MATCH RULES AND FORMAT
1. WHO CAN SHOOT: The match is open to all scoped centerfire rifles .35 caliber and below (typically .338 and smaller). You may supplement your rifle's scope with a separate spotting scope if you wish. Rifles with muzzle brakes are allowed but must be declared as such to the Match Director prior to when shooting times are assigned, or there will be a 15 point penalty applied. When practical, shooters with muzzle brakes will be grouped together or at least separated from other shooters. There will be three separate classes for scoring: [1] smaller than .30 caliber non-BR (.243, .223, .222, .22-250, 6.5-08, etc.) [2] .30 caliber non-BR (.308, .30-06, .300 WinMag, .338, etc.) [3] Benchrest (such as 6 PPC, 6 BR, 6.5-284, 6.5x47, 30 BR, 22 BR, 22 Dasher, etc), 2. RIFLE RESTS. You may use front and/or rear rifle rests during the match. The front and rear rests cannot be attached/connected to each other in any way.
ANY form of front rest may be used, including bench-type, but if you do use an adjustable bench-type front rest, your score will be reduced by a 5-point "handicap" to put you more on par with shooters using tactical style rests (shooting bags, sandbags, bipods, etc). Also, any adjustable bench-type front rest used must be placed directly on the ground rather than in conjunction with another support platform such as a board or block.
NOVICE NOTE: If you have not shot with us before and consider yourself a novice, or in previous events with us you have never scored in the top half of your class (or overall if no class breakdowns), THEN YOUR SCORE WILL NOT BE HANDICAPPED for use of an adjustable bench-type front rest... we want you to have the opportunity improve your skills using the front rest with which you're most comfortable.
Acceptable rear rests are standard square, rectangular or rabbit-eared shooter's sandbags, "squeeze sock" or combinations of those. They must be soft, unformed material. You may NOT use any type of hard, formed, mechanically adjustable or bench-style rear rests unless the hard rear rest is built in as part of your rifle (such as a monopod). You may stack multiple bags to adjust for rear height, but you can not form a shaped rest. You may have a simple flat piece of board under your rear rest(s) but it may not exceed two inches in any direction beyond the edges of the rest where it/they touch the ground (similar to NRA "F-class").
Slings may be used in place of or in combination with any acceptable rests. 3. The order of the course of fire (order of engaging targets) is fixed and mandatory, and the total time to engage all stages will be limited. The total time is 20 MINUTES TO SHOOT 30 ROUNDS as described below in #6. 4. No “sighter shots” or “warm-up shots” are allowed during the match or before the match on match day unless specifically allowed in Rules/Format #6. Otherwise, all shots are for score, with the number of shots at each stage and target strictly limited as stated below in #6. One penalty point (and any score achieved with the penalty round fired, always presumed to be the "best" shot on the target regardless of where the actual "extra" shot hits) will be deducted for each and every round fired in excess of the mandatory number of rounds to be fired at each stage or target, and/or 5 penalty points for any shot engaging another competitor's target (presumed to be the "worst" shot on the target towards that competitor's scoring if actual problem shot can not be determined... that competitor can only benefit from the stray shot). 5. All competitors will shoot from a prone position; shooting mats are suggested.
6. COURSE OF FIRE AND SCORING: The shooter will engage only the targets on the numbered target stand assigned. The course of fire will consist of all shooters engaging targets at nominal 200-yard distance and in the following order: Any number of shots may optionally be used as non-scored "sighter" shots, using the small (aprox 1") target dot in the upper left-hand corner of the target sheet. These must be accomplished AFTER timing starts; no additional time is set aside for "sighters". If a "sighter" inadvertently engages a scored target, it will be counted or penalized, as appropriate. The first 25 scored shots will consist of five shots at each of five “Orange Peel color-splash” targets attached to one target backer/stand for each shooter, 25 shots total, shot for score. The shooter will engage the targets on his/her numbered target stand assigned, progressing from large to small.
Note: Determination of ring hit and resultant score will be at the sole discretion of the Match Director. In general, if a bullet hole (not the color splash) breaks past the dividing line into the black of a higher score ring, that ring is considered hit. In any case, the Match Director will use consistent methodology when scoring all similar targets of all competitors. Total maximum number of scored rounds needed per competitor is 30. Maximum match score possible = 165 points. In the case of a tie in overall match score, the top-score shooter with the smallest 5-shot group from their bullseye targets will be considered the winner. 7. UPON COMPETITOR COMPLETION OF SHOOTING THE COURSE OF FIRE & AFTER THE MATCH DIRECTOR OR RANGE OFFICER CALLS THE RANGE “COLD/SAFE”, ALL COMPETITORS IN THAT GROUP ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO THE BERM, COLLECT THEIR OWN TARGETS AND SET UP TARGETS FOR THE NEXT GROUP OF COMPETITORS. Up to SEVEN shooters will simultaneously shoot the entire match course of fire from the prone position line. When the match director or range officer gives the command, competitors will go downrange to the berm to collect their targets and set up the targets for the next group of competitors. Immediately upon returning from the berm, each shooter is required to write his or her name (and caliber, if shooting multiple slots) on the BACKING SHEET of his/her bullseye targets, and hand them to the match director. 8. HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE MATCH: Competitors will register for the match by email to the match director Mike Charness, mcharness@comcast.net after match announcement, and no later than noon on the Thursday prior to the match. Earliest registrations get priority as far as scheduled shoot times (usually first groups of the day unless you request otherwise). Limited walk-on registration may be accomodated on a space available basis, either as fill-in for no-shows or cancellations, or if there is room in the last scheduled group of the day. If you have questions, Mike can also be reached by phone at 256.880.2277. Each competitor can shoot as many as three slots, as long as each is with with a different rifle, and no more than two are in a single caliber class (benchrest as one class, non-BR .30 caliber rifles as one class, and smaller than .30 caliber non-BR as the other class). All competitors will each pay to the match director a match fee of $15.00 for the first shooting slot and add $5 for a second caliber slot for a total of $20 for two, and add $5 for a third caliber slot, totaling $25 for three no later than at the time the shooter signs in prior to shooting the match, to cover the cost of targets, supplies and any prizes/awards. The first shooting slot is discounted down to $10 if you live an hour or more from the range or as a senior citizen discount if you are age 60+ and retired. Prepayment is optional... but it is preferred so we don't have to deal with it on match day. Pre-payment can be made via mail or PayPal, and should be received no later than the Thursday before match day. If you prepay but then have to cancel before the Thursday before match day when the schedule goes out, you're entitled to a refund or credit towards a future match. Even if you do not prepay but cancel after the schedule goes out or just "don't show", there will be a $5 materials fee per slot for the target sheet(s) that were made up for you unless we have a late sign-up that uses your slot(s). Any accumulated surplus will be periodically turned over to the Blue & Gray Rifle & Pistol Club. 9. SCHEDULING: The match director will schedule in advance the time of day that each shooter will commence the course of fire and shoot the match, and distribute the schedule to all participants no later than the Thursday prior to match day via group email. These will be at fixed 45 MINUTE INTERVALS STARTING AT 9:00am.
Competitor "shoot times" will be scheduled on a first come first served basis by the Match Director (preference is given to those whose registrations were received first -- which generally means an earlier shoot time on match day unless you state otherwise). In order to ensure match safety and due to range limitations we can expect to run no more than one group of shooters every 45 minutes through the match. Therefore, there will be a limit to the number of competitors that can shoot the match. In the case of high probability of rain, notice will be sent by email the night before the match and the match will be postponed or rescheduled. For those that pre-paid and can not attend the rescheduled date/time, they have a choice of a full refund or to have it held as a credit until their next PR200 match. 10. SAFETY ON THE SHOOTING LINE: SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION AT ALL TIMES DURING THE MATCH. IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SAFE SHOOTING AND AVOID CONGESTION AT THE SHOOTING LINE OF FIRE. SPECTATORS AND/OR SHOOTERS WHO ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY AFTER THEIR DESIGNATED “SHOOT TIME” WILL BE REQUIRED TO STAND BEHIND SHOOTER AREAS AND/OR CONCRETE PADS. Exceptions may be made for "coaches" of novice or junior shooters only with the specific approval of the Match Director. 11. COMPETITOR ARRIVAL & ARRIVAL TIME: All shooters are required to arrive no less than 20 minutes prior to their appointed "match shoot time". Upon arrival, each shooter must immediately sign in, filling out full name, whether or not he or she is a member of BGRPC, caliber(s) to be shot, contact info, etc. All shooters must be ready to bring to their assigned/designated prone shooting area all equipment, including their rifle, no less than 10 minutes before their assigned "shoot time". If everyone in the current shooting group is ready, we may start shooting a few minutes earlier than the published time.
ALL RIFLES WILL HAVE CHAMBER OPEN WITH CHAMBER EMPTY INDICATOR IN THE RIFLE UNTIL THE MATCH DIRECTOR GIVES THE COMMAND TO DO OTHERWISE. LIKEWISE, BOLTS WILL REMAIN PULLED BACK, ALL MAGAZINES OUT OF THE RIFLE, ALL SEMI AUTO CHAMBERS OPEN AND ALL ROUNDS OF AMMO OUT OF ALL FIREARMS - ALL CHAMBERS EMPTY UNTIL THE MATCH DIRECTOR GIVES THE COMMAND TO DO OTHERWISE. (If you do not have an Empty Chamber Flag, they will be available at the range for purchase at $2 each.) 12. Failure of any shooter to be ready to commence fire in accordance with the range officer or match director's direction at the designated "shoot time" will result in disqualification of the shooter and forfeiture of the competitor's opportunity to participate in the match that day unless a later slot becomes avilable. 13. At each “shoot time”, all competitors in the group will shoot the match simultaneously. 14. Match results will be tabulated and announced within 2 days after the day of the match (though normally the afternoon of match day) by email, and be made available for the website and/or newsletter. Any prizes/awards will be available for pickup or will be given at the next match attended. 15. PRIZES/AWARDS: If we have at least a dozen slots filled, it will be a "prize" match. Eligible winners will have their pick of a pop-up "Shooter's Shade", a custom black/gray or red/gray large range/duffel bag embroidered with our PRECISION logo, an electronic hand-held wind meter with temperature display, a Tipton polymer gun cleaning "pick" set, a pack of 25 qty 8-inch Orange Peel bullseye targets, a $10 credit towards future match fees, or a PRECISION logo t-shirt (depending on size availability), cap or coffee mug. If we have 12 to 19 shooting slots filled, a prize will be awarded to within the largest class only. If we have at least 20 shooting slots competing, a prize will also be awarded to the top shooter in the next largest class, and if 25 slots taken, a prize will be awarded in all three classes. No shooter is eligible to receive more than one prize per match, even if they choose to compete with multiple rifles, and the prize will pass to the next highest eligible shooter in that second class (a "spread the joy" approach). For a caliber class to be considered for a prize, it must have at least three participants (not just three slots). If two classes have the same number of slots taken, preference is given to the one with the higher number of participants, and if that is the same, then the one with the higher scoring shooter.
 |
