SECTION I: General

A. Name

The official name of the organization is International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association, Inc. For convenience, it may be referred to by its initials, IHMSA. 

B. Membership

1. Membership in IHMSA shall be defined and described as one of the following: 

a)    Individual Member: membership is US $30.00 per year and is open to any person 18 years or older. New members, upon payment of dues, shall receive a Membership / Classification Card, Official Rules, and a subscription to the IHMSA News, the official journal of IHMSA. An Individual Member has voting rights. 

b)    Individual Junior Member: membership is US $15.00 per year. An individual shall be considered a Junior for membership purposes until his / her 18th birthday, and shall be upgraded to an Individual Member upon his / her following renewal date. An individual shall be considered a Junior for competition purposes until his / her 18th birthday; however, any match may be completed as a Junior provided he / she is a Junior on the first day of the match. Individual Junior membership application must include parent or guardian approval.  

c)    Family Member: additional members of an Individual Member's immediate family (i.e., spouse, son, daughter) may join for a fee of US $7.00 each per year. They will be assigned the same membership number as the Individual Member with an appropriate suffix, ("H" for husband, "W' for wife, "S" for son, or 'D" for daughter). The additional family memberships do not include a subscription to the IHMSA News. 

d)    Life Member: members may obtain a Life Membership at a cost of US $420.00. This fee includes a life subscription to the IHMSA News, a new membership card with suffix "L" following the membership number, IHMSA Life Member pin, and a special certificate. 

2. Special arrangements may be made for Surface, First Class, or Air Mail delivery of the IHMSA News to Affiliated  Nations and members residing outside the USA. The procedure, options, and costs of postage and handling are published in the IHMSA News.  

C. Competition

1. The object of all IHMSA competition is to knock down metallic silhouettes with a handgun. There are four types of IHMSA competition: Big Bore, Small Bore (.22), Field Pistol and Air Pistol. Specific rules for each type of competition are covered in Sections VII, VIII, IX and X respectively.

D. Competitor Classification

1. The first score fired in a sanctioned match by a competitor in a particular type and category of competition shall establish a classification for that match only. The competitor's official classification shall be one class lower, effective at the next match in which he competes. The score shall qualify as one "leg" into the class in which it was fired. During the following twelve month period, the next score fired, including re-entry scores, which exceeds the break point of his official class in that category, will move the competitor to the next higher class, effective at the next match in which he competes.

Example: If an unclassified competitor fires a "AA" class score in his first match, the score shall count as a "AA" score for that match only. The official classification marked on his Classification Card shall be "A", one class lower. If the shooter fires another "AA" class score within the next twelve months, his classification will then be "AA", effective at the next match in which he competes.

Thereafter, any two scores, including re-entry scores, fired by a competitor during any twelve month period, which exceed the break point of his class in that category, will move the competitor to that class, effective at the next match in which he competes.

2. If a competitor fires a single score that exceeds the break point for a class that is two or more classes above the competitor's current class, he shall be advanced to the class immediately below the class of the score fired, effective at that match. Such score will also be the first "leg" into the class in which it was fired.

Example: If a "B" class competitor fires a "AA" class score, he is immediately reclassified as an "A" class competitor, effective in that match, and has one "leg" into "AA" class.

3. For classification purposes, 60 or 80 round matches fired straight through will be converted to a 40 round match equivalent and treated as a single score per Sections I-D-1 and I-D-2, above.

Examples: Conversion of an 80-round-match score is accomplished by dividing the score by 2 and dropping any fraction of a point (e.g., a score of 79 or 78 would both equate to a score of 39). Conversion of a 60-round-match score is accomplished by multiplying the score by 2 and then dividing the result by 3 and dropping any fraction of a point (e.g., a score of 58 or 57 would both equate to a score of 38).

4. Reclassification to a lower class will be based on eight consecutive sanctioned match scores below the break point of the competitor's current class. Reclassification to a lower class is allowed only by approval of both the competitor's respective State and Regional Directors in the USA, or National Director in other Nations. Downward reclassification will only be allowed during the period between the annual IHMSA International Championship and the following January 1st.

5. Any National/Regional/State/Match Director, or member of the Executive Committee, shall have the authority to classify or reclassify any competitor into any IHMSA class according to "known ability" at any time before, during, or after a match. Should there by any questions regarding this procedure or any decisions there from, the matter shall be referred to the Executive Committee for a final decision.

To determine "known ability," any available facts and information should be taken into consideration including:
- Any scores fired at sanctioned, unsanctioned, or practice matches, whether said competitor was an IHMSA member or not.
- Any and all other facts and information relating to the competitor's ability to shoot and hit silhouette targets with a handgun.

6. Any IHMSA member who omits scores in order to continue competing in a lower class is subject to suspension from IHMSA for one year.

7. Classification for each type of competition (Big Bore, Small Bore /.22, Field Pistol and Air Pistol) shall be considered separately. However, "known ability" in one type of competition may be considered in those situations referred to in Section I-D-5, above.

8. Competitors may not initially be classified in an Unlimited category with a Production handgun.

9. Individual classifications. Each category shall be divided into classes as follows:

a) Big Bore / Small Bore (.22) / Air Pistol Production and Revolver

b) Big Bore / Small Bore (.22) / Air Pistol Standing

c) Big Bore / Small Bore (.22) / Air Pistol Unlimited

d)    Big Bore / Small Bore (.22) / Air Pistol Unlimited Standing, Air Pistol Unlimited Standing Iron Sights and Field Pistol Production Any Sights

e) Big Bore / Small Bore (.22) / Air Pistol Unlimited Any Sights and Big Bore Unlimited Any Sights Half-Scale

f) Big Bore Unlimited Half-Scale

g) Field Pistol Production

E. Matches

1. Sanctioned matches will consist of a 40, 60, or 80 round course of fire with an equal number of targets being engaged at each distance. Target distances for each type of competition are specified in Section XI-B.

2. Targets consist of steel silhouettes of chickens, pigs, turkeys and rams. Target specifications are detailed for each type of competition in Section V.

3. Targets will be fired upon in timed, two minute stages, five targets per stage.

4. Shooting positions will be Freestyle and Standing. Rules for shooting positions are specified in Section VI.

5. Specific rules for the conduct of matches are detailed in Section XI.

F. Rules

1. All IHMSA rules, and any new rules which may be adopted from time to time, including any and all rule interpretations and clarifications thereof, and/or rule changes as officially established by the voting Delegates or by the IHMSA Executive Committee, are an integral part of the IHMSA Bylaws.

2. All articles and sections of the Bylaws and the provisions contained therein, likewise, are an integral part of the IHMSA Official Rules and shall apply accordingly.

3. All members and competitors agree to abide by the final decisions of the Executive Committee in all matters having to do with the Official Rules and Bylaws.

G. IHMSA Pledge

1. In making application for membership in the International Handgun Metallic Silhouette Association, Inc., I hereby acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Official Rules and agree to read and be bound by said rules. 

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