A starting pistol or starter pistol is a blank handgun[1] or, more recently, an electronic toy gun or device with a button connected to a sound system that is fired to start track and field races as well as some competitive swimming races.
Traditional starter guns cannot fire real ammunition without first being extensively modified: Blank shells or caps are used to prevent expelling projectiles,[1] and only a small amount of smoke can be seen when shot.
To avoid this problem, the pistol is in all major competitions wired with a microphone that transmits the sound virtually instantaneously to loudspeakers directly behind each competitor.
When the starter presses the button, they emit a signal to play a simulated gunshot that is broadcast to loudspeakers behind each lane, show a flash from the gun, and start the timing clock.
[6] Beside sporting events, starter pistols are also used in films and in TV, stage shows, and to record impulse responses.