Chapter 5 · Competitor Equipment Rules · p.11
5.1Holsters
In general, holsters shall be mounted at the waist, must cover the trigger, and must safely hold/retain the gun. All Centerfire handguns must be appropriate for holster use. Female competitors are permitted to wear a belt, holster and at hip level.
Rimfire competition does not involve the use of a holster. It is permissible for a Rimfire Pistol to be transported between stages in a holster. Either a gun case or a holster must be used for transport.
Division-specific holster restrictions may apply. See Appendix D1 through D9 for division-specific information.
Due to the unique nature of the Steel Challenge, drawing from concealment or from inside the waist band is not allowed.
The use of carts for transporting long guns is permitted at all match levels. The long gun must be flagged at all times. If stored in a mobile rack or carrier, the long gun must be reasonably vertical whenever the firearm is not in a case or sleeve. Uncased horizontal carry/transport is prohibited. The muzzle of any such firearm, if oriented down, must point to a spot within 3 feet of the conveyance. If pointed up, it must be oriented such that a person walking around the conveyance will not be covered by the muzzle if they are more than 3 feet away from the conveyance. All such measurements shall be taken while the conveyance is situated on flat, level ground. In the event of disagreement on how the firearm is being transported, the Range Master shall be the final authority as to the acceptability of such orientation. Long guns must be cased/uncased or removed/replaced on a cart with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction directly into and within 2 yards of a side berm or backstop. Long guns can also be cased/uncased or removed/replaced on a cart under the direct supervision of a with muzzle pointing at the backstop. Failure to point the muzzle at a side berm or back stop during casing/uncasing or removing/replacing on a cart will result in a DQ per 10.3.13.
To be considered bagged, the firearm must be in a case or bag that completely covers the firearm, and prevents access to the trigger, including having the zipper or fastener completely closed. A long gun sheath/sleeve may be used provided it covers from the muzzle past the trigger guard and prevents access to/or manipulation of the trigger. The case must be completely closed or the long gun completely in the sheath/sleeve prior to "Make ready" and the "Range is clear" commands.
Where a Division specifies a maximum distance that a competitor's handgun and equipment may extend away from a competitor's belt, the measurement shall be taken in the following manner:
— Perpendicular to the top of the belt at the point of attachment to the belt
— From the outer surface of the belt to the closest point of the grip of the handgun and/or any device
— Measurements may be made with an official USPSA overlay, using either the width or length of the overlay as appropriate to the Division requirement. See App. D1-D9, #10 for requirements.
— These measurements must be taken with the equipment as worn.
Any competitor who fails the foregoing test will immediately adjust his holster or equipment to comply with the requirements of the relevant Division. The Range Master may make allowances for variations in these requirements due to anatomical considerations. Some competitors may not be able to fully comply. Any competitor who shoots a course of fire while out of compliance will receive a zero score for that course of fire, unless specifically exempted by the Range Master. If the RO suspects or is notified that a competitor’s equipment is out of compliance for their relevant division, the RO must measure the distances at that time. Penalties will not be retroactive to previously completed stages and will be based solely on measurements taken on a particular stage. The Range Master must be informed of any penalties applied due to non-compliance.