Range Commands
5.1 Range Commands
5.1.1 “Make ready.”
When it is time for a competitor to begin the stage and the ROs have determined the stage is clear, the Timer RO will issue the “Make Ready” command.
5.1.1.1 Before make ready
While on the stage waiting for the make ready command and prior to the make ready command being issued by an RO, the competitor may not take any action to unholster, load, point downrange, or handle their firearms in any way aside from carrying long guns vertically. (see Section 13.2)
5.1.1.2 RO guidance during make ready
During the make ready period, the RO team should make every effort to guide the competitor through the proper start condition per the WSB such as reminding them to chamber a round if necessary. However, it is ultimately the competitor’s responsibility to make sure they, their firearms, and their equipment are in the proper start conditions as listed by the WSB.
5.1.1.3 Viewing targets through optics
After the “Make Ready” command has been issued, a competitor may be allowed by the Timer RO to take a few reasonable steps to view targets through their optics. However, this permission does not extend to various shooting locations, including prone and braced positions.
5.1.2 “Are you ready?”
When the competitor appears ready to start the stage, or gives a verbal confirmation, the Timer RO will issue this command. There is no requirement of the competitor to respond. Silence will be taken as confirmation that the competitor is ready. If the competitor is not ready, it is their responsibility to speak up and notify the RO.
5.1.3 “Standby.”
After the “standby” command, the competitor will maintain the proper start position until the start signal is issued.
5.1.4 Start Signal
5.1.4.1 Start signal timing
The indicator to the competitor to begin the stage. The RO will activate the Start Signal in a 1-4 second window after issuing the “standby” command.
5.1.4.2 Default and alternative start signals
The Start Signal by default is the timer’s beep, but may be defined by the WSB as a different signal such as a visual indicator.
5.1.5 “If you are finished, unload and show clear.”
When the competitor appears to have completed the stage, the RO will issue this command. It is the competitor’s responsibility to unload their firearm and present the cleared firearm to the Timer RO for visual inspection.
5.1.5.1 RO verification
If the Timer RO is unsure of the state of the firearm they may ask the competitor to show clear again or take steps to resolve the issue as needed.
5.1.5.2 Competitor responsibility
Despite the practice of the Timer RO visually inspecting the competitor’s firearm, it is solely the responsibility of the competitor to make sure that their firearm is completely unloaded in compliance with 1.4.
5.1.6 “If clear, hammer down, holster.” / “If clear, hammer down, muzzle.” / “If clear, hammer down, flag, muzzle.” / “If clear, cylinder closed, holster.”
Use “If clear, hammer down, holster.” for handguns, “If clear, hammer down, muzzle.” for long guns, “If clear, hammer down, flag, muzzle.” for long guns at ranges requiring ECIs, and “If clear, cylinder closed, holster.” for revolvers.
5.1.6.1 No more rounds
Once this command has been issued in full, the competitor may not fire any more rounds. If they do, this is a Match DQ for unsafe gun handling.
5.1.6.2 Hammer down requirement
“Hammer Down” requires the competitor to dry fire their firearm in a safe direction through a pull of the trigger. The competitor may not use decocking mechanisms or manually decock the hammer to achieve this.
5.1.6.3 Alternative phrasing
An acceptable substitution for “Hammer Down” is “Pull The Trigger”
5.1.6.4 Muzzle orientation
“Muzzle” is implied to mean “orient the muzzle vertically” (up or down).
5.1.6.4.1 Muzzle up variation
At host ranges where muzzle up is deemed the only acceptable orientation for carrying long guns to and from the course of fire, the phrase “muzzle up” may be substituted.
5.1.7 “Show clear [handgun/carbine/shotgun].”
On multigun stages where there are still abandoned firearms to be cleared and/or retrieved by the competitor somewhere on the course of fire, the Timer RO shall issue this range command to instruct the competitor to begin following a repeated process of Section 5.1.5 - Section 5.1.6 with the other firearm(s).
5.1.7.1 Omission when already cleared
If other ROs have already cleared and retrieved the competitor’s abandoned firearms on the course of fire, this command can be omitted and Section 5.1.8 can be issued.
5.1.8 “Range is clear.”
5.1.8.1 When to issue
The Timer RO will wait to issue this command until they are certain of the status of the stage, including the status of any abandoned firearms yet to be unloaded or retrieved.
5.1.8.2 After range is clear
Once this command is issued, all firearm handling for the stage (outside of carrying long guns vertically) has finished. After “Range is Clear”, competitors, resetters, and others may make their way downrange to score and reset.
5.1.9 “Stop!”
5.1.9.1 When to issue stop
Any RO may issue the “Stop” command at any point during the stage. This should occur if the competitor makes a safety violation, if certain targets or props on the stage are seen to be set up incorrectly or broken, or if a range officer sees a potentially dangerous situation occurring or about to develop (e.g. unexpected persons or animals enter the course of fire, competitor moves uprange of the RO or other persons during the course of fire, etc).
5.1.9.2 Competitor response
If this command is issued, the competitor must cease what they are doing and safely stop, awaiting further instruction from the Timer RO.
5.1.9.3 Follow-up procedure
The Timer RO will proceed with commands Section 5.1.5 - Section 5.1.8 to ensure the range is clear, then necessary corrective actions will be taken.
5.1.10 “Hit!”
Used to confirm competitor hits on targets that require hit calls, such as long range steel.
5.1.11 “Time!”
Used to inform the competitor that the Par Time has elapsed and that the competitor must stop shooting the stage.
5.1.12 Supplemental Range Commands
The following are words or phrases that may be used by an RO Team during a course of fire to facilitate competitor safety or procedural tasks. ROs will use their best judgement on when to issue these situational commands and they are considered neither aid nor interference.