Ottawa Area - Olympic Exemption Opportunity – ADRRA Handgun Competition June 20

[u/Hisoka365]

EDIT: Important clarification: this is not a “show up and get an exemption letter” event.

Please do not spam Ed with general exemption/process questions. If you are new to ISSF, the better first step is to join a club that actively shoots ISSF Sport Pistol and/or Standard Pistol, learn the rules, participate regularly, and work toward the exemption letter properly through competition experience.

Arnprior District Revolver & Rifle Association is hosting handgun matches in Arnprior, and there is still space available for Saturday, June 20. The June 21 date is already full.

For anyone in the Ottawa area who is already interested in or actively working toward ISSF Sport Pistol and/or Standard Pistol, this could be a good opportunity to compete and continue working toward the Olympic exemption pathway.

Also, the exemption pathway being discussed here is for .22LR target pistols only. It is not for larger-calibre handguns, centre-fire pistols, defensive pistols, or general restricted handgun purchases.

The match is being run by Ed, and he only has a limited number of handguns available to lend for the competition, so loaner availability is first come, first served.

To register, go to:

www.targetscores.com and register for the standard and sport pistol events.

BRING CASH FOR THE COMPETITION FEE

Also email Ed directly for details and ask to borrow a hangun:

[arnpriordrra@gmail.com](mailto:arnpriordrra@gmail.com)

Shooters should have a basic understanding of ISSF Sport Pistol and/or ISSF Standard Pistol rules, match structure, commands, safety expectations, and competition etiquette.

When reaching out, you can let Ed know Danny sent you, but please make sure you are contacting him for the actual match and not just asking how to get the exemption.

Additional match dates are tentatively planned for July 25–26 and August 22–23, depending on participation and interest.

No prizes — just a good opportunity to compete, get experience, and work toward the Olympic exemption pathway.

Here's my previous post on what I obtained through the exemption
https://www.reddit.com/r/canadaguns/comments/1t5h8r1/picked_these_up_yesterday_cant_wait_to_try_them/

[u/K0bra_Ka1]

If you already have handguns are their restrictions on calibre?

[u/Hisoka365 → u/K0bra_Ka1]

Yes, from what I know it's just 22lr. I think you can get different ones but it's going to be difficult. Only olympic calibres are allowed.

[u/K0bra_Ka1 → u/Hisoka365]

Sorry I meant for the competition. Makes sense that it would only be .22 if that is what the exemption is for.

[u/Hisoka365 → u/K0bra_Ka1]

Sorry I misread your previous message.

For ISSF 25m Centre-Fire Pistol, the allowed calibres are:

7.62 mm to 9.65 mm, which ISSF describes as approximately .30 to .38 calibre. The pistol can be a centre-fire pistol or revolver, but not single-shot

Calibre / cartridge	Allowed?	Notes
.32 S&W Long Wadcutter	Yes	Very common for ISSF Centre-Fire; low recoil, accurate.
.32 ACP	Usually yes by calibre	Less common than .32 S&W Long for dedicated match pistols.
.38 Special Wadcutter	Yes	Common in revolvers; good target cartridge.
9mm Luger	Yes by calibre	9.01 mm is within the range, but less ideal due to recoil and scoring/precision compared with .32 WC.
.357 Magnum	Calibre fits	Usually not ideal; recoil/blast are unnecessary for ISSF.
.45 ACP	No	Too large: 11.43 mm exceeds 9.65 mm.
.22 LR	No for Centre-Fire	Rimfire; used for Standard/Sport Pistol, not Centre-Fire.

Remember, these are to be shot with 1 hand, so a .357 mag isn't ideal lol

If in doubt, it's best to email Ed ([arnpriordrra@gmail.com](mailto:arnpriordrra@gmail.com)) about this as he is coordinating the competition and has extensive knowledge on the rules of what is and isn't allowed.

[u/K0bra_Ka1 → u/Hisoka365]

You're gonna make me rejoin the RA if you guys get matches up and running. I've been itching to get some more .22 handguns.

[u/Hisoka365 → u/K0bra_Ka1]

One of us, one of us , one of us!! 🤣

[u/K0bra_Ka1 → u/Hisoka365]

Honestly my biggest complaint is that pistol was only ever at 20 meters. I understand why they don't, but shooting at 10 would be so much more approachable to newer shooters.

[u/Hisoka365 → u/K0bra_Ka1]

We do have a shooting stand that we can bring out for newer shooters but that gets beaten up pretty bad.

For competition yeah 20-25 yards is far also it's only iron sights and the tips must be black and not painted a bright colour lol

[u/kookiemaster → u/Hisoka365]

Some of the backing is so dead ... you're scrambling to find material to pin your target to lmao.