Rules

Professional Shooting League Match Rules

Any firearm chambered for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge may be used. Any Scope may be used. Competitors may use any number of firearms to complete a target.

2. Rests

Any rest may be used to shoot from the bench so long as any such device is not attached to the bench in an immovable manner.

3. Ammunition

Any brand of factory loaded .22 caliber Long Rifle ammunition may be used. It must be readily available to any individual. It must consist of the original, unaltered factory cartridge case, powder and projectile. No alterations to the factory ammunition are permitted.

4.Targets and Target Distance

A PSL target consists of 25 record bulls, upon which one shot per bull is shot for score in a maximum of twenty minutes. The distance from the forward edge of the bench to the target shall be a minimum of 50 yards.

5. Match Sign-In, Drawing for Benches, Bench Rotation

Every Match will have a mandatory drawing to determine each competitor’s bench placement. Numbers, representing Bench Number as recognized by each host range, are to be drawn at random by the competitor upon sign-in. Bench rotation is mandatory and will consist of rotating benches to the right after each target, and the PSL Staff will determine how many benches to rotate. No competitor is allowed to compete in the same event by entering two or more times. Each competitor needs to accurately complete the Sign-In Sheet, including a four digit number, plus the initials of his/her name. (Example: 1234ABC). This number can be the last 4 digits of the competitor’s social security number, but it does not have to be. This number becomes his/her official PSL number.

6. Firing Period

A maximum of 20 minutes shall be allowed to complete each 25 shot target.

7. Crossfires

Before firing any shots into the Record portion of the target, each competitor must fire at least one shot into any of the three Official Sighter Target squares in the heading portion of the target. Failure to shoot an official sighter wilI result in a warning. If a crossfire should still occur, immediately report the shot or shots to the PSL Match Director. He will note the placement of the shot and the scoring box number. Crossfire shots will not count against the offended party. No penalty shall be assessed the offender unless it can be determined that the crossfire shot was intentional. In that event, and at the PSL staff’s discretion, the offender may be disqualified for the remainder of that event and a zero score shall be calculated into the aggregate for that particular target. The disqualified shooter will not receive a refund on his/her entry fee. Scoring of the offended competitor’s target will be done by ignoring the bullet hole or holes not shot by him. The competitor will shoot that target box as if the bullet hole(s) were not there.

8. Mechanical Failure/DNF

In the event of a mechanical failure of a competitor’s rifle or equipment which prevents the competitor from placing a scoring shot into each of the 25 record scoring squares, the partial target shall be scored by the scoring team. Whatever partial or incomplete score is the result shall be entered as part of his/her aggregate on that particular target. Competitors may use any number of firearms to complete a target as long as each firearm complies with Rule 1.

9. Scoring of Targets

Scoring rings with various values are included within each scoring box, and the values of shots in those boxes are 100 points, 50 points, 25 points, and 0 points. Scoring is based on the best edge scoring method. A bullet hole that comes in contact with a line is given the higher value. If in doubt, review the Scoring Example on the upper left corner of the target. A target is scored an X if the entire center dot is not visible when a plug is placed in the bullet hole. If any portion of the center dot is visible, it is not an X. X’s will be included in the score, but will only be used for breaking ties. A scoring plug shall be used to determine the value of any shots that are not obvious in value. The scoring plug will measure .224 in diameter. Scoring of all targets will be handled by the PSL staff. No competitors will be allowed to score targets. Only the designated target retriever shall handle fired, unscored targets, placing them in a secure location until the scoring team is ready to begin. The targets, after the Scoring Team has completed their scoring, may be posted on a secure wall or other place for viewing by all competitors. However, under no circumstances shall anyone, other than a member of the official Scoring Team, remove a target from its place of viewing or place a scoring plug into or a magnifier over any bullet hole. Anyone, other than a member of the official Scoring Team, who places a plug into a displayed target shall be disqualified from that event and a score of zero entered as his total score for the event. Questions regarding the validity of scoring values placed on a competitor’s own target may be referred to the Match Director by the competitor, who may choose to reassess the value of the shot in question. However, obvious errors on any target may be brought to the attention of the Match Director for review. Otherwise, the targets shall not be viewed or handled by anyone other than the target handler or scoring team, for any reason, until after the Official Scoring Team completes the entire scoring procedure for all targets in the event. Only those on the scoring team shall be allowed in the immediate area where scoring is taking place.

Any shot outside the largest scoring ring, but within the scoring box, is scored zero, the same as any unshot scoring box. If a competitor shoots two or more shots into the same scoring box, a score of zero will be entered for that target box. Any shot which falls between scoring boxes will be considered a sighter and will not count against the competitor. Shots that touch the target box line will be counted as a zero for that target box. If a shot touches two or more scoring boxes, the scoring box with the majority of the bullet hole will be scored zero.

Any target that a competitor places upon the target frame shall be scored and calculated into his/her aggregate, regardless of whether or not the competitor shoots any shots into it. Once it is attached to the frame, it becomes a record target for which each competitor is responsible and which counts into his/her aggregate and overall standings.

After all targets have been scored, and upon the conclusion of the final target, all targets shall be made available for inspection by the competitors. The competitor shall have two minutes per target to determine that scoring and mathematical calculations were completed in an accurate manner.

Any scored value that was not initialed by at least two people, may be challenged by the competitor, on his target only. There shall be no challenges allowed except on the target of the competitor by the competitor. When a target is challenged, the Scoring Team Leader and two members of the scoring team shall review that shot for possible revision. All plugged holes that have passed the review of the scoring team that are marked with a "P" and the initials of 2 or 3 of the scoring team members shall stand as marked and are not subject to change or challenge. Any errors discovered after the two minute per target review period has expired shall stand as marked, right or wrong.

Any target that blows down before its completion by the competitor shall be scored based upon the values of all shots placed on that target before it blew down. In the event a target is blown away and is lost, it must be scored as a zero. In either case, as with scoring in a mechanical failure, these scores must also be counted in the competitor’s match and seasonal aggregate. It is the responsibility of each competitor to properly and securely affix his or her own target on the target backer. Also, it is the responsibility of the Match Director to provide suitable, stable target backers upon which competitors may securely attach their targets. If the competitor is having difficulty securely attaching his target to the backer, he should ask the Match Director to replace it with a new one.

Any target frame that is blown down by extraordinary weather or wind conditions, as might be experienced during severe thunderstorm winds, shall be considered an Emergency Situation. In such a case, it might be considered good judgment by the Match Director to temporarily halt the event. He may use his emergency powers as stated in Rule 11. Emergency: by stopping the official timer and waiting, either for safer conditions to return, under which the event might be resumed, and/or to repair the fallen frame or frames. No penalty shall be assessed any competitor under these circumstances.

If an extremely dangerous weather situation occurs during a PSL event being of sufficient severity or duration that it may possibly endanger any participants at the event, yet prior to completion of the officially published number of targets, it may be necessary for the Match Director to suspend the event for reasons of safety. If the severe weather situation is of a temporary nature, and sufficient time remains to complete the event following an improvement in the weather, the Match Director should make every attempt to do so. However, if the severe weather conditions persist, and the event must be cancelled prior to completion of the event in its entirety, then the following guidelines should be followed in order to calculate final standings of the Club event or Tournament.

Count only those targets that have been completed. Calculate all aggregates, as in any other event, but based solely on the number of targets completed, not the published number. However, if an event has two or more relays and Relay 1 has completed a complete set of targets more than Relay 2, the Match Director must omit the scores from Relay 1 and score the same number of targets for everyone. Under these circumstances, no penalty shall be assessed any competitor for an event which is cancelled prior to its completion.

10. Tie Scores

In the event of a tie score on an individual target, the winner shall be determined by comparing the X count of the tied competitors. The competitor with the highest X count for that target will be the winner. If still tied, scores for each scoring box will be compared beginning with Scoring Box 1, the competitor with the highest score for that box shall be the winner. If still tied, continue comparing shots from box to box in numerical order, until the tie is broken. Aggregate ties will be broken by the total X count. If still tied then ties are to be broken by determining the highest scores shot by the tied competitors on an individual target comprising the aggregate. If still tied, proceed to the next highest target and so on until resolved. If all targets are tied, shoot off targets will be shot until a winner is decided. If more than 2 shooters are tied for one position and the shoot off target results in another tie score, the highest scored shoot off targets proceed on and the lowest scored shoot off target receives the lowest position.

11. Emergency Situations

In the event of an emergency, the Match Director shall call an Emergency Cease Fire by loudly announcing for all to hear, "EMERGENCY CEASE FIRE! All competitors remove the bolts from your rifles and step back from the bench." If an emergency occurs which requires a cease-fire before the completion of the target or the allotted 20-minute firing period, the Match Director shall immediately stop the official timer. Upon resolution of the Emergency, all participants may then complete any incomplete portion of their target, after the Match Director again declares the "Resume firing" command, and starts the official timer, allowing it to run the remainder of the allotted twenty minute regulation time, plus an additional two minutes.

12. General

These Rules supersede all other previously issued Rules and shall be the governing Rules by which all PSL events are conducted.

No person under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall be allowed on the firing line either as a competitor or as a visitor during the period that a match is in progress. No consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed by any competitor until all shooting events have been completed for the day and until all rifles have been removed from the benches and placed in a secure area.

Anyone who disrupts the proceedings of an orderly match in progress shall not be allowed to continue shooting in any other matches on that day, and if deemed necessary by the PSL staff, that person may be asked to leave the range.

Any and all disputes will be handled and decided upon by the PSL staff.

13. Competitors

Any competitor over the age of 7 at the date of the match shall be allowed to compete. No competitors will be allowed help with firing or sighting of their firearm once the 20 minute firing period has begun.

14. Vendors

No selling or advertising of merchandise will be permitted by any of the competitors or spectators without written permission from the PSL. Competitors may display for sale their personal used equipment or ammunition, but they may not sell merchandise as part of a business without prior arrangements with the PSL.

15. Wind Flags

Wind flags can be utilized. Wind flags may be changed when targets are changed and the range has been declared safe by the PSL match director. The time allowed to change wind flags shall not be less than the time required to change the targets and no longer than the time allowed by the PSL match director. If a flag interferes with another competitor’s line of sight, the PSL match director or representative will lay the flag on the ground. This must be done before commence fire.

16. Contingency Fees

Contingency fees will be paid to any competitor that wins an individual target while using a company’s product that has agreed to pay a contingency fee and the competitor must have the companies label clearly displayed on the appropriate piece of equipment. The competitor must shoot the entire target while using said company’s equipment. Check with the Match Director to determine which contingency fees are available at each match.

Ver. 1/27/09