Waterloo County Revolver Association
Waterloo County Revolver Association

Excerpts from January 1, 2001 ISSF Pistol Rules

8.6.0        Shooting Events Procedures and Competition Rules

8.6.1        Position

1. The shooter must stand free, without support, completely within the firing point.  The pistol must be held and fired with one hand only.  The wrist must be visibly free of support.
2. Before and during the series, including while chambering a cartridge, or checking or cocking a pistol or revolver, the pistol must always be kept pointing down range and within the target backstop area before returning to the READY position for the next shot, or while awaiting the command "UNLOAD".
3. In all 25 m Rapid Fire Events (Standard Pistol 20 seconds and 10 seconds series) shooting must start from the READY position.  In the READY position, the shooter's arm must point downward at an angle of not greater than 45 degrees from the vertical, but must not be pointed at the ground within the forward edge of the firing point.  The arm must remain stationary in this position while waiting for the appearance of the target or, when electronic scoring targets are used, for the green lights to come on.
4. In the Rapid Fire Events (Standard Pistol 20 seconds and 10 seconds series), if the shooter raises his arm too soon, or does not lower it sufficiently he must be warned by a Jury Member, and the series must be recorded and repeated.  The shooter must be credited with the five (5) lowest value hits in the two series (or three or four series should a malfunction be involved).  If the fault is repeated in the same stage of 30 shots in the combined 20 seconds and 10 seconds stages of the Standard Pistol Match, the same procedure must be applied and the shooter must be penalized by a deduction of two (2) points from his score.  If a third infringement of this Rule occurs, the shooter must be disqualified.

8.6.4.1.1    Preparation Time allowed before the competition starts

                    25 m Standard Pistol                5 Minutes

8.6.4.5    25 m Event

1. In all 25 m Events, timing must start at the moment the green lights come on (or the targets begin to face) and stop when the red lights come on (or targets begin to turn away).
2. The turning of the targets or the switching of lights may be controlled by a Target Operator who is located behind the firing line.  His position must not disturb the shooter, but it must be within the sight and hearing of the Range Officer.  The targets may also be operated by the Range Officer by means of a remote control system.
3. LOAD - In all 25 m events, the pistol must not be loaded with more than five (5) cartridges.  Nothing else is allowed to be inserted into the magazine or cylinder.  If a shooter loads his pistol with more than five (5) cartridges he must be penalized by the deduction of two (2) points from his competition score in that same series.
4. UNLOAD - In all events, after the series or stage has been completed, the command "UNLOAD" must be given.  In any case, immediately upon completing a series (unless there is a malfunction of the pistol), or when ordered, the shooter must unload the pistol.

8.6.4.8    Specific Rules for the Standard Pistol Event

        The event program is 60 competition shots divided into 3 stages of 20 shots each.  Each stage consists of 4 series of 5 shots:

1. Stage      four (4) series of 5 shots        150 seconds for each series.

2. Stage      four (4) series of 5 shots        20 seconds for each series.

3. Stage      four (4) series of 5 shots        10 seconds for each series.

1. Before the beginning of the competition, the shooter may fire one (1) sighting series of five (5) shots within a time limit of 150 seconds.
2. The Range Officer must announce the series.  After the command "LOAD", the shooter(s) must prepare themselves within one (1) minute.
3. When one minute has expired, the Range Officer will give the command:

           ATTENTION - red light will be switched on, or the target will be turned away to the edge-on position.  After a delay of 7 seconds +/- 1 second, the green light will come on, or the target will be turned to face the shooter.

   4.   Before each series except in the 150 second series the shooter must lower his arm and adopt the READY position.  His arm must be motionless before the green light comes on or the target appears.

  5.    A series is considered as having started from the moment the red light is switched on, or the targets turn away from the shooter after the command "ATTENTION".  Every shot fired after that must be counted in the competition.