Now that you've read the Match Rules, you're probably wondering "OK, now what?". This section will try to explain how a match actually runs and what you'll need.

The first question I'm usually asked is "What do I need to bring to the match?". Read the section on equipment to get an idea of the equipment that we allow.

 

You will need your pistol, a good holster, enough magazines to carry 40 rounds of ammunition, magazine pouch(s), and 100 rounds of ammunition. You should have a strong stiff belt, ( not that kind, you'll have to wait until after the match for that, I'm talking about the kind that holds your pants up ) to hold your holster and magazine pouches.

Generally we will shoot a maximum of around 60 rounds for the match, the extra is in case you have a malfunction, or there is a range failure and you have to reshoot a stage.

You will also need hearing and eye protection.

A billed cap or hat is also a good idea, it tends to keep hot brass off the face and out of the glasses. I would also recommend a closed neck shirt, such as a t-shirt to keep the hot brass out of your shirt. As much as we enjoy looking at cleavage, this is even more important for women, hot brass between the twins can be very uncomfortable!

Match signup starts around 6:30 p.m., followed by the safety briefing at 7. If you miss the safety briefing, you don't get to shoot.

There is no handling of firearms in the club room. Please bring your unloaded firearm in a range bag, preferably encased in it's own gun rug or case. Inside the club room you may put on your holster, mag pouches, fishnet stockings and high heals or whatever other special equipment you feel necessary, and you may load your magazines and place them into your mag pouches. To place your firearm in your holster you must go to the fumble area. On the indoor range the fumble area is through the blue doors on the west end of the club room and around to the right. You should see a table in front of an orange box that has printed on it "No Live Ammo". This box is lined on the inside with old bullet resistant vests, so it should safely contain a neglient discharge. While at this table and before holstering your firearm, please verify that it is indeed unloaded. The recommended procedure for semi-automatic firearms is to ensure the magazine has been removed from the firearm, and to rack the slide several times and then visually inspect the chamber to verify that it is empty. Let the slide forward and then pointing at the orange box, pull the trigger. If you hear a click, then all is right with the world and you may holster your pistol. If your ears are ringing because you just fired off a live round and weren't wearing ear protection, place your firearm on the table and wait for a match director, who will supervise the bagging up of your firearm and gear, and politely escort you from the range.

After the safety briefing there will be the stage walkthroughs where the stage designer will explain the specifics about the each stage. Be sure to listen carefully here and ask questions if there is anything you don't understand about the stage. On closed stages you will be given a frustratingly sparse explanation about the stage and questions will generally be met with a blank stare. If you don't follow the rules of the stage as set out in the walkthrough, you will be assesed a procedural for each infraction. An example of a procedural is if the stage description calls for you to shoot targets in tactical order, and you don't, you'll earn a procedural. Another common procedural is if you do not shoot at the targets from the designated shooters boxes ,or not using cover if the course description specifies you shoot from cover, and of course the ever popular cranial rectal inversion procedural. Look it up.

After the walk through the scorekeeper will call the shooting order for each stage, calling next up, on deck and shooter in the hole. Make sure that you are ready when your name is called, and that you have everything you need for that stage. If you come up to the line not ready to shoot, because you forgot your pants, or flashlight, or the required amount of grey matter, you will receive a DNF ( Did Not Finish ) for that stage. The reason for this is that it is a Friday night and we don't want to take all night, and the Match Directors need to get to the dollar store before it closes.

When it is your turn to shoot, the RO (Range Officer) will direct you to the designated "Load and Make Ready" point. He will ask you if you have any questions. If there was something in the stage description that wasn't clear, or if you want to know if your holster makes your butt look big, now is the time to ask. The RO will do their best to answer your questions with a straight face. Once your questions have been answered the RO will direct you to "Face down range, load and make ready". At this point you may safely remove your pistol from it's holster ( please do not cross yourself with the muzzle ), and do whatever is required to get it into whatever condition you want it in to start the stage. For some, this means to load a magazine, rack the slide to insert a round into the chamber, remove the magazine and insert a fully loaded one into the mag well. Others just load a magazine and leave the chamber empty, racking the slide after the beep to load a round. If your pistol has a decocking lever you must decock. 1911 and other single action semi-automatic pistols will leave the hammer cocked but the safety is engaged. You will then reholster your pistol, again without crossing yourself with your muzzle.

After your have made ready, the RO will ask "Shooter Ready?". At this point you will assume the starting position specified in the walkthrough, such as "hands at side" or "hand on doorknob", and indicate to the RO that you are ready. You can do this verbally, or with a nod of the head. The RO will acknowledge that you are ready, and indicate "Timer Ready" at which time he will start the timer. The timer is generally on a delay so some time, up to about three seconds after you indicate you are ready the timer will beep. This is the signal that you may draw and start shooting the stage as described in the walkthrough.

When you have completed the stage, the RO will ask you "If you are finished, unload and show clear". At this point, keeping your muzzle pointed at the wooden backstop, remove the magazine, and pull the slide back to eject the round from the chamber. Keep the slide back so that the RO can inspect the chamber and magazine well to insure that the pistol is indeed empty. The RO will then say "Slide forward, hammer down", at which point you allow the slide to go forward, then pointing the pistol at the wooden backstop you pull the trigger. Do not use the decocker to drop the hammer. The reason for pulling the trigger is so that if for some reason a round was left in the chamber, the round would be fired safely into the backstop. Of course if this happens, you are done for the night and will be Disqualified (DQ) for the match. The only consolation is that the RO is done for the night as well.

Once both stages have been shot, and the line made safe, you and the RO will go forward and score the targets. Do not miss this opportunity to see if your shots went where you intended them to. Once the targets have been scored, the other shooters will tape the holes and also pickup your brass, so remember to bring a brass bag. If you do not reload, there are plenty of brass hounds that would gratefully accept your gift. Remember that when you are observing, to help tape and brass as this helps the match run quicker and also the Match Directors are anxious to get to go shoe shopping.

Once everyone has shot both stages, all shooters are expected to help tear down the match and put the props away. Shooters are welcome to take the used targets home for practice. Once everything has been put away, match results will be announced and copies of the match results will be distributed. Generally, after the match, some shooters will go to Murphy's for a late dinner and conversation with some of the nicest people I know, while others will make a trip to the dollar store in search of new shoes.