Previous editions of the rulebook were not generally considered to be user-friendly. The international (IPSC) rules had evolved over time to address a variety of global concerns. USPSA had agreed to honor those rules while integrating USPSA-specific “clarifications“ in an indented and different type face, into the text of the IPSC rulebook. In 2007, an agreement was made with IPSC for USPSA to have a separate rulebook from the IPSC rulebook.
In 2008, the first USPSA rulebook was published and included the USPSA clarifications incorporated into the text of the IPSC rules to form the USPSA rules. A number of other rules were updated to reflect past interpretations and to address the dynamic needs of the sport. In addition, an effort was made to clarify wording which had become muddled over the course of earlier changes. As a result, the rulebook was now somewhat easier to use and less confusing to the novice shooter and range officer.
Since 2008, USPSA matches are run under the USPSA rulebook and IPSC matches are run under the IPSC rulebook.