Rules

These events are to be safe and fun. They are designed to promote the fun of shooting for all members of the family in a safe environment.

Competition is open to all safe and responsible individuals who can legally own or handle a firearm. Competitors may compete in more than one class if it can be accomplished in a safe and timely manner.

All stages should be designed with safety in mind. Courses of fire should not be "mind games" or designed to trick competitors into making mistakes or being unsafe. All actions on the range, from prop construction and target placement to competitor movement must be carefully designed and considered with safety in mind.

Safety: Always follow the basic rules of firearm safety:
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Always be sure of your target.
ALL COMPETITORS, RANGE WORKERS AND SPECTATORS ARE REQUIRED TO USE EYE AND EAR PROTECTION.

Firearms

All competitors will be scored as either rifles or pistols. Rifles are defined as having a rifled bore with a barrel length greater than 16" and a buttstock. Pistols are defined as having a rifled bore with a barrel length less than 16" and not having a buttstock. Both rifles and pistols will be scored in the following divisions.

Divisions:

Optic: Any firearm (pistol, revolver, or rifle) with scopes, optical sights, light gathering scopes, battery powered optics, or lasers.

Iron: Firearms with iron sights. Adjustable sights or fiber optics are allowed but no electronic sights.

MANUALLY OPERATED Optic: Rifle or pistol must be manually operated bolt action, lever action, slide or pump action, double-action or single-action revolvers. All firearms with scopes, optical sights, light gathering scopes, battery powered optics, or lasers.

MANUALLY OPERATED Iron: Rifle or pistol must be manually operated bolt action, lever action, slide or pump action, double-action or single-action revolvers. Firearms with iron sights. Adjustable sights or fiber optics are allowed but no electronic sights.

Tube Fed Optics: Rifle or pistol that is fed by a tubular magazine. This class allows the shooter to load to maximum magazine capacity in excess of 10 rounds. These firearms can also be shot in the other divisions, but their magazine capacity would be limited to ten rounds. All firearms with scopes, optical sights, light gathering scopes, battery powered optics, or lasers.

Tube Fed Iron: Rifle or pistol that is fed by a tubular magazine. This class allows the shooter to load to maximum magazine capacity in excess of 10 rounds. These firearms can also be shot in the other divisions, but their magazine capacity would be limited to ten rounds. Firearms with iron sights. Adjustable sights or fiber optics are allowed but no electronic sights.

+10 Detachable Magazine Optics: Any rifle or pistol with a detachable magazine with capacity greater than 10 rounds with scopes, optical sights, light gathering scopes, battery powered optics, or lasers.

+10 Detachable Magazine Irons: Any rifle or pistol with a detachable magazine with capacity greater than 10 rounds with iron sights. Adjustable sights or fiber optics are allowed but no electronic sights.

Equipment

Firearms by any manufacturer that meet the division criteria may be used in the events. All firearms are to safely use .22 Long Rifle ammunition. Any commercially available .22 LR ammunition will be considered suitable for competition.

No full auto firearms are allowed.

Competitors are responsible to ensure that any and all equipment that they bring to the match is fully in compliance with all laws in the jurisdiction where the match is being held. Competitors are solely and personally responsible for the safety of any and all equipment and ammunition they bring to the match. Magazines will be loaded with 10 rounds maximum unless shooting in the Tube Fed or +10 Detachable Magazine Divisions . Competitors may start with a round loaded from the 10 round magazine in the chamber.

Personnel

The Match Director will be the final decision maker to settle all controversies after consultation with involved parties (Safety Officer and Competitor).

The Match Director will also determine qualification of all Safety Officers. It is suggested that all Safety Officers be recognized by one of the many national organizations sanctioning Safety/Range Officers.

Course Guidelines

All courses of fire should be designed to be shot with one ten-round magazine and not require a reload.

Course Design

Matches must be designed, constructed and conducted with consideration to safety. Match director reserves the right to modify courses of fire deemed unsafe or not reflecting the intent of the competition.

Shooting boxes may be used. Course of fire may specify where or when specific target arrays may be engaged. A course of fire may dictate a shooting position or stance.

Safe Angles of Fire - Courses of fire must always be constructed with safe angles of fire. Consideration must be given to safe target and frame construction and the angle of any possible ricochet.

Minimum Distances - Whenever metal targets or target frames are used, a minimum distance of 20 feet must be maintained. Competitors must not be forced to act in any manner, which might cause an unsafe action. Targets must be arranged so that shooting at them will not cause competitors to breach safe angles of fire.

Written courses of fire should include the following information:
- Scoring Method
- Targets (type & number)
- Minimum number of rounds
- Start position
- Time starts: audible or visual signal
- Procedure

Handling of Firearms and Ammunition

Firearms are only to be handled when in a designated safety area or when under the supervision of, and in response to a direct command issued by, a Safety Officer. There will be no loaded firearms on the range other than those loaded at the direction of a Safety Officer in order to complete a course of fire.

Firearm will be loaded and unloaded only on the line under direction of a Safety Officer.

During Competition

When loading, reloading, or unloading during a course of fire, the competitor's fingers must be visibly outside the trigger guard and the firearm must be pointed safely down range or in another safe direction authorized by a Range Officer.

Keep the finger outside the trigger guard while clearing a malfunction.

Shooter will start with firearm in hand(s) ready to fire with safety disengaged and finger off trigger with firearm pointed at the start cone.

Any competitor that experiences a target malfunction or a range problem during or a course of fire will be allowed to re-shoot once the problem is resolved. (This is not a firearm/ammo malfunction)

A firearm/ammo related malfunction will not result in a reshoot.

Failure to comply with Range Officer commands will result in a warning. Two warnings of any kind on a single stage will result in a match disqualification.

An unintentional discharge which travels over a backstop, berm, or in any other direction specified in the written stage briefing by the match organizers as being unsafe results in a match disqualification.

If at any time during the course of fire, a Competitor allows the muzzle of the firearm to point rearward, that is to break the "180" as defined by the Safety Officer, the Competitor must be stopped immediately. Such an action will result in a match disqualification.

If at any time during the course of fire, or while loading, reloading or unloading, a Competitor drops a firearm or causes it to fall, loaded or not, it is to be retrieved only by the Safety Officer. Dropped firearms must always be retrieved by a Safety Officer who will, after checking and/or clearing the firearm, place it directly into the Competitor's gun case or gun bag. Dropping an unloaded firearm or causing it to fall outside of a course of fire is not an infraction, however, a Competitor who retrieves a dropped firearm will receive a match disqualification. Dropping a loaded gun will result in a match disqualification.

Allowing the muzzle of a firearm to point at any part of the Competitor's body during a course of fire (i.e. sweeping) will result in a warning. Two times on a stage would incur a match disqualification.

Firearms are to be bagged when course of fire is completed and Safety Officer has certified firearm is unloaded and safe. Safety Officers are encouraged to assist the Competitor. Safety Officers may tell a competitor a gun is not loaded or the safety is on. Safety officers may assist a shooter at the shooters request. (Remember we are here to insure a positive experience for new shooters)

Competitors confined to wheelchairs or similar devices may be given special dispensation by the Range Master in respect of mobility assistance.

In the event that inadvertent contact from the Range Officer or another external influence has interfered with the competitor during a course of fire, the Range Officer may offer the competitor a reshoot of the course of fire. The competitor must accept or decline the offer prior to seeing either the time or the score from the initial attempt.

Range Commands

The approved range commands and their sequence are as follows:

  • "Shooter Make Ready" - This command signifies the start of "the Course of Fire". Under the direct supervision of the Range Officer the competitor must face down range, or in a safe direction as specified by the Range Officer, fit eye and ear protection, and prepare the firearm in accordance with the written stage briefing. The competitor must then assume the required start position. At this point, the Range Officer will proceed. A Competitor is permitted to take a sight picture with an unloaded firearm once given the command to "make ready". The competitor will then load the firearm.

    Once the "Shooter Make Ready" command has been given, the competitor must not move away from the start location prior to issuance of the "Start Signal" without the prior approval, and under the direct supervision, of the Range Officer.

  • "Shooter Ready?" - The lack of any negative response from the competitor indicates that he fully understands the requirements of the course of fire and is ready to proceed. If the competitor is not ready at the "Shooter Ready?" command, he must state "Not Ready". It is suggested that when the competitor is ready he should assume the required start position to indicate his readiness to the Range Officer.
  • "Standby" - This command should be followed by the start signal within 1 to 4 seconds.
  • Start Signal - The signal for the competitor to begin their attempt at the course of fire. If a competitor fails to react to a start signal, for any reason, the Range Officer will confirm that the competitor is ready to attempt the course of fire, and will resume the range commands from "Shooter Ready?".
  • "Stop" - Any Range Officer assigned to a stage may issue this command at any time during the course of fire. The competitor must immediately cease firing, stop moving and wait for further instructions from the Range Officer.

    Range Officials may issue other interim commands on completion of the first string, in order to prepare the competitor for the second and subsequent strings. (e.g. "Reload for the Next String").
  • "If You Are Finished, Unload And Show Clear" - If the competitor has finished shooting, he must lower his handgun and present it for inspection by the Range Officer with the muzzle pointed down range, magazine removed, slide locked or held open, and chamber empty. Revolvers must be presented with the cylinder swung out and empty.
  • "If Clear, Hammer Down, and Bag Firearm" - After issuance of this command, the competitor is prohibited from firing. While continuing to point the firearm safely downrange, the competitor must perform a final safety check of the firearm as follows:
    -Self-loaders - release the slide and pull the trigger (without touching the hammer or decocker, if any). If the firearm has a magazine disconnect it should be bagged with the slide locked back. If the shooter chooses, he or she may leave the firearm at slidelock.
    -Revolvers - close the empty cylinder (without touching the hammer, if any).
    -If the gun proves to be clear, the competitor must bag the firearm.
    -If the gun does not prove to be clear, the Range Officer will resume the commands from "Unload and Show Clear."
  • "Range Is Clear" - This declaration signifies the end of the Course of fire. Once the declaration is made, officials and competitors may move forward to score, paint, reset targets etc.

    Scoring

    Score is total time plus penalties. Each target engaged but missed will incur a ten (10) second penalty. Each target not engaged will incur a (15) second penalty. Unless otherwise specified in a course of fire, all steel targets must fall. Clay targets must fall or have a .22 caliber sized hole or chip in them.

    Additional scoring rules can be created, but must be specified in the course of fire.

    Competitor Conduct

    Competitors will be disqualified from a match for conduct which a Safety Officer deems to be unsportsmanlike. Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to, cheating, dishonesty, failing to comply with the reasonable directions of a Match Official, or any behavior likely to bring the sport into disrepute. The Match Director must be notified of any such conduct as soon as possible.

    Other persons (non-competitor) may be expelled from the range for conduct which a Safety Officer deems to be unacceptable. Examples of unacceptable conduct include, but are not limited to, failing to comply with the reasonable directions of a Match Official, interference with the operation of a course of fire and/or a Competitor's attempt thereof, and any other behavior impacting the safe management of the match.

    All persons are required to be in complete control both mentally and physically during matches. Safe performance by Competitors and officials at matches must not be affected by drugs (including alcohol) of any sort during matches. Any person who, in the opinion of the Match Director, is visibly under the influence of any substance and not able to function safely will be disqualified from the match and may be required to leave the range.

    Disputes
    All disputes are to be settled by the Safety Officer on the range where the issue has become evident before the squad moves on. If necessary, the Match Director may be consulted. The decision is immediate and final.

    Safety Areas
    Safety areas must be provided where Competitors can clean and check firearms. No ammunition, or magazine containing ammunition, is to be handled in a safety area. The word "handling" does not preclude Competitors from entering a Safety Area with ammunition in magazines or speed loading devices on their belt, in their pockets or in their range bag, provided the Competitor does not physically remove the loaded magazines or loaded speed loading devices from their retaining or storage device while within the Safety Area.

    Handling live ammunition, loaded magazines or loaded speed loading devices in a Safety Area, will result in a match disqualification.