Rules FAQ

1. What happens if a competitor in Open Division makes Major Power factor but his bullet weight is below the 120 grain minimum?

See Point 16 of Appendix D1 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun Rulebook.

1. Standard Division prohibits compensators. If I have an attachment extending forward of the barrel & slide of my gun, but there are no holes in the attachment other the hole in the barrel from which the bullet exits, is this legal?

Yes. Such a device is considered to be merely a weight and, provided the gun fits the box as required by Point 16 of Appendix D2 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun Rulebook, your gun is legal in Standard Division.

1. What guns are approved for Production Division?

Only those guns listed on the Production Division List.
If it's not on the list, it's not approved.

2. Can Glocks compete using +2 baseplates or +1 followers? Can I use a Glock 17 magazine in my Glock 19 or Glock 26?

Yes, to both questions. See Point 19.2 and Point 20.1 of Appendix D4 in the January 2009 2nd Edition IPSC Handgun rulebook.

3. Can a DA/SA pistol that is included on the approved Production Division list start a course of fire in single action mode (e.g. "cocked & locked")?

No. See Point 17 of Appendix D4 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook.

4. Can I use my 1911 style SA pistol in Production Division?

No. Single-action (1911) style pistols currently dominate Open, Standard and Modified Divisions. Production Division was created to accommodate all other styles.

5. Can I apply skateboard or grip tape to the factory grips, or change the grips, of my Production Division Pistol?

Yes. See Point 20.3 of Appendix D4 and Appendix F4 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook.

6. My pistol has been fitted with an aftermarket trigger stop. Is this allowed?

Models which have factory installed trigger stops are allowed. Otherwise, this modification is not allowed.

7. Can I replace the original 3-dot sights on my Glock 17 with aftermarket 3-dot fiber optic sights?

Yes. You can use any open sights. See Point 20.2 of Appendix D4 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook.

8. Can I apply paint or sight black to my pistol?

No, you can only apply sight black. See Point 19.3 of Appendix D4 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook.

9. Am I allowed to cock my SA/DA pistol for the first shot in a course of fire?

No. The first shot in a course of fire must be double action. See Point 17 of Appendix D4 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook for the exception.

10. How will the trigger pull be measured at a competition?

The test will usually be conducted during the chronograph stage at a match. See Appendix F2 in the January 2009 Edition of the IPSC Handgun rulebook for details of the test.

11. Some pistols on the approved Production Division list do not have a de-cocking lever. Are they acceptable?

Yes. All DA/SA pistols without a decocking lever must start with the hammer fully down. Under the supervision of a Range Officer, the competitor will use the weak hand to safely lower the hammer with the pistol pointing down range during the "load and make ready" procedure. A discharge during this procedure will be considered as unsafe gun handling and the competitor will be disqualified. Also see question 9 above and Rule 8.1.2.4.

12. Can we use Glock models 34 and 35 in Production Division?

Glock in their own advertising call them "long slides". They are special sporting handguns with a lighter trigger pull (3.5 lbs) and a longer barrel (135mm) out of the box. Maximum barrel length in Production Division is 127 mm (5").

The Production Division does not include special sporting models like the Glock 34 and 35, or the H&K USP Expert, or the Sig Sauer Sport II series if they differ in barrel length from the standard model (Glock 17, Sig Sauer 226, H&K USP).

"Production" does not necessarily mean that all pistols which are currently in production are legal for use in this division.

13. Can 7 or 8 shot revolvers be used in Production Division and shot to capacity? In Revolver Standard Division, I can load to capacity, but I'm required to reload after firing 6 rounds.

Sure. Both Taurus and S&W have 7 and 8 shot revolvers which have barrels less than 5". The models are listed in Production Division.

1. I shoot a S&W 686 in .357 magnum. Can I modify the cylinder to accept moon clips?

Yes.

1. Medium Courses and Long Courses specify that course design and construction must not require more than 9 scoring hits from any single location or view. What does this mean?

A course of fire must not force a competitor to fire more than 9 shots from any "location or view", and definitions of both these terms can be found in the Glossary of the rulebook. However if the course design allows some targets to be shot from more than one location or view, this gives the competitor the option of from where they may be shot, and the course of fire is in compliance with the rules. The objective of this rule is to encourage movement.

1. What is the minimum age requirement for IPSC membership and competition?

IPSC does not regulate age requirements. This is the responsibility of the individual countries and their national regulations.