ORPCI.org

Introduction to IPSC Pistol - 8

by Chris Scott CRO

The Range Officer COMMANDS:

When you are called to shoot the stage, step into the shooting box (or initial shooting position), stand facing downrange, and await the Range Officer's commands: DO NOT touch your gun until you're told to!   Strict safety rules must be followed, and you will be disqualified from the match if you unholster your gun prior to instruction from a Range Officer.

 

 

The Range Officer will issue these commands:

Ask questions before you start.

Make ready!

This is your OK to unholster your gun and load .   Point downrange while loading, then re-holster, and assume the prescribed start position. Remember to make certain your safety is on if you have one!

Are you ready?

If you are NOT ready, say “NOT READY!” Otherwise, the R.O. will assume you're ready.   ­You may give a nod when ready.

Standby!

This means the audible start signal (beep) is imminent.   Do not move until the beep or you will incur a creeping penalty.   Within seconds, you'll get the beep to start shooting.   Once you have completed the course of fire, just stop and wait, with gun safely pointed downrange.   ­

If you are finished, unload and show clear.

With your finger out of the trigger guard and the muzzle pointed safely downrange, drop the magazine, empty the chamber, and hold your slide back exposing an empty chamber (revolvers, open and empty the cylinder); allow the R.O. to see the now-empty gun (chamber and mag well). When the RO is satisfied, he will say: ­

IF clear - hammer down,

With the muzzle pointed safely downrange, close the slide (or cylinder), and DROP the hammer -this means pull the trigger as though you were firing a round . This does NOT mean de-cock the gun. If the gun goes BANG! you will be disqualified. YOU are responsible for clearing your gun.

and holster .

Holster your empty gun.

The range is clear!

This signals the target pasters and resetters to go forward.   Stay with the Range Officer to watch scoring your targets. Stay at least three feet from your targets, and don't touch them. Verify your score (scored correctly, hits totaled) and sign your score sheet.  

NOTE: If at any time the RO says STOP!, FREEZE, or similar, stop shooting, remove finger from trigger, apply the safety if any, and await further instructions with muzzle pointing safely downrange.

 

  
Avoid a DQ  

DISQUALIFICATION – A Disqualification (DQ) will be incurred for any of the following safety infractions (in addition to those already mentioned). Please understand that nobody wants to DQ anybody, but a certified Range Officer has an ethical obligation to enforce the safety rules.

•  AD Any accidental discharge (including any discharge before or after the course, any unsafe discharge, and any discharge during loading, reloading, unloading, or correcting a malfunction)

•  Breaking the 180° (pointing the gun uprange), whether the firearm is loaded or not.

•  Dropping a handgun, loaded or not, during the course of fire, which includes during loading and unloading

•  Sweeping any part of your body – or anyone else's – with the muzzle of a gun.

•  Allowing the muzzle of a handgun to point down to the rear beyond a radius of 3 feet when drawing or re­holstering

•  Leaving a finger in the trigger guard during malfunction clearing, loading, unloading, or reloading, or during movement while not actively engaging targets. (This is unsafe gun handling.)

•  Having a loaded handgun other than when specifically ordered to do so by a Range Officer

•  Retrieving a dropped, unloaded handgun outside the course of fire (an RO must pick it up and verify its unloaded - if unloaded, no DQ. If you pick it up, a DQ results).

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT – Failure to immediately obey RO instructions, bad behavior (temper tantrums, apparel of dubious taste, etc.), deliberately shooting props and equipment, etc., will lead to DQ.

PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES – Persons who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will be disqualified.

 
   

<-Back Next: Helping Your Squad >

Webmaster's Corner