Manatee 3 Gun Rules
1. Safety Rules:
1.1 Competitors are subject to match disqualification for violation of any rule or
regulation in sections 1 or 2.
1.2 Matches are run on a COLD RANGE. Competitor’s firearms will remain unloaded
except under the direction of a match official.
1.3 Safe Tables are not available on all stages. Please ask RO for a safe location to
handle firearms. Unloaded firearms may be handled only at the area directed by
RO. No ammunition may be handled at any Safe Table / Area.
1.4 Rifles and shotguns should be cased or carried with the muzzle up with actions
open with chamber flag installed and detachable magazines removed. Those
with gun carts should be mindful of muzzle direction when removing and stowing
firearms.
1.5 Handguns must be cased or remain in holster, magazine removed and hammer
down. On stages, the Ready Condition of handguns must be “Hammer Down” for
DA autos and revolvers, and “Cocked and Locked” for SA autos of DA autos with
manual override safeties. If gun is equipped with a de-cocker the de-cocker
should be engaged unless the gun also has a manual safety with said manual
safety engaged.
1.6 Abandoned firearms must be either placed on safe (or de-cocked) or
COMPLETELY CLEARED/EMPTY of all ammunition. Abandoned is defined by
the shooter being more than 1 yard from the weapon. Abandoned firearms
cannot be used again in the stage once the shooter fires another firearm (Stage
DQ if used). Leaving an abandoned weapon in an unsafe condition results in a
30 second penalty for the stage.
1.7 No competitors or spectators shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol
or non-prescription drugs at the match site before or during shooting. Any
competitor found to be impaired and deemed unsafe as a result of legitimate
prescription drugs may be required to stop shooting and possibly requested to
leave the range.
1.8 Eye and ear protection is mandatory for competitors, spectators and range
personnel while on or near a stage of fire.
1.9 Reholstering a loaded pistol during a course of fire is not permitted.
1.10 Prone shooting positions – If a shooter shots from the prone position during a
course of fire, the pistol can have a mag in the mag well, but no round can be in
the chambered.
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2. Match Disqualifications:
2.1 Breaking the 180 degree plane.
2.2 Accidental Discharge, when not on target and round is discharged, round hits the
ground within 10’ of the shooter (when a target is place within 10’ this rule does
not apply to that target).
2.3 Round Escaping the Range.
2.4 Dropping a Firearm (loaded or unloaded after the make ready command).
2.5 Ammunition Handled at a Safe Table.
2.6 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
2.7 Cheating, consuming or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription
drugs at the match site while shooting is under way, fighting. This is not an
inclusive list of unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. Sportsmanship and Conduct:
3.1 Competitors and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous,
sportsman-like manner at all times. Disputes will be handled promptly and fairly
by the match director.
3.2 Clothing with offensive or obscene logos, sayings, pictures or drawings will not
be worn or displayed while at the range.
3.3 Any competitor with a handicap may request, or be required, to shoot the courses
of fire other than intended, but may incur a penalty in time of 25% of their stage
time. The match director will rule on any such request on a case-by-case basis.
3.4 Range Officers may assess additional “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalties to
competitors that intentionally fail to make a good faith effort to engage and hit
targets in order to gain advantage. The Match Director shall be the final arbiter of
any such penalties.
4. Ammunition:
4.1 No tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, steel jacketed, green tip, or steel core
ammunition is allowed.
4.2 Handgun ammunition must be 9x19 or larger. No magnum cartridges allowed.
4.3 Shotgun ammunition must be 20ga or larger, LEAD SHOT and SLUGS ONLY. No
steel shot is allowed and slugs may be prohibited on some targets.
4.4 Use of prohibited ammunition may result in disqualification.
5. Firearms:
5.1 All firearms used by competitors must be serviceable and safe.
5.2 If a competitor’s firearm becomes unserviceable during competition, that
competitor may replace his/her firearm with another of the same, or similar,
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model, caliber and sighting system approved by the Match Director or Range
Master.
5.3 Competitors may not reconfigure any firearm during the course of the match. (ie
change caliber, barrel length, shotgun magazine length, sighting system or stock
style; changing shotgun choke tubes is not considered reconfiguring).
5.4 Certain firearm supporting devices may be prohibited by the match director. (ie
Supporting devices that risk damage to props or pose a risk to shooters.)
6. Firearms Classifications (Open, Tactical, Limited):
6.1 Handgun
6.1a Open : No limitation on accessories, magazine length may not exceed 170mm.
6.1b Tactical: Handguns must be of a factory configuration.
6.1c Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original
factory configuration.
6.1d Handguns with custom or factory installed electronic sights, optical sights,
extended sights, compensators or barrel porting are NOT allowed in this
class.
6.1e Magazines used shall not exceed 170mm OAL for single stacks, and shall
not exceed 140mm OAL for staggered magazines.
6.1f Limited: Same as Tactical.
6.2 Rifle
6.2a Open: No limitation on accessories.
6.2b Tactical: Rifles must be of a factory configuration.
6.2c Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original
factory configuration.
6.2d Tactical rifles may be equipped with no more than one (magnified or
non-magnified) optical sight (iron and popup sights are allowed).
6.2e Rifle supporting devices (ie Bipods, etc.) are not allowed in this class.
6.2f Rifle may have a compensator that is no more than 1” in diameter and 3” in
length.
6.2g Limited: Rifles must be of a factory configuration.
6.2h Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original
factory configuration.
6.2i Limited rifles may be equipped with one non-magnifying optic which is on
the same planes as the standard iron sights and the bore-line (if in addition,
the sights must co-witness) in addition to or in place of iron sights.
6.2j Rifle supporting devices (ie Bipods, etc.) are not allowed in this class.
6.2k Rifle may have a compensator that is no more than 1” in diameter and 3” in
length.
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6.3 Shotgun
6.3 Open:
6.3a No limitation on accessories.
6.3b Shotgun detachable magazines and speed loaders are allowed in Open.
6.3c Shotgun speed loaders must have a primer relief cut.
6.3d Magazine tube length may not be changed for the duration of the match.
6.3e Tactical and Limited:
6.3f Shotguns must be of a factory configuration.
6.3g Internal modifications are allowed provided they do not alter the original
factory configuration.
6.3h No electronic or optical sights are allowed on shotguns in this class.
6.3i Supporting devices (ie Bipods, etc.) are not allowed.
6.3j Compensators or porting on barrels are not allowed.
6.3k No shotgun in Tactical class may be loaded with more than 9 rounds at
prior to the buzzer.
6.3l Magazine tube length may not be changed for the duration of the match.
6.3m Detachable magazines are not allowed in this class.
7. Holsters and other Equipment – All Classes
7.1 The handgun holster must be capable of retaining the handgun during the
vigorous movement that may be required or otherwise encountered during the
courses of fire.
7.2 The handgun holster must allow the competitor to safely draw and re-holster the
handgun without causing the muzzle to point in an unsafe direction. The holster
must be of a rigid material and capable of one handed re-holstering. It must be
either hip mounted or a thigh rig. No cross-draw or shoulder holsters are allowed.
7.3 The holster material must completely cover and protect the handgun’s trigger.
7.4 Spare ammunition, magazines, speed loaders, and other equipment
Should be secured in pouches, pockets and/or carriers on the competitor’s
person or firearm if not otherwise specified in the stage description.
8. Classes:
8.1 Open: Any Open Class gun or Open Class equipment puts the competitor in
Open Class for the entire match. Competitors will shoot firearms which comply
with the Firearms Classification rules for Open Class.
8.2 Limited: Competitors will shoot firearms which comply with the Firearms
Classification rules for Limited.
8.3 Tactical: Competitors will shoot firearms which comply with the Firearms
Classification rules for Tactical.
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9. Scoring:
9.1 Scoring per stage will be straight time plus penalties. A maximum time allowed to
shoot any stage will be set prior to the start of the match. Unless otherwise
stated, this will be 200 seconds. After the time limit has elapsed, the competitor
will be stopped and the stage scored. Target(s) missed or not engaged will be
added to the time of 200.
9.2 USPSA cardboard silhouette targets require 1 - A zone hit (entire head is
considered A zone) or 2 hits on paper (on edge shoots the outside perf must be
broken to count) to be neutralized. Slug targets require only one hit to neutralize
target.
9.2a USPSA cardboard silhouette targets not being neutralized as shown in 9.1.1 will
receive a 5 second penalty. If the targets are not hit at all they receive a 10
second penalty.
9.2b If shooter does not engage the target at all the penalty will be 15 seconds.
9.2c Targets designated as “No Shoot” will receive a 5 second penalty for each hit.
9.3 Non-Paper Targets
9.3a Knock down targets (ie; poppers or other steel) must fall to score. If a steel plate
turns edge-onto the shooter, it is considered down for safety reasons.
9.4 Frangible targets must be either knocked down or broken to score. (One BB hole
is a break)
9.4a Swinging style rifle targets must be struck solidly enough to cause visible and/or
audible indicator for the Range Officer. The Range Officer and/or designated
spotters will call hits.
9.5 Procedural penalties, 10 seconds, may be assessed for failing to follow stage
procedures.
10. Arbitration Rules and General Principles
10.1 Administration – Occasional disputes are inevitable in any competitive activity
governed by rules. Remaining calm and rational during arbitration will make an
unpleasant job bearable.
10.2 Decisions are made initially by the Range Officer for the stage. In the event of
disagreement by the competitor, The Match Director / Range Master will be
asked to rule. His/her decision is FINAL
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