MATCH RULES AND CONDITIONS

HANDGUN CALIBER
Center fire handguns must be the minimum caliber of 9mm/.38 special. Center fire firearms shall be suitable for holster use. Rimfire shall be .22 Long Rifle caliber only.

HOLSTERS
Holsters shall be mounted in the general vicinity of the waist and must retain the gun. IDPA categories must abide by the IDPA criteria, to include IDPA approved holsters and holster position. Triggers may not be fully exposed with the exception of the Single Action western holsters.

AMMUNITION
There will be no multiple projectile or magnum loads allowed. All rounds must travel a minimum of 750 FPS.

POWER FACTOR
Note: Stop plates will be tested for a 120 power factor. An ultra light load or edger may not stop the timer. However, each stage will have a backup sound timer, which will be used each time there is not an impact stoppage. The back up timer is gang wired an begins on the same initial start signal. A set “factor” for bullet travel time to the stop plate, will be added to the sound timer to approximate the same time, which is based on a 800 FPS bullet speed.

SCORING
Your time is your score. Each of four targets must be hit during each string of fire and a designated impact stop plate will be hit last to stop the time. Total score for all stages will determine the Overall Champion. The best four out of five runs will be counted as the total score for each stage, except for Outer Limits, which will be the best three out of four runs. Any hits made after the maximum time allowance will not be counted. All primary targets hit after the stop plate has been struck, will be scored with a 3 second penalty each. The maximum time allowed for each individual run is 30 seconds. The competitor will be stopped and asked to reload if they reach the 30 second limit. Three (3) second procedural penalties will be given for:

• Creeping, movement or jumping before the start signal
• Foot faults – A foot fault will be described as when shots are fired while any part of the body (foot) is touching down outside of the shooting boxes. Clarification: A competitor may not support any weight down “outside” (on the ground) of the shooting box while shooting, but foot pressure on the raised shooting box will not be penalized.
• shooting at the wrong targets from the designated boxes
• incorrect or non movement.

SHOOTER CATEGORY
It is the shooter’s responsibility to properly declare any extra categories in which they wish to be entered. If you are not sure, then you must ask BEFORE the match begins. A shooter may qualify for more than one category (i.e. IDPA Custom & Law Enforcement), however, a contestant may NOT compete for both IDPA and LIMITED. You must choose between one category and the other in this regard.

MISCELLANEOUS
It is the responsibility of the competitors to check their scores as written on their scorecards and to sign their scorecards when finished shooting. Any questions concerning the scores entered on the scorecard should be asked of the Range Officials at that time. If still needed, a Match Director will then be summoned. However, it is the shooter’s responsibility to submit the correct scorecard for the appropriate stage, event, primary and optional entry.
All shooting boxes will be 3’ x 3’ except for Outer Limits, which are 4’ x 4’. All courses of fire will be fired from a single shooting box with the exceptions of Outer Limits and Showdown, which will each have more than one shooting box. Showdown will have two 3’x 3’ shooting boxes and two runs will be shot from one shooting box and two from the other. The competitor may choose from either box to shoot their fifth and final run. There is NO movement between boxes during this course of fire.
The Outer Limits will have three 4’ x 4’ shooting boxes. The shooter will start on their weak side shooting box and will engage the 20 and 35 yard plates on the weak side of the center line, move to the middle shooting box and engage the remaining two plates and stop plate. The distance between each of the three boxes will be 6’. Note: Only two of the three boxes will be used by each shooter. Depending on whether you are right or left handed, you will begin in the appropriate outside box and finish in the middle box.

MOVEMENT
USPSA rules will apply for shots fired while moving into the second shooting box in Outer Limits. If the contestant fires and leaves Box A and then realizes they missed and/or hit the targets out of sequence and returns to Box A and continues to shoot, there will be no procedural penalty (Keep the muzzle down range while returning to Box A). Any target(s) struck in the incorrect order (A vs. B) WILL be judged as a miss. If any shots are fired after having begun to move forward out of the box, there WILL be a procedural penalty. (For ease of judging, both feet must be touching down while firing in Box A in the Weak Side Box in the Outer Limits.) Upon reaching Box B, the contestant may begin to fire when one foot is in the box and the trailing foot is either in the box or in the air. Remember, if targets are engaged out of order without corrective shots being taken, there will be a procedural penalty, plus a miss scored on each target struck out of turn.
The shooter may not leave the initial box until AFTER the first two targets are engaged. Upon entering the second box, the competitor may begin to engage the targets when the trailing foot is off the runway. It is the shooter’s choice as to whether they should have the trailing foot down or in the air before firing.

STARTING COMMANDS
The audible timer start will be proceeded by the commands “Load and make ready.” After a short time is taken, the shooter shall indicate that he or she is ready. The commands will be “Shooter ready? – Stand by.” There will then be a hesitation of one half to one and one half seconds before the start signal will sound. Creeping or jumping is expressly prohibited! Hands must remain motionless after the “Stand by” command. A 3 second penalty WILL BE ASSESSED for creeping, premature start, hand movement or bouncing of any kind. Please do not test the officials.

HAND POSITION
Hands are to be held in the “Surrender Position”, which is shoulder high, with the wrists and full hands visible from behind. The Range Officer will stop the count down and give one warning and one warning ONLY if they see that the competitor is setting up too low or starting to creep or “bounce”. Failure to comply will result in a three second penalty for each occurrence.

SAFETY RULES
The range is cold! Handguns will not be loaded except as directed by Match Officials. Semi-autos will have an empty chamber and magazine well, and all chambers and revolver cylinders will be kept empty.
During loading or unloading, engaging the course of fire and during remedial action in the event of a malfunction, the muzzle of the handgun must ALWAYS be kept pointed down range. If the limit line (180 degrees of the shooter box) is violated with a loaded gun, the contestant will be asked to unload and will be disqualified from the entire match. After a string of fire, no contestant may leave their position until the firearm has been unloaded, inspected and cleared by the Range Officer. The firearm will then be holstered or placed in a protective sheath or bag.
In the event a firearm cannot be unloaded due to a broken or failed mechanism, the shooter will notify the Range Officer. In no case, will a contestant leave the line with a loaded weapon. During the contest, contestants will refrain from handling their firearms, except when instructed by a match official or in designated areas.
Due to the unique needs and nature of the Steel Challenge, drawing from concealed carry is not allowed. Should a firearm be dropped during a course of fire, the contestant will not pick up the firearm, but allow the match official to do so. The match official will then unload and inspect the firearm.

SAFETY VIOLATIONS
The following violations, any one of which may, and any two of which shall, result in disqualification:
• Pointing an unloaded pistol up range (break the 180 degree line).
• Dropping of an unloaded firearm.
• Leaving the line with a loaded pistol.
• Any grossly uncontrolled shot or accidental discharge.
• Picking up a dropped firearm without the direction of a match official.
The following violations shall result in automatic disqualification from the tournament:
• Pointing a loaded firearm up range.
• Dropping a loaded firearm.
• Any shot fired into the holster or into the ground within six feet of the contestant.
• Unsafe handling of a loaded firearm.
• Contestants under the influence of a controlled substance. (Alcohol or drugs)
• Any behavior or action in violation of sportsmanship codes, or that which directly and/or adversely affects the performance of another competitor.
• Any disrespectful words and/or gestures to or towards a match official.

GENERAL MATCH INFORMATION
All targets are painted white and will be repainted prior to each contestant’s first run on each course of fire. All round targets, except for the Pendulum are 5′ high to the top of the target and all rectangles are 5′6″ to the top of the target (as set by a transom from the shooter’s box). Pendulum has two round targets that are 6’ to the top of the target. All course designs and measurements are “approximate” with slight variations possible. Eye and ear protection for all shooters and spectators are required. Individuals observed without eye or ear wear will be required to leave the shooting area.
Should a tie for 1st place of any stage occur, the fastest single run of that particular stage, will be used as the tie breaker. If still needed, the second and third run will be used as the tie breaker.
Should a tie for overall placing occur, the Speed Option stage score will be used as the tie breaker.
The same gun, holster and holster position must be used throughout the match. If there is a mechanical problem, equipment of similar make or model may be used as a replacement. If said guns or holsters are entered in a Division or Category event, the same guidelines, conditions or restrictions must apply. If these guidelines cannot be met with the replacement gun or holster, the contestant will not be eligible for recognition in their Category, but will remain eligible for Overall Awards. Should a malfunction occur, the string of fire will be scored and competitor given the chance to retire for repairs or replacement of the equipment before resuming the course of fire.
The squad will not wait, but proceed with the next competitor due to shoot. If someone wishes to file a protest for an arbitration hearing, there will be a $100 cash fee. The Arbitration Board will consist of the Match Director. If the protest is upheld, the $100 fee will be refunded. The protest must be prepared in writing and submitted within one hour of the “violation” and before the close of competition on the day of the occurrence. When a Range Officer scores a miss, it is the shooter’s responsibility to appeal the decision at the end of that particular string of fire. The Range Officer will then go down range and check the target. Once the next string of fire begins, there will be NO further opportunity to appeal the call.
A balance between the competitor’s need to ready themselves and the amount of time available in each day is essential for everyone’s enjoyment. Your cooperation will be appreciated by the match staff and the other competitors.
Competitors may fire as many rounds as they deem necessary for each string of fire. All final decisions will be made by the Match Director.

DRESS CODE
Camouflage or para-military clothing, or shirts with controversial slogans or sayings WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. Anyone wearing these items will be asked to leave the range facility. Active duty military uniforms are exempt from this requirement.