Eye & ear protection

The most popular hearing protection is electronic earmuffs that let you hear conversation, but mute loud sounds automatically.   Various types of earplugs are also seen. Whatever your choice, you must be absolutely comfortable with the sound of close gunfire - if you are even a bit uncomfortable, use earplugs under earmuffs.

  If you wear prescription glasses, they must have sufficient eye socket coverage to protect you from the occasional off-angle bullet fragment ricochets.   Although these fragments rarely break the skin, they can blind you if you ignore eye protection. Small stylish types are inadequate without additional outer glasses.   If you don't normally wear glasses, full-wrap shooter's glasses or other safety glasses work well.   

Clothing

Matches are conducted in all weather so wear what's appropriate.   Gun store commandos and Rambo wannabees have no place in our sport. Avoid cammo or wacko tee-shirts. Think of it this way, if the world was watching you shooting our sport on TV , how would you dress to best promote the sport?  

Safety

Safety in our sport is obviously essential to avoid injury and to maintain our excellent safety record. This safety emphasis is reflected in our rules, which impose harsh penalties (match disqualification) for safety infractions.

• Your gun never touches your ammo unless you are under the direct control of a Range Officer.
• Your gun stays holstered at all times other than when unpacking or packing at a designated safe area unless an RO has directed otherwise.
• You may not handle ammo inside a safe area.  
• Never sweep yourself or others with the muzzle of a loaded or unloaded gun.
• Keep your trigger finger outside the trigger guard except while actively engaging targets. During reloading or jam clearing, keep your finger outside the trigger guard.  
• While shooting a stage, never break the imaginary 180 degree line - this extends lef, right, and to the vertical so don't point your muzzle upwards or downwards either.  

The most important thing: Remember: safety depends upon YOU. If YOU shoot yourself or someone else, It's YOUR fault. If you can't or won't accept this responsibility, you have no place in our sport.