In previous years the proposed IPSC rule amendments have been circulated confidentially to Regional Directors prior to them voting to accept or dismiss the changes at a General Assembly, this year the document has been leaked and is appearing on a growing number of forums and social media feeds so we have decided to share this information since it is now in the public domain. We hope this will enable our readers to consider the proposals and lobby their Regional Directors if they want to have their views considered in advance of the vote which will take place on the 16th of September in Thailand. Whether or not your Regional Director will be in attendance your Region still has a vote using the proxy system and whatever is agreed in Thailand will come into effect on the 1st of January 2019.
You can read the proposed rule amendments here – 2018 GA proposed rule changes
Before having a look at the proposed changes it is worth mentioning that shotgun loading belt dimensions are not mentioned in the proposals and this is sure to disappoint any shotgunners who were unhappy with the decision taken shortly before Shotgun Worldshoot III to ignore the current height rule at that match:
5.2.3.2 Only one equipment carrying belt is permitted. Cartridges held in loops or clips on the belt are restricted to a maximum of 170 mm total height. Rounds carried in caddies (often known as “strippers”) must not exceed 6 rounds in height.
This rule came into force on 1st January 2018 and on 20th May the SG WS Range Master posted a guidance document for guncheck personnel on the IROA Invisionzone forum in which he announced that the 170mm rule would not be applied at SG WS. With the event less than 2 weeks away and the fact that very few competitors saw the notification on the IROA forum there was considerable consternation among shooters who had made compliant rigs after the January rule update. People with 5.2.3.2 compliant rigs were left with no time to alter their rig and re-train to use a different set-up for the Worldshoot while others who had flouted the January 2018 rule were permitted to compete with their rigs outside the prevailing rulebook dimensions. The controversial WS guncheck guidance document was widely reproduced in the ensuing storm and since it is already in the public domain we have linked it here – WS Guncheck Guidance
Moving on then to what is addressed the proposed amendments, from a shotgunner’s perspective the aspects which we found interesting are:
- A proposal to remove frangible no-shoots – 4.4.1
- A proposal to ban the use of full size and mini size targets in the same target array, formerly allowed subject to a 2m distance separation 4.1.1..2 and 4.2.1
- Video evidence could be allowed – 11.1.5
- The Range Officer must visually demonstrate the acceptable Start Position (either by use of a picture or physically) at all match levels – 3.2.2
- Clarification of what 1 step means – 8.5.1.1
- Permission required for drones – 8.6.6
Of course there is also a ton of detail that will interest Handgun, Action Air, Rifle and Mini Rifle shooters but we’re leaving that for practical-somethingelse.com to address, meantime the entire document is worth a read.
UPDATE – we asked practical-shotgun.com’s Facebook Group (currently 918 members) to vote on these amendments, this is the result after 24 hours:
60 in favour / 9 against – the proposal to remove frangible no-shoots – 4.4.1
55 oppose this / 5 in favour – proposal to ban the use of full size and mini size targets in the same target array, formerly allowed subject to a 2m distance separation 4.1.1..2 and 4.2.1
81 in favour / 27 against – video evidence could be allowed – 11.1.5
48 in favour / 19 against – Range Officer must visually demonstrate the acceptable Start Position (either by use of a picture or physically) at all match levels – 3.2.2
67 in favour / 3 against – permission required for drones – 8.6.6
