Match Rules and Regulations

 

- Smoky Mountain Shootist Society is a SASS-affiliated club. SASS rules and conventions will apply at the Smoky Mountain Shoot-Out. The only thing more important than a fun shoot, is a safe shoot.

- Motorized Guncarts—We welcome shooters of all skill levels and abilities, but we must request that the use of motorized guncarts be limited to those who need them for disability and/or handicap reasons. If you must use a motorized guncart we do require that they are kept to the opposite side of the road from the stages.

- Each competitor is responsible for his/her competence with firearms. This match is not designed to be a beginner’s match.

- You are a Safety Officer—You are responsible for your conduct, the conduct of your guests, and that of others within your influence. You must always follow Range Rules.

- No alcoholic beverages are allowed on The Range during the Shoot-Out.

- Please check all firearms before bringing them onto The Range—be sure all firearms are empty of “dummy” rounds or any live or expended rounds.

- No one will be allowed to shoot if, in the judgment of the Range Officer, they are impaired.

- Only registered shooters may wear firearms.

- Pistols must be holstered, and actions open on rifles and shotguns at all times, between the loading and unloading tables.

- Firearms may only be loaded when at the loading table and on the firing line.

- Cap and ball pistols may only be capped when at the loading table and on the firing line. Please charge only five (5) chambers per stage.

- The Unloading Officer must inspect all firearms before they leave the unloading table. Rifles must have their action cycled for the Unloading Officer and chambers inspected. All firearms, whether used or not in the stage, must be inspected, this includes derringers, and cap and ball revolvers. It is acceptable to leave one or more chambers charged in a percussion revolver so long as the caps are removed from the nipples.

- If a shooter goes to the loading table with live or spent rounds in any firearm, it will be a Stage DQ for “failure to adhere to loading and unloading procedures,” and will result in a Stage DQ on the previous stage where the infraction actually occured.

- All shooters are expected to be familiar with SASS rules.

- All disputes must be addressed before shooter/posse leaves that stage. If a problem should arise, take it away from the firing line, and have the RO contact the Berm Marshal. If the dispute still cannot be rectified, the Berm Marshal will contact a Match Official/Director. Decisions are final at this point. All shooters must abide by the decision of the Match Official/Director.

- Unsafe firearm handling—or rude behavior—will not be tolerated.

- All shooters must conform to minimum SASS dress requirements. We request all participates stay in SASS dress for shoot events, functions and even when they go out on the town.

- Coaching is allowed—and encouraged; however, it will never be considered grounds for a re-shoot. If you do not want coaching, let it be known.

- No re-shoots will be given once the first round goes downrange, except for
—prop or match equipment failure;
—a Range Officer impeding the progress of a shooter;
—timer failure or unrecorded time
as determined by the Range Officer and Match Director. In these cases, the shooter starts over with no misses or penalties, except in the case of safety violations, which carry over to re-shoots.

- Shotguns may be loaded on the move on our range. However, the shooter can not move with the action closed on the shotgun. Once you close the action, the “traveling rule” applies—move more than one foot and it’s a stage DQ

- All shooters and spectators must wear eye and hearing protection. Eye and hearing protection is available at the Welcome Tent at The Range.

- Be ready to shoot each stage. We have a large number of shooters and a short amount of time. In addition to being able to read through the stages in advance, the scenarios will be played at each stage, and will be posted at the loading table of each stage. Each shooter must come to the line knowing the course of fire and ready to shoot.

- No dry firing at the loading table; no shadow shooting at the firing line.

- All information contained herein is subject to change. Please listen to all announcements and verbal instructions from the Match Director, Safety Officer, Stage Drivers and Berm Marshals.