Competition Regulations and Range Operations

A competitor may change a BB gun during the firing of any match, however, no extra time will be allowed and the Range Officer must be notified that a change is being made so all safety precautions can be followed.

If a BB gun has become disabled and has been so designated by the Chief Range Officer, the BB gun may be changed according to Rule 9.7.

The sighting target must be clearly marked, normally, by means of a black stripe in the upper right corner which can be clearly seen with the naked eye.

During competitions where double target frames are used, a broad black band will be hung over the face of the target which is not in use to the target not in use must be removed.

If a 12-bull AR 4/10 target is used, the sighting targets are located in the center of the target and enclosed with a guard ring.

When a multiple bull target (with sighting bulls) is used, and the competitor, in the first fired shot of the target (sighting bulls), misses the scoring area of the sighting bull or ring when printed on targets, the competitor shall: halt firing, call a Range Official or Referee, have the official verify that the shot is not in the sighting bull.

The official shall record this fact and the competitor shall commence firing at the sighting bull again.

The Range Official will continue to observe until the competitor's shots hit the sighting bulls. At this point the official will verify all previous shots (they will not be scored as misses) and the shooter will continue firing the match under the rules of the match.

No extra time will be allowed for the procedure above. Additional shots outside the scoring rings will be scored as record shots. All penalties used in scoring shall be in force after the first shot that strikes the sighting bull.

Unlimited sighting shots may be fired in any position provided all sighting shots and record shots are fired during the time allowed.

When the official target provides a guard ring around the sighting bullseye, all sighting shots must touch or fall within the guard ring around the sighting bullseye on the target.

When the official target provides a sighting bullseye with a guard ring (AR-4/10) and the first sighting shot hits outside of the guard ring and not touching it, the shot will be scored as a miss unless reported to the Range Officer.

No such claim will be allowed after the competitor has fired more than one shot on a target.

Any additional misplaced sighting shots will be scored as record shots.

A misfire is a shot in which the BB is not expelled from the gun.

If the competitor is shooting a multi-loading BB gun and the competitor and coach are not sure a BB has been fired, the Range Officer must be notified of possible misfire before the next shot is fired.

When firing has ceased, the Range Officer will check the bull for which the misfire was claimed. If no shot appears, the competitor will be given one additional minute to fire each misfire allowed.

A double occurs when two BBs are fired at once.

No doubles can be claimed when a single shot BB gun is used.

If the competitor is shooting a multi-loading BB gun and the competitor and coach feel a double has been fired, the Range Officer must be notified of the possible double before the next shot is fired.

When firing has ceased, the Range Officer will check the bull for which the double was claimed. If a double was fired, the Range Officer will make a signed notation on the target indicating which shots are to be disregarded and the competitor will be given one additional minute to refire each double allowed.

As an alternate procedure, the Range Officer may visually confirm doubles and permit a refire during the normal time limit for the match being fired, provided the double shots are marked and signed by the Range Officer when firing ceases.

Any BB gun which cannot be safely aimed or fired, or has suffered damage to the sights rendering it impossible to properly aim or which has a broken seal or cannot be fired because of mechanical failure.

Note: There must be evidence of physical damage to sights. The fact that sights are improperly adjusted does not constitute disablement.

If the BB gun fails to function, the competitor or coach must notify the Range Officer.

A gun declared disabled by the Range Officer shall not be used again for firing until the defect has been corrected and the gun has been ruled safe by the Chief Range Officer.

When a gun has been declared disabled, the competitor will be given a reasonable period of time to repair the gun or continue firing with a substitute.

When the competitor resumes firing, the competitor will be given one minute shooting time for each record shot which remained to be fired at the time the gun became disabled.

See Rules 6.7 and 12.6.

When a match is not completed in accordance with the tournament schedule, the match may be rescheduled or cancelled.

Any stage which has been completed by all competitors will not be refired.

Only scores of a match which has been completed by all competitors will be included in an aggregate event or counted for National Record purposes.

No competitor or coach shall deliberately interfere with the actions of match and range personnel in the conduct of their duties or with other competitors while they are shooting.

Coaches and competitors will not be permitted to interfere with the handling of targets by range personnel.

Competitors must take their position at their numbered firing point in a manner that does not interfere with competitors on either side.

No competitor will deliberately fire on another competitor's target.

No person will offer a bribe of any kind to any of the range, statistical or match personnel nor be an accessory thereto.

No competitor shall cause any range equipment to become damaged through a deliberate act, and anyone guilty of same will be expelled without a warning from the range.

Expelled competitors will be disqualified from the competition with no return of entry fees.

No person will refuse to obey instructions of the Match Director, Official Referee, Jury or Range Officer, or any other officer of the tournament, if instructions are given in the proper conduct of that office.

No competitor or coach will evade, nor attempt to evade or be an accessory to the evasion of any of the conditions of a match as prescribed in the program or in these rules.

Refusal of a competitor or coach to give testimony regarding facts known concerning violations or attempted violations of these rules will constitute being an accessory to the violation or attempted violation.

The Match Director, Official Referee or Jury upon proper presentation of evidence may disqualify any competitor and/or order his or her expulsion from the range for violation of these rules or for other conduct they consider discreditable or unsafe.

In the event of disagreement between Match Officials, the Official Referee or Jury shall prevail at the match with recourse only to the Protest Committee.

The Executive Committee or Protest Committee of the National Rifle Association upon presentation of evidence and hearings as provided in the Association's Bylaws may suspend or expel any member for violation of these rules.

Disorderly conduct or intoxication is strictly prohibited on the range and anyone guilty of same will be expelled from the range.

Expelled competitors will be disqualified from the competition with no return of entry fees.

In cases of infringement and contravention of the regulations or of the instructions of Range Officers, the following penalties may be imposed upon the competitor by the Match Director, Referee or Jury: Warning, Deduction of points from the score, Disqualification.

A warning may be given so that the competitor may have the opportunity to correct the fault. In case of a serious violation of safety rules, the Jury or Referee has the authority to impose immediate disqualification.

If the competitor does not correct the fault before the next shot, 10 points shall be deducted from the score.

For a repeated infringement, the competitor may be disqualified.

A warning to the competitor must be expressed in such terms as will leave no doubt that it is an official warning. A warning to the competitor, whenever it is possible, should be given so as not to disturb him while firing a shot, unless the infringement concerns safety, in which case the competitor shall be warned immediately.

If a competitor continues to handle the BB gun in a dangerous manner, or continues to violate any of the safety regulations, the competitor may be disqualified.

If the Range Officer, Referee or Jury is of the opinion that the competitor has attempted to intentionally circumvent the rules or disturb other competitors in an unsportsmanlike manner, the competitor may be warned, then penalized by the deduction of 10 points from the overall score, or the competitor may be disqualified.

If the Range Officer, Referee or Jury considers that the competitor is holding up the procedure unnecessarily, with the intention of gaining unfair advantage, the competitor may be warned, then for every similar fault thereafter, 10 points may be deducted from the score.

The discharge of any BB gun any place other than the firing line, or the firing line prior to the competitor being placed in the preparation period, will result in disqualification and expulsion from the tournament with no refund of fees.

If a BB gun is discharged while the competitors are in the preparation period prior to the command LOAD, it may result in the competitor being disqualified from that fired match.

Any competitor placing a BB in the barrel before the command: LOAD or COMMENCE FIRING, will be warned on the first violation, disqualified from that stage for the second violation, disqualified from the match for the third violation, and expelled from the tournament on the fourth violation, with no refund of fees.

All irregularities, penalties, misses, malfunctions, extra time allowed, repeated shots or repeated series, annulment of shots, etc., must be clearly marked and recorded in the Range Register, and on both the target and score card, by the Target Control Officer or by the responsible official on the range.

Penalty points will be deducted from the stage or match in which the infraction has occurred, starting from the last bull fired in the stage or match.