The event was won by Uwe Potteck, with East Germany finishing 1–2 as Harald Vollmar took silver.

Vollmar (the 1968 bronze winner) and Dollinger were the fifth and sixth men to win multiple medals in the free pistol.

Potteck had only begun the sport 23 months prior to his victory and his previous personal best in domestic competitions was a 568.

Reigning (1974) world champion Georgi Zapolski was not on the Soviet Olympic team, but runner-up Ivan Nemethy of Czechoslovakia and third-place finisher Harald Vollmar (who had won in 1970) were competing in Montreal.

The United States made its 13th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the 1900 event.