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Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC)

Shooting Sport Discipline Commission

MAAC – ARBR Rules V1 2008

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1. General Information 1.1 The following information is based on General Rules for International Air Rifle Bench rest Competitions amended to suit MAAC– Air Rifle Bench Rest shooting (ARBR). 1.2 The targets used in all competitions will be the Official Bench rest 22 targets only. This consists of 25 scoring targets and six separate sighters. 2. General Rules of Shooting - Definitions Duties of Tournament Officials 2.1 Any person may hold more than one Tournament Official position. When possible, it is suggested that matches be scheduled such that persons holding the Official positions may also be able to compete in the matches. General Club Rules apply to Official / Range / Safety Officers etc. 3. Match/Championships 3.1 A match contests three main classes: Hunter Class, Unlimited A/R Class A and Unlimited A/R Class B. Class specifications are listed in the Equipment section 6. 3.2 A competitor can compete only one time in each class at any Match and can use different air rifle at any match, 3.3 Matches are one time events. 3.4 Championships are a series of Matches combined for a final score. Competitors can compete only one time in each class at any Championship and must use the same air rifle throughout the championship. 4. Match/Championship Requirements 25 yards / 50 M - 4.1 There must be a minimum of 4 competitors for a class to be valid. 4.2 If more then 5 competitors form a class final awards for championships will be awarded to the first three (3) positions. 4.3 A club must have a minimum of one bench or mat where prone shooting is preferred. 4.4 All competitors must have a TS-B license and Insurance Policy. 4.5 The 25 yard and 50 meter matches and championships will be shot outdoor.

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5. Bench 5.1 A bench to be a solidly constructed table with chair or stool, prone shooting to be from mat. 5.2 Bench specification will be those of international standard. 6. Equipment 6.1. Air rifles PCP or Spring type of calibers 0.177, 0.2 and 0.22 only. 6.2 Rests all commercially available except one piece rest that support both front forearm and buttock in the same arrangement. Windage adjustment can only be used on front rest. Rest must not be clamped to the bench or to the air rifle. 6.3 Wind flags can be utilized. Flags must be no higher than level of bench top to bottom of target. Shooters must place wind flags in position before match begins. Wind flags cannot be moved or taken down until match is over. If a flag is in a shooter’s line of sight, the RO will lay the flag on the ground. This must be done before commence fire. 6.4 Hunter A/R Class specification: Weight 10½ lb – No limit magnification and max power of 12ftlbs. Distance 25 yards. Bipods can be used but do not form part of the rifle when being weighed. Factory Stocks only. (Spring air rifles not exceeding 13.5ftlbs are admitted to this class). Tolerance on PCP 1ftlbs. Tolerance on Springer 1.5ftlbs. 6.5 Unlimited A/R Class A – No Weight limit – No magnification limit and max power of 20 ftlbs. Distance 50 meters. Any stock see Stock Clarification section 18. Tolerance on power 1ftlbs 6.6 Unlimited A/R Class B – No Weight limit – No magnification limit and power over 20ftlbs. Distance 50 meters. Any stock see Stock Clarification section 18. 6.7 Rear Sand Bags - Rear rest must be a sand bag with no adjustable or mechanical means. Sand bags must be made of leather and/or cloth. Only sand bag can touch sides and bottom of stock. Front and/or rear. Spacers may be placed under the rear rest to attain elevation, a block of wood measuring a maximum of 6” x 6” x 2” may be used. A coin, bearing, or similar device may be placed under the rear leg of the front rest to facilitate smooth operation of mechanical elevation. The block of wood cannot be connected to the bench.

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6.8 Members can use a Bipod for a front rest if required especially in the Hunter Class. The Rules state that no rests can be attached to the rifles. This rule does not apply to Bipods, rifle to be weighed without Bipod attached. Bi-Pod max weight 1kg. 7. Course of Fire 7.1 Generally 25 record shots at 25 yards or 50 M with a time limit for Matches of maximum 30 minutes. 8. Eligibility of Competitors 8.1 No competitor may be required to be a member of any organization in order to compete in open matches and open championships held by MAAC. 8.2 However they must be a Member of a Shooting Club which have submitted an application of participation and has settled with MAAC the match or championship fee. The competitor must have TS-B and insurance policy and the air rifle/s are registered under his TS-B license. 8.3 MAAC Administrative can deny the opportunity to compete to any person who they feel does not comply with the above, or incapable of safely completing the match, or to any person who violates Safety or Sportsmanship rules. The VSR Range Directors decision is final; there are no rights to Appeal. 9. Safety 9.1 The MAAC Range Officer or Club Officials will be responsible to see that appropriate safety precautions are taken. 9.2 It is expected that the Match Director (MAAC Discipline Rep) and all competitors will exercise their best judgment to keep our sport safe for all that participate. 9.3 The Range Officer to go over basic safety rules if appropriate before a match if there is any question that anyone in attendance may not be familiar with the rules in effect at that range 9.4 MAAC Range & Safety rules will apply.

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9.5 All persons are required to be in complete control both mentally and physically during MAAC matches. The regulations of the Worldwide Anti-Doping Code (best practices models written by the World Anti-Doping Agency – A.M.A.) completely apply to all the people and all the competitions taking place under the authority of the MAAC. 10. Sportsmanship 10.1 There shall be no foolish conduct on, or near, the firing line during the firing of any match. 10.2 Everyone should treat all shooters as they would like to be treated if they were about to shoot a new record score. 11.Targets 11.1 Only Official targets to be used these consist of twenty-five (25) record bulls and six (6) sighter bulls with best edge (inward) scoring. 11.2 The targets are A3 printed on 130gsm or higher quality paper. 11.3 There is a separate lined box between the sighter bulls and the record bulls. All shots to the right of this area count for record. 11.4 Any number of shots may be fired into the sighter bulls. If the first shot impacts in the record area, you must notify the Range Officer (before firing another shot) who will inspect the target and make note that the shot will not be counted. 11.5 There are different targets for the 25 yard and 50 M matches. On 25 yard targets the six ring is black to aid sighting, all other rings are white with black-line borders. The central X ring is 2 mm in diameter; this is to be obliterated to score a 10X. On 50M targets the 6 and 5 ring are black to aid in sighting, all other rings are white with blackline borders. The central X ring is 1 mm in diameter; this is to be obliterated to score a 10X. 11.6 More the 25 shots on the record area carry -2 pints per extra shot from the total score. 11.7 More then two shots on the same scoring targets will obtain the minimum score -1 for that target.

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12. Range Commands 12.1 The Range Officer will call competitors to the line at least five minutes before the commence fire command is to be given, in order to allow rests and other equipment to be set and adjusted. 12.2 Before the match the Range Officer will explain the procedure that is in use. 12.3 The RO will explain also an emergency cease-fire procedure. If an emergency cease-fire is called, the reason for such should be corrected, and then the match should be restarted. The RO will stop the stop watch before calling an emergency stop and will restart once this issue is settled. Two Blows mean cease fire clear gun downrange into the ground and remove magazines. One whistle blow will recommence match. 12.4 The Range Officer will announce a 15 minute, 10 minute, and 5 minute and one-minute warnings before the end of each match (30 minutes). 13. Weighing Guns 13.1 It is recommended that all guns are weighed before the match begins so no one will get any surprise if their equipment is found to be overweight. 13.2 If a rifle is found to be overweight after a match is fired, the score must be reported as "DQ" (same as any other disqualification). 13.3 We also recommend that the guns of all winners of prizes, be weighed. Please note that if a Bipod is used then this will not be weighed as part of the rifle. 13.4 Only the Hunter Class is weighed in 4.672kg is the mean weight the maximum is 5 kg. Beyond 5kg the rifle goes to unlimited A class. 14. Bench Drawing 14.1 If necessary a drawing for bench assignments will be made before the first match of the day. Any fair method shall be allowed. 15. Scoring 15.1 Best edge scoring will be used throughout all Matches. 15.2 If the hole breaks into the border of the next higher ring, the higher score will be awarded.

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15.3 Tears in the paper are not counted, only the portion of the hole the size of the bullet. 15.4 If a bullet hole touches a line or X on the target bull, shooter receives the highest point. 15.5 If a plug must be used, the letter (P) must be written on that shot’s square by scorer. 15.6 Inner most ring counts as ten points, and each succeeding ring counts one point less. Outer most ring counts as 5 points. The dot in the middle of the inner most ring counts as an X, any hit that obliterates this dot counts as 10X. 15.7 If a shot is in a target square but misses the outer most ring (5) of the bull, the score is zero. 15.8 Any shot touching target square’s inside or outside border lines will be counted in that block as a zero. 15.9 A plug is to be used if visible determination cannot be made by scorer. 15.10 Any bullet hole that is between blocks shall be plugged. The block that contains the majority of the bullet hole will count for that block as a zero. 15.11 If more than one shot appears in target square, shooter receives lowest score minus one (1) point. 15.12 The perfect score: 250 and 25X’s. 15.13 If a competitor is disqualified for any reason, such as an equipment violation, the score will be reported as "DQ". 15.14 The Discipline Rep will report the reason for the DQ in the match results. 15.15 If a competitor does not finish their target in the allotted amount of time, the score will be reported as "FTC" Failed to complete. 16 Tied Score 16.1 If two, or more, competitors shoot the same score, the X-count will be used to break the tie.

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16.2 If, after including the X-count, the scores are still tied, the next higher amount of 10, 9,8,7,6 and 5 points will count to break the tie. 16.3 If both remain the same both are declared winners. MAAC will compensate for that and reward both equally. 17. Crossfire 17.1 In case of a crossfire, if the person making the crossfire reports it first, or admits to it immediately after it's being reported by the person whose target was accidentally fired on, the crossfire will not be counted on the target that was accidentally fired on. The shot will be recorded as if it had impacted on the target of the person making the crossfire. Adjustment to the score of the person making the crossfire, including both the score on that target and the number of shots on the target, will be made, and additionally, a minus ten (-10) point penalty will be added to the score of the person making the crossfire. 17.2 If the crossfire impacts a bull on which a legitimate shot has also been fired, and it is not possible to determine which shot belongs to which shooter, the highest scoring hole will be counted for the legitimate shot, and the lowest scoring hole will be counted as the crossfire. 18. Stocks Clarification 18.1 Hunter class only original factory stocks allowed any shape size of configuration without any modification. 18.2 Unlimited Classes. Stock must be made of wood or synthetic and must be designed to be shoulder fired. Laminate wood is allowed also. 18.3 Unlimited Stock must be max 3" or under at its widest point. 18.4 No stock tape allowed to any class. 18.5 Forearm and butt of an unlimited stock that comes in contact with front and rear sandbags can be any shape flat or convex. Minimum length from the trigger to the end of stock, excluding butt pad, must be 12.5". 18.6 The cheek piece of an unlimited class stock can be flat, supported or adjustable.

MAAC-2008