USPSA - Range Rules
Range Commands
In USPSA, as In all Practical Shooting, the Range Safety Officer (RO) ensures that competitors comply with the stage instructions and range safety rules. This will be a member of your squad, with duties rotated through all squad members.
When it’s your turn to shoot, go to the start of the stage and wait for the RO’s commands. The RO will stand close to a you (usually behind, and on your strong side) and hold an electronic timer near your head. The timer will sound the start signal (*Beep*) and also listen for each shot fired, to determine when you have finished shooting. The RO will also answer any questions you have about the stage, about safety procedures, or about problems with your gear. The RO will, then issue these commands:
- “The Range is Hot” – The RO makes this announcement, to spectators and other competitors, to warn them that you are about to shoot the stage, and that everyone should put on their eye and hearing protection.
- “Make Ready” – Face down range and prepare to shoot: load and holster your handgun or bring your Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) to the Low-Ready position. If you have any questions about the stage, ask the RO before you go any further. This is also the time to take a sight picture of the targets with your unloaded gun. Take a comfortable starting stance (there’s no need to go Johnny Ninja, just stand at ease), and take a few deep breaths. You’re nearly ready to go.
- “Are You Ready?” – You have several options at this point. (1) If you’re not ready, clearly say “Not Ready”, and the RO will pause for a few moments. (2) You can say “Ready”, or “Yes”, or nod your head. (3) If you don’t respond at all, the RO will assume you are Ready.
- “Standby” – This command will be followed by the start signal (from the electronic timer) in the next one-to-four seconds. Some RO’s prefer a short delay, others a long one. If you move after the “Standby” command, but before the start signal, you could be assessed a procedural penalty for “Creeping”…as in a football game, when a player jumps offside…
- “Start Signal” – *BEEP* This is the signal to begin the stage. Move and shoot. Or, stand still and shoot. Whatever you decide is best.
- “Stop” – This command can be issued by the RO at any time during the stage. You should immediately stop shooting, stop moving, and keep your gun pointed in a safe direction. Then wait for instructions from the RO. This command is usually issued if a target has broken, a spectator has blundered onto the stage, or an alien spacecraft has landed (Just kidding). If the RO yells “Stop”, something needs fixing. Cool your jets and catch your breath.
- “Muzzle” – If you hear this command, your muzzle is about to point in an unsafe direction…outside of the 180 degree area downrange. Depending on the situation, the RO may not have enough time to issue the command and could skip directly to “Stop”.
- “Finger” – If the RO sees you moving, reloading, or adjusting your gun, while your finger is on the trigger, you’ll hear this command. You should immediately remove your finger from the trigger to prevent an Accidental Discharge, or AD, which would result in your immediate Disqualification. If this happens, you won’t be allowed to continue shooting the match.
- “If You Are Finished, Unload and Show Clear” – When the RO issues this command, it’s because he see’s that you’ve finished the stage. Point your gun in a safe direction, remove the magazine and lock back the slide on a semiauto handgun, swing open the cylinder and push the extractor on a revolver, or remove the magazine and open the action on a PCC. Then, remove any rounds from the chamber, and hold the gun open for inspection. Always make sure that you inspect the firearm along with the RO.
- “If Clear, Hammer Down, Holster” – This command is given after the RO is satisfied that your gun is unloaded and safe. The “Hammer Down” portion is the final check to ensure that your gun is indeed unloaded, so point the gun in a safe direction and dry fire it…pull the trigger. Do not use the decocker lever, even if your gun is equipped with one. If your gun has a magazine safety, insert an empty magazine before pulling the trigger. It’s entirely your responsibility to ensure that your gun is unloaded, even if the RO mistakenly declares your gun empty. If your gun fires during the “hammer down” procedure, you will be immediately Disqualified and you will not be allowed to continue shooting the match. Once you’ve completed the “hammer down” procedure, holster your handgun or hold your PCC downrange. After this, the RO will allow you to retrieve magazines, speedloaders, moon clips, or unfired rounds.
- “The Range is Clear” or “The Range is Safe” or “The Range is Cold” – This tells everyone that it’s safe to move onto the stage to score and reset the targets. Eye and hearing protection can be removed at this point.
SWPL Range Specifics
- Stages may include obstacles, barriers, and out-of-bounds markers.
- Stages may include steel plates (circular or rectangular), mini-, and full-sized poppers, or moving targets (Texas Stars, Plate Racks, Drop-Turners, Disappearing target stands).
- Stages may include a mix of USPSA Classic and Metric cardboard targets.
- The SWPL range consists of six bays. The stage designs and shot counts change each month, and are downloaded during the Shooter’s Meeting. One of the stages is usually a Classifer that counts toward a USPSA Classification (A, B, C, D, M, GM). If you aren’t interested in gaining a Classification, the stage simply counts toward your match score.
Some Etiquette
- Don’t sight-in or zero your sights on any stages! This disrupts the match flow for shooters waiting behind you. Please do this before to arriving at the match.
- Please don’t pick up brass other than your own while on a stage. Excessive brass collecting is fun (and possibly profitable!) but, it slows the match dramatically, keeping other shooters waiting behind you.
- After every shooter completes a stage, it’s good manners to help your squad members patch cardboard targets and reset steel targets. This also speed’s your squad’s progress through the stages and prevents other squads from backing-up behind your squad.