Official Rules
The Tactical Games (TTG) reserves the right to change or modify the rules as necessary, however rules will not change after the beginning of a competition through the completion. Rule changes are not retroactive, the rule set being used at the time of the competition is the rule set that will be used for that competition regardless of future changes.
Expectations
-Remember this is both a shooting & physical event, you will be asked to negotiate physical obstacles & challenges.
-Have fun, don’t get hurt, use the same gear you showed up with.
1. FEDERAL AND STATE LAW:
1.1 It is the competitor’s responsibility to know, understand and adhere to all Federal, State and Local Regulations regarding the use and transportation of firearms, including all applicable National Firearms Act(NFA) regulations related to the construction, transportation and use of any firearm regulated by NFA rules.
2. General Rules:
2.1.It is the competitor’s responsibility to read and understand the rules set forth by Tac2Gun and agree to be subject to these rules while participating in any Tac2Gun event.
2.2. It is the competitor’s responsibility to be present at the daily safety briefs.
2.3. It is the competitors responsibility to read and understand the Written Stage Briefing (WSB)
2.4. It is the competitors responsibility to be present for the verbal stage briefs.
2.5. It is the competitors responsibility to understand and obey any special conditions or requirements stipulated in aforementioned documents or briefs. If there is a conflict in the documentation the following order of precedence shall be used.
2.5.1.The daily safety brief supersedes the Tac2Gun Official Rules.
2.5.2.The WSB supersedes the daily safety brief.
2.5.3.The Verbal Stage Brief supersedes the WSB.
2.6.Ballistic rated eye protection is mandatory for competitors, spectators, & officials at the event site.
2.7.Ear protection is mandatory for competitors, spectators, & officials while on or near a stage.
2.8.No competitors or spectators shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the event site. Any competitor or spectator suspected to be impaired because of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting and to leave the range.
2.9. Competitors must obey venue speed limits and rules. Violation will result in being ejected from the property and assessed a DNF (Did Not Finish) score for the remainder of the match. No refunds will be given.
2.10.Match officials may have to take actions to ensure completion of the match such as removing stages from the competition and any other measures deemed necessary to complete the competition.
2.10.1. In extreme circumstances, if the competition cannot be completed, match officials reserve the right to end the competition and distribute the prizes via a random draw instead of order of finish.
2.11. Any rule not explicitly covered by this document will be resolved with a ruling by the Match Director (MD) or his designee. Rulings by the MD or his designee will be final and will serve as a precedent for the duration of the event.
3. General Conduct & Dispute Resolution:
3.1.The Tactical Games reserves the right to withdraw a title, trophy, or prize from any competitor at any time, if it is determined that they cheated, used unauthorized equipment, used an advantage not allowed under the rules or the spirit of the Games, or acted in an unethical way in connection with The Tactical Games or its events.
3.2. Competitors and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and sportsmanlike manner at all times. Any person who violates this rule may be ejected from the event site at the MD’s discretion.
3.2.1. Competitors may be subject to event disqualification for safety or conduct violations. Disqualification will result in complete disqualification from the event, the competitor will not be allowed to continue nor be eligible for prizes and will not receive a refund.
3.3.Clothing with any offensive or obscene logos, sayings, pictures, or drawings must not be worn or displayed while at the event site.
3.4.Clothing must be appropriate range clothing and provide reasonably adequate protection against minor injury such as scrapes, abrasions, hot brass, or due to tactical activity. If your clothing is determined to be inadequate for protecting the competitor’s skin, the competitor will be asked to change their clothing to cover their skin appropriately for the stage.
3.5. A competitor shall be disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to:
3.5.1.Intentionally altering a target prior to the target being scored to gain advantage or avoid a penalty
3.5.2.Altering or falsifying score sheets
3.5.3.Altering the configuration of firearms or equipment without permission of the MD
3.5.4.Threatening or assaulting other competitors or Event Officials
3.5.5.Disruptive behavior likely to disturb or distract other competitors while they are shooting
3.5.6.Willful disregard of Event Official instructions
3.6.The final decision on all disqualifications and reshoots will be made by the MD.
3.7.If a competitor wishes to arbitrate a score (time finished, number of hits/misses, or any other item) they must notify the scorekeeper and request to arbitrate. The following process will be followed
The judge will provide paper for competitors to record their name, email address, phone number, the date and time, and specifics about what they are arbitrating. The competitor must then leave the scoring table.
The Range Official will notify the MD
The MD will review the dispute and make a final ruling based on the evidence recorded from the judge, competitor and any video evidence.
The MD will notify the competitor via in person or email of the decision if the competitor cannot be reached in-person. The MD will then ensure the correct score is recorded based on the ruling.
3.7.1. Competitors will email the match director with any scoring related issues discovered during the course of competition.
3.7.2.After completion of the competition on Sunday there will be a final arbitration period. This process is as follows:
Final tallying of the scores will be posted.
The MD will announce the arbitration period start, this period will be left open for 15 minutes unless the arbitrations under review require more time, if so the period will last until all issues have been addressed.
After the arbitration period is complete the final scores will be posted. No further review of scores will be entertained. No scores will be adjusted after this period.
3.8.After the completion of the last event there will be an arbitration period where competitors will review their scores and any other scores that look incorrect, check for errors and bring them in to the MD with supporting documentation. After this period of time is complete, there will be a last call. If there are no more requests, scores are FINAL. After this time no further review of scores, videos, targets, etc will be had and the scores will remain FINAL regardless of findings later on. The only exception to this rule is a finding of cheating, at which point changes will be made.
4. Competitor Safety:
4.1.All events will be run on cold ranges.
4.2. Competitors’ firearms will remain unloaded at the event site except under the direction and supervision of an Event Official.
4.3.Firearms may only be handled and/or displayed in a designated safe area.
4.4.Safety areas will be designated by event officials.
4.5.No firearm may be loaded in a safety area.
4.6.No ammunition (including dummy ammunition or snap caps) may be handled in a safety area.
4.7.Firearms may be transported to, from and between stages only in the following conditions:
4.8.Handguns must be unloaded, cased or holstered, de-cocked and with the magazine removed (Cleared).
4.9.Rifles must be unloaded, cased, secured muzzle up or muzzle down in a stable gun cart/caddy, or carried slung with the muzzle up or down. Actions must be open, or a chamber flag inserted, and detachable magazines removed. The use of high-visibility chamber flags is recommended as a courtesy to other event competitors.
4.10.A competitor who causes an unsafe discharge will be stopped by an Event Official as soon as possible and shall receive a MATCH Disqualification (DQ).Examples of unsafe discharge include:
4.10.1.An accidental or negligent discharge that travels over a backstop, a berm, or in any other direction deemed by Event Officials to be unsafe. Note that a competitor who legitimately fires a shot at a target, which then travels in an unsafe direction, will not be disqualified.
4.10.2.A shot which strikes the ground within 10 feet of the competitor, except when shooting at a target closer than 10 feet to the competitor.
4.10.2.1.Exception – a shot that strikes the ground within 10 feet of the competitor due to a “squib”
4.10.3.A shot that occurs while loading, reloading, or unloading any firearm.
4.10.3.1.Exception – a detonation which occurs while unloading a firearm is not considered an accidental discharge. A “detonation” is defined as the ignition of the primer of a round, other than by action of a firing pin, where the projectile or shot does not pass through the barrel (e.g. when a slide is being manually retracted, when a round is dropped etc.).
4.10.3.2.Exception – A “slam fire” detonation caused by the firing pin traveling forward when the gun is on safe during “make ready” that does not travel over the berm or impacts in a safe place. If the gun can be repaired and demonstrated to be safe to match staff the competitor may continue with it.
4.10.4.A shot which occurs during remedial action in the case of a malfunction.
4.10.5.A shot which occurs while transferring a firearm between hands.
4.10.6.A shot which occurs during movement, except while engaging targets.
4.10.7.A competitor who performs an act of unsafe gun handling will be stopped by an Event Official as soon as possible and shall be disqualified. Examples of unsafe gun handling include:
4.10.7.1.Dropping a loaded firearm at any time after the “Make Ready” command and before the “Range Is Clear” command. Dropping a cleared firearm will not result in a match DQ. A firearm is considered clear when the TTG clearing procedure has been completed.
4.10.8.Use of any unsafe ammunition as defined in Section 5.4 will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.10.9.Shooting of any barricade or prop made of wood on the firing line may result in a procedural penalty per shot fired. This does not apply to wooden framed walls down range.
4.10.10.Shooting any barricade or prop made of steel within the minimum safe distances outlined in rule 4.10.15 and its subsections may result in a procedural penalty per shot fired. Stages will be built to support the shooter in this not being an issue while legitimately engaging a target.
4.10.11.Abandoning a firearm during a stage in any location other than a designated safe abandonment location as stipulated in the stage briefing will result in a Stage DQ. This includes intentionally leaving a firearm to gain a competitive advantage. Firearms may be staged on designated tables when directed in the WSB at the start of the course of fire (COF) but can never be abandoned or grounded on a table or anywhere except a designated safe abandonment location. Firearms abandoned in an unsafe manner that results in a discharge will result in a MATCH DQ. Firearms may only be abandoned in one of the following conditions:
4.10.11.1.Loaded, safety catch fully engaged, muzzle pointed in the designated safe direction.
4.10.11.2.Completely unloaded (no ammunition in the firearm), detachable magazine removed, muzzle pointed in the designated safe direction.
4.10.12.Unloading any firearm in an unsafe manner or discharging a firearm while not legitimately engaging a target will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.10.13.Allowing the muzzle of a firearm to break the 180-degree safety plane, designated safety plane, or prohibited muzzle safe direction as outlined in the stage briefing. (see also 2.5.11) will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.10.14.In the case of a competitor facing downrange, the muzzle of a loaded handgun may point slightly up range while drawing, so long as it does not point outside an imaginary circle of three (3) feet radius from the competitor’s feet.
4.10.15.Engaging a steel target in an unsafe manner, will result in a MATCH DQ, such as by:
4.10.15.1.Engaging steel targets with handgun ammunition at a range of less than 5 yards.
4.10.15.2.Engaging steel targets with rifle ammunition at a range of less than 40 yards.
4.10.16.Allowing the muzzle of a firearm to point at any part of the competitor’s body during a course of fire (i.e. sweeping) will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.10.16.1.Exception – sweeping of the lower extremities (below the belt) while drawing a handgun, provided that the competitor’s fingers are clearly outside of the trigger guard.
4.10.17.Pointing a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in any direction deemed by Event Officials to be unsafe will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.11.Multiple infractions that would result in a STAGE DQ will result in a MATCH DQ.
4.12. Unless otherwise stipulated in the stage briefing, required firearms will begin the stage in the following ready conditions:
4.12.1.Handgun: Loaded to stage specifications and holstered. In the case of single-action autos or double-action autos with manual override safeties, the safety catch must be in the “safe” position. In the case of double-action autos & revolvers, without safeties, the hammer must be down/forward.
4.12.2.Rifle: Loaded to stage specifications and held in the low ready position. Safety catch must be in the “safe” position.
4.13. Competitors may not touch or hold any firearm-loading device or ammunition after the “Standby” command and before the “Start Signal” (except for unavoidable touching with the lower arms).
4.14.At no point may the competitor shoot a firearm while holding a second firearm in the other hand, violation will result in a Prohibited Action Penalty per shot fired.
5. Equipment:
5.1. All equipment must start and finish in the same condition. Altering equipment to gain a competitive advantage is prohibited and will result in a DQ.
5.2. Plate Carriers (where applicable)
5.2.1. Pro Division weight 15lbs, Journeyman division weight 12lbs, Slick division no weight required.
5.2.2 Plate carriers, chest rigs, split rigs, LBE rigs are allowed, but it must meet the minimum weight requirement(s) listed below. Whatever is checked in, must be used the entirety of the match with no alterations and no exceptions. A combination of items (i.e. chest rig + personal backpack) can be used to meet the minimum weight requirement. This does not include a standard gun belt (single or two piece) in meeting the weight requirement.
5.3.Magazine Retention:
5.3.1. Magazine retention placement can be reconfigured during a match but the style of retention cannot be altered to gain a competitive advantage.
5.3.2 Magazines with ammunition loaded in them must be retained at all times during a stage.
5.4.Ammunition
5.4.1.Handgun ammunition shall be 9mm Parabellum (9x19mm NATO) or larger.
5.4.2.Rifle ammunition shall be .223 Remington (5.56x45mm NATO) or larger.
5.4.3.5.45 AK ammunition is acceptable but must not be steel core.
5.4.4.Ammunition containing tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, steel jacketed or steel/tungsten/penetrator core projectiles is unsafe and prohibited.
5.4.5.No bi-metal ammunition is permitted. Bi-metal is the less expensive Full Metal Jacket made with a lead center, steel jacket, and a copper wash making it appear like the standard lead/copper full metal jacket accepted at most ranges. Competitors will be financially responsible for replacing targets damaged by prohibited ammunition.
5.4.6.Magnets may be used to inspect ammo at any time while on the venue property. Competitors found in violation of possessing/using ammo prohibited in 5.4 and its subsections will receive a Match DQ and will not receive a refund. Do not bring prohibited ammo to the event.
5.5.Firearms:
5.5.1.All firearms used by competitors must be serviceable and safe. Event Officials may inspect a competitor’s firearms at any time to check they are functioning safely. If any firearm is declared unserviceable or unsafe by an Event Official, it must be withdrawn from the event until it is repaired to the satisfaction of the Range Master.
5.5.2.Firearms must be of a factory configuration. Prototype firearms are specifically prohibited. Internal and External modifications are allowed, provided the modifications do not alter the original function and operation of the firearm.
5.5.3.Firearms capable of fully automatic- or burst-fire (“machine guns”) may be used only in semi-auto mode (i.e. not more than one (1) round fired with each pull of the trigger). Violation of this rule will incur a Prohibited Action Penalty of 20 seconds time penalty per occurrence.
5.5.4.No factory safeties may be disabled on rifle/pistol. This includes the firing pin block, grip safety, and trigger safety.
5.5.5. Competitors must use the same firearms (handgun, and Rifle) for the entire event, including the optic which is mounted on that firearm when it is initially inspected prior to the event.
5.5.6. Competitors may not reconfigure any firearm during the course of the event. Explicitly prohibited acts include changing caliber, barrel length, sighting systems and/or stock style.
5.5.7.Lasers can only be used when allowed by the stage brief.
5.5.8. Catastrophic Malfunctions:
5.5.8.1.If a competitor’s firearm becomes unserviceable, that competitor may repair their firearm with directly equivalent replacement parts. If replacement parts result in a significant change to the firearm configuration, then the repair must be approved by the Match Director. This can be done during the course of a stage, however the entire situation will be put under review immediately following the stage. Any penalties or time added will be done by the MD and the decision will be final. If a participant’s firearm becomes unserviceable, that participant may replace their firearm with another firearm. This can be done during a course of fire, however no competitive advantage should be gained and the entire situation will go under review with the MD immediately after the completion of the stage. If time or penalties are added the decision will be made by the MD and will be final. If it is discovered that a competitor was attempting to gain a competitive advantage the situation will result in a MATCH DQ.
5.5.9.Handgun:
5.5.9.1. Slide mounted red dots are authorized in all divisions. Frame mounted red dots are not authorized.
5.5.9.2.Handgun holsters must be a practical/tactical carry style and must safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement and must completely cover the trigger. Holsters must be secured to the maximum level of retention offered at the start of each stage. Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder. The belt upon which the handgun holster is attached must be worn at waist level. Shoulder holsters and cross-draw holsters are prohibited. Belly bags or “fanny packs” are prohibited as they do not adequately protect the trigger from being depressed while in the bags.
5.5.9.3. Restrictions: nylon style holsters and leather holsters without a retention strap.
5.5.10. Rifle:
5.5.10.1. No sandbags or any bag used for stabilization can be attached to the rifle or used by a competitor unless provided for in the stage setup.
6. RE-SHOOT AND RANGE EQUIPMENT FAILURE:
6.1. For poppers, other hinged targets, falling steel, or clay targets, the following options shall apply under Weather Rules with regard to re-shoots due to range equipment malfunction. If any targets are blown down, fall, or are otherwise defeated by weather related causes BEFORE the Range Officer (RO) has activated the start timer initiating the Course Of Fire (COF), the RO shall stop the competitor, make the COF safe, remedy the target(s), and re-start the competitor.If any targets are blown down, fall, or are otherwise defeated by weather related causes AFTER the RO has activated the start timer initiating the COF, the shooter shall continue the course of fire, but MUST engage the head box of the target or it’s stand with the prescribed number of rounds with the correct firearm for that target.
6.1.1. All hits on paper outside of the scoring area will be counted as misses against the total score for that stage.
6.1.2. Failure to engage the defeated steel or paper target will result in all applicable Failure To Engage (FTE) penalties.
7. Stage Brief:
7.1 Every stage will contain a printed stage brief with pertinent information (stage description, ammo count, etc).
7.1.1 It is the competitor’s responsibility to read and understand the stage brief and obey any special conditions or requirements, any rule differences from the Tac2gun rulebook shall be written in the brief and will be the governing rules as stipulated for that particular stage.
7.1.2 Competitors will be read the written stage brief by the RSO at the start of each stage.
7.1.3 Competitors are expected to be at the stage brief at the time written on the squad matrix.
7.1.4 Competitors will have an opportunity to ask any pertinent questions to clarify the stage brief before the RSO starts shooters.
7.2 Stage Procedures/Shooting Order
7.2.1 The stage RSO will be consistently calling out the shooting order (shooter, on deck, in the hole, in the deep hole).
7.2.2 It is the competitor’s responsibility to get ready when they are “on deck” and be immediately ready when it’s their turn on stage.
7.3 Stage Reset
7.3.1 All competitors with the exception of the “on deck” competitor are responsible for resetting stages.
7.3.2 Cardboard targets need to be viewed by the RSO or their designee for score before being reset.
7.4 Stage Commands
7.4.1 “Shooter, on deck, in the hole, in the deep hole”: Current shooting order #1-4. Once in the #2 spot that competitor needs to have all their gear on and be ready.
7.4.2 “Make Ready”: Competitor is on the stage and will make any firearms ready per the stage brief under RSO supervision.
7.4.3 “Go”: Any form of verbal, noise, light, etc. that tells the competitor time has started
7.4.3 “Hit”: Called when engaging steel. See scoring & penalties for definitions on different steel & targets.
7.4.4 “STOP” – Something has happened that’s unsafe or needs to be reset for proper stage function. Either a competitor’s gun has had a severe malfunction that’s unrecoverable, something dangerous has occurred, or something has occurred outside of your control. Either way, immediately stop what you’re doing and listen to the RSO.
7.4.5 “Time”: End of the stage, either the last shot or when crossing the finish line of a stage. Don’t get lost, competitors need to clear their firearms (both of them) with the RSO before leaving the stage. Competitors that want to verify their score need to immediately see the scorekeeper, if you’re not around they will verify it and move on.
7.4.6 “Par”: You’ve reached the limit and timed out, immediately follow the RSO’s guidance for clearing any firearms and bringing back any physical equipment from the stage.
8. Scoring:
8.1 Scoring format is “time plus points.”
8.2 Each stage is worth a total of 100 points.
8.3 Competitors will receive a raw time for the stage, plus any time penalties accrued during the stage for a total overall time.
8.4 A competitor’s points earned each stage is a percentage of the 100 points available. This percentage is based on performance relative to the stage winner’s time.
8.5 A competitors division placement will be the sum of all the completed stage points from the event.
8.6 Static steel is considered “hit” when struck by a round and the RSO sees a visual or hears auditory cue it’s been struck.
8.7 Falling steel must drop to be scored. Plate rack steel that falls and bounces back up is counted as a hit. Falling steel that gets turned but stays up doesn’t count, it has to hit the ground.
8.8 Steel that gets trapped behind a vertical plate rack is counted as a hit
8.9 Cardboard hits will be based on USPA style cardboard targets. A point system will be used that gives points for the A, C, & D zone. Competitors must meet a minimum point total per the stage brief to count as an engaged target. A grease ring breaking the perf gets counted as a hit on the better scoring area. If it’s too close to call it goes in the shooter’s favor. Perf breaks also count when scoring penalty hits on “no shoot” targets. Shoot throughs will not be scored as hits.
9. Penalties:
9.1. Penalties are assessed on both the shooting and physical events. This is to balance the nature of Tac2gun. Some people are great shots but don’t have the physical and vice versa. This is to equal out performances and give the best competitor in both categories an opportunity to win.
9.2 Scoring Penalties
9.2.1 Failure to meet standard: A competitor who does not complete a physical obstacle/challenge to standard will be assessed a penalty based on the written stage brief.
9.2.2 Par Time: A competitor who does not complete the stage within the allotted par time will be assessed penalties based on targets not engaged and work not performed.
9.2.3 Procedural: Procedural penalties will be defined in the writtens stage brief or as determined by the MD.
9.2.4 “Miss (less than 100 yards)”: Any miss within 100 yards with either firearm will be assessed as described in the written stage brief. This can vary per event and is based on the estimated raw time for a stage.
9.2.5 “Miss (greater than 100 yards)”: Misses on shots with either weapon system greater than 100 yards will have an additional penalty assessed as described in the written stage brief.
9.2.6 “No Shoot”: Any hit on steel or cardboard that has been designated or identified as a “no shoot” will be assessed a penalty. That penalty will be described in the stage brief.
9.2.7 Stages are meant to be shot as written in the stage brief and its intent. Anyone deemed to be acting in an “Unsportsman-like” manner will receive a penalty. This penalty will be assessed at the match director’s discretion.
10. Awards
10.1 Prizes will only be awarded to first place in a division with 3-5 competitors.
10.2 Prizes will only be awarded to first and second place in a division with 6-8 competitors.
10.3 Prizes will be awarded to first through third place in divisions with 9 or more competitors.
11. Loading & Unloading
10.1 Loading & unloading procedures will be described on the written stage brief and will be completed under the supervision of an RSO.
