Chapter 8 · The Course of Fire · p.44
8.1Firearm Ready Conditions
The ready condition for firearms will normally be as stated below. 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.
Non-traditional revolvers (e.g. those which operate in a “self- loading” mode) are not allowed.
Self-loading firearms:
“” – chamber loaded, hammer cocked, and the safety engaged. Ready Condition: carbine will be prepared with a loaded chamber, loaded magazine inserted, hammer cocked, and safety applied. Other ready conditions may be specified, and must be identical to the handgun ready condition, with the exception of holstering. Single action firearms with an 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.
“” – chamber loaded, hammer fully down or de- cocked.
“” – chamber loaded with hammer fully down, or chamber loaded, and hammer cocked with external safety engaged (see Divisions in Appendix D).
“Striker fired/Safe Action” – chamber loaded, handgun cocked, external safety engaged if present.
With respect to Rules 8.1.2.1 and 8.1.2.3, the term “safety” means the primary visible safety lever on the firearm (e.g. the thumb safety on a 1911 type handgun). In the event of doubt, the Range Master is the final authority on this matter. This safety must be on while the firearm is loaded in the holster or loaded in any other location stated in the Written Stage Briefing (e.g. table start, in a drawer, etc.), in order to follow 10.5.11. If the primary (thumb) safety cannot be applied when the hammer is down, it is not required when the gun is in that condition.
When applicable, the grip safety may be disabled provided that the primary safety as described in 8.1.2.5 is operable. Production and Carry Optics division handguns are explicitly excluded from this rule (See Appendices D4 and D7, item 22.1).
Courses of fire may require ready conditions which are different to those stated above. In such cases, the required ready condition must be clearly stated in the Written Stage Briefing. When a firearm Ready Condition requires a firearm be prepared with an empty chamber (or cylinder), the slide/bolt of the firearm must be fully forward (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 Appendix D), a competitor must not be restricted on the number of rounds to be loaded or reloaded in a firearm. Written Stage Briefings may only stipulate when the firearm is to be loaded or when mandatory reloads are required (when permitted under Rules 1.1.5.1 and 1.1.5.2).
In respect of firearms 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.
Unless otherwise specified in the Written Stage Briefing, when the firearm starts on a surface, it may not be supported by any object that is not part of the firearm.