Match Rules

Vision Statement

TacRifle is a sport shooting match and social event involving dynamic rifle shooting. Dynamic shooting requires marksmanship, athleticism and critical thinking. While the stages are timed and match placements are announced, the focus is a safe, fun and open shooting event with the fewest barriers to participation as possible except where necessary for safety.

Match Sign-In

Match sign-in requires a visual presentation of your PAL or that you are shooting under the supervision of someone with a PAL who is willing to take responsibility for supervision during the match (ie: parent bringing their child or a PAL holder bringing their friend).

Competitor Equipment

1. Any shoulder mounted center fire semi-automatic firearm. (There is no minimum caliber).
2. Firearms must be serviceable and safe.
3. Any reliable sighting system. (No restrictions on sights – iron sights, red dots, holographic sights, scopes and combinations thereof).
4. No restriction on the trigger pull weight of a firearm, but the trigger mechanism must, at all times, function safely. (An accidental or negligent discharge will result in immediate disqualification).
5. Any type of equipment to carry magazines, eye and ear protection and any other equipment. (No restriction on the type or style of gear – cargo pants, belt systems, chest rigs, plate carriers).
6. No loose or baggy clothing which may get caught in equipment or your firearm.

Dress Code

All attendees (both participants and observers) must dress appropriately for any event. Participants are expected to demonstrate good judgment and should abstain from wearing any slogans, morale patches or logos containing profanity, sexist or racist remarks or any other content which may be offensive to other participants at the match.

Attendees who wear attire that is deemed inappropriate for a match will be dealt with on an individual basis rather than subjecting all attendees to a more stringent dress code. We reserve the right for the Match Director to refuse participant registration and/or disqualify participants due to inappropriate attire.

We frequently have former, active and reserve Canadian Forces military members, former and active law enforcement members as well as regular civilians who reuse gear between hobbies (such as paintball or airsoft) as attendees. Tasteful use of “duty gear” or “camouflage” is acceptable (Of course make sure you are authorized to wear/use any “issued” gear for personal practice).

Safety Requirements

1. A designated safety area will be provided.
   • a. Competitors are permitted to use the Safety Area unsupervised for the activities stated below provided they remain within the boundaries of the Safety Area and the firearm is pointed in a safe direction. Violations are subject to disqualification.
     • i. Casing, uncasing and slinging of unloaded firearm
     • ii. Conduct inspections, stripping, cleaning, repairs and maintenance of firearms, component parts and other accessories
2. Rifles are to be unloaded with bolt locked open (if possible) and magazine well and chamber empty with a chamber flag in unless and until instructed by an RO to load and make ready.
3. Handling a firearm at any time except when in a designated/placarded safety area or under the supervision of, and in response to a direct command issued by, a Range Officer will result in a Match Disqualification (DQ). THIS INCLUDES YOUR CAR or TRUCK…YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT A SAFETY AREA! DO NOT HANDLE FIREARMS BEHIND THE LINE WHILE WAITING ON STAGES!
4. All firearms are to be racked or cased while waiting on the stage(s) and may not be handled behind the line. When the competitor has completed the course of fire, their rifle will be unloaded and a chamber flag must be used.
   • a. Should the course of fire require the use of multiple guns – this requirement will apply to all long guns (e.g. rifles & shotguns). Handguns, if specified in the course description and used, will be cased or holstered with the slide forward and hammer down on an empty chamber, with empty magwell or cylinder.
   • b. When proceeding to the starting box, or leaving the stage upon completion of the course of fire, rifles must be carried or slung with the muzzle pointed straight up, or straight down (on leaving the stage, until safely racked or cased).
   • c. If casing your rifle between stages, the muzzle must be pointed straight up or down or into a berm while casing and may not sweep yourself or anyone else at any time.
5. While carrying firearms anywhere on the range, if the muzzle sweeps anyone (competitor or bystander) the shooter will be asked to leave the range for the remainder of the match.
   • a. All firearms are to be transported with muzzle up or down only with chamber flag in use, unless cleared and cased.
   • b. Sweeping any part of your body during the course of fire (that is, between the “make ready” and “range is clear” commands) will result in a Match Disqualification (DQ).
6. Your finger must remain outside of trigger guard at all times unless clearly and visibly engaging targets (including during movement, loading, unloading, and/or clearing malfunctions).
7. Accidental/Negligent Discharge of a firearm will result in a match Disqualification (DQ). This is usually a result of having your finger where it shouldn’t be, including during movement, loading, unloading, reloading, and/or clearing a malfunction.
8. Firearm muzzles may never break the 180 degree plane during a course of fire, whether the firearm is loaded or not.
9. Rounds leaving the range will result in a match disqualification (DQ)
   • a. Exception – a competitor who legitimately fires a shot(s) at a target(s), which subsequently travels in an unsafe direction due to improper stage design (e.g. skipping off the range floor, barrels or props) will not be disqualified.
   • b. Match Officials will take every reasonable precaution to preclude such potentials during stage setup
   • c. If such an exception is noted or occurs during a course of fire, the competitor will be stopped immediately and the unsafe condition corrected, before re-attempting the course of fire, or allowing any other competitors or squads to attempt the course of fire
   • d. The Range Officer may modify a stage at any time for reasons of safety.
10. If at any time during a course of fire, while reloading, loading, or unloading, a competitor drops their firearm or causes it to fall – loaded or not will result in a match disqualification (DQ).
11. All berms are off limits to all persons at all times.
12. No ammunition is allowed in the Safety Areas (including inert or dummy rounds or snap caps, or loaded magazines or speedloaders).
13. Metal piercing, incendiary and tracer ammunition is strictly prohibited.
14. Anyone within the confines of a shooting bay that is active must wear eye and hearing protection at all times. This includes all spectators.

Stage Procedures

1. R.O.’s will brief the competitors and address any questions about the course of fire.
2. The Match Director/Range Officer may modify the stage briefing, for reasons of:
   • a. Clarity or consistency
   • b. Safety
   • c. Forbidding actions that may result in an unsafe situation
3. RO’s will explain any special stage instructions and answer any questions.

Start Position

1. Unless specified otherwise in the stage briefing, rifles will always start loaded or unloaded with safety on and in “Low-Ready” position
   • a. Alternate start positions and conditions may be specified in the written stage briefing
   • b. When the written stage briefing specifies an “empty” firearm at the start, the bolt must be closed and hammer down on an empty chamber and the magazine well must be empty
   • c. If using 5 round magazines, you start the stage with a loaded and ready rifle before the start signal is sounded. The RO will provide the “load and make ready” command to indicate when you may do so.
   • d. If using a 10 round pistol magazine (LAR15 or other pistol caliber carbines) you will start the state with an unloaded rifle. At the start signal you may load rifle and continue the course of fire.
2. Safety must remain in the “ON” or “SAFE” position until the start signal.

Range Commands

When the next match participant approaches the firing line:

1. “Do you understand the course of fire?”
2. “Load and make ready.” (signifies the commencement of the course of fire).
3. “Are you ready?”
   • The RO will stop the start command if a competitor is creeping or removes the safety, and restart the “are you ready” command…
4. “Stand By.”
5. “BEEP” Buzzer indicates start signal to begin your course of fire.

When a participant appears to be done:

1. “If you are finished, unload and show clear”. RO is to visually check chamber and magazine well of rifle.
2. “If clear, engage safety and insert chamber flag”.
3. Announce “Range is clear”. Signifies the end of the course fire. Competitors and Match Personnel must not move forward of, or away from the shooting line or final shooting location, until this command is given by the Range Officer. Once the declaration is made, officials and competitors may move forward to score, patch, reset targets, etc.

Scoring

1. Scoring will be cumulative
2. The total score is calculated by total time of stage per electronic shot timer plus any penalties.
3. All targets must be “neutralized” to avoid penalties.
   • a. Unless otherwise specified, in order to neutralize a target a minimum of two hits must be scored per target.
     • i. “A” – 0 penalty points
     • ii. “B” & “C” – 3 penalty points (depending on target version being used)
     • iii. “D” – 5 penalty points
     • iv. Target Miss – 10 penalty points
4. 4. Penalties will be assessed by adding the two best hits per target.
5. 5. Steel targets (if in use) must be “Heard” and “Called Out” by RO to be scored.
   • a. It the competitor moves but does not knock down a steel plate (any rotation or flip) – 5 penalty points
   • b. If the competitor fails to engage or misses a steel plate – 10 penalty points

Penalties

Procedural Penalties will add (+10) seconds/occurrence to the raw stage time and are cumulative:

1. Shooting the scoring area of a No Shoot target is a procedural penalty and counts as a (+20) second penalty per target.
2. On stages where a MANDATORY reload is required; after the start signal and prior to the last shot fired. If no reload is made upon firing of the last shot a single procedural penalty of (+10) seconds will be assessed.
3. Shooting targets outside of designated shooting boxes, ports, lanes, or other locations specified in the stage briefing, or in any other way failing to comply with the procedures and requirements specified in the stage briefing, will incur a procedural penalty of (+10) seconds per shot so fired.
   • Procedural penalties cannot be nullified by further competitor action (for example, shots fired at a target while out of a designated position will still incur penalties even if the target(s) is/are subsequently, or have been, engaged from the proper position

Additional Penalty Situations

1. If a competitor is unable to complete a course of fire, the time of last shot plus all failures to engage and neutralization points will be the final scoring time.
2. If a competitor has a mechanical malfunction he will be allowed 60 seconds to fix the problem. If the malfunction cannot be corrected in this time, the RO will stop the course of fire and apply the above penalties.
3. Only the competitor is allowed to handle the firearm while working on a mechanical problem. If any other person handles or needs to handle the firearm the course of fire will be stopped and the above penalties will be applied.

*Under no circumstances will a competitor be allowed to leave the stage with a loaded firearm unless escorted by range stuff with muzzle facing straight up or down for the purpose of clearing a malfunction in another range away from spectators.

Miscellaneous Rules and Regulations

1. Hits in the non-scoring area of a hard cover target (Black Area) will not incur time penalties. If makeup shots/hits are not taken/present, the penalty to be applied will be the lack of scoring points to neutralize the target as described above.
2. Any round touching or breaking the scoring perforation of a target will be awarded the highest value of the scoring area so affected by the round.
   • a. Similarly, any round touching or breaking the scoring perforation on a no-shoot target will incur the appropriate penalties
3. Unsportsmanlike conduct. The Match Director will be the sole and final arbiter of unsportsmanlike dress or conduct. Our matches are a SPORT/COMPETITION. Unsportsmanlike conduct (tantrums, flagrant or repeated refusals to follow instructions from match officials, or any other behavior likely to bring the match or host range into disrepute) will incur a match disqualification (DQ).
4. Competitor must use the same firearm, sight(s), and accessories (e.g. bipods, tactical lights, et al) for the duration of the match. A competitor cannot add or remove firearm accessories or sight(s) for the duration of the match, unless approved by the Match Director.
5. No steel will be engaged at less than 50 yards.
   • a. Where steel is visible from within 50 yards, Match Officials will provide visible fault lines beyond which steel may not be engaged or re-engaged
   • b. Engaging steel downrange of such fault lines will incur a +10 second penalty for each shot so fired
6. Firearms must be in good and serviceable condition. If a competitor’s firearm becomes unserviceable during the match, that competitor may replace his/her firearm with another of the same model, caliber, and sighting system with the approval of the Match Director
7. If you are not the RO, scorekeeper, current shooter or the shooter on deck, you will assist in taping and otherwise preparing the stage for the next competitor.

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