IAPS Steel Plate Shooting Rules

1 Definition
Shooters must hit steel plates using predefined stage and ending with the stop plate. The
discipline aims to promote speed and accuracy and above all safety for both the
competitors and spectators alike, without taking anything away from the fun aspect of the
discipline either.

2 General match information
The same gun, holster and holster position must be used throughout the match. If there is
a mechanical problem, equipment of similar make or model may be used as a
replacement. If said guns or holsters are entered in a Division or Category event, the same
guidelines, conditions or restrictions must apply. If these guidelines cannot be met with the
replacement gun or holster, the Competitor will not be eligible for awards in their Category,
but will still remain eligible for Overall Awards. There is always an overall category.
Should a malfunction or breakage occur, the string of fire will be scored and competitor
given the chance to retire for repairs or replacement of the equipment before resuming the
course of fire. There are no alibi's or reshoots
for malfunction or breakage.
Competitors are to go to the line prepared with the appropriate number of magazines and
needed ammunition, to avoid causing unnecessary delays. Missed targets or insufficient
pellet impact on a plate caused by partly loaded magazines, or insufficient gas pressure is
the competitor’s problem.
When a Competitor has finished, the Range Officer will call the next Competitor to the line.
Practice drawing or sighting must be held to a minimum and will not be allowed after the
first string of fire. Thirty (30) seconds will be the standard for making ready for each
additional string of fire. If the Competitor is not prepared in a timely fashion, the Range
Officer will announce, "Make Ready Now". The Competitor then has ten (10) seconds to
make ready and notify the Range Officer upon having done so. If the Competitor has not
notified the Range Officer of their readiness at the 10 second mark, the Range Officer will
begin the verbal Start Commands. If the Competitor does not engage the course of fire
when the audible start signal sounds, they will be given a maximum time for that string of
fire. Please understand that we need to establish a balance between the competitor’s need
to ready themselves and the amount of time available. Your cooperation
will be appreciated by the Match Staff and the other competitors.
Eye protection for all shooters and spectators are required. Individuals observed without
eye wear will be required to leave the shooting area.
All final decisions will be made by the Range Master.

3 Range Safety area
The organizers of IAPS Steel Plate Shooting matches will provide a clearly marked out
area, which is away from the immediate competition area. It will also have a suitable
backstop, so that in the event of an accidental discharge, it will be contained.
This area will be known as "THE SAFETY AREA".
Permissible safety area actions:
● The unbagging
and holstering of pistols.
● The unholstering
and rebagging
of pistols.
● Drawing practice and sight checking. (The competitor should ensure that the
muzzle of their pistol remains inside the confines of the backstop at all times whilst
performing this action)
● Dry firing. The competitor must prove their pistol clear of propellant and pellets to a
Range Officer prior to entering the safety area to carry out this procedure. The
competitor must also maintain muzzle awareness particularly when sharing the
safety area with a fellow competitor.
● The cleaning or repair of pistols.
Prohibited safety area actions:
● The powering up and powering down of pistols. All insertion and removal of either
gas or air is to be carried out on the line, under Range Officer supervision.
● No magazines (whether empty or full), and no training rounds handling.
● No bags or cases to be left in the safety area.

4 Courses of fire
Each course of fire will consist of five plates, one of which will be a "stop plate".
Recommended IAPS courses of fire are presented in external appendixes. You can
arrange any set of five plates with a drawing , a name, a clear description and the sponsor
's name if your set is supported by one.
Each of the targets must be hit at least once during each string of fire and a designated
stop plate will be hit last to stop the time (manual, mechanical or electronic stop).
Competitors may fire as many rounds as they deem necessary to complete the course of
fire.
The plate distances will vary between a minimum of 2 meters and a maximum of 15
meters from the designated shooting box.
Unless specified in the course briefing all primary plates may be engaged in any order (the
stop plate is always engaged last).

5 The course briefing
All competitors will be divided up into squads, each squad will then be sent to their allotted
course, each course will have its own Range Officer. All squads will receive a course
briefing from the Range Officer, after which there will be a short time for any questions.
Once everybody is happy the course will commence.

6 Handgun divisions
Any handgun from official IAPS Practical Shooting divisions may be used for this event.
Compensators, porting, scopes, optical sights, weighted grips and added weight are
generally allowed, individual matches may vary so be sure to check with the match
organizers.
Shooters may compete in different Divisions from one tournament to the next if they so
desire. However, it will be up to the discretion of the organizer as to whether or not they
want to allow shooters to compete twice in the same tournament with different Division
equipment. If selecting to utilize that option, the shooter must complete the tournament
with their first entry and then begin anew with their second Category equipment.
Organizer is free to add categories if necessary (women, senior, super senior, people with
disabilities, ...), but may clearly define them.

7 Holsters
Holsters shall be mounted as specified in each IAPS Divisions. Holsters must retain the
gun. Triggers may not be fully exposed with any holster. Shooters without holster are
allowed.

8 Ammunition
For all Divisions, Steel Ball Bearing (BB) ammunition and paint pellets are not permitted.
For outdoor shooting, outside a shooting range, biodegradable BBs must be used. Please
choose high quality biodegradable BBs that can break down when exposed to water or
sun, eventually turning to dust form.

9 Targets
Targets used are made of metal and are variable in size, but are either 10 centimeters or
14 centimeters circles and 10 centimeters x 20 centimeters rectangles. They are then
mounted on a long post, held upright in a suitable base on the ground. Center of the target
must be at about 1 meter from the ground ( ±2 centimeters ), except for specific set. All
targets are painted white except stop plate which is yellow and will be repainted
prior to each Competitor’s first run if necessary.
Targets should be angled towards the shooter so the flat surface faces the competitor to
avoid ricochets.

10 Scoring
Your time is your score. Each of four targets must be hit during each string of fire and a
designated stop plate will be hit last to stop the time. Preferred IAPS timing system utilizes
electronic sound timers. Without a connected stop plate, the timer stops on the last shot
that has rung the stop plate. With a connected stop plate, the timer stops by the last
impulse through the input jack.
Without any electronic sound timer, you must utilize two or three timers with digital stop
watches. Timers will start timing when the start signal is given and stop timing when the
stop plate is hit. The average is used unless one time is obviously an error, or the timer
knows he/she made a mistake on the start or stop.
The best four out of five runs will be counted as the total score for each stage, except for
specific steel plates set which should be documented and explained.
Any hits made after the maximum time allowance will not be counted. All shots fired at
primary targets after the stop plate has been struck, will be scored as a missed with a 3
second penalty each. The maximum time allowed for each individual run is 30 seconds.
The competitor will be stopped and asked to reload if he reach the 30 second limit. Three
(3) second procedural penalties will be given for moving before the start signal, foot faults,
shooting at the wrong targets from the designated boxes, and incorrect or non movement.
All shooting will be from shooting boxes, which will measure 1 meter x 1 meter. A foot fault
will be described as when shots are fired while any part of the body (foot) is touching down
outside of the shooting boxes. Clarification: A competitor may not support any weight down
"outside" (on the ground) of the shooting box while shooting, but foot pressure on the
raised shooting box will not be penalized.
Should a tie for 1st place of any stage occur, the fastest single run of that particular stage
will be used as the tie breaker. If still needed, the second and third run will be used as the
tie breaker.
Should a tie for Overall placing occur, a predesignated stage score will be used as the tie
breaker.
It is the responsibility of the competitors to check their scores as written on their score
cards and to sign their score cards when finished shooting. Any questions concerning the
score card should then be asked of the Range Officials. If still needed, the Range Master
will then be summoned.

11 Movement
For a multiple boxes set, if the Competitor fires and leaves Box A and then realizes he/she
missed and/or hit the targets out of sequence and then return to Box A and continues to
shoot, there will be no procedural penalty (Keep the muzzle down range while returning to
Box A).
Any target(s) struck in the incorrect order (A vs. B) will be judged as a miss. If any shots
are fired after having begun to move forward out of the box, there WILL be a procedural
penalty (for ease of judging, both feet must be touching down while firing). Upon reaching
Box B, the Competitor may begin to fire when one foot is in the box and the trailing foot is
either in the box or in the air. Remember, if targets are engaged out of order without
corrective shots being taken, there will be a procedural penalty, plus a miss scored on
each target struck out of turn.
The shooter may not leave the initial box until AFTER the first targets are engaged.
Upon entering the second box, the competitor may begin to engage the targets when the
trailing foot is off the runway. It is the shooter's choice as to whether they have their trailing
foot down or in the air while firing in the second shooting box.
If necessary, organizers can adapt “Speed Shadow” course of fire for people with
disabilities.

12 Hand position
Hands are to be held in the "Surrender Position", which is shoulder high, with the wrists
and full hand visible from behind. The Range Officer will stop the count down and give one
warning and one warning ONLY if he sees that the competitor is setting up too low or
starting to creep or "bounce". Failure to comply will result in a 3 second penalty for each
occurrence.

13 Start position
Official IAPS Steel Plate Shooting needs a valid practical shooting holster, but for those
who want to compete without holster (one time shooters, people with disabilities), an
alternative start position is allowed.
For those competitors who do not have a holster, the pistol will be placed on a table. In this
position the competitor stands on the line facing the targets, with their pistol loaded and
pointing down range on the table, with their hand held in the "Surrender Position".
All competitors especially those who shoot without a holster will be encouraged to practice
the art of the safe draw at home.

14 Range commands
The start command will be preceded by the commands "Load and make ready." After a
short time is taken, the shooter shall indicate that he or she is ready.
The commands will be "Are you ready? Stand by." There will then be a short pause of
between 2 and 5 seconds before the start signal sounds. Moving is expressly prohibited!
Hands must remain motionless after the "Stand by" command. A 3 second penalty WILL
BE ASSESSED for premature start, hand movement or bouncing of any kind.
After the competitor has finished the course:
● “Show Clear”
 the competitor must show the Pistol to the Range Officer with the
slide open and all magazines removed.
● “Gun Clear – Holster”
 competitor can now holster or bag the pistol.
NO pistol is to be removed from the ranges in a loaded condition.

15 Safety rules
The range is cold! Therefore all competitors pistols are to be kept unloaded at all times,
except when instructed to load by the Range Officer. It is accepted that after the first
course of fire has been completed, the competitor will in most cases arrive at the line with
the pistol already powered up, for example still have the same gas in the pistol from the
previous course. This is absolutely fine providing that when they do require changing, it is
done on the line under Range Officer supervision.
At all times during the course of fire whilst engaging targets, loading, unloading or carrying
out any remedial action such as a malfunction clearance, the competitors pistol must be
kept pointing down range at all times. If the limit line of 180 degrees to the shooting box is
violated the competitor will be asked to unload, and will be disqualified from the entire
match. The competitors must also ensure that their finger is outside the trigger guard when
moving, reloading, unloading and clearing malfunctions.
After a string of fire, no competitor may leave the line until his or her pistol has been
proved clear to the Range Officer. Once the pistol has been proved clear to the Range
Officer, the pistol will be placed in a case or suitable holster.
If for some reason the pistol cannot be unloaded and proved cleared because of a broken
or failed mechanism, the competitor must inform the Range Officer. Under no
circumstances will any competitor be allowed to leave the line with a loaded pistol. The
competitor will refrain from handling their pistols, unless instructed to do so by the Range
Officer. Should a competitor drop his pistol during a course of fire, he must not retrieve it,
he must allow the Range Officer to pick it up, and who will then unload and inspect it.

16 Safety violations
The following violations, any one of which may, and any two of which shall, result in
disqualification.
● Pointing an Unloaded pistol up range (break the 180 degree line).
● Dropping of an Unloaded firearm.
● Leaving the line with a loaded pistol.
● Any grossly uncontrolled shot or accidental discharge.
● Picking up a dropped firearm without the direction of a match official.
The following violations shall result in automatic disqualification from the tournament.
● Pointing a loaded firearm up range.
● Dropping a loaded firearm.
● Any shot fired into the holster or into the ground inside a shooting box.
● Unsafe handling of a loaded firearm.
● Competitors under the influence of a controlled substance. (Alcohol or drugs)
● Any behavior or action in violation of sportsmanship codes, or that which directly
and/or adversely affects the performance of another competitor.

17 Dress code
Camouflage or paramilitary clothing, or shirts with controversial slogans or sayings WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED. Anyone wearing these items will be asked to leave the range. It is
critical that this sport stay as media friendly as possible and avoid possible controversy.

18 Protest
All protest at any particular shoot should be handled by a predetermined review process.
All decisions rendered by this process at any specific shoot are final. Specific problems
should be logged for future reference. Favorable or unfavorable rulings should be
forwarded to IAPS for review. Future regulations and rules may result from this process.
Shooters will be asked to sign their score card and given a copy of their scores when they
complete that event. The shooter is responsible to review his / her scores at that time
place any protest relating to the accuracy of the time prior to leaving the line. Once
shooters sign their score cards no protest may be made. Shooters are responsible to
retain their copy of the score card and notify match officials of any errors in match
postings.