Air rifles / pistols are low velocity (< 600 fps) and the projectiles are low mass. They are stable and accurate at 10m or less but beyond that you need more mass or velocity to maintain accuracy. .22 long rifle target rounds are still subsonic but have considerable more mass. They are accurate for much longer distances.

As for accuracy you could use eith>Why is that? Are they worried about the CO2 cartridges leaking from the temperature?

er for hitting targets beyond olympic ranges quite easily but consistently getting round after round through the same hole becomes more chance than skill.

Higher power rifle rounds are accurate out to 1 mile in the right hands. Of course the rifles are custom made and the ammunition is developed over months with various different brass, primers, bullets, powders, powder weights, bullet weights, neck tension, overall case length etc. The last record I think was 4.5" for 5 rounds at 1600 yards. A coffee cup saucer at a mile.

Air rifles and .22 are a whole lot cheaper to shoot thousands of rounds than custom ammo costing over a buck a round.

Also it's a whole lot less risky to shoot low velocity weapons in competition vs high power. Especially with an audience.

The PreChargedPneumatic (PCP) airguns are fantastically accurate. The 10 ring is barely larger than the pellet they shoot for 10m. The target area is under 2 inches iirc.