[1] The maximum number of shooters per nation was reduced to 2, from 3 in previous Games.

Silver went to Ángel León Gozalo of Spain and bronze to Ambrus Balogh of Hungary; they were the first medals in the free pistol for both nations.

This was the eighth appearance of the ISSF 50 meter pistol event.

Bulgaria, Egypt, Guatemala, Mexico, the Soviet Union, Venezuela, and Yugoslavia each made their debut in the event.

Greece and the United States each made their seventh appearance, tied for most of any nation.