Rules

 Unsafe firearm handling will result in immediate Disqualification (DQ) from an IDPA match. The following is a nonexclusive list of unsafe behaviors.

• Endangering any person, including yourself. This includes sweeping one’s self or anyone else with a loaded or unloaded firearm. Sweeping is defined as allowing the muzzle of the firearm (loaded or unloaded) to cross or cover any portion of a person. 
• Pointing the muzzle beyond designated “Muzzle Safe Points” if used, or beyond the 180-degree Muzzle Safe Plane if used.
•  A discharge: a. in the holster. b. striking up range of the shooter. c. into the ground downrange closer to the shooter than 2 yards, unless engaging a low target that is within 2 yards. d. over a berm. e. during Load And Make Ready, Unload and Show Clear, Reload, or Malfunction Clearance. f. before the start signal. g. while transferring a firearm from one hand to the other. h. while handling a firearm except at the firing line. 
• Removing a firearm from the holster, unless: a. With verbal instruction from a SO. b. While engaging targets in a CoF under the direct supervision and visual contact of a SO. c. When in a designated “Safe Area”.
• Dropping a loaded or unloaded firearm or causing it to fall, during Load And Make Ready, the shooting of a string or stage, reloads or malfunction clearance or during Unload and Show Clear will result in disqualification from the match. If a shooter drops a firearm, the SO will immediately give the command “Stop”. The SO will pick up/recover the dropped firearm and render it safe and unloaded before returning it to the shooter. The shooter will be disqualified from the IDPA match. 

Ear protection and impact resistant eye protection are required to be used by everyone attending an IDPA shooting event. The responsibility for safe and serviceable ear and eye protection falls completely on the shooter or spectator. IDPA recommends that hearing protection have a minimum 21dB NRR rating and that eye protection have a minimum ANSI Z87.1 impact rating and side shields. 

Fingers must be obviously and visibly outside the trigger guard during loading, unloading, drawing, holstering, while moving (unless engaging targets) and during malfunction clearance.

• First offense is a Procedural Error penalty.
• Second Offense is a DQ from the match.
• Each “Finger” violation will be clearly noted on the shooter’s score sheet for tracking purposes. 

Range Is Hot 

•  This is the first command given to each shooter starting the action of shooting a stage. This command signifies the start of the CoF.

Load and Make Ready

• The shooter will prepare the firearm and magazines to match the start position for the stage. Typically, this is to load the firearm and holster, but may include non-typical loading or staging of equipment. The shooter will then assume the starting position necessary for the stage. If the shooter’s firearm is not to be loaded for the start of a stage the command used will be “Make Ready.”

Are You Ready?

• If ready, the shooter should respond verbally, or by obvious nodding of the head, but may also choose to stand ready. If there is no response from the shooter in approximately 3 seconds, the shooter is assumed to be ready.

Standby 

• This command is given after the shooter is ready. This command will be followed by the start signal within 1-4 seconds. The shooter may not move or change positions between the “Standby” command and the start signal, unless required to do so by the CoF.

Finger

• This command is given when the shooter’s finger is not obviously and visibly outside the trigger guard when it should be, as noted above.

Muzzle

• This command is given when the muzzle of the shooter’s firearm is pointed near a muzzle safe point. The shooter must correct the errant muzzle and continue with the stage.

Stop

• This command is given when something unsafe has happened or is about to happen during a stage, or when something in the stage is not correct. The shooter must immediately stop all movement, place the trigger finger obviously and visibly outside the trigger guard, and await further instruction. Failure to immediately stop and remove the trigger finger from within the trigger guard will result in Disqualification from the match.

If Finished, Unload and Show Clear

• This command will be issued when the shooter has apparently finished shooting the stage. If the shooter is finished, all ammunition will be removed from the firearm and a clear chamber/cylinder will be shown to the SO. If the shooter is not finished, the shooter should finish the stage and the command will be repeated.

If Clear, Slide Forward or Close Cylinder

• Once the SO has inspected the chamber/cylinder and found it to be clear, this command will be issued and the shooter will comply .

Pull the Trigger

• The shooter will point the firearm at a safe berm and pull the trigger to further verify that the chamber is clear. If the firearm fires, the shooter will be disqualified from the match. This requirement also applies to firearms with a de-cocker or magazine disconnect. For firearms with a magazine disconnect, an empty magazine, or dummy magazine must be inserted before the trigger is pulled, and then removed again.

Holster

• The shooter will safely holster the firearm.

Range is Clear

• This command indicates to everyone within the stage boundaries that the range is clear. This command ends the CoF and begins the scoring and resetting of the stage.

Stock Service Pistol (SSP): 10

Enhanced Service Pistol (ESP): 10

Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP): 8

Compact Carry Pistol (CCP): 8

Revolver (REV): 6

Back Up Gun Semi-Auto (BUG-S): 6

Back Up Gun Revolver (BUG-R): 5

Carry Optics (CO): 10

Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC): 30

Loading Device Count:

•  A “loading device” is a magazine, speed loader, or moon clip.
• Shooters starting with 8 or more rounds in all loading devices are allowed to start with the loaded firearm plus two additional loading devices.
• Shooters starting with 6 or 7 rounds in all loading devices are allowed to start with the loaded firearm plus three additional loading devices.
• Shooters starting with 5 or fewer rounds in all loading devices are allowed to start with the loaded firearm plus four additional loading devices