With the 2024 shooting season coming to a close, and the 2025 season not warming up yet (see, because it’s winter, and cold, “not warming up yet”), I thought it might be helpful in planning to publish some information on USPSA’s Certified Ammunition Program.
Certified Ammunition
The list of certified ammunition vendors continues to grow. Certified ammunition provides a little insurance when you visit the chronograph station, since this ammunition has been tested by the vendor and by USPSA to ensure that it makes the advertised power factor. Check out the list of certified ammunition vendors and decide if this is right for you. We maintain records of the ammunition when it is used, and report any anomalies to the vendor, sometimes marking the ammunition as not approved until any issues are resolved. Be sure to note if the ammunition if approved for all use, or PCC or Handgun only, as there are a couple that are firearm specific.
Range Masters: If you RM a match that is using certified ammunition, please make sure that the declaration forms are available (these can be filled out prior to the match by competitors), at registration along with sample bags for the delivery sample. These should be delivered to the chronograph station as soon as possible prior to the start of the match. Chronograph officers must inquire if the competitor is using certified ammunition, so that the form can be completed, even if the delivery sample isn’t tested. All competitors, regardless of whether they are using certified ammunition or not, must submit a chronograph sample when requested (normally on the first stage of the day). All unused rounds are returned to the competitor, but the completed forms must be retained and sent, either digitally or by mail to me. (Email dnroi@uspsa.org for an address.) We enter the information into a spreadsheet and maintain those records if there are any questions about a specific lot. See the Certified Ammunition Policy if there are any questions.
Chronograph Officers: Please inquire of each competitor whether they are using certified ammunition or not, and be prepared to record results, maintaining the paper copy for submission to NROI–even if you don’t shoot any of the delivery sample. The competitor gets any untested ammunition back. Note that if the competitor has not submitted the form and sample prior to the start of the match, they cannot declare at chronograph. See the Certified Ammunition rules in Appendix C3, USPSA Competition Rules.