Equipment & Divisions

Cen-Tex Equipment & Divisions (adapted from TX3G rules) 

AMMUNITION:

Handgun ammunition shall be 9mm Parabellum (9x19mmNATO) or larger, unless otherwise stipulated under equipment division rules.

Rifle ammunition shall be .223 Remington (5.56x45mmNATO) or larger, unless otherwise stipulated under equipment division rules.

No Bi-metal ammunition is permitted. Bi-metal is the less expensive Full Metal Jacket made with a lead center, steel jacket, and a copper wash making it appear like the standard lead/copper full metal jacket accepted at most ranges.

Ammunition containing tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, steel jacketed or steel/tungsten/penetrator core projectiles is unsafe and prohibited. 

Magnets may be used to inspect ammo at any time while on the venue property. Participants found in violation of possessing/using ammo prohibited in will receive a Match DQ and will not receive a refund. Do not bring prohibited ammo to the event.

Shotgun ammunition shall be 20 gauge or larger, unless otherwise stipulated under equipment division rules.

Birdshot must be no larger than #6 birdshot and be made from lead or bismuth only. Iron/steel/tungsten birdshot is unsafe and prohibited. 

12 ga. buckshot must have no more than 9 pellets and be 00 buck or 000 buck. 

20 ga. buckshot must have no more than 20 pellets and be #3 buck.

Ammunition containing tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, steel jacketed or steel/tungsten/penetrator core projectiles is unsafe and prohibited. 

FIREARMS: 

All firearms used by participants must be serviceable and safe. Event Officials may inspect a participant’s firearms at any time to check they are functioning safely. If any firearm is declared unserviceable or unsafe by an Event Official, it must be withdrawn from the event until it is repaired to the satisfaction of the Event Official. 

Firearms capable of fully automatic- or burst-fire (“machine guns”) may be used only in semi-auto mode (i.e. not more than one (1) round fired with each pull of the trigger). Violation of this rule will incur a Prohibited Action Penalty of 20 seconds time penalty per occurrence.

Participants must use the same firearms (handgun, rifle, and shotgun) for the entire event.

If a participant’s firearm becomes unserviceable, that participant may replace their firearm with another of a substantially similar model, caliber, and sighting system only with the approval of an Event Official.

Participants generally may not reconfigure any firearm during the course of the event. Explicitly prohibited acts include changing caliber, barrel length, shotgun magazine tube length, sighting systems and/or stock style. Explicitly permitted acts include installing or removing support devices (e.g. bipods), slings and other minor accessories (e.g. scope covers).

If a participant’s firearm becomes unserviceable, that participant may repair their firearm with directly equivalent replacement parts. If replacement parts result in a significant change to the firearm configuration, then the repair must be approved by the Match Director.

Unless otherwise stipulated in the stage briefing, required firearms will begin the stage in the following ready conditions:

Handgun: Loaded to division start capacity and holstered. In the case of single-action autos or double-action autos with manual override safeties, the safety catch must be in the “safe” position. In the case of double-action autos & revolvers, without safeties, the hammer must be down/forward. 

Rifle: Loaded to division start capacity and held in the low ready position. Safety catch must be in the “safe” position. Shotgun: Loaded to division start capacity and held in the low ready position. Safety catch must be in the “safe” position.

Shotgun: Loaded to division start capacity and held in the low ready position. Safety catch must be in the “safe” position.

Participants may not touch or hold any firearm-loading device or ammunition after the “Standby” command and before the “Start Signal” (except for unavoidable touching with the lower arms).

Firearms abandonment shall be handled using the 3’ rule. If you abandon a firearm and then move more than 3’ from it, you MAY NOT return to that firearm. If you have not moved more than 3’ away from the abandoned firearm, you may safely retrieve it and reuse it. Shots fired from a firearm that has been retrieved after you have moved more than 3’ from the abandonment location will incur a procedural penalty per shot fired.

At no point may the participant shoot a firearm while holding a second firearm in their other hand, violation will result in a Prohibited Action Penalty per shot fired.

Hot reholstering of the pistol will never be required but is permitted if the competitor believes they can do it safely. It must be returned to the holster in a legal condition as follows: Unloaded, or in the case of single-action autos or double-action autos with manual override safeties, the safety catch must be in the “safe” position. In the case of double-action autos & revolvers, without safeties, the hammer must be down/forward. 

EQUIPMENT DIVISIONS:

Participants will declare one equipment division at the beginning of the event.

Equipment divisions are as follows: Open, Tactical Optics, Limited, Modified, 2×4, and 2 Gun.

Failure to meet all the equipment and ammunition requirements for the declared division shall result in the participant being charged a Prohibited Action Penalty (+20 seconds) PER SHOT FIRED while using prohibited equipment.

OPEN Division

Handgun

Handgun holsters must safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement and must completely cover the trigger. Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder. The belt upon which the handgun holster is attached must be worn at waist level. Shoulder holsters and cross-draw holsters are prohibited. 

Magazine length may not exceed 170mm. 

Electronic and optical sights (dots), extended sights, compensators, muzzle brakes, and barrel porting are permitted

Rifle

Supporting devices (e.g. bipods, bags) are permitted, and may begin any stage folded or deployed at the participant’s discretion.

Unlimited electronic sighting devices (scopes/dots) are allowed.

Shotgun

Speed loading devices and/or detachable box magazines are permitted.

Tubular speed loading devices must feature a primer relief cut.

Electronic Sighting Devices are allowed.

TACTICAL OPTICS Division 

Firearms must be of a factory configuration. Prototype firearms are specifically prohibited. Internal and external modifications are allowed, provided the m modifications do not alter the original function and operation of the firearm.

Handgun

Handgun holsters must be a practical/tactical carry style and must safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement and must completely cover the trigger. Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder.

The belt upon which the handgun holster is attached must be worn at waist level. Shoulder holsters and cross-draw holsters are prohibited.

Electronic sights, optical sights, extended sights, compensators, muzzle brakes, and barrel porting are prohibited.

Magazine length may not exceed 170mm in the case of single column magazines and may not exceed 140mm in the case of staggered column (double stack) magazines.

Rifle

Not more than one (1) electronic or optical sight is permitted.

A supplemental magnifier may be used with the permitted optical sight provided the magnifier does not contain an aiming reticle, cannot be used as an aiming device by itself, and remains mounted in the same location on the rifle for the duration of the event. A participant may use the magnifier in either the magnified or the unmagnified mode without restriction.

Supporting devices (bipods, etc.) are prohibited.

Compensators and muzzle brakes may not exceed 1 inch in diameter and 3 inches in length (as measured from the barrel muzzle to the end of the. compensator).

Shotgun

Only tubular magazines are permitted.

Electronic and optical sights are prohibited.

Supporting devices (bipods, bags, etc.) are prohibited.

Barrel devices designed/intended to reduce recoil or muzzle movement (e.g. compensators, barrel porting) are prohibited.

Speed loading devices and/or detachable box magazines are prohibited.

Not more than nine (9) rounds total may be loaded at the beginning of any stage, unless otherwise stipulated in the stage briefing.

LIMITED Division

Firearms must be of a factory configuration. Prototype firearms are specifically prohibited. Internal and external modifications are allowed, provided the modifications do not alter the original function and operation of the firearm.

Handgun

Handgun holsters must be a practical/tactical carry style and must safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement and must completely cover the trigger. Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder. The belt upon which the handgun holster is attached must be worn at waist level. Shoulder holsters and cross-draw holsters are prohibited.

Electronic sights, optical sights, extended sights, compensators, muzzle brakes, or barrel porting are prohibited.

Magazines length may not exceed 170mm in the case of single column magazines and may not exceed 140mm in the case of staggered column magazines.

Rifle

Not more than one (1) non-magnified electronic or optical sight is permitted. Electronic or optical sights originally designed to be capable of any magnification (whether used or not) are prohibited.

Supporting devices (bipods, bags, etc.) are prohibited.

Compensators and muzzle brakes may not exceed 1 inch in diameter and 3 inches in length (as measured from the barrel
muzzle to the end of the compensator).

Drum magazines are prohibited.

Magazine capacity is limited to 32 rounds.

Oversized or extended magazine base pads are prohibited.

Shotgun

Only tubular magazines are permitted.

Electronic sights and optical sights are prohibited.

Supporting devices (bipods, bags, etc.) are prohibited.

Barrel devices designed/intended to reduce recoil or muzzle movement (e.g. compensators, barrel porting) are prohibited.

Speed loading devices and/or detachable box magazines are prohibited.

Not more than nine (9) rounds total may be loaded in the shotgun at any time during the match. Shotgun tubes may not physically hold more than 8 shells.

2X4 Division

Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun/PCC option on every stage.

PCC may generally be used in place of another firearm, but only when and as specified in the stage description.

All firearms must meet Open division requirements. PCC must meet Open rifle requirements other than caliber.

MODIFIED Division 

Rifle

Same restrictions as Tactical, with the following exception: use of one bipod is permitted. It must remain on the rifle for the duration of the stage.

Pistol

Same restrictions as Tactical, with the following exception: use of a slide mounted electronic/optical sight is permitted.

Shotgun

Shotguns must be fed by a single tube magazine. Box magazines and multiple tube magazine systems are not permitted.

Speed loading devices are not permitted.

Magazine tube capacity must not exceed 12 rounds of 2-3⁄4” birdshot.

Shotguns may start fully loaded.

A single non-magnified electronic/optical sight is permitted.

Barrel compensators and porting are permitted.

2 GUN Division

2 Gun division requirements and permissions are the same as Open division, however a shotgun is not used/permitted.

In many instances, targets that are otherwise designated for shotgun only may be engaged with pistol. However, engagement and non-engagement of specific targets with PCC will be specified in the stage description.

2 Gun participants will not shoot stages designated shotgun only. Instead, they will either shoot one of the other match stages twice, or they will have a separate stage designated to replace the shotgun only stage.