NCPCPL Match Rules (revised 7/2012)
Section 1: Safety Rules
1. Participants are subject to match disqualification for violation of any rule or regulation in sections 1 or 2.
2. All matches will be run on COLD RANGES.
a. COLD RANGE (definition): Participants firearms will remain unloaded at the match site except under the direction of a match official.
3. Designated Safety Areas
a. The Safety Areas will be competitor’s vehicle.
b. Unloaded firearms may be handled and/or displayed only in the Safety Areas.
4. Rifles & Shotguns, (carry from vehicle or between stages)
a. Rifles & shotguns must be cased or carried slung with the muzzle up if carried by the shooter. Non-motorized carts or conveyances may be used, with unloaded long guns secured with the muzzle close to the ground, at a downward angle.
b. Rifles & shotguns must be transported with detachable magazines removed.
5. Handguns (carry between stages)
a. Handguns must be cased or remain in holster, magazine removed except in designated Safety Areas, or under the direction of Range Officer(s) on a stage.
6. Handguns must be carried with the "Hammer/Striker Down."
a. On stages, the Ready Condition of handguns must be "Hammer Down" for DA autos & revolvers, and "Cocked & Locked" for SA autos or DA autos with manual override safeties, unless otherwise specified by the Range Officer(s) on stage.
7. 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 and deemed unsafe as a result of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting and requested to leave the range.
8. Eye protection is mandatory for participants, spectators & range personnel at the match site. Ear protection is mandatory for participants, spectators & range personnel while on or near a stage of fire.
9. No one under the age 15 may shoot unless the match director has provided a waiver.
Section 2: Disqualifications
1. Match Disqualification will result in complete disqualification from the match and the shooter will not be allowed to continue with the match. Shooter will not be eligible for prizes. Final decision will be with the Range Master.
2. Match Disqualification for Negligent Discharge.
a. "Negligent Discharge" is defined as the discharge of a firearm in an unsafe manner or unintentionally or accidentally in which the projectile (bullet or shot) strikes the ground within 3 meters of the competitor or range officer, outside the confines of the backstop, or striking any stage structure or vehicle when the shooter accessing or grounding a firearm. A projectile or shot inadvertently striking a stage structure or vehicle during aimed fire will not be deemed a negligent discharge provided the strike is greater than 1 foot from the muzzle
b. A Negligent Discharge into an object in a manner that is ruled unsafe will result in a Match Disqualification.
3. Any ND or AD that occurs while performing any remedial action (Loading, Unloading or any gun manipulation) will be a Match DQ.
4. Any round, which is shot over the berm by any weapon not aimed at a target, will result in a Match DQ.
5. Any ND or AD that strikes a prop; then travels over a berm or strikes the ground Closer than3 meterswill be a Match DQ.
6. Any rifle round that strikes any prop used as support will be a match DQ. (Skipping rounds)
7. Any shooting of prop's that cause significant concern to the RO about the shooters lack of control may be cause for Match DQ. The Match Director, Range Master and Stage RO's have the authority to make these calls. (ex. If a competitor is inside a vehicle and clearly looses his round count or muzzle control and a shot is fired other than an ND or AD)
8. A participant shall be disqualified from the Match for dropping a loaded firearm or dropping a firearm while in the loading/unloading process. It is the competitor’s sole responsibility to insure his gun is safely placed and positioned. If a barrel or box turns over or comes loose the competitor will be stopped and a reshoot issued, as this will be range equipment failure.
9. A participant shall be disqualified for allowing the muzzle of his/her firearm to break the 180-degree Safety Plane (except while holstered, drawing or re-holstering.)
10. The Range Master will issue ALL disqualifications and reshoots.
11. Stage briefings will list the specific “safe grounded condition” for firearms left while transitioning to a different weapon on a multi-gun stage. Failure to leave the weapon in the “safe grounded condition” will result in a match DQ.
12. A participant shall be disqualified from the match for impacting a steel target with a slug.
Section 3: Stage Disqualification
1. Engaging a steel rifle target with bi-metal or other non-approved rifle ammunition will result in a stage disqualification.
2. Any safety violation not specifically mentioned as a match disqualification may result in a stage disqualification, at the discretion of the Range Master.
Section 4: Reshoots
1. An RO may stop a shooter because he believes there is a squib in the gun. If there is a squib in the gun, the stage is scored as is. If there is not a squib in the gun, the shooter gets a reshoot.
2. The shooter may get a reshoot if there is a stage malfunction. If the shooter chooses to not take the reshoot, it is scored as-is. Examples of this are a target not being pasted, an activator not swinging, or a stage gun jamming.
3. A reshoot will not occur due to a competitor’s gun, ammunition, or equipment having a problem.
Section 5: Stage Limits
Each stage has a maximum time of 90 seconds unless otherwise specified.
Section 6: Sportsmanship & Conduct
1. Participants and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous, sportsman-like manner at all times. The Range Master will handle disputes promptly and fairly.
2. Clothing with any offensive or obscene logos, sayings, pictures or drawings will not be worn or displayed while at the match site/range.
3. Any competitor with a proven handicap can shoot the course other than intended (strong hand/weak hand) but may incur a 35% penalty in time/points per string or per stage. The RM will decide on a case-by-case basis.
4. Excessive stage prep and shadowing will not be allowed and penalties will be given accordingly.
Section 7: Ammunition
1. No tracer or incendiary ammo is allowed.
2. No armor piercing or steel/nickel jacketed (bi-metal) or steel core ammunition is allowed.
3. Pistol/revolver ammunition shall be 9x19mm or larger.
4. Rifle ammunition shall be .223 Remington (5.56 NATO) or larger.
5. Shotgun ammunition shall be 20 gauge or larger, LEAD SHOT & SLUGS ONLY.
6. No steel shot or non-lead alloy ammo allowed. Use of these types of ammo will incur a Match DQ.
7. Slug impacts on steel targets other than designated slug targets will result in a Match DQ.
Section 8: Firearms
1. All firearms used by competitors shall be serviceable and safe.
2. If a competitor's firearm becomes unserviceable during competition, that competitor may replace his/her firearm with another of the same model, caliber and sighting system approved by the Range Master.
3. For purposes of this section, a "firearm" consists of a specific caliber, receiver, barrel, stock and sighting system combination.
4. The same firearm system, for each gun, shall be used during the entire match.
5. Competitors will not reconfigure any firearm during the course of a match. (i.e. change caliber, barrel length, shotgun magazine tube length, sighting systems, stock style) Shotgun chokes may be changed from stage to stage.
Section 9: Firearms Classifications [Open Class, Tactical Irons/NMO Class, Optics Class, Patrol]
1. Handgun- Open Class
a. No limitations on accessories
b. Magazine length may not exceed 170 millimeters.
2. Handgun- Tactical Irons/NMO, Optics, Patrol
a. Firearms must be of factory configuration.
b. Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original factory configuration of the handgun.
c. No custom or factory installed electronic sights, optical sights, extended sights, compensators, or ported barrels are allowed.
d. Magazines shall not exceed 170mm OAL (overall length) for single stacks, and 140mm OAL for staggered magazines.
3. Rifle- Open Class
a. No limitations on accessories
b. Barrel length shall not be changed for the duration of the match.
c. Compensator shall not be larger than 1” diameter by 3” long.
4. Rifle- Tactical Irons/NMO, Optics, Patrol
a. Firearms must be of factory configuration.
b. Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original factory configuration of the rifle.
c. Optics class rifles may be equipped with one optical sight, electronic or otherwise, that s magnified. In addition, a “backup” sighting system using a front and rear sight may be used, such as a flip up front and/or rear sight.
d. Compensator shall not be larger than 1” diameter by 3” long.
e. Rifles used in tactical irons/ NMO division may use iron sights and the addition of a non-magnified optic (such as a EO Tech, Aimpoint, etc). No optics or devices that add magnification may be used in any way.
f. Rifles used in the patrol division must use iron sights only.
6. Shotgun- Optics, Tactical Irons/NMO, Patrol
a. Shotguns must be of factory configuration, 20ga, 16ga, or 12ga.
b. Barrel length may not be changed for the duration of the match.
c. Barrels must be 24” or shorter. Length is determined by the length of the barrel plus the length of the choke (ex: a 23” barrel with a 1.25” choke would be unsuitable).
d. Extended chokes cannot extend further than 1.25 inches past the end of the barrel.
e. Internal modifications are allowed providing the modifications do not alter the original factory condition of the shotgun.
f. External modifications to the lifter are not allowed.
g. No shotgun supporting devices are allowed (bipods).
h. No compensators, porting, or speed loaders are allowed.
i. All shotguns must have a magazine capacity of no more than 8 rounds maximum. Ghost loading is not allowed.
j. All shotguns used in the patrol division must be pump style only.
Section 10: Holsters and Equipment
1. Handgun holsters and equipment - Open Class
a. Any holster, which will safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement, is allowed.
b. The belt upon which the holster and magazine/speed loader pouches are attached must be worn at waist level.
c. Female competitors may wear their belt at hip level providing the belt is in belt loops sewn on the pants.
d. Due to safety concerns shoulder holsters are disallowed.
e. Cross draw holsters are disallowed.
f. Thigh holsters are allowed.
2. Handgun holsters and equipment – Optics, Tactical Irons/NMO, Patrol
a. Any holster, which will safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement, is allowed.
b. The holster material must completely cover the trigger guard on all semiautomatic pistols. Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder.
c. The belt upon which the holster and magazine/speed loader pouches are attached must be worn at waist level.
d. Female competitors may wear their belt at hip level providing the belt is in belt loops sewn on the pants.
e. Due to safety concerns shoulder holsters and cross draw holsters are disallowed.
f. Thigh holsters are allowed.
g. Holsters used in the patrol division must have a positive retaining device, which must be disengaged in order to draw the handgun (retention holster).
Section 11: Classes
All classes are divided into two groups: Law Enforcement/Military (designated “Sworn”) and “Civilian”.
1. Open Class
a. Any Open Class gun OR Open Class equipment puts the competitor in Open Class for the entire match.
b. See Firearms Classification for details.
2. Tactical Class-Iron Sighted Rifle/Non Magnified Optics (NMO)
a. Competitor will shoot a Tactical Handgun, Tactical Shotgun and a Tactical Class Rifle with iron sights or a non-magnified optic.
3. Optics
a. Competitor will shoot the same handgun and shotgun as listed above but with a scoped rifle
4. Patrol
a. Competitor will shoot a iron sighted rifle and pump shotgun only.
b. Handgun will be of the same type listed above.
c. See Firearms Classification for details.
Section 12: Arbitration Rules & General Principles
1. Administration
a. Occasional disputes are inevitable in any competitive activity governed by rules. It is recognized that at the more significant levels of competition, emotions run high and the outcome is much more important to the individual competitor. However, effective match administration and planning will prevent most, if not all, disputes.
2. Access to Arbitration
a. Protests may be submitted for arbitration in accordance with the following sections for any matter except the actual scoring of targets.
b. Protests arising from a disqualification for a safety infraction will only be accepted to determine whether or not an infraction as described by the range official was in fact unsafe. The commission of the infraction may not be protested.