SECTION II: Safety

A. General

1. Adherence to generally accepted firearms safety procedures, and the specific procedures detailed below, is the absolute top priority at any IHMSA-sanctioned event. While the Match Director has the primary responsibility for overseeing the conduct of the match, safety is the responsibility of every competitor, spotter, and match official. Safety is the only reason a competitor can be interrupted during the course of fire.

B. Specific Safety Procedures

1. If a safety or rule violation occurs, the competitor should not be interrupted during the loading or firing period unless it is a serious safety problem (i.e., poses an immediate threat to the safety of the competitor or any other individual). The Match Director or Line Officer shall give the competitor a warning of the rule or safety violation. If, after the warning, the same violation recurs during the same course of fire, the competitor shall be disqualified for that course of fire.

2. It is mandatory that appropriate eye and ear protection be worn by all competitors, spotters, line officers, and any other personnel on the designated firing line. It is recommended that side shields be worn on the eye protection. Hearing protection is optional for Air pistol only.

3. Upon the command "Cease Fire", shooters shall immediately unload their handguns and put them in a "safe" condition (i.e., action open). Other than transporting their handguns to the next shooting position. Competitors may not handle their handguns until the command "Load" is given. Upon reaching the next shooting position, the handgun must be immediately placed on the shooting mat (or in a suitable stable carrier) and visible so that its safe condition can be verified by a Line Officer.

4. Muzzle Control:

a) From the moment a handgun is placed on the firing line, until it is removed, the muzzle shall point down range.

b) At no time during the loading or firing stages shall competitors allow their handgun to point at any part of their anatomy or any other person.

c) While in the firing position, no part of the competitor's body may be in the "Danger Zone", which is a cone-shaped area extending down range from the muzzle at a 45 degree angle above and below, and to the left and right, of the centerline of the bore.

d) During firing, competitors shall not allow the muzzle of their handgun to recoil past vertical.

5. A Match Director shall have the authority to remove from the firing line any handgun that shaves bullet material. The competitor may substitute another handgun, which must pass inspection for the appropriate category. However, the match will not be delayed.

6. Competitors have the responsibility to assemble ammunition that is safe to fire in the handgun for which it is loaded. Since there are no commercial standards for the popular "wildcat" and "improved' cartridges, it is up to the competitor to exercise caution and common sense in working up loads. Handgun silhouette shooting requires higher working pressures than any other handgun usage except hunting. There is, however, no acceptable reason for subjecting a handgun to dangerous pressures, or risking injury to any person as a result of using such ammunition.

7. Triggers set so light as to be prone to accidental discharge are not allowed. This will normally be tested by cocking a unloaded handgun and rapping the butt sharply, with the palm of the hand. If the sear mechanism disengages, the handgun will not be allowed in competition. The above procedure notwithstanding, the Match Director may disqualify a handgun if it is believed to be unsafe for any reason.

8. A misfire must be handled as if it is a hang fire and the handgun must be pointed down range for a safe period of time after the trigger is pulled. It is not considered safe to open the action on a firearm immediately after it has misfired.

9. Any load that regularly requires extraction of the cartridge by any method other than the internal extractor of the handgun will be considered unsafe and not allowed. The Match Director shall use his discretion in determining the safety of reloaded ammunition and is given the authority to enforce this rule.

10. Should any round be discharged before the "Load" command is given, the competitor will be disqualified for that match. Should any round be discharged after the "Load" command, but before the "Fire" command, it will be judged as a lost shot.

11. All handgun actions must be open, except on the firing line after the "Load" command is given.

12. For the safety of the competitors on the firing line and the target setters in the field, handguns shall not be handled between firing stages, except for the purpose of moving to the next firing position.

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