PA Black Powder Events

By Event

(Compiled amendments to the 2005 rules)

NSWAPA 13-Shot Match Rules

Black Powder (all matches) – use of converted ‘modern’ pistols

Important note about re-capping

Guides for Range Officers - Black Powder

Safety (both matches)

Commands for the Loading sequence – using separate loading tables

Commands for the Loading sequence – without separate loading tables

NSWAPA 13-Shot Match Rules

Following considerable consultation among those NSWAPA 13-shot BP shooters who cared to contribute, an NSWAPA version has been prepared and adopted.

As background, the general format for this match was written back in the early days of PA adopting the Black Powder events to provide our shooters with an event similar to the MLAIC 13-shot event, but enabling the use of non-‘original’ black powder pistols. At the time most PA Black Powder shooters were using .44 Rugers, and these do not meet the MLAIC regulations.

The NRC provided a basic set of rules that each Affiliate could use; these rules covered targets, distances, series time and safety; the Affiliates could divide up equipment categories to meet their needs.

The PA 13-shot Match is most popular in NSWAPA, with long standing (and hotly contested) categories for:

· adjustable sight revolver

· fixed sight revolver

· adjustable sight single-shot

· fixed sight single shot

Available as a download click here>>

Black Powder (all matches) – use of converted ‘modern’ pistols:

Modern revolvers fitted with inserts for the percussion caps technically fall outside the rules requirements for breech-loading BP pistols to be held in a safe direction for 15 seconds after a misfire before opening the pistol. The potential of a hangfire igniting a chamber of a ‘modern’ revolver with cylinder swung out is not one that we can risk.

Current Printing:

2.5.1 at least 5 (five) seconds for revolvers.

2.5.2 at least 15 (fifteen) seconds for single shot pistols.

A single shot breech loading pistol must be held in a safe direction for at least 15 seconds before opening the breech.

In the event of a misfire for breech loading pistols, the barrel should be brought to a safe direction before opening the breech so that the breech plug could not cause injury in the event of a hangfire.

Amendment:

2.5.1 at least 5 (five) seconds for revolvers without swing-out cylinders.

2.5.2 at least 15 (fifteen) seconds for single shot pistols, and revolvers with swing-out cylinders.

A single shot breech loading pistol, and revolvers with swing-out cylinders must be held in a safe direction for at least 15 seconds before opening the breech.

In the event of a misfire for breech loading pistols, and revolvers with swing-out cylinders, the barrel should be brought to a safe direction before opening the breech or cylinder so that the breech plug could not cause injury in the event of a hangfire.

Important note about re-capping

The recapping procedure as per the Black Powder appendix A.1 is only to be allowed to clear a chamber after all else has failed. In a Precision series (rule 8.3.1) recapping after a misfire and similarly recapping for 25 M Rapid Fire Stage (rule 8.4.2) was, and is only intended to refer to recapping after a percussion cap has ignited but failed to ignite the powder charge; it is definitely not the first option if a cap has failed to ignite – Appendix A.1.2 clearly refers to “If a chamber has failed to ignite after repeated attempts…”,

Removing a live percussion cap over a charge of Black Powder is not to be undertaken casually! The procedures set put in Appendix A.1:

· Are only to be attempted if repeated attempts to discharge the chamber by cocking and releasing the trigger fail to ignite the cap, and

· Are under the direct supervision of a Range Officer.

In particular, for 25 M Rapid Fire Stage, recapping (i.e. replacing) an unfired percussion cap is NOT allowed prior to a re-shoot for a misfire.

Guides for Range Officers

Guides currently available for download as .pdf files (Yep! But the pdf should allow you to get the desired guide on one page, irrespective of your operating system and printer).

To download, right click on a link and take the ‘save target as…’ option, then merrily print out the file/s:

	Cover Page	Page 1
25m Black Powder - Precision		Page 12
25m Black Powder – RF Stage		Page 13
50m Black Powder		Page 14

Safety (both matches)

Eye protection

It is mandatory that at all times on the firing range, all personnel near the firing line wear safety glasses or other approved eye protection. (See also Appendix C – Approved Eye Protection).

· The wording has been changed to “…at all times on the firing range, all personnel near the firing line…”,

· This includes Preparation time.

· When a shooter wishes to change from shooting glasses to other glasses or v/v, he/she should do so in a manner that minimises the exposure of unprotected eyes.

Misfires – see below

Disposal of unused Black Powder

All spilt black powder must be safely and properly disposed of.

Safe triggers

All triggers must be safe.
Note:
To test if a trigger is to be considered safe, place the hammer in the full cock position over an uncapped nipple, and lightly bump the base of the grip with the heel of the other hand. If the hammer falls, the trigger is unsafe.

Safety barriers between nipples of revolvers

Where the rear of cylinders of revolvers are modified to facilitate the easy use of cappers, only the wings restricting the capper may be removed. It is not permitted to remove the safety barrier between nipples.

50m Black Powder

Single shot break-action pistols using inserts – the insert must not be capped while it is in the breech.

Misfire

In all cases the shooter must wait five seconds with the pistol in a safe direction before re-cocking. First occurrence, warning; second occurrence, disqualification.

Single shot break-action pistols, the shooter must wait fifteen seconds with the pistol in a safe direction before opening the action. First occurrence, disqualification.

Cleaning

Shooters may clean pistol parts while personnel are forward ONLY if:

· Permission is granted by the range officer to the individual shooter/s concerned and the pistol is disassembled before the personnel go forward, AND

· The pistol is (AND REMAINS) in an obviously disassembled state until the Range Officer has checked that all personnel have returned and gives the next command “LOAD and START”.

Projectiles

Projectiles must be made of soft lead.

25m Black Powder – Precision Stage - Misfire

In all cases the shooter must wait five seconds with the pistol in a safe direction before re-cocking. First occurrence, warning; second occurrence, disqualification.

25m Black Powder – Precision Stage - Cleaning

Shooters may clean pistol parts while personnel are forward ONLY if:

· Permission is granted by the range officer to the individual shooter/s concerned and the pistol is disassembled before the personnel go forward, AND

· The pistol is (AND REMAINS) in an obviously disassembled state until the Range Officer has checked that all personnel have returned and gives the next command “LOAD and START

25m Black Powder – Rapid Fire Stage - Misfire

In all cases the shooter must wait five seconds with the pistol in a safe direction before re-cocking. First occurrence, warning; second occurrence, disqualification.

Commands for the Loading sequence – using separate loading tables

Note: If this procedure is adopted, it must be in total.

1. “LOAD BUT DO NOT CAP” (to be called before any personnel go forward for target scoring/patching, and all pistols are to be taken to the rear loading tables before any personnel go forward for target scoring/patching)

2. After all personnel have returned, AND all shooters have completed loading at the rear loading tables,
”RANGE CLEAR”. The shooters may now bring the pistols to the firing line and

3. After all shooters have placed their pistol in a safe condition on the bench, and stood back from the firing line,
”CAP PISTOLS”.

4. When all shooters have loaded capped, placed their pistol in a safe condition on the bench, and stood back from the firing line,
“ASSUME THE READY”

5. After 30 seconds,
“ATTENTION” and activate the targets

Commands for the Loading sequence – without separate loading tables

Note: If this procedure is adopted, it must be in total.

1. “LOAD BUT DO NOT CAP” (to be called after all personnel come back from target scoring/patching)

2 (not applicable)

3. When all shooters have loaded (but not capped), placed their pistol in a safe condition on the bench, and stood back from the firing line,
“CAP PISTOLS”

4. When all shooters have loaded capped, placed their pistol in a safe condition on the bench, and stood back from the firing line,
“ASSUME THE READY”

5. After 30 seconds,
“ATTENTION” and activate the targets.

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