American
Legion Post 48
Rules
of the Handgun
Competition
These rules govern handgun competitions
at the Post 48 firing range. We welcome input and recommendations from competitors and officials that
will lead to further improvement of
this event. Submit such recommendations to the Post 48 Range Committee Chairman.
1.
Intent
and spirit of the rules
The intent of the rules is to promote target competitions with handguns that are readily available and typically used during
recreational target shooting. Any firearm or item of equipment that is not mentioned in these rules or that is contrary to
the intent and spirit of the rules is
prohibited.
2. Definitions
2-1 Alibi: a live round in a handgun that was
not fired.
2-2 Cease
fire: the command that requires the immediate cessation of firing.
2-3 Commence fire: the command that authorizes the start of the firing.
2-4 Competitor: a person 16 years or older
who has registered for a competition.
2-5 Cross fire shot: a shot made by a
competitor that is on another competitor’s target.
2-6 Live Fire Range (LFR): the area on the
range where the stages are held.
2-7 Match officials: the people appointed by
Post 48 to perform actions during a competition.
2-8 Relay: a group of competitors shooting
the three stages.
2-9 Stage: a course of fire which specifies a distance,
type of fire, and the number of shots.
3. Administration
3-1 Registration fee. There is a registration fee paid by each competitor
for each competition. The amount must be set by the Range Committee each year. A
minimum of 10 competitors must be registered prior to the last Wednesday before
the event. This number may be waived by the Post Executive Committee.
3-2 Firearms. Firearms and ammunition must not be brought
into the building at any time.
3-3 Targets.
All targets are provided by the Post 48 Range Committee. The competitor's name will be printed at the top right
front of the target paper (not
the backer board); they also write their relay number & lane number in the
appropriate space in the upper right of each target. Targets may be seen in
Appendix I.
3-4 Course of fire. All Stages require each competitor
to fire 10 rounds:
Stage 1: competitors fire at 10 yards at a B-10 target; Stage 2: competitors fire at 15 yards at a B-8 target; Stage 3: competitors fire at 25 yards
at a B-3 target.
3-5 Firing position. All courses of fire will be in the
standing position. The competitor
must stand on both feet while supporting the firearm in a comfortable shooting position.
3-6 Lane Assignments.
Lanes shall be assigned from left to right; 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,
2, 4, 6, 8. Glocks shall be assigned to
the right most lanes due to complaints of ejected brass.
3-7 Cross fire shots. A cross fire is scored as a miss.
Any competitor intentionally cross firing onto another competitor’s target will
be disqualified.
3-8 Loaded Weapons. No loaded firearms
will be allowed on the range
other than the live fire range.
3-9 Special Dispensation. Competitors confined to wheelchairs or similar devices
may be given special dispensation by the Range Master in respect of mobility
assistance.
3-10 Equipment and clothing. Competitors may wear casual or sports
clothing. Footwear is limited to athletic or work style shoes. All competitors
must use hearing and vision protection.
3-11 Range
Areas. Observation Area from the south edge of the parking lot to
the north edge of the shed; Target Managers Area the area under the
shed; Competitors Area from the south edge of the shed to the north edge
of the gong target range. See Appendix II.
4. Firearms
permitted
4.1 Any
semiautomatic or revolver handgun that discharges rim fire or center fire
ammunition. The velocity of the cartridge fired must not exceed 1400 feet per
second.
Sights
must be only open/aperture type or non-magnified red dot or green dot. Laser and telescopic sights are prohibited.
4.2 All
of a handgun’s safety features must remain in place and operate properly.
4.3 Two
or more competitors may use the same handgun in a match provided they shoot in
different Relays.
5. Safety procedures:
5-1 Range
Safety Officer. When on the Live Firing Range, competitors must follow the
instructions of the Range Safety Officer (RSO) and Range Officers (RO) at all
times.
5-2 Range
Safety Rules. Competitors are responsible to read, understand and comply
with all range safety rules.
5-3 Muzzle Control. Muzzle control will be strictly
enforced.
5-4 Preliminary
Actions. Before the relay and after each stage, the RSO and RO’s will check all firearms to insure it and the
magazines are unloaded and the slide or
gate open. After being inspected, each firearm will be placed in a holster.
5-4-1 Weapon
Handling. Firearms shall remain in
their holsters at all times unless instructed otherwise by the RSO. Any weapon handling outside of the LFR shall
take place in the designated weapon handling area under the supervision of the Range
Warden.
5-5 Range Commands. The RSO will direct the loading,
firing, ceasefire and all other commands for the match/stages and maintain the
time.
5-5-l Assemble in the Competitors Area. Up to two relays of competitors may
gather in the Competitors Area. All other competitors and spectators will stay
in the Observation Area. As one relay finishes their 3 stages, they will exit
the LFR and when directed the next relay will enter the LFR.
5-5-2 Magazines and Speed-Loaders. Competitors with semi-automatic weapons must
load 2 magazines with 5 rounds in each magazine. Revolver competitors may load
2 speed-loaders with 5 rounds each. Loading of magazines, speed loaders and
firearms will only be done on the LFR only upon command from the RSO. Under no
circumstances may these be put into the handgun until instructed to do so.
5-5-3 Course of Fire. The RSO
will announce the course of fire (stage, distance, and number of shots per
string) for each stage. The following
commands will apply:
5-5-4__ Load
and Lock. The command to LOAD will be given and competitors load their speed loaders,
magazines, or cylinder Then the
command to LOCK will be given. Competitors insert the magazine into the weapon.
All revolver competitors will close the cylinder.
5-5-5 Firing
Line Ready. The RSO states MAKE READY. Competitors rack the slide or cock
the hammer; fingers remain OFF the trigger until Commence Firing is given. The
RSO then asks IS THE LINE READY? a competitor who has a problem raises an arm
and announces “Not ready on Lane ___. When all problems have been solved the
RSO announces THE LINE IS READY. And then READY ON THE RIGHT? The Range Officer
(RO) on the right states READY. And then READY ON THE LEFT? The Range Officer
(RO) on the left states READY.
5-5-6 Commence
Fire. The RSO now states: “COMMENCE FIRE.” This command
authorizes the start of the firing
at this stage in the course of fire. Competitors are expected to release their
magazine or open their cylinder after they have shot the first five rounds and
reload their weapon.
5-5-7 Cease Fire. “Cease fire and unload alibis” This command is
issued by the RSO when all competitors have finished firing. When the command
is declared, all firing must stop. If any shots are fired after the "CEASE
FIRE" command, the number of shots fired will be scored as misses and
deducted from the competitor scored hits. Competitors will remove the magazine
(or open the cylinder) then unload all cartridges from it and the chamber.
5-5-8 Firing
Line Clear. The RSO will now state:
SHOW
CLEAR. The RO’s will verify that each competitor
has unloaded their
firearm and indicate that the firing line is clear. The RSO announces “Case firearms and Police brass."
5-5-9 Stage
End. At the end of each stage of the relay, the competitors remain on the firing line
to receive the next course of fire.
5-5-10 Relay End. At the end of the last stage,
competitors move to the observation area & store their equipment.
6. Match Officials
6-1 Range Master (RM) has over-all
authority over all persons and activities within the entire event, including
range safety, the operation of all courses of fire, and the application of
these rules. All disqualifications and appeals to arbitration must be brought
to his attention. The RM will send each relay to the Ready Area.
6-2 Range Safety Officer (RSO) is the
primary authority over all persons and activities on the firing line, issues
range commands, and oversees the fair, correct and consistent application of
these rules. He is normally positioned in the center of the firing line. He
also ensures all targets are turned over to the TM. He provides the safety
briefing for all Relays.
6-3 Range Officers (RO) are stationed at
each end of the firing line, issues range commands, oversees competitor
compliance with the written stage briefing and closely monitors safe competitor
action.
6-4 Chief Scoring Officer (CSO) supervises
the Scorers. The CSO assists Scorers with questionable shots on a target. The
CSO, using a calculator, double checks all scorecards prior to be sent the
Statistics Officer.
6-5 Scorer (SCO) assists the CSO; after
each stage, scores the targets following the guidelines in Scorers Instructions
Rev 2a & Scoring Instructions Rev 3a.
6-6 Administration (Admin) responsible for
having all competitors fill out a Registration Form, a Liability Agreement Form
(if necessary), an Eligibility Affidavit Form, and a Scorecard. He will make
available any documents and a copy of these rules for competitors to read.
After checking all forms to be sure they are correct, Administration will sign
the Eligibility Affidavit Form as witness to the competitor’s signature. After
registering, all competitors will pick up their 3 targets, print their name on
the top of each target (not the target board), and proceed to the Admin.
Assistant.
6-7 Administration Assistant (AdminA)
assigns each competitor to a Relay & Lane according to Relay & Lane
Assignment Guidelines.
6-8 Range Warden (RW) assists
Administration and is responsible for standing at the gate and inspecting all
firearms to insure they are not loaded. The RW then monitors the Competitors
Area to ensure that firearms handling is always safe.
6-9 Statistics Officer (SO) receives the
scorecards from the CSO as soon as they are scored for each stage. The data
from the scorecards is entered into the computer. When all score cards have
been submitted, the competitors are ranked from highest to lowest and this is
printed out. The printout is given to the Range Master who will provide the
list and the prizes to the Awards Presenter.
6-10 Awards Presenter is the highest-ranking
elected Post Officer available who will present the awards to the 1st, 2nd,
& 3rd place winners.
6-11 Target Manager takes all 3 targets and the
Relay Card from each competitor. It is the responsibility of the TM to ensure
that the correct targets are posted to the correct Firing Lane. Before each
Stage begins, the TM will go to each Lane and read the name on the target to
the person standing in that lane. The TM supervises the Target Runners.
6-12 Target Runners work on the
range posting targets, taking scored scorecards and targets to the Statistics
Officer, and other duties as assigned by the TM.
7. Scoring
7-1 Each
competitor leaves their targets with the Target Manager at the table under the
shed. Competitors are then directed to the Competitors Area.
7-2 The
Target Manager directs the Target Runners to sort the targets by stage and
lane. When the RSO is ready, the Runners post the targets for the Stage.
7-3 When
the targets for a Stage are all posted, the Target Manager ensures that each
Firing Lane target has the same name as the shooter firing on that Lane number.
7-4 When
a Stage finishes firing, the Range Safety Officer will make sure the range is
clear. When he is sure it is safe, he gives a command to post new targets. At
that point Target Runners remove the old targets and post the new target for
the next stage.
7-5 Upon
completion of the posting for the next Stage, one of the Runners will take the
targets for that Stage up to the Post building and give them to the Chief
Scorer. The Target Runner returns to the range to help as required
7-6 While
scoring is being done, no competitor may enter the Scoring Area. Anyone who
does may be disqualified with no refund of entry fee.[1]
7-7 The
Scoring Officers must make sure they initial each scorecard they score.
7-8 After
scoring for a target is completed, the Scorer lays that target face down on a
table in lane number order.
7-9 Upon
completion of the competition, competitors are permitted to review the targets
and scorecard. Target sets will be laid out on tables by Relay. Competitors may
keep their targets if they like. All competitors will sign their scorecard
before leaving the Scoring Area. All challenges will be brought to the
attention of the Range Master at this time.
7-10 After
review of the challenge targets and scores, the competitor must accept the
decision of the Range Master. The competitor then must sign his scorecard. Any
refusal to sign the scorecard disqualifies the competitor. The Range Master
will so note on the scorecard.
7-11 When
each Relay is scored, the scorecards for that relay are sent to the Statistics
Officer. When the top three high scores are determined, the Range Master may
release all competitors’ targets. Targets not picked up will be destroyed or
retained for training purposes.
7-12 After
the competition is completed, all scorecards are the property of A. L. Post 48
Chesnee.
7-13 A separate document, “Scoring Details” is
available for review. This provides information to scorers as to how scoring is
to be done.
8. Holsters and Competitor Equipment
8-1 Competitors will utilize a holster.
Firearms in a holster will have
no round in the chamber.
8-2 Unless otherwise specified in the Safety briefing,
the belt carrying the holster and all allied equipment must be worn at waist level. The belt or an inner
belt or both must be either
securely fixed at the waist, or secured with a minimum of three belt loops.
8-3 Female competitors may be permitted to wear a belt, holster, and allied equipment at
hip level; however, the top of the belt must not be
positioned below the furthest lateral point of the top of the femur.
8-4 During the course of fire, second ammunition magazines and/or speed loading
devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the competitor's belt
and specifically designed for that purpose. A competitor may also carry an additional
magazine or speed loading device in apparel pocket(s) and retrieve and use
them.
8-5 Competitors will not be permitted to commence a course of fire wearing:
(a)
A shoulder holster or "tie-down"
rig.
(b) A holster which does not
completely prevent access to, or activation of the trigger of the handgun
while holstered.
9. Awards
The 1st, 2nd
and 3rd place competitors will be awarded appropriate trophies.
10. Exceptions, Ambiguities, or Oddities
Any incident or
subject not covered in the above rules must be brought to the
attention of the Range Master. The decisions of the Range Master are final in
all disputes.
11. Parking
All vehicles must park outside the gate to the firing range.
Appendix I Targets Used in
the Competition
(Not to scale)
Stage 1 10 yards Stage 2 15 yards
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Stage 3 25 yards
