SECTION XII: Miscellaneous Rules for Competition

A. Competitor Qualification

1. To compete in any IHMSA-sanctioned match, a competitor must be a member in good standing of IHMSA, Inc. or, in the case of a resident of an Affiliated Nation, a member in good standing of that country's recognized affiliated body.

2. To encourage new members, a non-member may be allowed to shoot the course of fire only once, at the option of the Match Director. Such a score is not official, nor is it eligible for any IHMSA prize, trophy, or award.

3. When entering any IHMSA-sanctioned match, the competitor's Membership/Classification Card must be presented and left with the registrar. At the conclusion of the match, the registrar will enter on the card all scores shot in the match and certify them. If any score entered on the card is the second score above the break point of the competitor's current class, the card shall be upgraded, in the card's classification area, for that type of classification, and so certified by the registrar or any IHMSA Match Director.

4. At all times, it shall be the responsibility of the competitor to ensure that all scores fired in IHMSA-sanctioned matches are recorded correctly on his/her Membership/Classification Card.

5. Any shooter of known ability who does not present his Membership / Classification Card shall be required to compete in International or AAA class, at the option of the Match Director.

6. No IHMSA competitor shall solicit or accept subsidy or sponsorship from any firearm or accessory manufacturer. The IHMSA is, and shall remain, an organization for the amateur handgun competitor.

B. Equipment and Accessories

1. Allowed: The following equipment/accessories are allowed:

a) A flat shooting mat or ground cover of a thickness not to exceed one inch.

b) Athletic elbow pads or other such material used to protect a competitor's elbow. Such protection shall not be excessively padded or stiff, so as to be used as a shooting aid.

c) Shooting gloves, so long as they are not excessively padded or stiff, so as to be used as a shooting aid.

d) Blast shields used in the freestyle shooting position is used for protection only and not as a shooting aid.

e) Auxiliary lenses and/or loupes, so long as they are attached to the competitor's eyeglass lens or frame. Such lens or loupe may not extend more than one inch beyond the eyeglass frame.

f) Clip-on sun glasses over prescription eyeglasses.

2. Not Allowed: The following equipment/accessories/actions are not allowed:

a) Scopes or any optical devices (except as allowed for Field Pistol, Unlimited Standing, Unlimited Any Sights or as specified in Section XII-B-1e above).

b) Artificial rests or supports, slings. padded or unnecessarily heavy clothing, or any kind of wrist or arm supports or bracelets.

c) Friction materials or padding used on the competitor's clothing or on any part of the competitor's handgun.

d) Rubberizing the stocks or forends of Unlimited handguns.

e) Muzzle brakes/compensators or ported barrels on Production category handguns. (Except as allowed on Small Bore (.22) Production handguns. See Section III-A-2)

C. Sportsmanship

1. IHMSA members have the responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with good sportsmanship. Their actions should reflect favorably on the shooting fraternity in general, and IHMSA in particular.

2. Any Nation, Region, State, or Match Director shall have the authority to bar any competitor from a match for unsportsmanlike conduct or actions unbecoming to IHMSA or the sport. Should there be any questions regarding this procedure, or any decision made there from, the matter shall be referred to the Executive Committee for a final decision.

D. Prohibited Behavior

1. No person shall compete, officiate, or otherwise participate, in an IHMSA-sanctioned match while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

2. Any match competitor violating this provision is subject to immediate disqualification and possible further disciplinary action by the Executive Committee.

E. Coach/Spotter

1. Each competitor may have one coach/spotter with him on the firing line who may advise him where his shots are going, keep time, and otherwise provide advice.

2. Said coach/spotter may not handle the competitor's handgun or assist in any physical manner once the "Load" command has been given.

F. Match Re-entry

1. In a particular match, the first time a competitor completes the course of fire for a given type and category of competition the score shall be for record and award.

2. At the Match Director's option, the competitor may shoot a re-entry (i.e., repeat the course of fire in the same type and category of competition). However, the re-entry score shall only count toward classification of the competitor and qualification for championship matches.

3. A competitor may only shoot a re-entry after shooting all other entries for record and award. With respect to this requirement, Big Bore, Small Bore (.22), and Field Pistol competition shall be considered separately.

4. Re-entry scores must be entered on the competitor's Membership / Classification Card.

G. Excessive Target Damage

1. Any club sponsoring a IHMSA sanctioned match shall have the right to bar or disqualify any handgun, cartridge load, and/or competitor at any time before or during a match when it comes to the attention of the club that the silhouette targets are being damaged by bullets being fired by said competitor. Maximum allowable bullet penetration on mild steel targets is 1/8” and on tempered steel targets is 1/16” (or nearest metric equivalent).

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