Provisional Addendum
to the
USPSA Rules, 2004 Edition
Multi-Gun Matches
(10 May
2004)
A) Introduction:
In the interest of responding to
the interests of USPSA members, while seeking to preserve the unique attributes
of USPSA competition, this provisional addendum has been prepared to provide a
USPSA-authorized framework for matches involving more than one firearm type
(“multi-gun matches”).
The intent of this addendum is
to enable USPSA clubs to run multi-gun matches within the context of the USPSA
rules. Since this type of match
represents a new type of USPSA competition, this addendum is provided on an experimental
or provisional basis. The terms of this
amendment have the weight and authority of the USPSA rules, and multi-gun
matches may be run by USPSA clubs under the terms of this addendum, but with
the understanding that the addendum may be amended, modified or withdrawn at
any time.
This addendum, and the authority
of any guidelines relating to USPSA multi-gun matches will expire on December 31st,
2005, unless formally extended or adopted for inclusion in the official USPSA rules
by action of the USPSA Board of Directors.
Please note that throughout the
provisional period, clubs are encouraged to provide feedback about this
addendum and these provisional rules for multi-gun matches. Your input will help USPSA improve the
clarity, quality and effectiveness of the rules relating to multi-gun
competition.
B) Authority:
This addendum draws its
authority from the current edition of USPSA rulebooks (e.g., Handgun rules,
Rifle rules, Shotgun rules and Tournament rules), and should be considered a
provisional amendment to those rulebooks.
The purpose of this addendum is
to identify and address specific areas where the rules for multi-gun matches will
conflict with or deviate from the rules for a single firearm-specific match or
a tournament composed of two or more firearm-specific matches. Except as and unless noted otherwise in this
amendment and within the context of a multi-gun match, the current editions of
the USPSA rulebook are to be considered the definitive sources of rules
authority for USPSA competition.
C) Terms:
Except as and unless noted
otherwise in this amendment, the terms “handgun”, “shotgun” or “rifle” within
the separate rulebooks are to be construed to mean “firearm” within the context
of a multi-gun match, and are to be interpreted to apply to all firearm types.
D) General Regulations:
(i) Definition:
A
“multi-gun match” is defined as a match (see 6.1.4) in which at least one stage involves the use of two or more
different firearm types. A multi-gun
match may involve any combination of handgun, rifle and shotgun usage,
including stages which involve one, two or all three firearm types. Other than the use of multiple firearm
types, all other provisions of 6.1.4
apply.
(ii) Notice:
Multi-gun
matches must be clearly denoted as such in match notices, materials and
publications, including match announcements, match entry forms, match calendar
listings, and match confirmation letters.
This is to ensure that competitors are fully informed as to multi-gun equipment
requirements and rules in effect during the competition, and to distinguish multi-gun
competitions from traditional match formats (single firearm-specific matches
and tournaments composed of multiple firearm-specific matches).
(iii) Competition Divisions:
Divisions
recognized in a multi-gun match will be those divisions defined in the current
version of the USPSA tournament rules.
Each competitor must declare one
division for the match (see 6.2.3),
and all firearms used during the match must conform to the equipment
requirements for the declared division.
In the event that the division is not recognized, a competitor fails to
declare a division or the competitor’s equipment fails to comply with division
equipment requirements, the provisions of 6.2.5
(including subclauses) will apply.
(iii)a For scoring purposes,
there will be no recognition of Revolver, Production or Limited-10 as separate
handgun divisions within the context of a USPSA multi-gun match. All handguns will be scored as Limited,
Tactical or Open, in accordance with currently-defined tournament aggregate
divisions.
(iii)b There is no recognition of a “Heavy Metal” division within the
context of a USPSA multi-gun match at this time. However, nothing in this document should be construed to prohibit
recognition of a “Heavy Metal” category as a subset of Limited or Tactical
division, should the match organizers so desire, provided that adequate notice
of category requirements and awards protocol are provided in accordance with section
D(ii) of this document.
(iv) Competition Awards:
The
award and/or prize protocol for a multi-gun match must be clearly published in
relevant match materials, including entry forms and match books, if any. However, because of the complexities
involved in combining the use of dissimilar firearm types within a single
competition, the distribution of awards and/or prizes by firearm type (i.e.,
handgun-specific awards, rifle-specific awards, etc) is prohibited. Instead, awards and/or prizes will only be
distributed according to placement in the combined or “aggregate” match
standings.
(v) Stage Designation:
Stages
in a multi-gun match must be designed so that one firearm is used for more than
half of the available points. The firearm used for the majority of the
points on the stage will be considered the “designated firearm” for that stage. Any other firearms used on the stage are
considered “non-designated” firearms.
For example, if a 120-point multi-gun stage
involves the use of a rifle for 70 points and a handgun for the remaining 50
points, that stage will be designated a “rifle stage” for scoring purposes. The handgun is considered a “non-designated
firearm”.
(vi) Stage Scoring Guidelines:
Multi-gun
stages must be scored as if all rounds were fired using the designated firearm,
including use of the designated firearm’s Power Factor.
For example, in a “rifle stage”, all hits will be
scored as if they were fired using the rifle.
The rifle’s power factor (declared or measured) will be used to
determine the value of scoring hits for all targets on the stage.
Note that this is a provisional approach, intended
to support the scoring of multi-gun matches within the current capabilities of
EZWinScore. This approach may be
adjusted if/when EZWinScore is revised or replaced to specifically address
multi-gun scoring issues.
(vii) Match Scoring Guidelines:
Multi-gun
matches must be scored using the tournament scoring capabilities in
EZWinScore. Stages must be input as
either Pistol, Rifle or Shotgun stages, according to the designated firearm
type as defined above. Competitors will
be registered in the multi-gun match in a manner which reflects their declared
Power Factor for each firearm type, and the single division which will apply
for the entire match. Match results
will be calculated as specified in the current version of the Tournament
rulebook.
(viii) Stage
Design Guidelines:
Because
of the potential for scoring inequities due to Power Factor variances in the
non-designated firearms used on a stage, course designers must use only “single
scoring zone” targets (targets which provide for only A-zone scoring hits) for
non-designated firearms on a multi-gun stage.
This is because targets which represent a single-scoring-zone (“Hit or Miss”)
scoring opportunity serve to negate differences in Power Factor.
Permissible
targets for use with non-designated firearms include:
-- Steel Targets
-- Frangible targets (for rifle or shotgun only;
see 4.4.1, 9.4.1 and 9.5.1)
-- Paper targets, configured so that only the
A-zone is available.
For example, in rifle-pistol multi-gun stage
designated as a “rifle stage”, paper, steel or frangible targets may be used
for the rifle targets. However, handgun
targets must be steel targets or paper targets where only the A-zone is
available, so that differences in handgun Power Factors between competitors do
not cause any scoring inequity.
(ix) Stage
Balance Guidelines:
While
roundcounts may vary, a multi-gun match should provide a balanced test of
handgun, rifle and shotgun skills.
Consistent with Tournament rule 2.3, total points available in any
firearm discipline should not vary by more than 25% of the total points
available in any other firearm discipline.
A match which is heavily biased towards a specific firearm type does not
represent a true test of skills across the disciplines and should be avoided.
For example, a multi-gun match in which the ratio
of available points between handgun, rifle and shotgun is 30% / 30% / 40% would
be considered balanced. A multi-gun
match in which the ratio of available points is 20% / 30% / 50% is not
considered balanced, because there is more than a 25% variance in available
points between two disciplines.
Specific
Rule Variances:
MG 1.1.5:
Competitors
must be permitted to solve the challenge presented in a freestyle manner, and
to shoot targets on an “as and when visible” basis; however, in a multi-gun
course of fire the course description must define which targets are to be shot
with which type of firearm.
All
other provisions of 1.1.5 (including
subclauses) apply.
MG 1.1.5.1:
Course
designers may present challenges which provide the shooter options with regard
to firearm use within the context of a multi-gun stage. Any such options must comply with sections
D(v), D(viii), MG-2.1.3, and MG-3.2, and must be consistent with all other
sections in this document.
For example, a course designer may design a handgun-designated
field course with three target arrays: target array “A” must be engaged with
handgun, the shooter may then engage either array “B” or array “C” with
handgun, and finish by engaging the remaining array with shotgun.
This would be considered a valid course of fire if
more than half of the available points are shot with handgun no matter which
option the shooter chooses, consistent with section D(v); any target which may
be engaged with shotgun presents only a single scoring zone, consistent with section
D(viii); minimum distances to any steel targets are valid no matter which
option the shooter chooses, consistent with MG-2.1.3; and the course
description appropriately designates targets by firearm type for each option,
consistent with MG-3.2
MG 2.1.3:
Minimum distances
for any metal target in a multi-gun match are the minimum distances defined for
the firearm used to engage that target, as documented in the
discipline-specific rulebook for that firearm type.
In the
present (2004) version of the rules, minimum distances for metal targets are
defined as:
-- Handgun: 7 meters
-- Shotgun (birdshot): 5 meters
-- Shotgun (slugs) 40 meters
-- Rifle 50 meters
All
other provisions of 2.1.3 (including subclauses) apply.
MG 3.2:
Written
stage briefings for multi-gun stages must also include:
-- Designation of stage as a Handgun, Rifle or
Shotgun stage for scoring
purposes.
-- Identification of specific targets to be shot
with specific firearms
(i.e., T1-T4 are to be engaged with
Handgun, T5-T8 with Rifle).
-- Location and ready condition for all firearms
used on the stage.
All
other provisions of 3.2 (including subclauses) apply.
MG 5.1.2:
Minimum
cartridge for each firearm type in a multi-gun match is the minimum cartridge
defined for the firearm, as documented in the discipline-specific rulebook for
that firearm type.
In the
present (2004) version of the rules, minimum cartridges are defined as:
-- Handgun: 9 x 19
(9mm diameter)
-- Shotgun: 20 gauge
-- Rifle no minimum caliber
MG 5.1.7:
Competitors
must use the same firearms throughout the match. For purposes of this rule, a firearm is considered to be the
combination of a specific caliber, barrel, stock or grip, sighting system, and
fixed magazine or magazine tube if applicable.
Competitors must not reconfigure any firearm (i.e., change caliber,
barrel, stock or grip style, sighting system, and fixed magazine or magazine
tube) during the course of a match.
All
other provisions of 5.1.7 (including subclauses) apply. Additionally, the
provisions of Shotgun 5.2.8 apply.
MG 5.1.9:
Competitors
may be required to carry more than one firearm at a time, but must never be
required or allowed to use more than one firearm at a time.
MG 5.2.1:
Except
when within the boundaries of a safety area, or when under the supervision and
direct command of a Range Officer, competitors must carry their firearms
according to the discipline-specific rules. Refer to 5.2.1 (and subsections) in
the current Handgun, Rifle or Shotgun rules for details regarding specific
carry conditions and requirements.
All
other provisions of 5.2.1 (including subsections) apply.
MG 5.6:
Any
firearm and associated ammunition may be tested at any time. In the event that the ammunition fails to
make declared power factor, the actual (measured) power factor will be used for
scoring all stages in which that firearm type is the designated firearm.
All
other provisions of 5.6 (including subsections) apply.
For example:
If a shooter’s rifle Power Factor is sub-minor as measured at the
chronograph, the shooters’ rifle Power Factor would be changed to “no score” in
EZWinScore, which would result in no-score for all stages designated as rifle
stages in the multi-gun match. Any stages
designated as handgun (or shotgun) stages which might also involve use of a
rifle would be unaffected because, consistent with section D(vi), those stages
would be scored as if all rounds had been fired with the handgun (or shotgun).
MG 6.2.6:
Dis qualification during a multi-gun match is
disqualification for the entire competition.
Tournament rule 2.8 is not applicable in a multi-gun match.
Disqualified
competitors will not be allowed to continue in the match, and are not eligible
for match prizes or awards.
MG 6.1.4:
The
provisions of 6.1.4 are waived to allow the use of more than one type of
firearm within the context of a multi-gun match.
All
other provisions of 6.1.4 apply.
MG 8.1:
Ready
conditions for each firearm type are the ready conditions as documented in the
discipline-specific rulebook for that firearm type.
Note
that a course of fire may require that a firearm be “staged” (prepared and
placed prior to the start signal in a specific position and condition for use
later during the course of fire). In
such cases the written course description must define the position, condition
and location of the staged firearm(s).
Stage
designs must be configured in so that firearms, when staged, are compliant with
the requirements in 10.5.2, and positioned in such a way that no person is ever
allowed or required to pass in front of the muzzle of a staged firearm.
All
other applicable provisions of 8.1 (including subclauses) apply.
MG 8.3.1:
Where
more than one firearm will be used during a course of fire, the Range Officer will
direct and supervise the competitor through the process of preparing all
firearms. The Range Officer will give
the “Load and Make Ready” command, signifying the start of the Course of Fire,
and will then direct and supervise the competitor through the process of
preparing and positioning any “staged” firearms. The Range Officer will then accompany the competitor to the start
position and direct the competitor to prepare the firearm to be initially used
on the stage, prior to assuming the ready position. The “Load and Make Ready”
command defines the start of the “Course of Fire” regardless of how many
firearms are prepared, loaded and/or staged following that command.
All
other applicable provisions of 8.3.1 (including subclauses) apply.
MG 8.3.6:
Where
more than one firearm is used during a course of fire, the Range Officer will
give the command “If You Are Finished, Unload And Show Clear” and will
supervise the shooter through the appropriate procedure for clearing the most
recently used firearm (see 8.3.6, 8.3.7). When that procedure is complete, the Range Officer will accompany
the shooter to any firearms abandoned during the course of fire (see MG-10.5.3), and repeat the procedure to
supervise the clearing of each firearm in turn. Only when ALL firearms have been cleared will the Range Officer
declare “Range Is Clear” (8.3.8)
No
person other than the shooter, under the direct supervision of the Range
Officer, is permitted to touch an abandoned firearm until after it has been
cleared in accordance with 8.3.6 and 8.3.7
All
other applicable provisions of 8.3.6, 8.3.7 and 8.3.8 (including subclauses)
apply.
MG 9.2:
A
competitor's score is calculated by identifying the highest value stipulated
number of hits on each target which are of the appropriate caliber, as
determined by the firearm specified for use on that target in the course
instructions.
Any
hit(s) upon the scoring surface of a scoring paper target which is/are
determined
to have been fired from the incorrect firearm for that target shall not be
scored and, unless there are scoring hit(s) from the correct firearm, any
resulting Miss penalties shall apply. In the case of steel or frangible
targets, any hits by the non-specified firearm which result in that target
being unavailable for further engagement shall be scored with Failure To Shoot
At and Miss penalties.
Any hits
on a paper or metal penalty target will be scored in accordance with the
appropriate provisions of 9.4.2 and 9.4.3
All
other provisions of 9.2 and 9.4 apply.
Also note that violation of firearm-specific minimum distances (see 2.1.3
and 10.4.7) may result when a metal
target is engaged with the incorrect firearm.
MG 10.3.1:
A
competitor who commits a safety infraction or any other prohibited activity
during a USPSA multi-gun match will be disqualified from the entire match, and
will be prohibited from attempting any remaining courses of fire in that match
regardless of the schedule or physical layout of the match.
MG 10.5.3:
Within
the context of a multi-gun stage, a competitor may be required to “abandon” a
firearm in order to use another firearm. In this context, an “abandoned
firearm” is a firearm which the competitor has used, placed on the ground or
other stable object in accordance with course requirements, and subsequently
moved more than one (1) meter away from.
In a
multi-gun stage, the provisions of 10.5.3.2
are waived to allow a firearm to be “abandoned” during a course of fire. When a firearm is abandoned, all other
provisions of 10.5.3 apply, and the
firearm must be left in an “unloaded” condition. An abandoned firearm found to be loaded (as defined in 10.5.13 for each firearm type) will
result in a Match DQ.
An
abandoned firearm must be oriented with the muzzle pointing in a safe direction
as defined in 10.5.2, and safe
muzzle direction for any abandoned firearms must be specified in the course
description. Props, markings or other
devices may be used to indicate or control the safe muzzle direction of an
abandoned firearm.
Stage
designs must be configured in such a way that no person is ever allowed or
required to pass in front of the muzzle of an abandoned firearm. An abandoned firearm found to be pointed in
an unsafe direction or which results in any person passing in front of the muzzle
will be considered a violation of 10.5.2
or 10.5.5, as appropriate.
Note: If
the shooter remains within 1 meter of the firearm as specified in 10.5.3.2, the
firearm is not considered abandoned, and such a firearm MAY be left in a loaded
ready condition.
Note: 10.5.3.4
is limited to unloaded ready conditions: an abandoned firearm may NOT be in a
loaded ready condition.
All
other provisions of 10.5.3 (including subclauses) apply.
MG Appendix C:
Popper
calibration procedures must be conducted according to the discipline specific
rules applicable to the firearm type used to shoot the popper. For example, a popper designated as a rifle
target must be calibrated according to the procedure defined in Appendix C of
the Rifle rulebook.
MG Appendix D:
Firearms
must comply with and will be categorized according to the Division Equipment
rules in Appendix D of the discipline-specific rulebooks. However, only those competition divisions defined
in the current version of the Tournament rulebook may be recognized in a
multi-gun match. Appendix A2 in the
Tournament rulebook will be used to determine which firearm combinations are
valid in each competition division.
Disclaimer:
These
rules and guidelines are expressly provided on a provisional basis for a period
of time, during which they are subject to change. It is recommended that competitors NOT make equipment purchase
decisions based on provisional materials, as future changes and refinements may
affect the applicability of that equipment for competition purposes.
Call To
Action:
These
provisional rules are provided so that clubs may try them out, see what works,
and provide feedback to USPSA.
The
USPSA Board wants to ensure that USPSA competitions are relevant and
interesting to USPSA members. During
this provisional period, we will be paying a great deal of attention to
feedback that we receive from members and clubs, about the experiences gained
at Multi-Gun Matches. You can help
USPSA by reporting back to us what works, and what doesn’t, so that we can make
the final rules as clear and complete as possible.
Please help us, by trying these rules out, letting us know how they
work, and how they can be improved.