Forget everything you've learned about guns from Call of Duty or big-budget action movies. For the purest expression of the form and function of firearms, tune into the 2012 Summer Games.

Shooting sports have been a part of the Games since Baron Pierre de Coubertin brought us the first modern Olympiad in 1896. It was one of nine events at the first Games, and the inclusion was due in no small part to the fact the French aristocrat was a former pistol champ. Still, competitive gunplay proved popular, the number of events steadily grew and shooting sports have been contested in every Olympiad but the 1904 and 1928 Games. By 2008, shooting events like double trap drew more athletes than all but swimming and athletics.

The number of events has grown alongside advancements in technology, and 15 events are slated for London. As you’d imagine, the United States dominates the sport, with more than 100 medals since the first modern Games. But China, Russia and Italy have consistently strong teams. You’ll definitely see them in the medal hunt in London.

An Olympian takes a shot during 50 meter "free pistol" practice at the Beijing Shooting Range during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Note the blinder, worn by many shooters. Photo courtesy London 2012

The firearms you'll see athletes firing in London are as fetishistically focused as any inanimate object can be. The pistol, rifle, and shotgun events are governed by the International Shooting Sports Federation's thick rulebook, and the construction and calibration of these precise firearms is regulated by strict guidelines and staggering amounts of minutia that dictate everything from trigger pull weight and barrel construction to thumb rest ergonomics and ammunition specs.

The wildest firearms are the least restricted. In "Free Pistol," the unofficial term for the 50-meter pistol event, .22-caliber handguns are bound by the loosest of requirements and look the part. The rulebook requires only that the firearms are safe to shoot and incorporate an open iron sight (no scopes or lasers) and a grip that doesn't extend beyond the wrist. Subsequently, these hot rod handguns tend to feature long, thin barrels (for accuracy and low weight), and a strangely stripped-down, almost steampunk look. They fire .22-caliber long rifle ammo.

Japan's Tomoyuki Matsuda trains with an air pistol at the Royal Artillery Barracks in London ahead of the 2012 Summer Games. Photo: London 2012

Valerian Sauveplane of France, 50m Rifle 3 Positions final, Beijing. Photo courtesy London 2012

Air-powered rifles and pistols lack the aural impact of a .22, but they demand exceptional accuracy. Competitors fire at 10-ring targets from 10 meters. To land a bullseye at that distance, a tiny .177-caliber lead projectile must hit a circle the size of the period at the end of this sentence. The emphasis here is on extreme precision: Serious contenders miss the bullseye once or twice out of every 60 shots, and the relatively recoil-free nature of the firearms put more pressure on the shooter's steadiness and the integrity of the tiny pellet, as the slightest distortion of its shape will affect its aerodynamic profile, and subsequently, its path.

The air rifles and pistols tend to use pressurized air to propel the pellet, which is sometimes referred to as SCUBA drive, since it relies on atmospheric air rather than compressed carbon dioxide. CO 2 is rarely used, as temperature fluctuations can affect the accuracy of the shot. (Ed. note: a commenter notes that air is used for other reasons. "Many European nations strictly regulate the release of CO2, including from airguns, and that got in the way of purchase and use of CO2 airguns and filling gas," commenter Wanlance Yates notes. "In addition, CO2 is more complex to obtain and use when filling the gas cylinders, whereas SCUBA pressure air is commonly available from dive shops (and is less regulated). There are even hand pumps that can be used to fill the air cylinders, although this requires more time and effort, and most airgun shooters just get a SCUBA tank to use for their refills.")

Highly specialized accessories accompany air-powered competition, with rules dictating virtually every article of clothing, down to the underwear. For maximum steadiness, competitors climb into stiff leather suits not unlike motorcycle gear for additional support. Wide-soled shoes enable a steadier stance, and some events involve padded rolls for ankle support when a kneeling posture is required. To prevent eyestrain and squinting, small blinds can be attached to the firearm or headgear — a quirky detail that all but removes the cool factor from this admittedly cerebral sport.

Apart from their custom built stocks, shotguns used in Olympic level skeet and trap competitions resemble standard-issue hunting implements. But virtually everything about them is customized for competition.

A skeet shotgun in action. Photo: London 2012

For example, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Richmond, who is expected to challenge Britain’s Peter Wilson for the gold in double trap, prefers a larger stock dimension and bore to fit his lanky frame. The shotguns's 32-inch barrel has a 25mm rib, which enables a higher stance and increased visibility beneath so targets can be spotted as they emerge. You’ll drop anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000 on a competition shotgun, though a lot of the extra dough buys you things like “gold engravings and things of that nature,” Richmond says.

“You’re talking $3,000 for your Ford pickup or $100,000 for your Mercedes,” said Richmond, whose shotgun cost $10,000.

Maintenance is key. Although the cleaning procedure and other routine care are the same, the rigors of competition require doing it a lot more frequently. Richmond fires as many as 300 shells a day, five days a week when training, so his shotgun is rebuilt regularly.

Though shooting competitions demand remarkably refined firearms and tremendous physical coordination, it's a sport where mental acuity can trump a svelte body mass index or extreme physical fitness. Richmond says elite marksmanship is “95 percent mental and 5 percent physical.”

"Shooting is similar to the golf stroke," said Kevin Neuendorf, a spokesman for USA Shooting. "It's a mastery of precision, a comfort level with that precision, and controlling every element of that precision to shoot the exact same way, time and time again."