Common Division Rules

Reprinted from the 2015 AAFTA Clubs and Shooters Handbook

Equipment

• Safe airguns of any power plant, shooting a single pellet.
• The use of more than one airgun is not permitted during the course of fire, except in the event of malfunctioning equipment.
• The use of shooting gloves is allowed.
• A one-point or two-point sling is allowed, as permitted by specific AAFTA Division Rules. Other than the arm, slings may not be wrapped or attached to any part of the body.
• Other than using aids permitted by specific AAFTA Division Rules (e.g., slings, bipods, etc.), the gun must be supported solely by the shooter’s hands and body. The gun may not contact the ground. Any part of the body directly supporting the gun may not rest on the ground. The body may not lean on, or be supported by any features other than the ground or the shooting seat.

Sights

• Other than a scope mounted on the airgun, no separate range-finding device may be used.
• No laser device may be used.

Ammunition

Any design of pellet that is completely constructed of lead, lead alloy, zinc or zinc alloy.

Targets

• Silhouette “fall-when-hit” targets resettable from the firing point will be used. Silhouettes may be of typical airgun quarry, or targets appropriate to shooting sports.
• Hit zones shall be round in shape. No fake hit zones may appear anywhere on the target.
• Targets shall not be closer than 10 yards nor farther than 55 yards from the firing point.
• The Match Director shall assure that shooting lanes and physical limits of the firing points are clearly defined.
• A clear and unobstructed view of the hit zone must be afforded from at least one shooting position, however hit zones should be visible from all shooting positions as far as is reasonably possible.
• Shooters may reset their own targets once they are given permission from the scorer.

Shooting Positions

Any shooting position is allowed, but some targets may be designated for forced-position shots. See section on Forced Shooting Positions.

Scoring

• Scoring shall be on the basis of one point for each “hit” and a zero for each miss.
• A hit will be awarded when the target falls, any movement of the hit zone paddle which does not result in the target face plate falling will be recorded as a miss.
• When a gun is shouldered, any discharge of air down the barrel and/or disengagement of the sear shall be recorded as a miss if the target does not fall. A shooter may announce their intention to discharge the gun down range into the grass, without penalty of a miss.

Disputed Scores

• Any challenge must be made to the marshal prior to leaving the target.
• Any dispute not resolved at that time will be referred to the Match Director whose decision will be final.

Penalties

The penalty for deliberate infraction of the shooting rules, unsafe practice, unsportsmanlike conduct, or any form of cheating is disqualification.

Target Sequence

• The Match Director shall designate a sequence for shooting targets – by number, left-to-right, nearest-to-farthest, etc.
• A shot on a target out of sequence shall be recorded as a miss for the correct target in sequence.
• If the wrong target was knocked over, it shall be reset and then shooting shall resume on the correct target in sequence.

Time Per Shot

• The Match Director and/or marshal may impose a time limit per lane or per target before or during the match. Match directors should note the use and limits of timers in the match announcement, if possible. Timers should be of the countdown type with an audible alarm when times runs out. Typical time allowed is one (1) minute per shot with one (1) minute set-up time per lane, ex. Four (4) shots on a lane equal five (5) minutes of time for that lane.
• The timer can be started by a squad member or the shooter, and can be placed so the shooter can monitor his or her own time. Timers are to be started when the shooter: 1) sits down for a sitting shot, 2) shoulders the rifle for the first time for a kneeling/standing shot, or 3) lies down for a prone shot.
• If a “cold” line/cease-fire is called while a timer is active, stop the timer and add an additional 15 seconds to the time remaining and restart the timer when “hot” line/resume-fire is called.
• Any shots taken after the alarm sounds will be counted as a miss. In case of a tie with the alarm, and the squad members agree on the tie, then the shot is given to the shooter. A marshal or the Match Director will handle any disputes.

Tied Scores

In the event of two (2) or more shooters tying for an award, a shoot-off or other tie-breaking system will take place.

Equipment Malfunctions:

• If a gun malfunction occurs during a match, the shooter will be given the opportunity to fix the gun, or replace it with a gun compliant with the rules of the class he or she is competing in.
• If a gun malfunction occurs during the course of fire, the shooter must stop the timer and immediately call a Marshall. Once the issue is resolved, the shooter may add a minute to the timer and continue shooting.
• If a gun malfunction cannot be resolved during a match, the shooter will be forced to forfeit the rest of the match, with all remaining shots counted as misses.

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Classes are as follows: Open, Hunter & WFTF

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Open Class

Equipment

• Rifles shall not exceed 20ft/lb of energy measured at the muzzle.
• All forms of clothing are permissible.
• Body support straps or harnesses are allowed, as long as they do not provide any means of support to the gun. Such aids are not allowed on forced position shots.

Sights

Any form of sighting system may be used.

Shooting

A single rifle sling is permitted that shall be attached to the rifle at a minimum of one and maximum of two points when a shot is taken.

Seating

• The maximum height for any form of seat is 6 inches from the ground to the highest point of the seat, measured with the shooter sitting on the seat.
• The seat can only be used as a seat and not any other means of shooting support EXCEPT as a support for the instep/ankle when shooting in the kneeling position.

Hunter

Equipment

• Rifles shall not exceed 20ft/lb of energy measured at the muzzle.
• Forend depth is limited to a maximum of 6 inches, measured from the center of the barrel to the lowest part of the rifle forward of the pistol grip.
• No shooting jackets, harnesses or straps. Clothing worn by the shooter must not restrict body movement.
• Knee pads or other forms of padding or risers placed between the arm, thigh, knee, leg and/or rifle may not exceed 2 inches in thickness.

Sights

• Optical sights of any reticle style may be used, but are limited to a maximum of 12 power magnification. Variable scopes of greater than 12X must be turned to the 12X or nearest lower factory marking on the scope.
• No turret adjustment allowed during the match. (No clicking.)
• Optical sights with parallax adjustment may be adjusted so that the target is in focus. Range (yardage) markings may be used.

Shooting

• A rifle sling attached to the rifle at only two points may be used.
• Length of pull may not be adjusted during a match. Other adjustable components on the stock must be set to their minimum position, and butt pads centered. No butt-hooks or thigh-rests allowed.
• Monopods, shooting sticks, or bipods may be used, but not tripods. Any such aids must rest on the ground and may not be driven or otherwise embedded into the ground or shooting pad. Such aids are not allowed on forced position shots.

Seating

Any form of seat without back or arms support may be used, but the seat may NOT be used to support the rifle while shooting.

WFTF

Equipment

• No rifle shall exceed 12ft/lb muzzle energy. A rifle found to be producing in excess of 12ft/lb will result in the competitor being elevated to the Open Division.
• All forms of clothing are permissible.
• No straps (other than a single rifle sling) are permitted.
• Elbow pads and knee pads are allowed.
• Adjustable rifle stocks are allowed but no adjustable hardware may be removed or added during the match, except where allowed by the match director for physical limitations of the shooter. • Butt-hooks are allowed, but not thigh-rests.

Sights

Any form of sighting system may be used.

Shooting

A single rifle sling is permitted that shall be attached to the rifle at a minimum of one and maximum of two points when a shot is taken.

Seating

• The maximum height for any form of seat is 6 inches from the ground to the highest point of the seat, measured with the shooter sitting on the seat.
• The seat can only be used as a seat and not any other means of shooting support EXCEPT as a support for the instep/ankle when shooting in the kneeling position.