It is certain that soon after the first of the Diana, FWB and Walther pistols hit the market, a formal type of competition was developed to take advantage of their incredible accuracy and precision. Although initially contests were fired at a variety of distances, soon the 10 meter standard we all use today was confirmed. The targets developed as well, and with each new edition the scoring rings became smaller. What we have today is a target such as this:

The outside scoring ring has a diameter of 16.5 centimeters ( 6 1/8" ). The 10 ring has a diameter of just 1.15 centimeters
( 7/16" ). That doesn't leave much room for error now does it! Inside of the 10 ring is a still smaller X ring with a mere 5.2 mm diameter. It is possible to shoot a pellet so perfectly on center, that you punch out this ring and leave the white visible around the hole. I know because I have done it, but only twice in five years!

Some major changes have taken place in just the last two decades. In 1980, the UIT changed the men's competition from a 40 to a 60 Shot format. Women's competition stayed at 40 shots and has remained there since. Also in 1980 the firing of sighter shots was changed, allowing unlimited shots - but all had to be taken before the first shot for record. Before this change a maximum of 15 sighters could be fired, but they could be taken before or after any ten shot string during the match. These were accounted for on the two sighting targets each competitor was given. Now, according to UIT rules, a ten minute preparation period takes place before the match starts, and this prep period is broken into two parts - three minutes of general equipment preparation where you may not handle the gun, followed by seven minutes during which you may dry fire, etc. The length of time a competitor has during a match has been shortened from two hours, to just one hour and forty-five minutes including sighter shots. The X count is no longer used as a major scoring component. I believe that it is used as the third tie breaker, behind number of tens, and the last ten shot string's score.

One of the best developments in 10 meter competition came in 1986 with the advent of "finals". This is currently used in all major matches worldwide. The method is this: After the 60 shot match is complete, the top 8 competitors are placed in the order they finished the 60 shot match on the line - first place on position #1, second on #2, etc. They then begin a 10 shot final shoot-off. In this finals, the competitors have a 75 second time limit to fire each shot. After the last competitor has fired shot number 1, the targets are scored, and the score is given. The competitors then shoot shot number 2, after which the scoring is again done, and so on through all 10 shots. The scoring of each shot is given a numerical value to the tenth of a point. The lowest possible shot for score would be a 1.0 with the pellet just touching the outside of the lowest value scoring ring. The highest value shot would be a 10.9, or a perfect center shot. This 10.9 maximum value rule has been in place since 1989 when the 11.0 value was dropped by .1 of a point. The maximum score now possible is 709.0 with the 10 shot finals included. That would be sixty consecutive tens, followed by ten consecutive 10.9 shots. I can honestly say that I feel this will never happen. If it does, well ... we can make the target smaller still I guess?! To further illustrate this scoring method, here are a few samples of shots and how they would be scored.