The men's ISSF 50 meter pistol competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held on 17 August at the Markópoulo Olympic Shooting Centre near Athens, Greece.

[2] Russia's Mikhail Nestruyev, after winning air pistol silver medal, took gold in the event with a total of 663.3, just two points adrift of South Korea's Jin Jong-oh, who left only with the silver on 661.5.

[3][4] Meanwhile, North Korean shooter Kim Jong-su fired a total of 657.7 points to steadily round out the podium with a bronze.

Tan Zongliang of China was the reigning (2002) world champion, with Tenk the runner-up.

The United States made its 19th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the 1900 event and the boycotted 1980 Games.

To compete, a shooter needed a quota spot and to achieve a Minimum Qualification Score (MQS).