IPSC
Alliston & District Sportsmen’s Club encourages, supports and promotes all recreational firearms shooting disciplines. However IPSC is dominant, in the near future limited sheet and archery will be inclusive. Annual club members shoots afford the use of small bore/large bore rifle, shot guns, revolvers and pistols. ADSC embraced IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) eight years ago.
A number of our members have taken the Black Badge course and have been competing ever since. Some are also qualified Range Officers.
Matches were regular level ones and the occasional level twos. These matches are well designed and challenging; competitors across Ontario are very satisfied and eager to participate. Match squads fill one week in advance thus reflecting a significant amount of competitors on the waiting list.
The year 2009 realized ADSC’s involvement with a very meaningful and worthy community project: The Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation fund raising match was born.
This has become an annual event and all funds raised from these matches go directly to the Foundation. This affords the hospital the opportunity to continue with upgrades to better serve the community.
Representatives from the Foundation are always present at these matches and they are able to educate visitors and competitors about the progression and expansion of the hospital and its services.
On average, the Alliston & District Sportsmen’s Club hosts six matches per year averaging about sixty competitors per match.
The foundation match is normally a three day event with about seventy five participants.
Matches are shot outdoors at the Beeton range beginning in May.
Competitors at 2018 fundraising match.
BBgroup 2021/10/24
Disciplines: Members interested in any of the action type disciplines are asked to contact Allman. Allowing for related safety courses, these courses include IPSC, IDPA, SASS, PPC, ICORE and ARCHERY.
Additional disciplines: Three position small bore rifle up to 6MM at 48 yards. Archery at this distance and shorter is allowed. Hand guns, action shooting and muzzle loaders are supported.
Possibly the largest IPSC squad (20) ADSC level 2 2019-07-19/20
Largest IPSC squad
Contact for ADSC matches
It takes two to RO matches
Like the tango, running a competitor through a course of fire takes two Range Officers who work as a team. This is something we stress repeatedly in the RO seminar, so let’s look at the reasons why.
There are two Range Officer jobs on each stage. The timer RO and the scorekeeper RO. The timer RO issues the range commands, runs the timer, and has the primary job of watching the firearm and all the other things that ROs need to watch for. The scorekeeper RO enters scores into the tablet, but that is not their only job. The scorekeeper is the second RO on the stage and needs to also help watch the shooter and firearm. The scorekeeper also can call “stop” if needed.
Okay, you are probably asking why we really need two ROs. Well, there are a ton of things that the RO needs to watch for. Foot faults, finger inside the trigger guard, 180 breaks, sweeping, target engagement, range equipment failures, and the list goes on and on (good thing we have it all listed in the rulebook).
At major matches, with dedicated stage staff, ROs are always working as a team. But often at local matches, there is a single RO on a squad and that person is expected to do all the work. That isn’t fair to the RO. They got into this sport to shoot just like everyone else, and speaking from experience, if I have to RO most of a squad, my match scores are more dismal than normal. Another thing seen at local matches is the second RO, who is holding the tablet, only pays attention after “Range is clear” and is talking with others while a competitor is shooting the stage. This leaves the timer RO to run the stage solo. This is not a good situation.
Remember, that for local matches, Range Officers do not have to be certified (see Appendix A1). For local matches, the rules only recommend at least one certified RO per stage. And the rules don’t say that the one certified RO has to do all the work. Which means, you can train new people to at least run the tablet and help be scorekeeper (USPSA members have access to Practiscore training videos). These ROs in training can also can be a second set of eyes on the competitor. Yeah, they may not know all the rules, but most competitors understand the rules enough to identify a violation. More experienced competitors, who have a better grasp of the rules, can be trained to run the timer.
The more ROs (certified or not) that are on each squad helps spread the RO jobs around so everyone can enjoy shooting the local match and only have to run a few shooters versus the entire squad. If your club is really short of ROs, think about scheduling a RO class. Don’t have enough interested members in your club? Work with your neighboring clubs or your section to fill the class.
Using an overlay
In the early days of IPSC competition, there were many different ways of scoring a target, from simply eyeballing it, to using plugs (which, once inserted were never to be removed), and finally, target scoring overlays. You must use only official USPSA/NROI scoring overlays when working a USPSA match to ensure consistency and accuracy. These clear plastic cards have circles inked on them in the exact diameter of the calibers used in USPSA competition: everything from .22 to .45 is on the card. In addition, they serve as a handy straight line tool to aid in scoring, and can even be used to measure gun and magazine holder distance from belt (but that’s a different tip).
When scoring a target using an overlay, it’s important to first question the competitor as to the caliber they are shooting. Here’s a tip: if they say .50, they’re probably stretching it a bit. Once you have the correct caliber, determine which hit on the target you are scoring, and why, then proceed with your overlay. The competitor could be calling for an edge hit on the outside of the target, or for a hit touching a higher scoring zone, a double (two bullets in almost the same hole), or trying to avoid a no-shoot penalty. There is a dot in the center of each bullet diameter, which should be centered up in the bullet hole as well as possible. Then, the outside edge of the circle is read: if that outer edge touches a scoring zone, or a no-shoot, then either the higher scoring zone or the penalty will apply. Note that the hit doesn’t have to break, cut, or cross the perforation-it simply has to touch, which is what the overlay will help determine. In addition, perforations, although very thin, do have some width, so read the edge of the perforation closest to the overlay or the hit in question. And, remember: we score targets from the side the bullet entered, not the back side, and there is no manipulation of the hole allowed, either by competitors or range officers. Lastly, don’t forget to examine the entire target for hits; sometimes everyone is focused on the hit in question and the other hits or no-shoot hits are missed. A best practice is to prevent the target from being restored until it’s been scored. This allows for a complete examination of the target as well as potentially providing another bullet hole for reference.
The dots can also be quite useful when scoring a double-if you use two overlays and the dots aren’t superimposed on one another, then there are two bullet holes there. It’s sometimes easier to look for that than to look at the outer edges of the circles. Likewise, using the next diameter, or the one past that, can help you envision whether there are two hits in approximately the same space. However, if the overlay doesn’t show a higher scoring zone, or a no-shoot, or a double, then you must call what you see. There is no benefit of the doubt rule in scoring, and we don’t “give” people a score-we call what they shot.
If the competitor doesn’t agree with what you call, they have at least two more people to appeal to: the CRO (or the RO–what you need is a second set of eyes on the target), and the Range Master. Once the RM has scored the target, however, there is no further appeal.
A set of official overlays is an important part of a Range Officers toolbox, and should be used whenever a hit is close to a line on a target. This is important because most of the round-nose or truncated cone bullets in use today don’t cut a true diameter hole in the cardboard, unlike the semi-wadcutters of days past. A fresh set of overlays can be had by contacting the USPSA office and asking for them. We hand them out at RO and CRO seminars, and we always have a fresh supply at Nationals. If you are producing a level two or three match, we will send a stack for your staff, just for the asking.
IPSC
International Practical Shooting Confederation. (IPSC)
The world’s second largest shooting sport association and the largest and oldest within practical shooting, founded in 1976. IPSC’s activities include international regulation of the sport by approving firearms and equipment for various divisions, administering competition rules and education of range officials (range officers) through the International Range Officers Association which are responsible for conducting matches safely, fair and according to the rules. IPSC 0rganizes the World Championships called the Handgun World Shoot, Rifle World Shoot and Shotgun World Shoot within three year interval for each discipline.
IDPA: International Defense Pistol Association (IDPA)
A shooting sport based on defensive pistol techniques, using equipment including full charge service ammunition to solve simulated “real World” self defense scenarios. Shooters competing in defensive pistol events are required to use practical handguns and holsters which are deemed suitable for self defensive use. The sport came about as a response to the perceived shortcomings in competitions organized by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and its migration away from the use of common, non customized handguns.
F Class Shooting
F-Class shooting is a Canadian invention.
Take any caliber or centre file rifle (from 223 on up subject to range restrictions) put it on a rest or bipod, lay down behind it and shoot targets that range from 300 to 1,000 yards away. 308 calibre, 6.5mm and 7mm rifles are very popular in F class.
The origin of F class was that a Canadian TR shooter (see TR page), Mr Farquarson, wanted to carry on shooting so he added a rest and a scope and called it ‘F’ class.
F-Class shoots are ‘deliberate’ which means that each individual shot is scored and displayed to the shooter before the next shot, allowing you to adjust your sights for a ‘perfect’ shot. The targets used are the bulls-eye format, so they are very easy to see and aim at. The important thing about F-Class is that almost any scoped bolt action rifle, of pretty much any caliber, can be used.
To make competitions fair, there are 3 recognized subdivisions of F Class, based
upon the rifle used. Open Class, Restricted Class and Factory Class. All F Classes shoot the same course of fire, alongside each other.
Open F-Class
This is the class with the least restriction for rifles of any caliber up to 8mm depending on range restrictions. It must not weigh more than 10kg (about 22-lb) including all attachments. Any safe, mechanically operated trigger can be used provided a safe level of sear engagement is retained.
Restricted F-Class
Exactly as for Open F Class except that only .308in/7.62mm or .223in/5.56mm caliber can be used. The overall weight of the rifle, with all attachments, must not exceed 8.25 kg including an attached bipod or 7.5kg if the bipod is not fixed on.
Factory F-Class
This class is restricted to mass-produced rifles of any calibre (like Open Class) that can be purchased readily at many gun shops and that have not been customized to improve ballistic performance. Factory Class is for people shooting ‘out-of-the-box’ rifles; Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Savage, Tikka, Browning, Sako or similar, using the original manufacturers parts. Some ‘adjustments’ are permitted, but not the replacement of parts.
The rules governing F(M) qualified rifles have been devised to create a low cost class for competitors and in the recognition that the majority of mass-produced rifles are not capable of accuracy equal to the sophisticated Open Class rifles. The rifle must be ‘as manufactured’ and available in quantity, as described in the manufacturers catalogue (i.e. mass produced). This excludes specialist TR guns or Bench Rest actions, wildcat calibres and custom built guns. There is no restriction on the type of rifle that can be used; bolt action, falling block, lever action or semi-automatic rifles are acceptable.
These rules are interpreted to mean that a Factory Class rifle:
- Must have the original manufacturers barrel.
- Must have the original trigger (which can be adjusted or tuned).
- Must have the original stock (which can be reshaped).
- Must have the original chamber (no re-working or improving).
- Can be any calibre (subject to range rules).
- Can be bedded and floated in the original stock.
- The barrel can be re-crowned.
- Can have any type of sight system.
- As in F(O) class, any type of front and rear rests may be used.
Factory or hand loaded ammunition may be used
ARCHERY
The 1840s saw the first attempts at turning the recreation into a modern sport. The first Grand National Archery Society meeting was held in York in 1844 and over the next decade the extravagant and festive practices of the past were gradually whittled away and the rules were standardised as the ‘York Round’ – a series of shoots at 60, 80, and 100 yards. Horace A. Ford helped to improve archery standards and pioneered new archery techniques. He won the Grand National 11 times in a row and published a highly influential guide to the sport in 1856.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the sport experienced declining participation as alternative sports such as croquet and tennis became more popular among the middle class. By 1889, just 50 archery clubs were left in Britain, but it was still included as a sport at the 1900 Paris Olympics.
In the United States, primitive archery was revived in the early 20th century. The last of the Yahi Indian tribe, a native known as Ishi, came out of hiding in California in 1911.[68][69] His doctor, Saxton Pope, learned many of Ishi’s traditional archery skills, and popularized them.[70][71] The Pope and Young Club, founded in 1961 and named in honor of Pope and his friend, Arthur Young, became one of North America’s leading bowhunting and conservation organizations. Founded as a nonprofit scientific organization, the Club was patterned after the prestigious Boone and Crockett Club and advocated responsible bowhunting by promoting quality, fair chase hunting, and sound conservation practices.
In Korea, the transformation of archery to a healthy pastime was led by Emperor Gojong, and is the basis of a popular modern sport. The Japanese continue to make and use their unique traditional equipment. Among the Cherokees, popular use of their traditional longbows never died out.[72]
In China, at the beginning of the 21st century, there has been revival in interest among craftsmen looking to construct bows and arrows, as well as in practicing technique in the traditional Chinese style.[73][74]
In modern times, mounted archery continues to be practiced as a popular competitive sport in modern Hungary and in some Asian countries but it is not recognized as an international competition.[75] Archery is the national sport of the Kingdom of Bhutan.[76]
From the 1920s, professional engineers took an interest in archery, previously the exclusive field of traditional craft experts.[77] They led the commercial development of new forms of bow including the modern recurve and compound bow. These modern forms are now dominant in modern Western archery; traditional bows are in a minority. In the 1980s, the skills of traditional archery were revived by American enthusiasts, and combined with the new scientific understanding. Much of this expertise is available in the Traditional Bowyer’s Bibles (see Further reading). Modern game archery owes much of its success to Fred Bear, an American bow hunter and bow manufacturer.