Rules and Practices

Range Rules

The IPSC match adheres strictly to the USPSA rules for gun handling. Infraction of any safety rule will result in disqualification from the match. See the next column for a brief summary of these Rules.

New shooters are welcome and shoot free your first time at Cherokee. See below for what you should bring.

Shooters must arrive at the range with all firearms unloaded and all handguns bagged or holstered.

New shooters will be given a safety briefing prior to the match. However, shooters remain responsible for knowing and following the rules.

We operate as a Cold Range. Guns must not be handled except in one of the designated Safe Areas or on the firing line under direction of the range officer.

Persons wishing to display firearms for sale should first obtain guidance from the match director before openly displaying these items. You must take displayed firearms to one of the Safety Areas to handle and  inspect them, unless they are in a designated vendor area.

We normally use 6 shooting bays for the match; there are open bays which may be in use by Cherokee Gun Club members and their registered guests who are not participating in the match. These members are not bound by IPSC rules; match participants are at all times.

Shooters registered for the USPSA match may use empty bays for function-firing under the direction of a Range Officer in accordance with USPSA rules.

USPSA Rule Book - 15th Edition, January 2004

Safety Rules

Firearms may only be handled in a Safe Area or on the firing line upon the command of the Range Officer.

Safe areas are specifically marked "Safe Area".

Ammunition must not be handled in a designated Safe Area; it may be handled anywhere else.

While handling the gun in a Safe Area, at the Firing Line, continuing throughout the course of fire, and while clearing the gun and returning it to the holster at the end of the course of fire, the shooter must not let the muzzle of the gun point past a line parallel to the front side of the shooting bay (180 rule).

The shooter must not point the muzzle of the gun at any part of his own body. This is termed "sweeping".

During a course of fire, the shooter must keep his finger off the trigger except while the targets are being engaged or provided the shooter maintains a sight picture on a target.

While most stages begin with a loaded gun in holster, other starting positions are possible. For instance, loaded gun on table; loaded gun in box; unloaded gun on table, in box or holstered. The shooter must be sure to understand the starting position and understand the requirements of safe gun handling for that position.

At the commencement of a course of fire for a shooter, the RO issues the following commands:

1. Do you have any questions? -- Normally the shooter should know the starting position and special stage instructions. This is the time to raise any final questions or safety concerns about the stage.
2. Load and make ready -- the shooter may now take the gun out of the holster, take a sight picture, load the gun if required for the stage, and place the gun in the required starting position. This is most often back in the holster, but may be on a table or other designated position. If not back in the holster, the muzzle must not break the 180.
3. Are you ready -- if you are NOT ready, then speak up; else nod, say yes, or remain silent.
4. Stand-by -- the RO will commence a 1-4 second countdown, before ...
5. Beep - the buzzer goes off and so do you.

During the course of fire the RO may issue the command:

1. Stop!!! -- you immediately cease firing, point the gun downrange with finger off trigger and await further instruction by the RO. This command may be issued if you have committed a safety infraction, or if the RO has spotted an unsafe range condition, or if the RO suspects either of the above is about to occur.

On conclusion of the course of fire, the RO issues the commands:

1. Unload and show clear -- the shooter removes the magazine and reverses the slide to eject any chambered round. The shooter holds the slide open allowing the RO to visually inspect the chamber.
2. If clear, hammer down -- if the gun is clear,  the shooter releases the slide. and drops the hammer by pulling the trigger while maintaining the muzzle pointing downrange.
3. Holster -- the shooter safely returns the gun to the holster, without "sweeping" or "breaking the 180".
4. Range is clear -- the shooter, RO and other members may proceed downrange to inspect and tape targets.

What Do I Need?

Come with what you will need for the match; Cherokee is a private range facility and does not sell ammo nor rent guns.

You will need:

• Hearing Protection
• Eye Protection
• Strong-Side Belt Holster Which Covers the Trigger Guard; cross-draw and shoulder holsters are not allowed
• Extra Magazines or Speed Loaders
• Plenty of Ammunition (200 rounds recommended for our matches)
• Handgun (9mm Luger or Larger Caliber)

You should:

• Familiarize yourself with all the rules on this page if you are new to IPSC.
• Arrive around 9am for orientation and safety briefing if you are new to IPSC.
• Proceed to the pistol area, through the Club gates and down the hill.
• Leave your unloaded gun bagged in the car until you have been briefed.
• Make yourself known to the person at the sign-in table and sign-in.
• The person at the check-in will direct you to someone for a safety briefing.
• Have a great time.
• Come back next month.