Hmm...

Why does this not surprise me? Considering how women are treated as second-class human beings even in some first-world nations. And how they are treated as chattel in most Islamic and third-world nations.

Very interesting indeed.

Though I am sure the original decision had nothing to do with equality, you could almost argue that women have an inherent advantage in target shooting, generally being of calmer demeanor and physical characteristics more designed for delicate tasks, like steady manipulation of a light trigger.

You could almost say this move was a preemptive move against what was expected to be a disparity in physical characteristics, much like how we have the separation in other sports the other way. Maybe the first instance of men recognizing mans potential inferiority in a sport, and a decision to protect the men in the sport from being dominated by women.

Of course, it was probably a swift knee-jerk reaction decided by cowardly men afraid of women beating them in a sport. I'd like to think it was my first explanation... but yea...

Women should be able to compete in any sport that is not based on size and strength. Women and men have complementary strengths. I read somewhere men make better combat pilots but women make better commercial airline pilots, not sure if it's true but it seems likely to me.

Basically, the difference between the men's and the woman's is the weight class. I do not have the latest rules but the Men free rifle can weigh 8 kilograms or 17.6lbs. The women's is called a sport rifle and can weigh 6.5 kilograms or 14.3 lbs. Each is including all accessories. Recently I came across a woman that competes IASU and was shooting a Anschutz 2013 which she said was 13 lbs striped. The rules might have changed but usually women shot a slight lighter rifle.