Chapter 2 · Course Construction, Equipment and Modification · p.12
2.2Course Construction Criteria
During the construction of a , a variety of physical barriers may be used to restrict competitor movement and to provide additional competitive challenges as follows:
Competitor movement may be restricted or controlled through the use of physical barriers, Fault Lines, Shooting Boxes, Charge Lines, or Off-Limits Lines.
Shooting Boxes and Fault Lines should be constructed of wooden boards or other suitable material, must be fixed firmly in place, and provide both physical and visual references to competitors. For hard ground surfaces clear of debris, 0.75-inch material is the minimum allowable size. On other range surfaces, such as covered with turf, sand, gravel, wood chips or similar, thicker material which rises at least 1.5 inches above the surface is recommended.
A 'shooting area' is defined as a surface inside shooting boxes, fault lines, walls, or any other barrier. Shooting boxes and fault lines must be fixed to the surface and may not be less than the minimum height required by rule 2.2.1.1. Fault lines are considered to be part of the shooting area. Objects completely outside the shooting area, regardless of whether they contact the , fault lines, walls, or any other barrier, are not part of the shooting area, except as specified in 10.2.1. Course designers may specify planks, timbers, low platforms, etc., as the entire shooting area, provided they are clearly marked, are at least 1.5" high, and stable.
Fault Lines extending rearward (uprange) should be a minimum of 3 feet in length, and unless otherwise stated in the written stage briefing, are deemed to extend rearward to infinity.
The use of rear fault lines at prone shooting positions should be avoided or used with caution. If a rear is used, it must be placed at least 8 feet from the forward fault line at the prone .
Off-Limits Lines may be used to define an area of the range floor which has been declared off-limits. The written stage briefing must identify the presence and location of Off-Limits Lines, if any. The off-limits area must be clearly delineated with rope, caution tape or other materials and must be at least 2 feet high and at least 2 feet from any or . Crossing an off- limits line will result in a zero for the stage. Openings in off-limits lines are allowed for RO access only; competitors may not use the openings to enter any off-limits areas or move through the in a manner not indicated by the off-limits lines. The lines are deemed to extend through the open areas.
Charge Lines are constructed with stakes and hanging rope and are used to construct a path for competitor movement. The rope must be at least 6 inches off the ground where supported. Crossing a charge line results in one procedural penalty per .
Obstacles – Courses of fire may include the use of barriers or major obstacles to be surmounted by competitors. Obstacles used in this way must not exceed a height of 6.5 feet. Obstacles over 3 feet in height must be supplied with scaling aids to assist competitors and must be constructed to provide for the competitor’s safety in the following ways:
Obstacles must be firmly anchored and braced to provide adequate support when in use. Wherever possible, unduly sharp or rough surfaces must be removed to reduce the possibility of injury to competitors and/or Match Officials.
The descending side of any obstacle must be clear of obstructions or natural hazards.
Competitors must be allowed to test such obstacles before the and should be given a short period to do so.
Competitors must not be required to holster their handgun before ascending these obstacles.
Barriers – be constructed in the following manner:
They must be high enough and strong enough to serve the intended purpose.
They should include Fault Lines projecting rearward at ground level from the side edges.
Unless otherwise specified in the Written Stage Briefing any barriers, walls, vision barriers, barrels, snow-fence barriers and other constructs which are 5’9” tall or taller will be considered to go from ground to infinity. Unless otherwise specified in the stage briefing, any walls, vision barriers, barrels, snow-fence barriers and other constructs less than 5’9” tall will be considered to go from ground to height built. Any barrier under 5’9” tall that is to be considered as extending to infinity must be marked accordingly.
All such barriers are considered to represent a solid plane and are considered hard cover unless designated as soft cover (see 9.1.6). Shots cannot be fired though the barrier except at designated shooting ports or other designated openings. Any hits that result from full diameter shots fired through a barrier except through a designated port or opening will not count for score and if a steel target is knocked down it will be considered and a reshoot will be ordered. See 9.1.6.2
All supports for barriers or raised platforms are considered to be non-existent and cannot be used for support. This rule does not apply to obstacles under 2.2.2.
Tunnels – A tunnel that a competitor is required to enter or pass through must be constructed of suitable material and to any length. However, sufficient ports must be provided to allow Match Officials to safely monitor competitor action. Tunnel mouth edges must be prepared to minimize the possibility of injury to competitors and Match Officials. Course designers must clearly designate the entrance and exit portions of the tunnel as well as the parameters for shooting at any targets from within the tunnel (e.g., Fault Lines).
“Cooper” Tunnels – These are tunnels comprised of braced uprights supporting loose overhead materials (e.g., wooden slats) which may be inadvertently dislodged by competitors. (See Rule 10.2.5.) These tunnels may be constructed to any height, but overhead materials must not be heavy enough to cause injury if they fall.
Stage Props – Where these items are intended to support a competitor in motion or while shooting targets, they must be constructed with the safety of the competitor and Match Officials as a priority. Provisions must be made to allow Match Officials to safely monitor and control competitor action at all times. Props must be strong enough to withstand use by all competitors.
Stages that require abandoning a firearm must provide a device which retains the firearm in a safe and stable position and orientation. Examples of suitable devices include boxes (with or without lids) which have sides high enough to prevent the firearm from being dislodged; tubes or barrels arranged to hold the firearm in place, etc. Any such devices must be securely fixed in a safe position and orientation, so that a firearm placed within is pointed towards a berm or other safe direction, cannot easily or inadvertently be dislodged, and so that no person may pass in front of the muzzle of a firearm placed in the device.
Competitors may be required to use a prop gun supplied by the Match Director on a stage to start the . It may not be required to engage more than three (3) targets before abandoning it. The prop gun and all related ammunition and equipment will be provided by the host match officials and be the same for all competitors.