I. PROCEDURE:
1. AMERICAN SPEED PLATES IS A HANDGUN DISCIPLINE THROUGH WHICH A PARTICIPANT IS
TESTED FOR SPEED AND ACCURACY.
2. THERE ARE NEVER MORE THAN FIVE TARGETS PER STAGE.
3. ALL TARGETS ARE STEEL PLATES.
4. CLASSIFIER TARGET SIZE TOLERANCES:
A. ROUND: +/- 0.5" (DIAMETER).
B. SQUARE: +/- 1" (LENGTH OR WIDTH).
C. ALL AUTHORIZED CLASSIFIER STAGES DESCRIBE PLATE SIZES.
5. CLASSIFIER TARGET HEIGHT TOLERANCES:
A. ROUND: +/- 3" (GROUND TO CENTER OF PLATE).
B. RECTANGLES: +/- 3" (GROUND TO CENTER OF PLATE).
C. ALL AUTHORIZED CLASSIFIER STAGES DESCRIBE HEIGHTS.
6. CLASSIFIER TARGET DISTANCE TOLERANCES:
A. MEASUREMENT IN FEET: +/- 3" (TO CENTER OF STEM).
B. MEASUREMENT IN YARDS: +/- 6" (TO CENTER OF STEM).
C. ALL AUTHORIZED CLASSIFIER STAGES DESCRIBE DISTANCES.
7. CLASSIFIER STAGES WILL BE SHOT 5 TIMES AND THE SLOWEST SCORE
(LONGEST TIME) WILL BE DISCARDED.
8. CLASSIFIER RECORD TIMES ARE THE SUM OF 4 RUNS.
9. THIS CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WILL ENABLE CLUBS THAT SHOOT STEEL TO
CLASSIFY PARTICIPANTS AT A LOCAL LEVEL.
A. PARTICIPANTS MUST SHOOT TWELVE (18) DIFFERENT CLASSIFIER STAGES
TO OBTAIN A VALID CLASSIFICATION. A MINIMUM OF SIX (6) DIFFERENT
CLASSIFIER STAGES MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE AN INTERIM CLASSIFICATION.
B. A PARTICIPANTS RECORD WILL CONSIST OF THE SCORES FOR
ALL AUTHORIZED CLASSIFIER STAGES SHOT.
C. A PARTICIPANTS CLASSIFICATION RECORD SHALL BE UPDATED:
1) THE FIRST TIME A CLASSIFIER STAGE IS SHOT.
2) WHEN THEIR CURRENT TIME IS LESS THAN THE RECORDED TIME FOR A
SPECIFIC CLASSIFIER.
D. THE TIME RECORDED SHALL BE THE SUM OF THE FOUR (4) FASTEST RUNS
FROM ONE MATCH.
E. TO CLASSIFY A PARTICIPANT:
1) DIVIDE THE STAGE RECORD TIME BY THE PARTICIPANTS STAGE TIME
(SAME STAGE). (RECORD STAGE TIME/PARTICIPANT TIME = %)
2) SELECT THE TOP TWELVE (18) HIGHEST PERCENTS.
(6 TO 17 FOR AN INTERIM CLASSIFICATION).
3) DIVIDE THE SUM OF THE SELECTED PERCENTAGES BY THE NUMBER OF
STAGES SELECTED. (TOTAL STAGE TIME\NUMBER OF STAGES)
4) THE FOLLOWING TABLE CONVERTS THE AVERAGE PERCENT TO A CLASS:
[GM] 95.0% - 100% (GRAND MASTER)
[M] 87.5% - 94.99% (MASTER)
[A] 80.0% - 87.49%
[B] 70.0% - 79.99%
[C] 60.0% - 69.99%
[D] 40.0% - 59.99%
[E] 0.0% - 39.99%
[U] NOT CLASSIFIED (6 CLASSIFIER STAGES TO RECEIVE CLASS)
F. CLUBS OPTING TO OBTAIN THE STAGE DRAWINGS AND SOFTWARE
TO CLASSIFY THEIR PARTICIPANTS MUST AGREE TO SUBMIT TIMES THAT
ESTABLISH A NEW STAGE RECORD.
G. A PARTICIPANT CLASSIFIED UNDER THIS SYSTEM SHALL HOLD A NATIONAL
CLASSIFICATION THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY OTHER CLUBS FOLLOWING
THESE SAME RULES.
NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN ATTEMPT TO FORM A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
IT IS A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WITH RULES THAT WILL BE ADMINISTERED
LOCALLY. THE SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE VISIBILITY FOR THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SHOOT WITHIN THEIR CLASS AT OTHER
CLUB MATCHES.
10. ADDING NEW CLASSIFIER STAGES
A. NEW CLASSIFIER STAGES MAY BE ADDED WHEN ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING HAVE RECEIVED THE NEW STAGE.
B. THE STAGE WILL ESTABLISH ITS OWN RECORD TIME.
C. THE TARGET ARRAY MAY NOT HAVE ANY PLATE CLOSER THAN SEVEN
(7)YARDS NOR FURTHER THAN FORTY (40) YARDS.
D. CIRCULAR TARGETS
1) DIAMETERS ARE TO BE 10" OR 12"
2) HEIGHTS MUST BE NOT LESS THAN 18" AND NOT MORE THAN 66" FROM
THE GROUND TO THE CENTER OF THE TARGET IN 6" INCREMENTS.
E. RECTANGULAR TARGETS
1) SIZE IS 18 x 24"
2) HEIGHTS MUST NOT BE LESS THAN 30" AND NOT MORE THAN 48" FROM
THE GROUND TO THE CENTER OF THE TARGET.
F. THERE SHALL BE ONLY ONE SHOOTING POSITION (BOX OR FAULT LINE).
G. THE TARGET ARRAY MAY NOT VIOLATE THE RULES ESTABLISHED BY THIS
DOCUMENT.
11. PAINT COLORS
A. WHITE - TARGET PLATES SHALL BE PAINTED
BEFORE A PARTICIPANT SHOOTS THEIR 5 STRINGS.
B. STEMS - JUST BELOW THE PLATE.
1) RED - STOP PLATE.
2) GREEN - START PLATE
3) BLUE - OPTION PLATE
4) WHITE OR GRAY - ALL OTHER PLATES
NOTE: A STEM MAY BE PAINTED BOTH RED AND GREEN.
(THE PLATE IS DESIGNATED AS START AND STOP.)
II. PISTOLS, CALIBER AND AMMUNITION:
1. 22'S WILL SHOOT AS OPEN OR STOCK IN SEPARATE CLASSES.
2. SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS WILL SHOOT AS A SEPARATE SINGLE CLASS.
3. ALL HANDGUNS
A. STOCK HANDGUNS MAY BE PISTOLS OR REVOLVERS.
1) COMPENSATORS OR PORTING ARE NOT PERMITTED.
2) SCOPES, ELECTRONIC SIGHTS, LASER OR OTHER OPTICS ARE NOT
PERMITTED.
B. OPEN HANDGUNS DO NOT FALL INTO THE STOCK CATEGORY.
C. ALL AUTO LOADING PISTOLS MUST HAVE A WORKING SAFETY.
4. THE CENTER FIRE CARTRIDGE MINIMUM CALIBER IS .25.
THIS IS BEING DONE TO PROMOTE EXPERIMENTATION FOR STEEL ONLY
HANDGUNS.
5. AMMUNITION:
A. THERE IS NO POWER FACTOR.
B. THERE ARE NO MAGAZINE OR CYLINDER CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS.
C. MULTIPLE PROJECTILES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
D. EXCESSIVE PROJECTILE FRAGMENTATION WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
E. EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO THE PLATES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
F. THE PARTICIPANT MAY CHANGE AMMUNITION AND CONTINUE.
III. HOLSTERS:
1. ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL CENTER FIRE HANDGUNS EXCEPT
[NH] NO HOLSTER AND [22] CLASSES.
A. THE HOLSTER MUST BE ON OR FORWARD OF THE HIP.
THE MUZZLE OF THE HANDGUN MUST BE POINTED TO IMPACT THE GROUND
WITHIN TWO (2) FEET OF THE PARTICIPANT WHEN THE HANDGUN IS
HOLSTERED.
B. CROSS DRAW, SHOULDER AND BEHIND THE HIP TACTICAL HOLSTERS
WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
C. THE HOLSTER MUST COVER THE TRIGGER WHEN THE WEAPON IS
HOLSTERED. SINGLE SIX HOLSTERS ARE EXEMPT FROM THIS
REQUIREMENT.
2. [22] AND [NH] CLASSES WILL BEGIN FROM THE READY POSITION.
(GUN POINTED DOWN RANGE AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE GROUND)
IV. RANGE PROCEDURES:
1. THE SHOOTER WILL BE IN THE SHOOTING BOX OR BEHIND THE FOUL LINE.
2. RANGE OFFICER (RO) - "YOU MAKE TAKE AN UNLOADED SIGHT PICTURE
AND/OR YOU MAY LOAD AND MAKE READY". SIGHT PICTURES WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED AFTER THE FIRST STRING OF FIRE.
3. THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD INDICATE READY BY RAISING HIS HANDS
ABOVE THE SHOULDERS SO THAT HIS WRISTS MAY BE SEEN FROM BEHIND
OR ASSUME THE READY POSITION (CLASSES [NH] OR [22]).
4. RO - "IS THE SHOOTER READY?" OR "ARE YOU READY?"
(1-3 SECOND PAUSE)
5. RO - "STAND BY"
6. THE RO WILL SET TIMER OFF IN 1 TO 3 SECONDS.
7. THE PARTICIPANT WILL THEN ENGAGE THE TARGET ARRAY AS DESCRIBED
IN THE STAGE DESCRIPTION.
8. AFTER ENGAGING THE TARGET ARRAY, THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD
RE-LOAD OR VERIFY THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT ROUNDS REMAINING
TO RE-ENGAGE THE TARGET ARRAY.
9. STEPS 3. THROUGH 8. SHALL BE REPEATED UNTIL THE DESCRIBED NUMBER OF
ENGAGEMENTS (RUNS OR STRINGS) HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED.
10. RO - "SHOW CLEAR"
11. THE PARTICIPANT WILL:
A. PISTOLS
1) REMOVE THE WEAPONS MAGAZINE.
2) MANUALLY CYCLE THE SLIDE TO CLEAR THE LAST ROUND FROM THE
CHAMBER.
3) CHECK THE CHAMBER TO INSURE THE WEAPON IS CLEAR.
4) HOLD THE SLIDE TO THE REAR AND SHOW THE WEAPONS CHAMBER
FOR THE RO TO VERIFY CLEAR.
5) RELEASE THE SLIDE.
6) POINT THE WEAPON DOWN RANGE AND RELEASE THE HAMMER TO THE
FORWARD POSITION. (SQUEEZING THE TRIGGER IS PREFERRED)
B. REVOLVERS WITH ACCESSIBLE CYLINDERS
1) ACCESS THE CYLINDER.
2) REMOVE ALL CARTRIDGES.
3) SHOW THE LOADING SIDE OF THE CYLINDER FOR THE RO TO VERIFY
CLEAR.
4) CLOSE THE CYLINDER.
C. REVOLVERS WITH LOADING GATES
1) OPEN THE LOADING GATE.
2) REMOVE ALL CARTRIDGES.
3) SHOW EACH CYLINDER POSITION FOR THE RO TO VERIFY CLEAR.
4) CLOSE THE LOADING GATE.
12. THE RO WILL INFORM THE PARTICIPANT THAT THE WEAPON IS CLEAR
AND TO EITHER HOLSTER OR BAG THE WEAPON.
13. THE WEAPONS HAMMER SHALL ALWAYS BE IN THE FORWARD POSITION
(FIRED) BEFORE THE WEAPON IS STOWED.
V. SCORING MATCHES:
1. TARGETS MUST BE HIT IN EACH STRING TO SCORE.
2. PLATES (INCLUDING OPTION PLATES) MUST BE HIT BEFORE THE STOP PLATE.
3. HITTING THE STOP PLATE ENDS THE STRING.
4. TARGET SCORING ENDS WHEN A STOP PLATE IS HIT.
5. TOTAL TIME IS FROM THE START BEEP UNTIL THE LAST SHOT.
6. A BULLET MAY NOT SCORE A HIT ON MORE THAN 1 TARGET.
7. A STEM HIT IS THE SAME AS A MISSED TARGET.
8. ELECTRONIC TIMERS WITH .01 SEC RESOLUTION MAY BE USED FOR SCORING.
9. A PARTICIPANT WHO BEGINS THEIR DRAW OR RAISES THEIR WEAPON
BEFORE THE BEEP SHALL BE VERBALLY WARNED AND ALLOWED A RE-START.
THE NEXT INFRACTION SHALL BE A FIVE (5) SECOND PENALTY.
10. TIMERS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED FOR THE FIRST HIT WHEN A STOP
PLATE RECEIVES MULTIPLE HITS.
11. PENALTIES ASSESSED BY THE STAGE DESCRIPTION OR RULE INFRACTION
SHALL BE ADDED TO THE TOTAL TIME. THE TIME LOGGED MAY NOT
EXCEED 30 SECONDS PER RUN.
12. THE RO MAY APPOINT ONE OR MORE PARTICIPANTS TO ASSIST IN
SCORING THE TARGETS AND ENGAGEMENT SEQUENCE.
13. MATCH RESULTS ARE DETERMINED BY:
A. ADDING THE STAGE RECORD TIMES.
B. ADDING THE PARTICIPANTS STAGE TIMES.
C. DIVIDE THE STAGE RECORD TIME SUM BY THE PARTICIPANTS STAGE TIME
SUM. (STAGE RECORD TIME SUM/PARTICIPANT STAGE TIME SUM = %)
D. THE PARTICIPANT STAYS IN THE GROUP (O)PEN OR (S)TOCK IN WHICH
THEY SHOT. CLASSIFIED PARTICIPANTS STAY WITHIN THEIR CLASS.
(U) ARE ASSIGNED IN THE ORDER THEY FINISHED WITHIN THE GROUP WHICH
WILL ASSIGN THEM TO A CLASS.
VI. ALIBI'S:
1. TWO (2) ALIBI'S WILL BE PERMITTED PER MATCH DAY FOR EACH WEAPON SHOT.
2. THESE ARE FOR JAMS AND AMMUNITION RELATED FAILURES.
3. THE PARTICIPANT WILL BE PERMITTED TO RE-SHOOT THE RUN.
4. SPEED PLATES IS A TEST OF THE PERSON NOT THE EQUIPMENT.
VII. SAFETY RULES:
1. COLD RANGES RULES WILL APPLY.
A. WEAPONS MAY ONLY BE HANDLED IN A DESIGNATED SAFE AREA OR
B. ON THE FIRING LINE UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE RO.
C. THE RO'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO INSURE THE SAFETY
OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
2. THE READY CONDITION OF PISTOLS IN THE SHOOTING BOX WILL BE:
A. 22'S - LOADED, SAFETY OFF, GUN POINTED DOWN RANGE AT
45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE GROUND. FINGER OUT OF TRIGGER GUARD.
B. SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS:
HAMMER FULLY DOWN - IF EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY TRANSFER BAR.
HALF COCKED - IF EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY NOTCH.
ON EMPTY CHAMBER - IF THE FIRING PIN CONTACTS THE PRIMER
WITH THE HAMMER DOWN.
C. DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVERS - HAMMER FULLY DOWN. NO HALF COCKS.
D. PISTOLS:
1) SINGLE ACTION - HAMMER FULLY COCKED WITH THE THUMB SAFETY
ON SAFE.
2) DOUBLE ACTION - SAFETY ON. MAY NOT BE CARRIED FULLY COCKED.
ON "READY" IF THE SAFETY MECHANISM DROPS THE HAMMER WHEN THE
SAFETY IS ACTUATED.
3. EYE PROTECTION IS MANDATORY FOR ANYONE AT THE RANGE
DURING STEEL SHOOTS. RO'S WILL STOP ANY SHOOTING IF ANY
PERSON PRESENT AT THE STAGE DOES NOT HAVE EYE PROTECTION.
4. HEARING PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED.
5. THE WEAPON WILL BE OUT OF THE HOLSTER WHEN RELOADING.
VIII. DISQUALIFICATION (DQ):
1. ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. BREAKING A LINE WHICH EXTENDS LEFT AND RIGHT FROM
THE FRONT OF THE SHOOTING BOX (OR LINE) WITH THE MUZZLE
OF A LOADED WEAPON. (BREAKING THE 180).
B. A DIRECT LINE IMPACT OF A FIRED PROJECTILE WITHIN A RADIUS
OF NINE FEET OF THE SHOOTER. (ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OR AD).
C. FIRING ABOVE THE SAFETY BERMS. (SHOOTING INTO THE AIR).
D. LEAVING THE FIRING LINE WITH A LOADED PISTOL.
E. DROPPING A LOADED PISTOL.
F. ANY SHOT IN THE HOLSTER.
G. ANY ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE (AD).
INCLUDING DISCHARGES WHILE LOADING AND CLEARING THE WEAPON.
H. ANY SHOOTER WHO DISPLAYS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR OR IS ABUSIVE
(VERBAL OR OTHERWISE) TOWARD ANY OTHER PERSON AT THAT MATCH.
2. ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING:
NOTE: AN UNLOADED WEAPON HAS BEEN VERIFIED AS EMPTY BY THE RO
BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURS.
A. BREAKING THE 180 LINE WITH AN UNLOADED WEAPON.
B. HANDLING AN UNLOADED WEAPON BEHIND THE FIRING LINE.
C. DROPPING AN UNLOADED WEAPON.
D. PICKING UP A DROPPED UNLOADED WEAPON EXCEPT UNDER
SUPERVISION OF THE RO.
3. A RO MAY DISMISS A PARTICIPANT FOR ANY UNSAFE ACT.
4. GRIEVANCES WILL BE SETTLED BY THE MATCH DIRECTOR.