Rules Insights

I have been involved in several events recently involving rule 9.7.4 and the subject of mutual consent, and feel this deserves some attention (it has certainly gotten a lot of my attention at recent matches).  

One of the rarer calls that is made at major matches is that of Interference, or Assistance, or more commonly called as “Coaching”, as defined in 8.6. For Level 1 matches, we have 8.6.2.1 which allows for coaching for competitors with Range Officer approval. But what constitutes each of these? Which ones can be penalized? Who gets the penalty, if any? Let’s dive in.

While the easiest way to measure magazine lengths is with the official USPSA magazine gauge made by EGW, the rulebook does offer an alternative method using a ruler in Appendix E1. But why? Well, because sometimes magazine base pad extensions are shaped differently enough to cause issues.

We have received some questions recently about how to score hits that have partially or completely passed through hardcover (walls and barrels). So let’s talk about how to score those hits or determine when it is a reshoot.

I get this question sometimes—on the range or via email.  The answer is because competitors keep pushing the envelope.  Almost 90% of the DQ and procedural rules, along with the equipment rules, have come about due to competitor actions.

I just got back from the Carry Optics Nationals and again the chronograph stage became the place where people’s match crashed and burned. Ending up shooting for no score (sub-minor) or being put in Open because your equipment failed testing should not happen but does.