Stage Design & Construction
9.1 Stage Equipment
9.1.1 Walls
Walls are structures that simulate impenetrable barriers on the stage.
9.1.1.1 Wall sections
Individual walls are defined as having three sections - the two outer “posts” and the central midsection or “field”.
9.1.1.2 Extension to ground
Walls are always considered to extend to the ground, even if the physical field does not
9.1.1.3 Extension to infinity
Walls 69” tall or taller (as measured from the base of both posts to the top of the field) are considered to extend upward to infinity.
9.1.1.4 Connected posts
Wall posts that share the same base or mount, or which are clearly intended to be connected as a joint or corner, are considered to be fully and solidly connected along that corner, even if there are slight gaps in between the posts.
9.1.1.5 Wall materials
Walls may be constructed of many different materials. The field section of the walls may have coarse plastic mesh or wire that allows competitors to see through the wall, or wood/coroplast which completely blocks lines of sight. Whether or not the wall is a visual barrier or just a physical barrier, it is never permissible to engage targets through a wall. In cases where ROs suspect competitors of cheating by shooting through the near-edge of a wall, the RM must be called and, after consideration, a Strike or Match DQ may be issued for unsportsmanlike conduct (Section 13.1 or 15.7).
9.1.1.6 Wall ports
Walls may have ports constructed in their fields as shooting positions. These ports should be open or blocked in an obvious manner so that competitors easily recognize them as available or unavailable shooting positions. Ports do not need to be specifically defined in the WSB.
9.1.2 Barrels
Barrels may also be used as props that simulate impenetrable barriers on the stage. Barrels are considered impenetrable hard cover objects in all situations except:
9.1.2.1 Steel targets adjacent to barrels
When the barrel is positioned next to a steel target that is visible from a legal shooting position. In this case, bullet strikes that originate from the legal shooting position and go completely through the edge of the barrel to hit the steel target shall score normally.
9.1.2.1.1 Obscured steel prohibition
Note that if the steel target is completely obscured by the barrel from the specific shooting position, competitors may never shoot through the barrel to hit the steel target. In such cases, the RM must be called to make a judgement. At a minimum, no engagement shall be awarded per 12.5, and a Strike or Match DQ for unsportsmanlike conduct may be assessed per Section 13.1 or 15.7.
9.1.3 Fault Lines
Fault Lines are physical indicators of the limits of the shooting areas on the stage. Fault lines should be slightly raised off the ground to allow competitors to feel when they are touching or across the boundary even while visually focused on the process of shooting.
9.1.3.1 Flat surface thickness
For sections of stages where the surface is uniformly flat (such as concrete or asphalt), fault lines used must have a minimum thickness of 0.5”.
9.1.3.2 Uneven surface thickness
For sections of stages with uneven surfaces (grass, dirt, sand, gravel) fault lines used must have a minimum thickness of 1.0”.
9.1.3.3 Rope fault lines
Thick rope secured to the ground or rope strung between posts may be used as fault line as long as the slight change in competitive presentation of the shooting area due to small shifts in the rope segments between anchor points or posts poses no significant difference to competitors’ ability to execute the stage.
9.1.3.4 Rope trip hazards
Rope fault lines strung between posts must be arranged so that no trip hazards are present on any reasonable path competitors or ROs may take during the course of fire.
9.1.3.5 Open rear sections
Incomplete or open rear sections of fault line boundaries are allowed. In these presentations, the last piece of fault line on either side of the open section is considered to extend rearward along the same angle. This may only be allowed by the RM if there is no competitive advantage for a shooter to take a position further back than where the physical fault line ends given the specific target presentation on the stage.
9.1.3.5.1 Rear boundary safety
In these situations, competitors may not proceed any further back to engage targets than is safe considering the position of ROs and other observers in the vicinity of the stage. Doing so shall result in a “Stop!” call, a Stage DQ, and a Strike.
9.1.4 Target Sticks and Wall Supports
Target Sticks and Wall Supports are always considered to be penetrable soft cover. Hits on target which completely pass through target sticks or wall supports should always be scored normally. Neither target sticks nor wall supports can be used as support by competitors.
9.1.5 Abandonment Positions (Dump Boxes/Dump Barrels)
Dump boxes (or barrels) are considered standard abandonment positions in PCSL. Additionally, a variety of safe and structurally sound abandonment positions may be used. Abandonment positions may always be defined as staging positions per the WSB.
9.1.5.1 Types of abandonment positions
9.1.5.1.1 Handgun specific
Handgun specific (e.g. the competitor’s holster OR a handgun-sized dump box or handgun section of a larger dump box),
9.1.5.1.2 Long gun specific
Long gun specific (e.g. a dump barrel or a dump box with no handgun compartment), or
9.1.5.1.3 Combo
Combo (e.g. a slanted wooden long gun dump box with an integrated handgun-specific compartment)
9.1.5.2 Type definition in WSB
In general, the specific type of abandonment positions used on the stage do not need to be defined per the WSB as it is usually obvious to the competitors whether the abandonment position is meant to accept a handgun or a long gun. In cases where non-standard abandonment positions are used, their types must be defined by the WSB.
9.1.5.3 Acceptable abandonment conditions
Acceptable abandonment positions in PCSL must adhere to the following conditions:
9.1.5.3.1 Safe muzzle direction
The firearms must be able to be contained in a non-precarious way so that the muzzle of a correctly abandoned firearm maintains a safe direction at all times, even if the firearm or abandonment position is accidentally bumped with a reasonable amount of force.
9.1.5.3.2 No flagging
Abandonment positions must be oriented so that the muzzle direction of a correctly abandoned firearm cannot flag the shooter or ROs as they complete the course of fire.
9.1.5.3.3 Downward angle when personnel present
If any personnel may be expected in front of the dump position before the range is completely cleared, the muzzle of the correctly abandoned firearm is held at a sufficient downward angle such that no personnel are flagged by the abandoned firearm at any time. If the muzzle is not held in such a way, ROs must inform competitors and other personnel that they are not to proceed past the abandonment position until the abandoned firearm has been cleared.
9.1.5.4 Dual use as staging areas
Abandonment locations may double as firearm staging areas, provided that the competitor can both abandon their current firearm and pick up their other firearm safely.
9.1.5.5 Non-standard positions
Non-standard abandonment positions may be defined by stage designers as long as they adhere to the same conditions listed above.
9.2 Stage Design & Construction Criteria
9.2.1 Usage of different PCSL paper target types in the same MATCH
9.2.1.1 K-Zone and Practical targets
The K-Zone targets may not be used alongside the Practical full size targets in the same match.
9.2.1.2 K-Zone and Competition targets
The K-Zone targets may be used alongside the Competition full size targets in the same match.
9.2.1.3 Practical and Competition mixing
Practical and Competition variants may always be mixed within the same match
9.2.1.4 K-Zone level restrictions
The K-Zone targets may not be used at Level 2 events or higher (10.1.4.1).
9.2.2 Usage of different PCSL paper target types on the same STAGE
9.2.2.1 Practical and Competition on same stage
Practical and Competition full-sized variants may not both be used for the same firearm type on a single stage.
9.2.2.2 Mini Practical usage
Mini Practical targets may be used for any firearm type regardless of what types of full sized targets (if any) are used on the rest of the stage.
9.2.2.3 Single presentation per firearm
A single PCSL target “presentation” (i.e. a specific target type and color - like the white side of a competition target, or brown side of a mini practical target) may not ever be used for mandatory engagements from different firearms on the same stage.
9.2.2.3.1 Option targets exception
However, a single “presentation” may be used to denote an “option” target, such as a target that can be engaged with either handgun or carbine.
9.2.3 Fixing Props in Place
All props that are not intended to move over the course of the match (i.e. walls, fault lines, target stands, barrels, etc) should be fixed in place by some method that can resist inclement weather, strong winds, and competitors bumping into them.
9.2.3.1 Marking paint for heavy props
In cases where the weight of the prop is solely relied on for fixing the prop in place (such as heavy/wide steel target bases that do not fall in the wind), it is highly recommended (mandatory at Level 2+ events) that marking paint is used at the base of the prop to ensure proper return to its position in case it gets dislodged for any reason.
9.2.4 Steel Target and Prop Placement Requirements
9.2.4.1 Minimum distances
See 1.8 for minimum allowable shooting position distances.
9.2.4.2 Steel prop distances
All steel props that are placed with the intention to potentially take bullet strikes on the stage (such as hardcover plates, no-shoot plates, static or falling, or similar) have the same minimum distances. As such, they must be placed such that they are at or beyond these minimum safe distances from every reasonable engagement angle on the stage (per the WSB).
9.2.4.3 Visual indicators for close steel
If sections of a shooting area make it possible to engage steel at less than minimum safe distances, the stage must contain clear visual indicators (like specified props, extra fault lines, or ground markers) that designate the safe minimum distances. Such visual indicators must be specifically noted in the WSB.
9.2.5 Safety of Shooting Challenges and Stage Design
9.2.5.1 Target placement for safe impact
Targets must be placed with consideration given to the safe impact of rounds into the desired berms and backstops from any legal shooting position on the stage by competitors of all sizes. Angles of potential ricochets should always be taken into account, and target presentation must be adjusted accordingly.
9.2.5.2 No dangerous enticement
Targets may never be placed in a way that entices a competitor to engage them in a potentially dangerous manner. This includes placing targets in a way where they are not easily visible past the 180 limit if the specific stage design lends itself to such enticement (180 traps).
9.2.5.3 Hazard-free stages
The match team must ensure that stages and stage props are reasonably free of hazards to competitors both participating in the shooting challenges as well as traversing the stage to score and reset targets. These types of hazards include but are not limited to:
9.2.5.3.2 Unsecured fault lines
Unsecured fault lines that have lifted off the ground creating a trip hazard
9.2.5.3.3 Debris
Large rocks or debris inside the shooting areas.
9.2.6 Stage Design Requirements
9.2.6.1 Consistent props
Any stage prop or obstacle must be consistent for each competitor and be constructed so that it withstands use for all competitors throughout the event.
9.2.6.2 RO line of sight
All stage constructions and special prop implementation must be done in a way that allows at least one RO to stay safely within line of sight of the competitor at all times.
9.2.6.3 Prone position area requirements
Stages requiring competitors to go prone shall provide at least a fully defined 4’ x 8’ shooting area oriented in the direction of the target array to be engaged from the prone position.
9.2.6.3.1 Raised platform prone
For prone positions on raised platforms at least 12” off the ground: 30” x 6’
9.2.6.4 Abandonment locations for multi-firearm stages
All stages requiring the use of more than one firearm must have at least one designated abandonment location suitable for every type of firearm used on the stage.
9.2.6.4.1 Combo dump box
A single dump box with both a handgun and long gun section is sufficient for all firearms.
9.2.6.4.2 Holster as abandonment
The competitor’s holster is always considered to be an acceptable abandonment location for the handgun by default.
9.2.6.4.3 Re-slinging not valid
Re-slinging a long gun is never a valid abandonment location unless a DMT procedure is required per the WSB.
9.2.6.4.4 Exception for last firearm
Exception: if a WSB procedurally forces a specific type of firearm to be used last on the stage (such as preventing competitors from returning to shooting areas for previously abandoned firearms), no abandonment position is required for the last firearm type used.
9.2.6.5 No required re-holstering loaded
Stages and WSBs may never require a competitor to re-holster a loaded handgun.
9.2.6.6 DMT implementation requirements
When implementing a DMT procedure on a stage, the following must apply:
9.2.6.6.1 DMT marking
The DMT must be clearly marked or obvious to the competitor (such as being the only available target from the specified engagement position).
9.2.6.6.2 Single hit for full points
The competitor must be able to score full points on the specified DMT with a single hit.
9.2.7 Special or Obscure Physical Challenges
9.2.7.1 Prohibited obscure challenges
No stage may require competitors to complete any obscure physical challenge that may not be safely executable without specialized experience.
9.2.7.1.1 Exception for specialized matches
Exception: Matches with a specialized prerequisite for participation (like a SWAT competition) may contain obscure physical challenges that require specialized skills related to the competitor demographic. These challenges must be documented in the distributed match information and the MD/RM must make reasonable efforts to provide circumvention (with fair penalties) or education on these obstacles. A simple example is a rope rappel.
9.2.7.2 Competitive equity
Reasonable effort should be made regarding shooting positions and obstacles to ensure competitive equity between competitors of varied sizes and physical ability.
9.2.7.3 Optional penalty for obstacles
Unique physical challenges or obstacles may be included as long as they are paired with a corresponding fair penalty value for skipping the obstacle.
9.2.7.3.1 WSB documentation
These physical challenges or obstacles and corresponding optional penalty values must be outlined in the stage’s WSB.
9.2.8 Course Modification
9.2.8.1 Inclement weather measures
In the event of inclement weather, the Range Master may mandate the use of transparent protective covers (target bags), waterproof or treated targets, and/or overhead shelters for cardboard targets.
9.2.8.1.1 Directive is final
This directive is final and cannot be contested by competitors.
9.2.8.1.2 Uniform application
Once implemented, these measures must be uniformly applied to all affected targets and remain in place for the duration of the order, until officially lifted by the Range Master.
9.2.8.3 Post-commencement alterations
If a stage has been altered after the match has commenced:
9.2.8.3.1 Revised course requirement
If possible, all competitors shall be required to complete the revised course of fire with all previous attempts removed from the match scores unless 8.8.2 applies.
9.2.8.3.2 Stage removal
If the Range Master (in consultation with the Match Director) determines that the physical or procedural change results in a loss of competitive equity or it is impossible for all competitors to attempt the revised stage, or if the stage has been rendered unsuitable or unworkable for any reason, that stage and all associated competitor scores must be removed from the match results.
9.2.9 Special Dispensation
A competitor may at any time request the Range Master to make a judgement call based on their physical capabilities.
Examples: A person requiring a stepstool to see certain targets.