the changes are slow to reach the shooting line

[Rune Kanstad]

IIRC, the two Soviet examples were not "immediately outlawed". They were simply in violation of rules that already existed. And most of the time, the rules are there to ensure that everyone competes on equal terms.

[rmca]

IIRC, the two Soviet examples were not "immediately outlawed". They were simply in violation of rules that already existed. And most of the time, the rules are there to ensure that everyone competes on equal terms.

No, the rules were added after the pistols made their debut in competition.
Both in free pistol and rapid fire.
Otherwise the athletes wouldn't be allowed to compete.

[Rune Kanstad]

I stand corrected!

[SlartyBartFast]

IIRC, the two Soviet examples were not "immediately outlawed". They were simply in violation of rules that already existed. And most of the time, the rules are there to ensure that everyone competes on equal terms.

No, the rules were added after the pistols made their debut in competition.
Both in free pistol and rapid fire.
Otherwise the athletes wouldn't be allowed to compete.

Competition and sport rests entirely on a set of often random and arbitrary rules that defines the field of competition.

So Rune Kanstad is perfectly correct about "ensure that everyone competes on equal terms".

Optics make shooting easier and more precise. So can you argue that denying aperture sights is denying progress and not then use the same argument to allow optics?

The triggers in the off-hand isn't denying progress. The Soviets manged to identify an advantage that was not covered by the rules. They benefited from their out-of-the-box thinking. The officials then decided to re-level the playing field.

Competition and sport is for the most part placing challenges in front of competitors to overcome. Many advancements in F1 have been outlawed. And many rules make the cars slower and more difficult to drive. Why? To challenge the drivers, maintain the competition, control the influence of money and equipment.

[DPerdue]

Here's another photo of Moritz Minder at the 42nd WSC in 1978: