Rules
(continued)
(page 2)
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16.
Although cross-draw holsters are legal, they represent a significant safety
concern. Cross-draws may not depart from the vertical by more than 30 degrees.
Extreme care must be exercised when drawing a firearm from a cross-draw holster
or returning the firearm to leather. Users must twist their bodies to ensure the
muzzle never breaks the 170-degree safety rule during the process. Failure to
ensure the muzzle is always down range is grounds for an immediate stage
disqualification. A second infraction during the same match is grounds for match
disqualification. (Note: the 170-degree safety rule means the muzzle of the
firearm must always be straight down range +/- 85 degrees. If a competitor even
comes close to breaking the 180-degree safety plane, the 170-degree safety rule
has been violated, and the competitor is at fault.)
17.
Holsters must be located on each side of the belly button and separated by at
least the width of two fists.
18.
No cocked revolver may ever leave a shooter's hand.
19.
When changing location during a stage, all firearms being carried must either
have the hammer down on an empty chamber or spent case, or have the action open.
20.
Shooters are expected to perform within their capabilities at all times, with
particular concern about controlling the muzzle direction of the firearms being
used. The shooter must never violate the "170-degree safety rule."
21.
A dropped unloaded gun will result in the shooter's disqualification from the
stage. A dropped loaded gun will result in the shooters disqualification from
the match. A "juggled" unloaded gun that breaks the 170-degree safety
rule will result in a stage disqualification. . A "juggled" loaded gun
that breaks the 170-degree safety rule will result in a match disqualification.
A shooter may not pick up a dropped gun. The range officer will recover
the gun, examine it, clear it, and return it to the shooter.
22.
The shooter will not cock his revolver until the firearm is pointed safely down
range. Any accidental or premature discharge of any firearm determined by the
range officer to be unsafe will result in the shooter incurring a safety
penalty, disqualification from the stage, or disqualification from the match. A
second such incident on the same day shall certainly result in the shooter's
ejection from the match. A safe practice is to develop the habit of cocking
handguns with the "weak" or off-hand after the gun has cleared leather
and is pointed safely down range. Shooter will keep finger out of trigger guard
and off trigger unless weapon is pointed safely down range. Cocking a pistol
before it is at a 45 deg. angle down range will result in a warning on the first
offence, a stage D-Q on the second, and on the third a match D-Q.
23.
Ammunition dropped by a shooter in the course of reloading any firearm during a
stage is considered "dead" and may not be recovered until the shooter
completes the course of fire. For example, if a round of shotgun ammo is dropped
while reloading, the round must be replaced from the shooter's person or counted
as a missed shot. No attempt may be made by the shooter to pick up the dropped
round, as to do so prompts loss of control of muzzle direction.
24.
Shooting ammo with a muzzle velocity greater than stated within these rules is
grounds for immediate disqualification from a match. The use of jacketed, half
jacketed, or copper plated/washed bullets is strictly forbidden.
25.
It is expected the range officers will be the responsible parties for observing
and resolving all safety related matters occurring in the loading, unloading,
and firing line areas. However, any shooter who observes a safety infraction not
seen by the range officer(s) should call the infraction to the range officer's
attention, at which time the matter will be resolved.
26.
Minor safety infractions occurring during a course of fire that do not directly
endanger persons will result in a ten-second penalty being added to the
shooter's time for that stage. "Minor" safety infractions are
occurrences such as an accidental discharge impacting within ten feet, but not
closer than five feet, of the shooter and failure to open a long gun's action at
the conclusion of a shooting string.
27.
Major safety infractions will result in the shooter's disqualification from the
stage or the match. A second infraction in the match shall result in the
shooter's ejection from the range. "Major" infractions are a dropped
gun, an accidental discharge that impacts within five feet of any person,
violation of the 170-degree safety rules, "sweeping" any person with
the muzzle of a firearm, and similar acts that have high potential for personal
injury.
28.
Muzzle direction is important between, before, during and after shooting a
stage. A muzzle must not be allowed to 'sweep' the other participants between
stages or when moving the firearms to and from the gun cart. The muzzles of all
long guns must be maintained in safe direction, even when returning to the
unloading table. Failure to manage safe muzzle direction is grounds for
disqualification from the stage and, for repeated offenses, from the range.
29.
All firearms MUST be inspected by the unloading officer before leaving the
shooting stage. All rifles must have their action cycled for the inspecting
official. All six-guns, whether used or not in the stage, must also be
inspected.
30. Only club members may wear firearms.