Competitor Equipment

2.1 Belt and Holster

Required for all stages where the competitor is shooting a handgun, unless otherwise specified by the WSB.

2.1.1 Belt at waist level

The competitor’s belt must be worn at waist level.

2.1.2 Holster secured to belt

The holster must be secured to the competitor’s belt.

2.1.2.1 Leg-strap holsters

Holsters that have an additional leg-strap for stabilization are specifically allowed, as long as the belt attachment that holds the holster is reasonably rigid and keeps the handgun secured to the competitor’s body during vigorous movement even when the accompanying leg strap is not in use.

2.1.3 Trigger guard coverage

The holster must completely cover the trigger guard of the competitor’s holstered handgun.

2.1.4 Holster Position

The holster must be positioned on the belt between the competitor’s 12 and 4 o’clock positions for right handed competitors, or 12 and 8 o’clock positions for left handed competitors. There are no restrictions on the cant and orientation of the holster as long as the handgun can always be drawn safely, and the handgun is held such that the muzzle does not point further than 3 feet from the midpoint of the competitor’s feet when the competitor is standing relaxed.

2.1.5 Malfunctions of belt and/or holster

If a competitor’s belt and/or holster becomes unsecured from their person, the 180 rule (15.4) applies to the holstered handgun with a 3 ft exclusion radius from the midpoint of the competitor’s feet. Competitors have the option to correct these issues on the clock as long as the holstered handgun remains under direct physical control of the competitor continuing to adhere to the 180 rule, otherwise a “Stop!” call shall be made and the situation must either be handled via 15.2 (loaded firearm) or 14.2 (unloaded firearm).

2.2 Magazines and Magazine Pouches

2.2.1 Pouches not required

While recommended, magazine pouches are not required. Competitors may elect to carry magazines on their person (such as in a pocket).

2.2.2 Starting position

At the start of a stage, all magazines to be used other than the initial mags loaded in the firearms per the WSB must be secured somewhere on the competitor’s person, and NOT held in any way (unless otherwise specified by the WSB).

2.2.3 No spare magazines mounted to firearms

No spare magazines may start directly mounted to competitor’s firearms in any way such as in stocks, chassis, or attachments that hold a spare magazine on the gun (e.g. Flux Raider). Coupled (side by side, or end-to-end) magazines are not considered to be mounted to the firearm.

2.3 Sling

Some stages may require the use of a sling.

2.3.1 Slings not required throughout match

Slings are not required to stay on the firearm(s) for the duration of the match.

2.3.2 Removing sling mid-stage

If the WSB requires a sling as part of a start condition, the competitor may elect to remove and abandon the sling mid-stage as long as all other rules and procedures outlined in the WSB are followed.

2.4 Types of firearms and their definitions

2.4.1 Handgun

2.4.1.1 Magazine in grip or revolver

Must accept its magazine inside its grip or be a revolver.

2.4.1.2 Single grip only

Must only have a single grip. A handguard, foregrip, shroud, or other related hardware designed for gripping the firearm in a location other than the primary grip are not allowed.

2.4.1.3 No stocks or stabilizing devices

Must not have any stock or stabilizing device that allows the firearm to be fired from the shoulder or stabilized using any part of the body other than the hands forward of the wrists.

2.4.1.4 Acceptable caliber

Must be chambered in an acceptable pistol caliber per the divisional rules.

2.4.2 Carbine

2.4.2.1 Stock or stabilizing device required

Must have a stock, brace, or stabilizing device that may be used to fire the firearm from the shoulder. A buffer tube is not considered to be a shoulderable stabilizing device.

2.4.2.2 Acceptable caliber

Must be chambered in an acceptable rifle or pistol caliber per the divisional rules.

2.4.3 Shotgun

2.4.3.1 Stock or stabilizing device required

Must have a stock, brace, or stabilizing device that may be used to fire the firearm from the shoulder.

2.4.3.2 Acceptable caliber

Must be chambered in an acceptable shotgun caliber per the divisional rules. A buffer tube is not considered to be a shoulderable stabilizing device.

2.5 Firearm, caliber, and equipment changes throughout the match

Competitors may swap out or reconfigure any of their equipment, including firearms, in between stages, provided that at all times during a course of fire all the competitor’s equipment meets the criteria for the competitor’s declared division, and the following conditions are followed:

2.5.1 Caliber swaps on carbine platform

Caliber swaps specifically on the carbine platform may only be made within the same caliber class as defined below:

2.5.1.1 Light Calibers

5.7x28/5.45x39/5.56x45/all pistol calibers up to .45 ACP

2.5.1.2 Medium/Special Calibers

7.62x39, .300 Blackout, 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, 6.8 SPC, 6mm ARC, and similar. This category also includes all calibers with projectiles larger than .224” diameter that can be fired out of the small frame AR platform or similar firearms.

2.5.1.3 Heavy Calibers

6.5CM, .308 Win, etc, or larger. Calibers designed for large frame AR-10s and similar or larger firearms.

2.5.1.4 Match Director exception

Match Directors may elect to allow unlimited swaps between caliber classes if they determine that there is no advantage to be gained at their specific event. This adjustment shall be communicated to all participating competitors before the match starts.

2.5.2 Division compliance

If any firearms or equipment that a competitor uses on a course of fire no longer meets the criteria of their division, they will either be moved to Competition Division (for PCSL 2-Gun, Pistol Caliber 2-Gun, Rifle, or Pistol formats), Open Division (for PCSL Shotgun or 3-Gun formats), or in the case that the firearms or equipment used are not legal within any available division, the competitor’s scores shall be removed from the match results.

2.5.3 One of each firearm type per stage

Competitors may only use one of each required firearm type on each course of fire.

2.5.3.1 Stage guns

“Stage Guns” that may be integrated into the course of fire are considered separate from the competitor’s firearms for the stage.

2.6 Safe Conditions Defined by Firearm Type

2.6.1 Long Guns

The firearm is unloaded, or the manual safety is applied, or the external hammer is decocked.

2.6.2 Handguns

The handgun is unloaded or one of the following:

2.6.2.1 SAO or DA/SA handguns

A SAO or DA/SA handgun with the manual safety applied or hammer decocked.

2.6.2.2 Striker-Fired/Safe Action handguns

A Striker-Fired/Safe Action handgun.

2.6.2.2.1 Manual safety not required

Handguns with internal safe action mechanisms that also have an external manual safety do not need to have the manual safety applied to be in a safe condition.

2.6.2.2.2 Safe Action defined

“Safe Action” refers to handguns with a system of internal safeties to prevent accidental firing, rather than an external manual safety lever. These safeties disengage automatically with the trigger pull, such as a trigger safety lever (a small lever on the trigger face that is depressed as the trigger is being pulled) or other internal mechanisms.

2.7 Prohibited Firearms and Accessories

If used, see 14.10.

2.7.1 No manual safety without decocker

Any long gun that lacks a manual safety, unless the long gun has an external hammer that can be manually decocked.

2.7.2 Broken or disabled safety

Any firearm which has a broken or disabled manual safety that allows the trigger to be pulled even while applied.

2.7.3 Multiple rounds per trigger pull

Any firearm that may fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

2.7.4 Multiple barrels

Any carbine or handgun with more than one barrel, regardless of each barrel’s caliber.

2.7.5 Full-auto or burst-capable firearms

Any fully automatic or burst-capable firearm used in full-auto or burst mode.

2.7.5.1 Match Director exception

MDs may elect to allow fully automatic or burst-capable firearms on a per-match basis, provided the match is not a Level 1 or higher PCSL Pistol, Rifle, or 2-Gun event.

2.7.6 Simulated full-auto accessories

Any accessory that allows the firearm to simulate full-auto fire or provides a mechanically enhanced fire rate such as:

2.7.6.1 Forced reset devices

Any forced reset type device used in forced reset mode (such as a forced reset trigger, Hoffman Super Safety, etc)

2.7.6.2 Binary triggers

All binary type triggers, regardless of mode used

2.7.6.3 Bump stocks

Bump stocks

2.7.6.4 Match Director exception for simulated full-auto

MDs may elect to allow accessories that simulate full-auto fire on a per-match basis, provided the match is not a Level 1 or higher PCSL Pistol, Rifle, or 2-Gun event

2.7.7 Full-auto and simulated full-auto Strike

Violating the full-auto or simulated full-auto prohibitions shall also receive a Strike (13.1.4)

2.8 Ammunition Restrictions

If used, see 15.11.

2.8.1 Prohibited ammunition types

Steel core, penetrating, tracer, specialty incendiary, and other non-ball types of ammunition are prohibited.

2.8.1.1 M855 exception

MDs may allow M855 (Green Tip) ammunition to be used on a per-match basis.

2.8.2 Multiple projectiles per shot prohibited

Any rifle or pistol ammunition that allows the firing of more than one projectile per shot is prohibited.

2.8.3 Shotgun Ammunition

2.8.3.1 Minimum shell length

Shotshells must be a minimum of 2-3/4” OAL.

2.8.3.2 Non-lead prohibited

Steel, tungsten, and other non-lead ammunition is prohibited.

2.8.3.3 Birdshot size

Birdshot must be #6 shot or smaller.

2.8.4 Large caliber exception

MDs may elect to allow pistol calibers larger than .45 ACP and/or rifle calibers larger than .308/7.62x51 (such as .30-06) on a per-match basis.

2.8.5 Specialty ammo for Stage Guns

MDs may, upon taking careful risk decisions, allow specialty ammo prohibited herein for Stage Guns.

2.9 Firearms with magazine disconnects

Firearms that do not fire without a magazine inserted may present issues during the unload and show clear process (Section 5.5) or the engagement of DMT targets (Section 7.4). Reference the following procedures for these scenarios with this type of firearm:

2.9.1 Show Clear process for firearms with a magazine disconnect

  1. Clear firearm of all live ammunition
  2. Insert an empty magazine, if not already inserted
  3. Lock action back to allow RO to visually inspect a clear action
  4. Close action on top of empty magazine
  5. Pull the trigger with firearm pointed in a safe direction
  6. Remove magazine, then resume standard procedures

2.9.2 DMT process for firearms with a magazine disconnect

  1. Drop magazine and insert an empty magazine
  2. Engage DMT with remaining chambered round, resulting in slide/bolt lock
  3. Close action on top of empty magazine
  4. Pull the trigger with firearm pointed in a safe direction
  5. Remove magazine, then resume standard procedures

2.10 Concealment

When required by a division or category, equipment must remain concealed prior to the start signal (not directly visible, including through mesh fabric) from all directions when the competitor is standing normally with their arms raised at their and sides parallel with the ground.

2.10.1 WSB override

The WSB may override this requirement.

2.10.2 Clip exemption

Clips used to attach equipment inside of clothes or pockets are exempt (e.g. Neomag Magnetic Pocket Mag Carrier).

2.10.3 Distance from belt

All portions of the holstered firearm, holster, magazines, magazine pouches, and related equipment must remain within 3.375” (length of a standard overlay) of the inner edge of the competitor’s belt system.

2.10.4 IWB holsters

IWB (Inside the Waistband) holsters follow standard requirements as outlined in Section 2.1.4. There is no restriction on positioning of IWB ammunition carriers.

2.10.5 OWB holsters

OWB (Outside the Waistband) holsters may only be worn on the competitor’s strong side between 2 and 4 o’clock, or 8 and 10 o’clock. The strong side hip bone denotes the position of 2 o’clock for right handed, or 10 o’clock for left handed competitors. OWB ammunition carriers may not be further forward than the hip bone, but may extend past 4 or 8 o’clock to the rear (moon clips are exempt from this restriction).