There have recently been a couple of incidents of people discharging their firearm in the holster, either while holstering or while drawing. This is a serious safety problem and is basically negligence on the part of the competitor for failing to engage the safety or disengaging it early.
[Read more…] about Safeties and YouRules Insights
Failure (to paint) Is Not An Option
I got an email the other day from a member, asking if not painting at level one was an option. Because he didn’t mention what discipline, I told him level one matches were exempt from painting but that it’s strongly recommended that steel get painted between hits even though the rules don’t require it. He also informed me that his entire squad had been told to leave by the match director because they didn’t want to paint. I thought that was a little extreme, but to each his own, I suppose, and thinking about it, I can see the reasoning behind it.
[Read more…] about Failure (to paint) Is Not An OptionQuadriceps Retention Devices (Thigh Straps)
At the January USPSA Board of Directors meeting, the proposed changes to the USPSA Competition, USPSA Rifle, Shotgun and Multigun, and Steel Challenge Shooting Association rules were approved by the board. These member-driven changes went into effect on February 29, 2024.
[Read more…] about Quadriceps Retention Devices (Thigh Straps)Another Stick in….the Wall
We often get questions concerning what part of a wall is impenetrable, which part may be shot through, and whether the feet or supports can be used. Here are some insights into walls and vision barriers in general.
[Read more…] about Another Stick in….the WallWhy is RM approval required?
If your gun is malfunctioning, breaks, or if your sights fall off or break the rules state that you must get Range Master approval before any modifications are made, or the gun is replaced. Let’s learn a bit more about the rule and the reasoning behind this rule.
[Read more…] about Why is RM approval required?Table manners
We have previously discussed the appropriate ready conditions for loaded firearms that start the stage on a table, but what about unloaded firearms and their placement. I recently worked a match where a stage required magazines to start on any of the barrels and the unloaded firearm to start on the table. It was a fun stage, but we had competitors earn a DQ before they even fired a shot on the stage. Can you guess why?
[Read more…] about Table mannersStart positions: When is out, in?
Rule 3.2.1 requires that the competitor start position is included in the Written Stage Briefing (WSB) for each stage. We’ve all seen a wide variety of start positions at matches: anywhere inside the shooting area, feet or hands touching a marked location, heels or toes touching the rear fault line, etc. Words matter, of course, and it is important that WSBs are clearly written and that the start position is consistently enforced. This article will discuss one specific nuance of the competitor start location relative to the shooting area.
[Read more…] about Start positions: When is out, in?Virginia Count lessons on the range
Last weekend I worked my local sectional match and I got to work a Virginia Count, two string Standard Exercise. I was sure it was some sort of atonement for all my blog posts about Virginia Count, but I got to witness a ton of learning among staff and competitors in those two days.
[Read more…] about Virginia Count lessons on the range