5.5 Ammunition And Related Equipment
The following rules are dictated in regards to competitor ammunition and other guidelines.
5.5.1 Ammunition Responsibility
Competitors at an IPSC match are solely and personally responsible for the safety of all and any ammunition, which they bring to the match. Neither IPSC nor any IPSC Officers, nor any organisation affiliated to IPSC, nor the officers of any organisation affiliated to IPSC accepts any responsibility whatsoever in this regard, nor in respect of any loss, damage, accident, injury or death suffered by any person or entity as a result of the lawful or unlawful use of any such ammunition.
5.5.2 Division Guidelines
All competitor ammunition and their respective magazines and speed loaders must comply with the provisions of the relevant Division (see Appendix D).
5.5.3 Ammunition Retreival
Spare magazines, speed loaders or ammunition dropped or discarded by a competitor after the Start Signal may be retrieved. However, their retrieval is, at all times, subject to all safety rules.
5.5.4 Prohibited Ammunition
Metal piercing, incendiary and/or tracer ammunition is prohibited at IPSC matches (see Rule 10.5.15).
Metal piercing, incendiary and/or tracer ammunition is prohibited at IPSC matches (see Rule 10.5.15). “Penetrator” ammunition (e.g. with a penetrating core) can only be used if specifically permitted by the match organisers.
5.5.5 Multi Projectile Cartridges (Handgun & Rifle Only)
Ammunition which discharges more than one bullet or other scoring projectile from a single round is prohibited (see Rule 10.5.15).
5.5.6 Unsafe Ammunition
Ammunition deemed unsafe by a Range Officer must be immediately withdrawn from the match (see Rule 10.5.15).
5.5.6.1 Protruding Slugs (Shotgun Only)
Slugs that protrude beyond the external limits of the cartridge casing are deemed unsafe (see Rule 10.5.15).
5.5.6.2 Prohibited Wads (Shotgun Only)
Only cartridges using conventional wads are permitted. Cartridges using specialised long-range wads (see Glossary) are prohibited (see Rule 10.5.15).
5.5.6.3 Overpowered Cartridges (Shotgun Only)
Cartridges exceeding a power factor of 750 are prohibited. The cartridge power factor is calculated either by reference to the manufacturer’s published data or determined by the use of a chronograph (see Rule 5.5.6 and 10.5.15).
5.5.6.4 Prohibited Slugs (Shotgun Only)
Cartridges with steel or tungsten based shot or slugs are deemed unsafe for shooting at metal targets (see Rule 10.5.15).
5.5.7 Mixing Ammunition Before Stage Start (Shotgun Only)
All rounds loaded in the shotgun prior to the Start Signal must be of the same configuration (i.e. wad, velocity, propellant, pellet weight, pellet size, length, etc.). Violations may be subject to Rule 10.6.1.
5.5.8 Permitted Cartridges (Shotgun Only)
Only certain cartridge types, and shot sizes or types, are permissible and these are detailed in Appendix E1. Changes to this appendix must not be applied to IPSC Shotgun matches without the express consent of the Regional Director.
Chapter Rules
