Cross Timbers IDPA

Cross Timbers IDPA holds a new shooter briefing 30 minutes before each match. We require any shooter that does not have a IDPA or USPSA classification and has never shot with us before to attend this briefing. To help with club resources we will limit this to 5 new shooters at any given match. You must register with the Chief Safety Officer by either emailing or calling to RSVP for the match that you plan on attending.For more information about the new shooter classes, and for registration, please contact our Chief Safety Officer, Matt Bilsky at SafetyOfficer@ctidpa.com

Safety

Four Universal Rules of Firearms Safety:
1. The gun is always loaded.
2. Never point a gun at something you are not prepared to destroy.
3. Always be sure of your target and what is behind it.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.

Safety is our first concern. All Cross Timbers events are run on a “cold” range:
1. All guns are to be unloaded and have an empty magwell all times. 2. The “Safe Area” location(s) are designated and made known to the shooters for each match.

Violation of the safety rules can and often does result in disqualification (DQ). Some examples of actions and behaviors that cause a DQ:

• Unsafe and/or irresponsible behavior
• Crossing any portion of your body or anyone else’s with the muzzle of a loaded gun.
• Firing any shot that goes over the berm (outdoors) or into the side walls or ceiling (indoors) or into the ground within 6 feet of the shooter
• Pointing the muzzle of the gun past the muzzle safe points^[1]
• Failure to follow the commands of the SO or Match Director (MD)
• Dropping a loaded weapon

While we never intend to disqualify anyone, it does happen. If you are DQ’ed you will not be allowed to shoot the remainder of the match. We welcome you to stay and participate, and you may return and participate in the future matches.

Safety Notes:

• During a COF the shooter drops a loaded gun: DO NOT attempt to catch the gun or pick up the gun.
• During a COF the shooter falls down: the shooter is to: STOP SHOOTING and not move. Ensure your finger is off the trigger and keep the muzzle pointed down range while you await instructions from the SO.
• Be aware of clothing materials when re-holstering.
• Always acquire a firm grip on the gun, with finger indexed, prior to drawing from the holster.

A Safety Officer (SO) supervises the shooter during each stage. The SO has two primary duties: (1) To oversee and command the shooter in the safe operation of the shooters weapon (2) To assist the shooter – They are there to help you! While under the direction of an SO, please keep your firearm PARALLEL to the ground, pointed downrange and your finger indexed (alongside the frame above the trigger) at all times when you are handling your firearm and not actively shooting.

Mechanics of IDPA

Action pistol sports participants may be required to perform the following skills during a course of fire (CoF).

• Loading and unloading the weapon.
• Drawing from holster and re-holstering.
• Gripping the firearm with strong hand, weak hand, and freestyle.
• Sight alignment.
• Trigger control.
• Reloading (slide lock, tactical reload and reload w/retention).
• Moving with a drawn weapon.
• Shooting stances, including prone shooting and barricade shooting.
• Clearing malfunctions.

Range Commands and Procedures

• Load and Make Ready: Command given to the shooter to load gun to either CoF specification or division capacity and reholster.
• Shooter Ready: Question asked by SO to make sure the shooter is ready to engage the CoF.
• Standby: Command given to the shooter to freeze in the start position before the audible start signal.
• Finger: Alert given to shooter to remove his finger from the trigger guard.
• Muzzle: Alert given to shooter to maintain muzzle control within the muzzle safe points. Safety Officers may need to physically push the shooter’s arms to get the muzzle downrange if they do not immediately move at the command.
• Stop: Alert given to the shooter to stop all shooting and movement.
• Cover: Alert given to the shooter for using improper cover. Unload and Show
• Clear: Command given to the shooter to unload his weapon and show the SO a clear chamber or cylinder.
• Slide Down or Cylinder Closed: Command given to the shooter to lower the slide or close the cylinder of an empty weapon.
• Hammer Down: Command given to shooter to dry fire into the berm to show a clear weapon.
• Holster: Command given to the shooter to put the weapon back in the holster.
• Range is Safe: Command stating that the shooter has holstered his weapon and it is safe to proceed downrange.
• BEEP: while this is not a spoken command it is the signal to commence actions to execute the stage. The timer beep is the shooters indication to safely draw their loaded gun and begin shooting.
• Clear: (INDOORS) means the shooting is complete for one side and the SO on the other side may take command of the range. Note: The range is NOT safe at this point; do not go ahead of the firing line.

Safety Related Commands:

• “Finger” is a warning to the shooter (given by SO or SK) indicating that the shooters finger is on the trigger when it should be indexed on the side of the frame.
• "Muzzle” is a warning to the shooter (given by SO or SK) indicating that the shooters muzzle is pointed in or approaching an unsafe direction.
• “STOP” is a command to the shooter (may be given by anyone) this command means the shooter should STOP immediately, take their finger off the trigger, and not move. This command is usually given when there is imminent danger to the shooter or other match participant.

Although IDPA is a timed sport and you may go as fast as you like while shooting safely, you are NOT being timed to load, show clear or holster. Please take all the time you require to perform these tasks safely. Please holster your weapon at the request of the SO and wait for the “Range is safe” command before you retrieve any ammunition or magazines.

Before your first match, you will be assigned a Mentor to help educate you on COF, game, cover, reloads, and rules. Please ask your mentor any questions you may have, all of the shooters here were new at one time and are glad to answer your questions. Ultimately, it is the shooters responsibility to know and follow the safety and IDPA rules, when in doubt—stop and ask!

We hope you enjoy your first match with CTIDPA and many more to come.

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[1] Although there is not an official “180” rule in IDPA, we typically observe this rule at all times (especially indoors). The 180 is side to side as well as up and down. Pointing down at your feet or up at the ceiling is extremely dangerous. In some stages the 180 rule is superseded by muzzle safe points, if this is the case you will be instructed by the SO as to the muzzle safe points

CTIDPA has created a phone number that will inform you of the current match status. This will be updated by the Match Director if there is any chance the match may be cancelled. Have you ever woke up in the morning to rain in your part of Texas and wondered if the range is dry or under 6 feet of water? Call the Match Hotline and see if the match is a go. If the match is going to be cancelled there will be a message on the hotline stating that the match has been cancelled.

Put this number in your phone!

817-470-4952