Most of the time we just compete for fun.
Beginners are more than welcome to shoot.
These rules below are mainly for the use of qualifying matches.
We have a shooters meeting before every match that includes verbal rules set for that shoot. Example; We always operate a "Cold Range" (no loaded weapon or mags in until instructed to do so). Safety for everyone!!!
Rules
All rules to be followed by the International Multi-Gun Association.
2013 Colorado 3 Gun Rules
(Based on International Multi-Gun Association Rules)
1. Safety Rules
1.1 Participants are subject to Match Disqualification for violation of any rule or regulation in
Sections 1 or 2.
1.2 Matches will be run on a "Cold Range".
1.2.1 Cold Range (definition): Participants firearms will remain unloaded and will not be handled at
the match site except at Designated Safe Areas or under the direction of a match official.
1.3 Designated Safety Areas
1.3.1 Safety Areas will be clearly marked with signs.
1.3.2 Firearms may be handled only in the Safety Areas.
1.3.3 No loaded magazines or ammunition rounds may be handled in any Safety Area.
1.4 Rifles & Shotguns (transporting from vehicle & in-between stages)
1.4.1 Rifles & shotguns must be cased, carried/slung with the muzzle up, or secured in a gun-cart.
1.4.2 Rifles & shotguns must have a chamber safety flag in place & detachable magazines removed.
1.4.3 Once at a stage rifles & shotguns must remain cased, in a gun-cart, or in a gun rack until it is your
turn to shoot.
1.5 Handguns (carry between stages)
1.5.1 Handguns must be cased or remain in holster with the magazine removed except in designated
Safety Areas, or under the direction of a Range Officer.
1.5.2 Handguns must be carried with the "Hammer/Striker Down."
1.6 No participants or spectators shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-
prescription drugs at the match site. Any participant found to be impaired & deemed
unsafe as a result of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting &
requested to leave the range.
1.7 Eye and Ear protection is mandatory for all participants, spectators, & range personnel.
1.8 Grounding Firearms
1.8.1 During the course requirements of a Sport Shooting stage, a competitor may be required to
ground a firearm in order to transition to another. During the stage briefing, the location(s)
where a competitor is authorized to ground a firearm will be clearly specified.
1.8.2 The following provisions outline the only acceptable ways to ground a firearm during a
course of fire in the location(s) specified in the stage briefing:
a. Loaded, safety engaged.
b. Completely unloaded/empty (NO rounds in the gun).
2. Disqualification
2.1 "Match DQ" = complete disqualification from the match and the participant will not be allowed to
continue.
2.1.1 "Stage DQ" = the participant will receive zero points for the stage.
2.2 "Negligent Discharge" is defined as the discharge of a firearm in an unsafe manner or unintentionally
in which a projectile (bullet) strikes the ground within 3 yards of the competitor or range officer, or
outside the confines of the backstop. A Negligent Discharge will result in a Match DQ.
2.3 Grounding a firearm in a condition not outlined under Rule 1.8.2 a./b. will result in Stage DQ.
2.4 A participant shall receive a Match DQ for dropping a firearm during a course of fire or while in the
loading/unloading process.
2.5 A participant shall receive a Match DQ for allowing the muzzle of his/her firearm to break the 180
degree Safety Plane (except while holstered).
2.6 If a competitor shoots a steel target with a firearm/ammo type which is not authorized for such a
target (per the stage briefing), the shooter will receive a Stage DQ and a $50 fine. However, due to
safety concerns of certain course designs, a stage briefing may specify that shooting certain steel
targets with unauthorized firearm/ammo, that shooter receive a Match DQ and a $50 fine.
2.7 Unloading a firearm in unsafe manner will result in Match DQ. Including but not limited to
emptying a firearm by discharging the remaining round(s) while not engaging a target.
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2.8 Un-sportsman-like Conduct and/or Cheating will result in a Match DQ.
2.8.1 Intentionally altering targets prior to the target being scored to gain advantage or avoid a penalty.
2.8.2 Altering or falsifying score sheets.
2.8.3 Altering the configuration of firearms or equipment to gain advantage (see Rule 5)
2.8.4 Threatening or assaulting other competitors or staff personnel.
2.8.5 Disruptive behavior in an attempt to disturb other competitors while they are shooting.
2.9 Final decisions for all DQ’s & re-shoots will be issued by the Match Director.
3. Sportsmanship & Conduct
3.1 Participants & spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous,
sportsman-like manner at all times. Disputes will be handled by the Match Director.
3.2 Clothing with any offensive or obscene political slogans, logos, sayings, pictures/drawings
will not be worn or displayed while at the match site/range.
3.3 Violation of magazine/ammunition limitations in Tactical & Heavy Metal Divisions will
result in the participant being placed in Open Division for the entire match (see Section 6).
4. Ammunition
4.1 No tracer, incendiary, or armor piercing ammunition is allowed.
4.2 Handgun ammunition shall be 9x19mm or larger.
4.3 Rifle ammunition must be of a center fire caliber traditionally recognized as a "rifle caliber", and have
a minimum bullet diameter of 5.45mm. Pistol caliber carbines, 9x19mm or larger are also allowed,
but will not be permitted on ranges over 100 yards due to safety concerns. Please also see Rule 5.4.
4.4 Shotgun ammunition must be 20 Gauge or larger, #4 lead birdshot or smaller & lead slugs only.
4.4.1 Lead buckshot may be used only when specified per the stage briefing.
5. Firearms
5.1 All firearms used by competitors shall be serviceable & safe.
5.2 If a firearm becomes unserviceable during competition, that competitor may replace the firearm with
another of the same type, caliber & sighting system approved by a Match Official.
5.3 For purposes of this ruling, a "firearm" consists of a specific caliber, receiver, barrel, stock & sighting
system combination.
5.4 The same firearm system, for each gun, per Rule 5.3, shall be used for the entire match.
5.5 Competitors may not reconfigure any firearm during the course of a match. (i.e. change caliber,
barrel length, shotgun magazine tube length, sighting systems or stock style.) This will be
considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct, with the exception of Rule 5.2.
5.6 No full-auto or burst-fire allowed. A competitor may use a select-fire firearm, provided it is used
only in semi-auto mode. Use of full-auto or burst-fire will be result in a Match DQ.
6. Divisions
6.1 Open Division
6.1.1 No limitations on ammunition capacity, modifications, or accessories.
6.1.2 Handgun magazine length may not exceed 170mm.
6.1.3 Shotgun speed-loaders must have primer relief cuts.
6.2 Tactical Divisions (Tactical-Limited & Tactical-Optic)
6.2.1 No electronic/optical sights, compensators or barrel porting allowed on handguns or shotguns.
6.2.2 Handgun magazines may not exceed 170mm for single-stacks, 140mm for double-stacks.
6.2.3 No shotgun speed-loaders or shotguns with detachable magazines allowed.
6.2.4 Shotguns may not be loaded with more than 9 rounds prior to the start signal, but capacity will not
be limited after the start signal.
6.2.5 Tactical-Limited rifles may be equipped with "iron sights" and/or one (1) non-magnifying (1X)
electronic/optical sight only.
6.2.6 Tactical-Optic rifles may be equipped with no more than one (1) electronic/optical sight.
6.2.7 Rifle compensators may not be more than 1" diameter or more than 3" long (measured from muzzle
to the end of the compensator). Suppressors ("silencers") may also be equipped on Tactical rifles.
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6.3 Heavy Metal-Limited Division
6.3.1 Handgun must be .45 ACP or larger and must comply with Tactical rules.
6.3.2 Handgun magazines may not be loaded with more than 10 rounds.
6.3.3 Shotguns must be 12 Gauge or larger, must have manually-operated actions, and must comply
with Tactical rules.
6.3.4 Heavy Metal rifles must be .308 Winchester (7.62x51 NATO) or larger & must comply with Tactical-
Limited rules.
6.3.5 Rifle magazines may not be loaded with more than 20 rounds.
6.4 Heavy Tactical Division
6.4.1 Handgun must be .40 S&W or larger and must comply with Tactical rules.
6.4.2 Shotguns must be 12 Gauge or larger and must comply with Tactical rules.
6.4.3 Heavy Tactical rifles must be .308 Winchester (7.62x51 NATO) or larger & must comply with
Tactical-Optic rules.
6.4.4 Rifle magazines may not be loaded with more than 20 rounds.
7. Holsters & Equipment
7.1 Holsters must be capable of retaining the handgun during the vigorous movement that may be
required or otherwise encountered during the courses of fire.
7.2 Holsters must allow the competitor to safely draw and re-holster the handgun without causing the
muzzle to point in an unsafe direction.
7.3 Holsters must completely cover the trigger on all pistols & double-action revolvers. Single-action
revolver holsters may expose the trigger.
7.4 The competitor shall use the same holster for the duration of the match.
7.5 Spare ammunition, magazines, speed-loaders, and other equipment must be secured in pouches,
pockets and/or carriers on the competitor’s person or firearm during a course of fire, unless directed
otherwise in the stage briefing.
7.6 A competitor may not abandon any equipment during a course of fire except detachable magazines,
speed-loaders, or ammunition clips, unless so directed by the Range Officer or stage description.
7.7 Any Open Division firearm or Open Division equipment puts the competitor in Open Division for the
entire match. See Firearm Division rules for details.
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8. Scoring
8.1 Scoring per stage will be straight time with bonus’ for accuracy.
8.1.1 Any cardboard target, designated as a "shoot" target must be "neutralized" by either one (1) "A" or
"B" zone hit or two (2) hits anywhere inside the scoring perforations on the target (i.e. minimum 2
"D" hits) to avoid a penalty. Slug targets may be exempted from this rule & only require one (1) hit
inside a designated scoring ring to neutralize.
8.1.2 Example of scoring & penalties on paper targets:
a. One "A" zone hit = no penalty
b. One "B" zone hit = no penalty
c. Two hits in any combination "C" or "D" = no penalty
f. One "C" or "D" hit only = 5 second penalty (Failure To Neutralize)
d. No hits on target but target was engaged = 10 second penalty (Not Hit)
e. Target Not Engaged (TNE) = 15 second penalty (10 seconds for not making the minimum
number of hits on the target plus 5 seconds for the TNE)
8.1.3 Designated "No Shoot" targets will incur a 5 second penalty for each hit.
8.1.4 Knock-down targets (i.e. poppers, plates) must fall to score.
8.1.4.1 Knock-down targets, including no-shoot plates will count for score/penalty when they fall for any reason(s) set in motion from the competitor’s shot(s) fired after the start signal, and prior to "unload and show clear".
8.1.5 Frangible targets (i.e. clays) must break to score (one BB hole is a break).
8.1.6 Failing to engage a knock-down or frangible target will result in a 15-second penalty. (10 seconds
for not making the hit & 5 seconds TNE.)
8.1.7 Engaging a knock-down or frangible target but failing to neutralize it will result in a 10 second
penalty per target. R.O. may call hits.
8.1.8 Procedural penalties, 5 seconds per shot, may be assessed for not following stage directions.
8.1.9 Stage Not Fired (SNF) penalty, 500 seconds per stage not fired.
8.1.10 Maximum penalty time for any stage (including target penalties) is 500 seconds.
8.1.11 Higher penalties and/or other bonuses may be imposed/rewarded on any target designated a
High Value Target (HVT) in the course description.
8.1.12 Unless otherwise stated in a stage briefing, all paper targets are considered soft cover, and all
props are considered hard cover.
8.1.13 Unless otherwise stated in a stage briefing, all courses of fire will have a 100 second par time
(time limit). When a competitor does not finish a stage within the par time, a raw time of 100
seconds will be recorded, and the targets will be scored as per Rule 8.1.
9. Stage Points
9.1 1st Place (lowest time) for each stage, will receive 100 points; 2nd Place & below will
figure points on a percentage basis of the 100 from 1st Place.
9.2 Total points accumulated for all stages will determine a competitor’s match placement
overall, and/or by division.
9.3 Highest score wins.
