Zielschuss

Zielschuss is a German noun formed from Ziel (target, aim) and Schuss (shot). In general usage it denotes a direct, aimed shot at a visible target. The term is most commonly encountered in hunting, sport shooting, and historical writings on marksmanship, rather than as a formal technical term in contemporary ballistics.

In hunting and target shooting, a Zielschuss describes taking a shot that is deliberately aligned with the target through properly sighted and stable aiming, with attention to breath control, trigger discipline, and distance estimation. It implies a single, precise shot intended to hit the target with minimal deviation, as opposed to rapid or indiscriminate fire. The concept also encompasses considerations of safety, backstop, and humane harvest in hunting contexts.

Historically, Zielschuss appears in military and civilian manuals that describe ordered, aimed fire at targets during training or competitions. In those texts, it is contrasted with improvised or volley fire and with non-aimed actions.

Today the term is less common in technical firearms literature and is often used mainly in German-language sources or in discussions of historical marksmanship. When translated, it is commonly rendered as “aimed shot” or “targeted shot,” underscoring the emphasis on direct alignment with the target rather than on rapid fire.