Chapter 5 · Competitor Equipment · p.29
5.2Holsters and Other Competitor Equipment
Carry and Storage – Except when within the boundaries of a Safety Area, or when under the supervision and direct command of a Range Officer, competitors must carry their handguns unloaded in a gun case, gun bag or in a holster securely attached to a belt on their person (see Rule 10.5.1).
To be considered bagged, the handgun 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 competitor who, while not at a Safety Area or under RO supervision, removes their holster or their equipment belt with their handgun still in the holster, shall be considered to be in violation of Rule 5.2.1 and subject to disqualification from the match.
: Except when within the boundaries of a Safety Area, or when under the supervision and direct command of a Range Officer, competitors must carry their pistol caliber carbine:
With no ammunition or magazines inserted.
A chamber safety flag, or clear chamber device must be used at all times and be visible externally whenever the firearm is not in a case or sleeve. Anyone found in violation of this rule will be immediately escorted by a Range Officer to a suitable range or Safety Area where appropriate corrective action shall be made.
Un-cased pistol caliber carbines must be carried reasonably vertical, whether slung or held in the hands, with a chamber flag in place. Match Directors may require this to be "vertically upwards" or "vertically downwards" providing this is made clear to all competitors in a reasonable manner.
If stored in a mobile rack or carrier, the 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.
Carbines 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. PCCs can also be cased/uncased or removed/replaced on a cart under the direct supervision of a range officer 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 10.5.18.
To be considered cased, the must be in a case or sleeve which covers from the muzzle past the trigger guard and prevents access to or manipulation of the trigger.
Competitors carrying their handgun in a holster must have an empty magazine well, and the hammer or striker must be decocked. Anyone found in violation of this rule will be immediately escorted by a Range Officer to a suitable range or Safety Area where appropriate corrective action shall be made.
Unless specified in the Written Stage Briefing, the belt carrying the holster and must be worn during the ; the belt must be worn at the , which is deemed to be at the same level as the original belt loops on the lower garment. (See 5.2.3.1 for exceptions.) The belt or the inner belt or both must be either securely fixed at the waist or secured with a minimum of three belt loops. The belt may be removed between courses of fire.
Lady competitors are permitted to wear a belt, holster and at hip level, however, the top of the belt must not be positioned below the furthest lateral point of the top of the femur (tuberosity major).
During the , unless stipulated otherwise in the Written Stage Briefing, spare ammunition, magazines and/or speed loading devices shall be carried in retention devices attached to the competitor's belt and specifically designed for that purpose. A competitor may also carry additional magazines or speed loading devices in apparel pocket(s) and retrieve and use them.
5.2.4.1 When stipulations in the Written Stage Briefing require placement of magazines or speed loaders on a table or similar location and not in the retention devices prior to the start signal and prohibit the use of pockets and retention devices during the course of fire, retrieving and carrying them and using them from the hand is allowed. When the Written Stage Briefing doesn't require the use of retention devices or pockets, the competitor can use whatever means on their person to carry magazines or speed loading devices including multiple magazines in a pouch or on a magnet. Magazines may never be held or carried in the mouth. Doing so will result in a zero for the stage.
5.2.4.2 When stipulations in the Written Stage Briefing require placement of magazines or speed loaders on a table or similar location and not in the retention devices prior to the start signal, the Range Officer should remind the competitor where to place magazines, and ensure the conditions stated in the Written Stage Briefing are met.
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.
5.2.5.1 These measurements must be taken with the equipment as worn.
5.2.5.2 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 while out of compliance will receive a zero score for that course of fire (per 5.2.10), 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.
5.2.5.3 Unless specified in the Written Stage Briefing, or unless required by a Range Officer, the position of holsters and on the belt must not be moved or changed by a competitor during a match. If a retaining strap is permanently attached to a holster or magazine pouch, it must be applied or closed prior to issuance of the “Standby” command. Removing holsters and allied equipment from the belt during the match will result in a zero score for the course(s) of fire in which the violation occurred.
USPSA Competition matches will not require the use of a particular type or brand of holster. However, the Range Master may deem that a competitor’s holster is unsafe and order that it be improved to his satisfaction, failing which it must be withdrawn from the match. Divisions may restrict a specific type of holster. Providing the Division does not restrict the type or physical location of the holster, IWB or concealment holsters are legal, as long as the firearms can safely be drawn and replaced, and so doing does not break any safety rules.
The following holsters are not allowed and competitors are prohibited from using these:
A shoulder holster (visible or otherwise).
A holster with the muzzle of the handgun pointing farther than 3 feet from the competitor’s feet while standing relaxed.
A holster which does not completely prevent access to, or activation of, the trigger while .
Competitors deemed by the Match Director to be full-time law enforcement officers with arrest powers or military personnel on current active-duty orders, may be entitled to use their duty holsters or similar holster and related equipment when such equipment does not strictly satisfy the equipment or other requirements of the declared Division. The Range Master will remain the final authority in respect of the safety and suitability of using such equipment at USPSA matches. The use of such equipment, except as otherwise permitted in the rules, is restricted to Level I matches only.
Competitors deemed by the Range Master to be significantly disabled may be given special dispensation in relation to the type and/or placement of their holster and related equipment, and the Range Master will remain the final authority in respect of the safety and suitability of using such equipment at USPSA matches.
All handgun Divisions require that when the handgun is , the heel of the butt of the handgun must not be below the top of the belt, except as indicated in Rule 5.2.8 for Law Enforcement/Military duty holsters, and approved by the RM.