Sacramento Valley Steel Shooters
Match Rules
General Match Information
Divisions
Handgun Caliber
Holsters
Ammunition
Targets
Scoring
Foot Fault
Movement
Starting Commands
Hand Position
Safety Rules
Safety Violations
Penalties
GENERAL MATCH INFORMATION
All targets are painted white and will be re-painted prior to each contestant’s first run on each course of fire.
Should a tie for 1st place of any stage occur, the fastest single run of that particular stage will be used as the tie breaker. If still needed, the second and third run will be used as the tie breaker.
Should a tie for Overall placing occur, a pre-designated stage score will be used as the tie breaker.
The same gun, holster and holster position must be used throughout the match. IF there is a mechanical problem, equipment of similar make or model may be used as a replacement. If said guns or holsters are entered in a Division event, the same guidelines, conditions or restrictions must apply. If these guidelines cannot be met with the replacement gun or holster, the contestant will not be eligible for awards in their Division.
Should a malfunction or breakage occur, the string of fire will be scored and competitor given the chance to retire for repairs or replacement of the equipment before resuming the course of fire. There are no alibi's or re-shoots for malfunction or breakage.
Contestants are to go to the line prepared with the appropriate number of magazines, or speed loaders and needed ammunition, to avoid causing unnecessary delays. A contestant may have an assistant to help them in reloading if desired.
When a contestant has finished, the Range Officer will call the next contestant to the line. Practice drawing or sighting must be held to a minimum and will not be allowed after the first string of fire. Thirty (30) seconds will be the standard for making ready for each additional string of fire. If the contestant is not prepared in a timely fashion, the Range Officer will announce, "Make Ready Now". The contestant then has ten (10) seconds to make ready and notify the Range Officer upon having done so. If the contestant has not notified the Range Officer of their readiness at the 10 second mark, the Range Officer will begin the verbal Start Commands. If the contestant does not engage the course of fire when the audible start signal sounds, they will be given a maximum time for that string of fire.
Eye and ear protection for all shooters and spectators are required. Individuals observed without eye or ear wear will be required to leave the shooting area.
Competitors may fire as many rounds as they deem necessary for each string of fire.
Please understand that we need to establish a balance between the competitor’s need to ready themselves and the amount of time available in each day. Your cooperation will be appreciated by the Match Staff and the other competitors.
All final decisions will be made by the Match Director.
DIVISIONS
A competitor may compete in any two of the following divisions:
Open
Division
Limited Division
IDPA Division
Cowboy Division
Iron Sight Revolver Division
.22 Division (May include optics)
HANDGUN CALIBER
Center fire handguns only with the minimum caliber being 9mm/.38 special. Firearms shall be suitable for holster use. The .22 division will use only .22 long rifle ammunition.
HOLSTERS
Holsters shall be mounted in the general vicinity of the waist. Holsters must retain the gun. Triggers may not be fully exposed with any holster. Holsters are not required for the .22 division. For the IDPA division the holster must conform to IDPA rules for type and location of the holster on the waist.
AMMUNITION
There will be no multiple projectile or magnum loads allowed. Any ammunition which leaves impressions in the plates will be considered unsafe ammunition.
TARGETS
Targets are variable in size, but are either 10" or 12" circles and 18" x 24" rectangles, which are made of at least T-1 steel. Targets should be angled towards the shooter so the flat surface faces the competitor to avoid ricochets.
SCORING
Your time is your score. Each of four targets must be hit during each string of fire and a designated stop plate will be hit last to stop the time. The best four out of five runs will be counted as the total score for each stage, unless otherwise noted. Any hits made after the maximum time allowance will not be counted. All shots fired at primary targets after the stop plate has been struck, will be scored with a 3 second penalty each. The maximum time allowed for each individual run is 30 seconds. The competitor will be stopped and asked to reload if they reach the 30 second limit. Three (3) second procedural penalties will be given for creeping or jumping before the start signal, foot faults, shooting at the wrong targets from the designated boxes, and incorrect or non movement.
It is the responsibility of the competitors to check their scores as written on their score cards and to sign their score cards when finished shooting. Any questions concerning the score card should then be asked of the Range Officials. If still needed, a Match Director will then be summoned.
FOOT FAULT
A foot fault will be described as when shots are fired while any part of the body (foot) is touching down outside of the shooting boxes. Clarification: A competitor may not support any weight down "outside" (on the ground) of the shooting box while shooting, but foot pressure on the raised shooting box will not be penalized.
MOVEMENT
USPSA rules will apply for shots fired while moving into the second shooting box in stages with more than one shooting box. If the contestant fires and leaves Box A and then realizes they missed and/or hit the targets out of sequence and then return to Box A and continues to shoot, there will be no procedural penalty. (Keep the muzzle down range while returning to Box A) Any target(s) struck in the incorrect order (A vs. B) will be judged as a miss. If any shots are fired after having begun to move forward out of the box, there WILL be a procedural penalty. Upon reaching Box B, the contestant may begin to fire when one foot is in the box and the trailing foot is either in the box or in the air. Remember, if targets are engaged out of order without corrective shots being taken, there will be a procedural penalty, plus a miss scored on each target struck out of turn.
STARTING COMMANDS
The audible timer start will be preceded by the commands "Load and make ready." After a short time is taken, the shooter shall indicate that he or she is ready. The commands will be "Shooter ready? - Stand by." There will then be a hesitation of one half to one and one half seconds before the start signal will sound. Creeping or jumping is expressly prohibited! Hands must remain motionless after the "Stand by" command. A 3 second penalty WILL BE ASSESSED for creeping, premature start, hand movement or bouncing of any kind.
HAND POSITION
Hands are to be held in the "Surrender Position", which is shoulder high, with the wrists and full hand visible from behind. The Range Officer will stop the count down and give one warning and one warning ONLY if they see that the competitor is setting up too low or starting to creep or "bounce". Failure to comply will result in a three second penalty for each occurrence.
For the .22 division the start position will be with the firearm at a 45 degree angle to the ground with both elbows touching the competitors body.
SAFETY RULES
The range is cold! Handguns will not be loaded except as directed by Match Officials. Semi-autos will have an empty magazine well, and all chambers and revolver cylinders will be kept empty.
During loading or unloading, engaging the course of fire and during remedial action in the event of a malfunction, the muzzle of the handgun must ALWAYS be kept pointed down range. If the limit line (180 degrees of the shooter box) is violated with a loaded gun, the contestant will be asked to unload and will be disqualified from the entire match.
After a string of fire, no contestant may leave their position until the firearm has been unloaded, inspected and cleared by the Range Officer. The firearm will then be holstered or placed in a protective sheath or bag.
In the event a firearm cannot be unloaded due to a broken or failed mechanism, the shooter will notify the Range Officer. In no case, will a contestant leave the line with a loaded weapon.
During the contest, contestants will refrain from handling their firearms, except when instructed by a match official or in designated areas.
Should a firearm be dropped during a course of fire, the contestant will not pick up the firearm, but allow the match official to do so. The match official will then unload and inspect the firearm.
SAFETY VIOLATIONS
The following violations shall result in automatic disqualification from the tournament:
1.
Pointing an Unloaded
pistol up range (break the 180 degree line).
2. Dropping
a loaded firearm.
3. Leaving
the line with a loaded pistol.
4. Any
grossly uncontrolled shot or accidental discharge.
5. Picking
up a dropped firearm without the direction of a match official.
6. Any
shot fired into the holster or into the ground within six feet of
the contestant.
7. Unsafe
handling of a loaded firearm.
8. Contestants
under the influence of a controlled substance. (Alcohol or drugs)
9. Any
behavior or action in violation of sportsmanship codes, or that which directly
and/or adversely affects the performance of another competitor.
PENALTIES
Three
second penalties will be given for procedural violations, premature starts,
creeping, missed targets and foot faults where applicable.