Each shooter's first responsibility is for their own safe conduct while participating in each stage. All other shooters on the range are Safety Officers and are expected to remain alert for any unsafe action.
The following are Safety Guidelines for range and stage operations:
1. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded at all times.
2. Muzzle direction is important on the range. Do not "sweep" other participants between stages or when moving firearms to and from gun carts or tables. Long guns will have there actions open with chambers and magazines empty while stored in gun carts, while on range tables, and when being carried to and from the loading / unloading table.
3. All firearms will remain unloaded except while at the loading / unloading table and while under the direction of the range officer during each stage.
4. Pistol are always loaded with only 5 rounds, and with the hammer lowered on the empty chamber. Percussion revolvers will have only 5 chambers capped.
5. Pistols will not be cocked until pointed down range. Once cocked, the handgun should be shot dry (unless directed otherwise by the range officer). Once a stage begins, a handgun should never be holstered while still containing live rounds.
6. Rifles may be staged down range from the shooter with the magazines loaded, action closed, hammer down, and chamber empty.
7. Shotguns are always staged open, with the magazine and / or chambers empty, and are loaded on the clock unless the stage begins with the shotgun.
8. Long guns will have their actions left open and the magazines / chambers empty whenever the gun leaves the shooters hands during or at the end of a stage.
9. Extreme care must be exercised when drawing a pistol from a cross-draw hoister or when returning it to the holster. The Shooter must "twist" their body, if necessary, to ensure the muzzle never breaks the 170 degree safety rule during the drawing or holstering process.
10. When changing location during a stage, all firearms being carried must either have the hammer down on an empty chamber or spent case, or have the action open.
11. Only "Gunfighters" may have two loaded pistols in their hands at the same time.
12. The unloading officer or range officer MUST inspect all firearms before they leave the shooting stage. All rifles and pump or lever action shotguns must have their action cycled for the inspecting official. All pistols will also be inspected.
13. Eye and hearing protection must be worn by all shooters when in the loading / unloading area, or on the firing line. Such protection is recommended for everyone in the range area especially for spectators when within direct line of sight of steel targets.
14. Stages are normally fired with "no alibi". Once the first round goes down range, the shooter is committed to the stage and must finish to the best of their ability. If there is a range failure beyond the shooters control, (failure of props, targets, timer, or at the discretion of the range officer), re-shoot may be granted. On a re-shoot, the shooter starts clean and completes the entire stage.
Shooter competition categories will be organized, and awards will be presented for best scores as follows:
(5 rounds each pistols, 8 - 10 rounds rifle, and 4 - 6 rounds shotgun)
Modern / Traditional
Duelist / Gunfighter
These four categories can be scored separately and / or additional SASS categories can be added, if two (2) or more shooters participate in the minimum of four (4) shoots for the year. (New) Pilgrim / Beginner shooters with less that two pistols, a rifle, and a shotgun, or shooters using a pistol and / or rifle caliber smaller than .32 or a shotgun smaller that 20 gauge, will not be scored as part of each stage competition. They will be assigned to a posse and will be able to "shoot for practice" each of the stages. Within each of the competition categories, awards will also be presented for the best Junior (age 12 thru 16): best Women shooter; and best Senior shooter (65 and older). To qualify for a competition award, a shooter must compete in a least 4 of the 7 scheduled shoots for the year. Best average over 4 shoots will determine category winners.
Side Matches scheduled for the year:
50 yard pistol - individual competition - 5 rounds pistol, 50 yard target
Speed pistol - individual competition - 5 rounds pistol, 50 yard target
50 yard rifle from horseback - individual competition - 5 round rifle, 50 yard target
Speed rifle - individual competition - 5 rounds rifle, 5 targets at 10 yards
Three gun challenge - individual competition - 5 rounds pistol, 5 rounds rifle, 4 rounds shotgun
One on one competition - 5 rounds pistol, 5 rounds rifle, 4 rounds shotgun