UNITED SPORTSMEN, INC. - ACTION PISTOL RANGE

ACTION PISTOL SHOOTING -RULES AND REGULATIONS, REVISION 6  --  FEBRUARY 7, 2007

Click here to download a copy in pdf format

1.0 COLD RANGE AND SAFE AREA.

1.1 COLD RANGE

The United Sportsmen, Inc., Action Pistol Range is a COLD RANGE, which applies without exception to Training, Practice and Matches. A COLD RANGE means:

A self-loading semi-automatic pistol will be carried holstered, unloaded, without a magazine and with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

A revolver will be carried with the cylinder empty and the hammer down.

Handguns will not be loaded except at the firing line and only at the command of the Range Officer. For clarification purposes ‘loaded’ indicates a handgun with a cartridge in the cylinder of a revolver or chamber of a pistol with a loaded or unloaded magazine in place.

Handguns will be holstered or cased except on the firing line.

Holstered handguns may only be handled on the firing line at the command of a range officer.

1.2 SAFETY AREA

The designated SAFETY AREA of the Action Pistol Range is located at the southwest corner of Bay 5. This SAFETY AREA is designated and controlled by a Range Officer.

No ammunition, loaded magazines and speed loaders may be carried into the SAFETY AREA.

Magazines and Speed Loaders will be loaded outside the SAFETY AREA.

You may take only your holsters, other equipment and unloaded handgun without a magazine into the SAFETY AREA.

You can put on your holster and other equipment in the SAFETY AREA- The handgun must be
holstered and secured, with the chamber empty, hammer down and without a magazine. Once you leave the SAFETY AREA do not handle or remove your handgun from the holster for any reason until instructed to do so on the firing line by a Range Officer.

If you must handle, check, or demonstrate any handgun, i.e blacken or adjust your sights, dryfire or clean it, practice draw, etc., do so in the SAFETY AREA Extensive disassembly or cleaning SHOULD NOT be done in the SAFETY AREA- When using the SAFETY AREA with the handgun out of the holster, keep the muzzle pointed into the berm.


2.0 EYE AND EAR PROTECTION

All officials, shooters, visitors and spectators will wear eye and ear protection at all times while on the Action Pistol Range. A visor-cap to deflect ejected hot brass is highly recommended.


3.0 RANGE PROCEDURES, COMMANDS, CONTROL AND OPERATION
3.1 DEFINITION OF READY CONDITION OF HANDGUNS The Ready condition of handguns shall be:

3.1.2 Double Action Revolvers Hammer fully down, (all chambers may be loaded).

3.1.3 Semi-Automatic Self-Loading Pistols

Single Action: Hammer cocked with the safety catch on SAFE.

Double Action: Hammer fully down. Double action semi-autos may not be fully cocked if their safety mechanism drops the hammer when actuated.

Selective Action: Hammer fully down or hammer fully cocked with the safety on SAFE.

Safe Action Pistols: May be fully loaded with a round in the chamber.


3.2 READY POSITIONS

3.2.1 "Are you ready"
Designates a position in which the handgun is holstered, or as stated in the stage description, in its ready condition. Other positions for the handgun may be stipulated. Normally the hands are in the position stipulated for the stage in question.

Artificial ready positions shall not be tolerated, nor shall 'creeping' (moving the hands towards the gun before the signal to commence is given). Violations shall occur a procedural penalty.


3.3 STANDBY

After the command "Standby" has been given, the ready position may not be changed until the start signal is given. (No movement is allowed).



3.4 RANGE COMMANDS

3.4.1 "Load and Make Ready"
The shooter or competitor will face downrange, with ear-protectors and safety glasses on, load his handgun and make it ready. The muzzle of the handgun must be pointed downrange at all times when loading it. He will then take up the ready position as stipulated for the stage. If this involves facing away from the targets, note that loading must be complete, the handgun holstered or, as stated in the course description in the correct condition; and hands clear before the shooter or competitor turns away from the targets. Once the shooter or competitor has assumed the correct position, the Range Officer will assume that he is ready, unless the shooter raises his hand or says "NOT READY'.

3.4.2 "Standby"
This will be followed by the cue to commence firing within five seconds; Cues may be verbal, audible, visual, or self-starting.

3.4.3 "CEASE FIRING-UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR”
The command "If you are finished, Unload and Show Clear" is given at the end of a string or stage. After firing has ceased, the handgun is unloaded with the muzzle pointing downrange at all times. Self-loading semi-automatic pistols will have the magazines removed and the slide back. Revolvers will have the cylinder swung out and empty. The handgun will be held ready for inspection by the Range Officer.

Range Officers will visually inspect the cylinders of each revolver, and the chambers and magazine wells of each self-loading semi-automatic handgun, to make sure that each shooter has obeyed the command and to assure that the handguns are all clear. The command "Gun Clear, Hammer Down, Holster" will then be given.

"Cease Firing", signaled verbally, is given at any time all firing is to cease. Firing must cease immediately. This command may given at any time by anyone who observers that an unsafe condition exists or is about to exist. If the command is given while a shooter is engaged in a competitive course of fire the shooter is entitled to a reshoot after the unsafe condition is corrected.



3.4.4 “GUN CLEAR, HAMMER DOWN, HOLSTER”
At the "Gun Clear, Hammer Down" command the individual shooters will holster their respective handguns in the following conditions:

Self-loading semi-automatic pistols:
Slide forward, hammer down and the magazine well empty.

Revolvers:
Cylinder closed and empty (no cases) and hammer down.

The HAMMER DOWN procedure is to drop the hammer by pulling the trigger for both self-loading semi-automatic pistols and revolvers. If the handgun discharges when the hammer is dropped, the shooter is disqualified from the match or practice.


It is always the shooters responsibility to insure that his gun is safe.

After the handguns are safely holstered, the Range Officer will give the command “Range is Clear” to indicate the range is safe.

If the self-loading semi-automatic Pistols; such as those made by Smith & Wesson, and the Browning High-Power; require a magazine to be inserted in order to drop the hammer by pulling the trigger, the shooter must insert an EMPTY magazine into the handgun and remove it after demonstrating that the chamber is empty by pulling the trigger to drop the hammer.

3.4.5 "Range Is Clear"
No shooter/person may move forward of or from the firing line before the command "Range is Clear" signaling a safe range, is given by the Range Officer. Once the command is given, shooters and officials may move from the firing line to score and properly handle targets, etc.

4.0 SAFETY REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES.

4.1 UNSAFE GUN HANDLING

In the event a shooter handles a handgun in an unsafe manner, the shooter will be disqualified & not shoot for the rest of the day.

Examples of Unsafe Gun Handling include:

4.1.1 Muzzle Points Up Range
If any time during the course of fire, even during a fall, or during loading and unloading, or during remedial action of a malfunction, a shooter allows the muzzle of his handgun to point rearwards up range, that is further than 90 degrees from the Median Intercept of the backstop, or in the case of no backstop, allows the muzzle of his handgun to point Up Range-whether the gun is loaded or not.

The Median Intercept of the backstop means the centerline of the range, a line that runs between the center of the backstop and the center of the rear line of the range. The line, which is 90 degrees from the centerline, is the 180-degree line.

A safety zone beyond which the muzzle may not point during the draw or reholstering will extend 3 feet to the rear of the shooter. Failure to comply shall be considered unsafe gun handling.

Keep your muzzle pointed downrange. Your muzzle must not break the plane defined by the firing line. An exception to this rule allows holsters with a backward rake providing the muzzle points within 39 inches of the shooter.

4.1.2 Sweeping during a course of fire other than during a draw or reholstering is considered unsafe gun handling and will result in a match disqualification.

4.1.3 Dropped Gun
Dropping a handgun during a match, or when loaded, while loading and unloading, or loosing control of the handgun, is automatic disqualification. Dropping an unloaded handgun is considered a safety violation. Do not pick up a dropped handgun without the Range Officer's command.

4.1.4 Loaded Handgun Behind The Line
Handguns will be loaded only on the firing line and only when so directed by the Range Officer. After shooting, no shooter may move from the firing position until the Range Officer, who has supervised the unloading and holstering, declares the Range is Clear.

Any shooter found to have a loaded firearm, except when specifically so ordered by the Range Officer, will be disqualified and required to leave the Range.

4.1.5 Improper Gun Handling
The handling of a handgun on the range premises when the shooter is not on the firing line or a designated Safety Area or where prior permission of the Range Officer has not been given.

4.1.6 Loaded, Cocked, Holstered, Safety Not Applied
A shooter with a loaded and holstered single action self=loading semi-automatic pistol with the safety lock not applied. Most single action self-loading semi-automatic pistol require that the hammer must be cocked before the safety lock can be applied.

A shooter with a loaded, cocked and holstered selective action/double action, or decocking-safety type pistol, with the safety not applied.

A shooter with a loaded and holstered cocked revolver.

4.1.7 Movement
When the course of fire requires movement by the shooter, such as taking more than one step or when changing shooting position, i.e. from prone to standing, such movement must be carried out with the trigger finger outside the guard (except when actually engaging targets). The muzzle, at all times, must be pointed in a safe direction.

During movement, a holstered, single action self-loading semi-automatic pistol must have the safety lock on safe. On such handguns, the hammer normally remains cocked after the safety is engaged and cannot be dropped. When moving with or holstering a revolver, or a double-action-only self-loading semi-automatic pistol, the hammer must be down.


Violations of the above will result in disqualification.

4.2 ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE

Disqualification from the match will be invoked in the event of an accidental discharge. An accidental discharge will be defined as any shot fired outside the confines of the backstop or striking the ground within 6 feet of the shooter or any other direction deemed unsafe.

4.2.1 Wrongful Discharge
Any discharge prior to commencement, or while loading, reloading, unloading, or during remedial action or a malfunction will be regarded as an accidental discharge and/or unsafe gun handling.


4.2.2 Broken Part
When it can be established that the cause of the discharge is due to the actual breakage of a part of the firearm and the competitor has fulfilled all normal safety requirements, e.g., unloading and showing clear, match disqualification will not be invoked. No score will stand for that stage and no score will be given.

4.2.3 Discharge During Movement
Any discharge during movement, except while engaging targets, will be considered as unsafe gun handling.

4.2.4 Stopping The Shooter
Any accidental discharge, wrongful discharge, discharge due to a broken part or discharge during movement described above will cause the Range Officer to prevent further action on the part of the shooter.


5.0 GROSS UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR

Disqualification from shooting will be invoked in the event of gross unsportsmanlike behavior. Repeated contravention of the rules of the range after being warned, will be considered as unsportsmanlike behavior.

6.0 COMPLETE AUTHORITY

The Chief Range Officer will have complete authority over all persons on the range. Safety on the range will be of prime concern and RO orders will be obeyed. Any failure to obey the RO’s instructions and/or directions, may lead to banishment. Repeated DQ’s may lead to Decertification.