Chapter 8 · The Course of Fire · p.41
8.1Firearm Ready Conditions
The ready condition for firearms will normally be as stated below. Note that a may require that a firearm be “staged” (prepared and placed prior to the start signal in a specific position and condition for use later during the course of fire). In such cases the written course description must define the position, condition and location of the staged firearm(s). However, in the event that a competitor fails to load the chamber when permitted by the written stage briefing, whether inadvertently or intentionally, the Range Officer must not take any action, as the competitor is always responsible for the handling of the firearm.
Revolvers:
– hammer fully down on an empty chamber or, if a safety notch is fitted, hammer down over a loaded chamber (transfer bar designs excepted).
– hammer fully down and all chambers may be loaded.
Autoloaders (treat all Rifles, Shotguns, and PCCs as “”):
“” – chamber loaded, hammer cocked, and the safety fully engaged (if the firearm is designed to have one). For all guns, the safety must remain on until the start signal. Empty chamber, magazine inserted, and hammer fully down do not have to have the primary (thumb) safety engaged, as it is not possible in most cases to engage the safety or actuate the trigger or hammer. If the primary safety can be applied in this condition, then it must still be applied.
Note: Placing the safety on a loaded long gun into the off position after it has been placed in the on position between assuming the and the start signal is prohibited. A shooter who prematurely disengages the safety must be restarted for being in an improper start position/condition.
“” – chamber loaded, hammer fully down or de- cocked.
“” – chamber loaded with hammer fully down, or chamber loaded, and hammer cocked with external safety fully engaged.
When applicable, the grip safety may be disabled provided that the primary safety as described in 8.1.2.4 is operable.
Courses of fire may require ready conditions which are different to those stated above. If the firearm is to be prepared with an empty chamber (or cylinder) the action must be fully forward and closed (or the cylinder must be fully closed) and the hammer or striker must be fully down or fully forward, as the case may be, unless otherwise specified in the stage briefing.
Unless complying with a Division requirement (see Appendices), a competitor must not be restricted on the number of rounds to be loaded or reloaded. Written stage briefings may only stipulate when the firearm is to be loaded or when mandatory reloads are required.
Exception: A Speed shoot or Standard Exercises type stage may specify the number of rounds on a shotgun reload.
For handguns used at USPSA matches the following definitions apply:
“” means activation of the trigger causes a single action to occur (i.e., the hammer or striker falls).
“” means activation of the trigger causes more than a to occur (i.e., the hammer or striker rises or retracts, then falls).
“Striker Fired” means activation of the trigger, once the chamber of the firearm is loaded, finishes cocking the striker spring and then causes the striker to fall.
“” means that the handgun can be operated in either “” or “” modes.