8.2Competitor Ready Condition

The firearm is prepared as specified in the written stage briefing, and is in compliance with the requirements of the relevant Division.

The competitor assumes the start position as specified in the written stage briefing.

A competitor who attempts or completes a course of fire where an incorrect start position was used must be required by a Range Official to reshoot the course of fire.

A course of fire must never require or allow a competitor to touch or hold a handgun, or any loading device or ammunition after the “Standby” command and before the “Start Signal” (except for unavoidable touching with the lower arms).

A course of fire must never require the competitor to draw a handgun from the holster with the weak hand. A course of fire must never require a competitor to start with a long gun held on the weak side, and stage briefings may never require a long gun to be fired using only one hand.

A course of fire must never require the competitor to re-holster a handgun after the start signal. However, a competitor may re-holster provided this is accomplished safely and the handgun is either unloaded or in a ready condition stated in Section 8.1.

In a course of fire that requires a slung long gun be carried during a stage the chamber must be empty and the shooter is not subject to disqualification under Rule 10.5.2 while the long gun is slung. This exemption from 10.5.2 ends when the shooter first starts to manipulate the action of the firearm to chamber a round.