milan Bakeš Vaclav Becvar Petr Kůrka
1998Spain BarcelonaUkraine Ukraine Artur Ayvazyan Oleg Mykhaylov Jury SukhorukovFrance Pascal Bessy Jean-Pierre Amat Roger ChassatRussia Russia Alexander Koudelin Artem Khadjibekov Sergei Kovalenko
2002Finland LahtiRussia Russia Artem Khadjibekov Viatcheslav Botchkarev Konstantin PrikhodtchenkoUnited States Michael Anti Matthew Emmons Glenn DubisUkraine Ukraine Jury Sukhorukov Oleg Mykhaylov Artur Ayvazyan
2006Croatia ZagrebRussia Russia Artem Khadjibekov Sergei Kovalenko Viatcheslav BotchkarevAustria Austria Thomas Farnik Mario Knögler Christian PlanerUnited States Matthew Emmons Jason Parker Michael Mcphail
2010Germany MunichRussia Russia Artem Khadjibekov Fedor Vlasov Konstantin PrikhodtchenkoNorway Norway Vebjørn Berg Ole-Kristian Bryhn Ole Magnus BakkenUkraine Ukraine Artur Ayvazyan Jury Sukhorukov Vladyslav Hryhorenko
2014Spain GranadaChina Cao Yifei Zhu Qinan Kang HongweiNorway Norway Are Hansen Ole-Kristian Bryhn Ole Magnus BakkenRussia Russia Nazar Louginets Sergey Kamenskiy Fedor Vlasov
2018South Korea ChangwonRussia Russia Nazar Louginets Vladimir Maslennikov Sergey KamenskiyChina Haoran Yang Zicheng Hui Yuncong YaoBelarus Belarus Yury Shcherbatsevich Vitali Bubnovich Illia Charheika
2022Egypt New Administrative CapitalNorway Simon Claussen Jon-Hermann Hegg Henrik LarsenFrance Brian Baudouin Michael d'Halluin Lucas KryzsIndia Niraj Kumar Swapnil Kusale Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar

World Championships, Women

YearPlaceGoldSilverBronze
1966West Germany WiesbadenMargaret Thompson (USA)Anneliese Goth (FRG)Tatiana Ryabinskaya (URS)
1970United States PhoenixMargaret Murdock (USA)Desanka Perović (YUG)Lucia Fagereva (URS)
1974Switzerland ThunAnka Pelova (BUL)Nonka Shatarova (BUL)Margaret Murdock (USA)
1978South Korea SeoulWanda Oliver (USA)Karen Monez (USA)Christina Gustafsson (SWE)
1982Venezuela CaracasMarlies Helbig (GDR)Lessia Leskiv (URS)Anna Malakhova (URS)
1986East Germany SuhlVesela Letcheva (BUL)Valentina Lazarova (BUL)Angela Berger (GDR)
1990Soviet Union MoscowVesela Letcheva (BUL)Deena Wigger (USA)Anitza Valkova (BUL)
1994Italy MilanAnna Maloukhina (RUS)Lessia Leskiv (UKR)Irina Gerasimenok (RUS)
1998Spain BarcelonaSonja Pfeilschifter (GER)Xian Wang (CHN)Nonka Matova (BUL)
2002Finland LahtiPetra Horneber (GER)Natallia Kalnysh (UKR)Martina Prekel (GER)
2006Croatia ZagrebLioubov Galkina (RUS)Sylwia Bogacka (POL)Sonja Pfeilschifter (GER)
2010Germany MunichBarbara Lechner (GER)Sonja Pfeilschifter (GER)Annik Marguet (SUI)
2014Spain GranadaBeate Gauß (GER)Snježana Pejčić (CRO)Malin Westerheim (NOR)
2018South Korea ChangwonYulia Karimova (RUS)Isabella Straub (GER)Snježana Pejčić (CRO)
2022Egypt New Administrative CapitalMiao Wanru (CHN)Jenny Stene (NOR)Jeanette Hegg Duestad (NOR)

World Championships, Women Team

YearPlaceGoldSilverBronze
1970United States PhoenixUnited States Tammie Foster Margaret Murdock Diana TimberlakeSoviet Union Soviet Union Lucia Fagereva Tatiana Ratnikova Elena ZaharchenkoEast Germany East Germany Gudrun Mehlan Marga Nabel Gabriele Riedel
1974Switzerland ThunSoviet Union Soviet Union Kira Boiko Tatiana Ratnikova Baiba ZarinaBulgaria Bulgaria Poliksena Kancheva Anka Pelova Nonka ShatarovaWest Germany West Germany Elke Becker Elisabeth Balș Elisabeth Boehmer
1978South Korea SeoulUnited States Becky Braun Karen Monez Wanda OliverSweden Sweden Anita Enqvist Christina Gustafsson Margareta GustafssonFrance Yvette Courault Dominique Esnault Elisabeth Lesou
1982Venezuela CaracasSoviet Union Soviet Union Svetlana Komaristova Lessia Leskiv Anna MalakhovaEast Germany East Germany Gilda Gorzkulla Marlies Helbig Marlies MochUnited States Mary Godlove Karen Monez Gloria Parmentier
1986East Germany SuhlBulgaria Bulgaria Valentina Lazarova Vesela Letcheva Nonka MatovaEast Germany East Germany Angela Berger Sabine Toth Kathrin StarkloffUnited States Wanda Jewell Pat Spurgin Deena Wigger
1990Soviet Union MoscowBulgaria Bulgaria Vesela Letcheva Nonka Matova Anitza ValkovaUnited States Launi Meili Kristen Peterson Deena WiggerSoviet Union Soviet Union Valentina Cherkasova Lessia Leskiv Iryna Shylava
1994Italy MilanGermany Petra Horneber Kirsten Obel Wera StammRussia Russia Valentina Cherkasova Irina Gerasimenok Anna MaloukhinaChina Muhua Chen Qiuping Zhang Danhong Zhou
1998Spain BarcelonaChina Hong Shan Xian Wang Yimin XuUnited States Elizabeth Bourland Jayme Dickman Wanda JewellBulgaria Bulgaria Ani Ivanova Vesela Letcheva Nonka Matova
2002Finland LahtiUkraine Ukraine Olena Davydova Natallia Kalnysh Lessia LeskivGermany Petra Horneber Sonja Pfeilschifter Martina PrekelRussia Russia Tatiana Goldobina Lioubov Galkina Marina Bobkova
2006Croatia ZagrebRussia Russia Lioubov Galkina Tatiana Goldobina Alena NizkoshapskaiaGermany Barbara Lechner Claudia Keck Sonja PfeilschifterChina Bo Liu Liuxi Wu Jieyi Tang
2010Germany MunichUnited States Jamie Beyerle Amy Sowash Sandra FongGermany Barbara Lechner Eva Friedel Sonja PfeilschifterSerbia Serbia Ivana Maksimović Andrea Arsović Lidija Mihajlović
2014Spain GranadaGermany Beate Gauß Barbara Engleder Eva RöskenChina Chen Dongqi Chang Jing Zhao HuixinSouth Korea South Korea Jeong Mi-ra Yoo Seo-young Kim Seo-la
2018South Korea ChangwonGermany Isabella Straub Jolyn Beer Jaqueline OrthDenmark Denmark Rikke Maeng Ibsen Stine Nielsen Stephanie Laura Scurrah GrundsoeeRussia Russia Yulia Karimova Polina Khorosheva Yulia Zykova
2022Egypt New Administrative CapitalGermany Jolyn Beer Anna Janssen Lisa MüllerSwitzerland Nina Christen Sarina Hitz Franziska StarkChina Miao Wanru Shi Mengyao Zhang Qiongyue

World Championships, Mixed Team

YearPlaceGoldSilverBronze
2022Egypt New Administrative CapitalNorway Jenny Stene Simon ClaussenDenmark Stephanie Grundsøe Steffen OlsenGermany David Koenders Anna Janssen

Current world records

Current world records in 50 metre rifle three positions
MenQualification1188Jan Lochbihler (SUI)August 28, 2019Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
Final466.0Zhang Changhong (CHN)Aug 2, 2021Tokyo (JPN)
Teams3549Norway (Claussen, Larsen, Hegg)May 29, 2021Osijek (CRO)edit
Junior MenQualification1185Filip Nepejchal (CZE) Istvan Peni (HUN)May 22, 2017 October 29, 2017Munich (GER) New Delhi (IND)
Final462.9Filip Nepejchal (CZE)November 19, 2019Putian (CHN)
Teams3512Hungary (Peni, Vas, Pekler)June 27, 2017Suhl (GER)
Women (ISSF)Qualification1185Jenny Stene (NOR)May 28, 2019Munich (GER)
Final464.7Petra Zublasing (ITA)June 19, 2015Baku (AZE)
Teams3531Norway (Stene, Duestad, Lund)September 21, 2019Bologna (ITA)
Women (CISM)Individual1183Yulia Karimova (RUS)3 June 2018Thun (SUI)edit
Teams3499China (Gao, Shi, Wan)3 June 2018Thun (SUI)edit
Junior WomenQualification1180Fu Yutian (CHN)July 18, 2019Suhl (GER)
Final459.3Anna Janssen (GER)September 15, 2019Bologna (ITA)
Teams3509Germany (Janssen, Ruschel, Weindorf) China (Fu, Chen, Hou)July 18, 2019 July 18, 2019Suhl (GER) Suhl (GER)