Maac-hft Rules 2009

MAAC – HFT Rules 2009 Version 1.0 - 2008

MAAC-HFT RULES 2009 SEASON Safety All shooting activities must be carried out in accordance with the MAAC-HFT rules. All shooters will attend a safety briefing at each event held immediately before the round they are shooting in commences, any shooter not attending the briefing will not be permitted to shoot in that round. No persons other than the shooters that are taking part in a round will be permitted on the course, with the exception of marshals, organisers, press photographers and VIP guest (who all must obtain and wear identification badges prior to entering the shooting arena these must be obtained from MAAC ). Please ensure you sling or carry your rifle so the muzzle is always pointed at the ground when not in use. Do not cock your rifle until you are ready to take aim. No gun should be loaded between lanes. Multi shots must have the magazine removed, and be in a visibly safe condition. If you have a fixed magazine system fitted to you rifle, then at the firing line of each peg with your gun pointed down range only 1 pellet should be loaded. Each shooting group should appoint a safety marshal who will visibly check the group’s guns for safety. Failure to comply can result in expulsion from the ground. NEVER rest the rifle muzzle on your foot. When getting down or up from a prone shots always be aware of where your rifle muzzle is pointing, it should remain pointing down or downrange at all times, ask you shooting partner for their assistance in taking your rifle from you if you find it difficult getting up or down safely. When a single blast of a whistle or hooter is heard all shooting must immediately stop. Shooters must discharge their rifles into the ground, away from the target, at a safe distance and wait until they hear 2 whistles or blasts of the hooter; they may then commence firing when safe. Only marshals are allowed to halt or commence fire. Targets must NOT be sighted or the gun shouldered during a cease fire. Guns will only be sighted, shouldered or discharged over a recognized firing line. Guns will always be kept unloaded & un cocked when not in use. If you are approached by a marshal for any reason i.e. shooting technique or safety please do as they have asked as remember they are there to make sure the course is shot fairly and most of all safely. In the case of a dispute, the Head Marshall can be called, and their decision is final. Organisers are not marshals and should not be approached on these matters. The Hosting club will provide all necessary marshals at each event.

Juniors under the age of 14 must shoot under the direct supervision their parent/guardian on the day. Juniors not taking part in the competition will not be permitted to enter any of the shooting arenas. Classes and Categories Possible Juniors ...................... Aged between 14-18 (no persons under 14 years of age will be permitted to shoot or enter any of the shooting areas) Open Class............. PCP rifles and semi recoiling rifles of .177, .20 or .22 calibre Recoiling Class ...... All recoiling rifles whatever caliber. Note sanctioned UKAHFT matches or selections for international UKAHFT or future WHFTA will be carried with 12ftlbs in all UKAHFT or WHFTA classes. For MAAC-HFT matches, since in Malta all Air Rifles are licensed and most air rifles are above the UKAHFT limit. To UKAHFT these are FAC rifles according to UK legislation. The shooters may however be permitted to shoot in the open class regardless of Rifle or calibre at the discretion of the MAAC-HFT organisers The course Targets are normal knock over style that fall when hit, with hit zone sizes ranging from 15mm to 45mm. These can be placed at any varying distances but maximum distance must not exceed 41meters and minimum distance must not be closer than 7meters, with the exception that reduced hit zone targets size 15mm targets between 12m and 23m maximum, 20 mm targets between 12m and 27m maximum, 25mm targets between 12m and 32m maximum 35 to 45 mm targets between 12m and 41m maximum Placement Targets* (with the exception of reduced hit zone 15mm, 20mm & 25mm hit zone targets) may be partially obscured by flora but must be shootable without danger from ricochets. These must have a minimum of 50% of the hitzone visible from the shooting position. The scoring will be 2 points for a knockdown, 1 point for faceplate hit and 0 for a miss. The target MUST fall to earn a maximum 2 points. Regardless of any circumstances such as forgetting to load a pellet, not shutting the loading bolt or if the trigger is pulled before you are locked on target, if the gun goesoff the shot is considered taken & will be scored accordingly. If this does happen, the competitor should make sure the pellet has left the gun by dry firing safely into the ground over the firing line with the consent of their shooting partners. The firing point is a wooden/plastic post or flat metal/plastic disc that must be securely fixed in the ground or fixed to an object (i.e. tree). A post must be touched by some part of the body/rifle as the shot is taken and a flat disc must be touched by some part of the body as the shot is taken, the rifle is not permitted to rest directly on the disc. Almost any position is allowed including resting the rifle/body on anything available within reach. Moving the firing point is not allowed. Anyone found doing so will be disqualified from the competition.

The trigger finger however should not be forward of the shooting line.

Sitting shots ARE NOT ALLOWED where the shooters backside is in contact with the ground, or sitting on your foot folded under your bum.

Both of the above two pictures demonstrate an acceptable foot position when taking a kneeling shot. There shall be only 3 points of contact with the ground (2 feet & 1 knee).The rear foot shall be upright and straight in line with the knee. A bean bag may be used, but must only be placed under the knee, it must not be used to provide support to the shin ankle area. The leading hand only will support the gun and forward of the wrist should itself be unsupported. The leading hand should also be forward of the knee, to illustrate this the supporting hand should be dropped down vertically, if it contacts with any part of the knee/leg the supporting hand is deemed too far back & therefore not forward of the knee. Equipment It is the MAAC-HFT's intention that HFT be shot at our events using a supporter type set up, However FT type rifle set ups will not be excluded, BUT if you are using rifles having deep fore stocks or extended/lowered butt pads then NO PART of the rifle should come into direct contact with the ground when taking prone shots. Any rifle is allowed as long as it complies with current legislation. The power output in Malta can be more then 12 ft lbs, thus subject to MAAC-HFT classes. However any selections for international WHFTA or UKAHFT carried out by MAAC will be carried out with 12ft lbs, and subject to a random and compulsory chronograph tests which will be in force during selection events . The maximum permitted depth of any Rifle stock must comply with the diagram shown below.

The Following addresses the conflict between the no hamster rule & 150mm max rule. Some leeway will be given to the design of stock used, this is to allow more people to enjoy the sport of HFT. However, butt hooks are not allowed. Any device designed to lower the stock must comply with the 150mm max rule (as pictured above), under no circumstances should the pistol grip or forend of the stock be in contact with the ground when taking the shot. In any sport some people will try to push the rules too far & some stock designs may be considered against the spirit of UKAHFT & will therefore be excluded from UKAHFT shoots.

If you are in any doubt about the conformity of your stock design please contact MAACARFT Rep. No optical aids at all apart from the scope in use. No wind indicators or scope levels can be used and must be removed before you start the course or taped up. The use of a sling is allowed but not as a shooting aid. Once the first shot has been taken, NO adjustments may be made, in any way, to the rifle, stock or scope. Any traditional type scope and settings can be used. However, zeroing, magnification, dialling and parallax must be set prior to the first shot and left untouched until the course is completed, this includes illuminated reticules which if used must be switched on with the brightness set before the first shot is taken and remain that way without any adjustment or switching throughout the competition. The objective opening aperture of the scope must be left as it was manufactured and can not be reduced in any way to increase the depth of field, All types of scope caps must always be in an open position when taking a shot & any holes in the caps taped up throughout the shoot. Anyone found carrying out any adjustments whatsoever to a scope once the course has been started will be expelled from the competition. laser are not permitted and should be removed from the rifle. Beanbags may be carried to place guns on between lanes and may be used for Kneeling shots only , but must ONLY be placed under the knee. The use of any Range finding equipment is not allowed under any circumstances, any person other than course setters caught with one in their possession will be asked to leave the event. No persons other than UKAHFT or hosting club course officials will be allowed to view any course prior to any event. Failure to comply may result in you not being allowed to attend any UKAHFT event in the future. Scorecards Each shooter must mark their own scorecard with their set magnification and parallax of their scope together with make, model and calibre of their rifle prior to the start of shooting the course. If a complaint is received or when checked by a course marshal, it is discovered that the information entered on the card does not concur with the rifle/scope being used, the shooter will be excluded from the competition. When a target has been downed the shooter must gain visual confirmation from a fellow group member before it is reset. Only your shooting buddies are permitted to record your scores on your scorecard. No shooter will be allowed to mark their own scorecard under any circumstances. If an error is entered on any scorecard you must seek a marshal who will amend this error for you. Any altered or unreadable scores not correctly amended and signed off by a marshal shall be record as a zero. In the event of a tie for any of the first 3 winning places a shootoff will then occur with each person shooting 3 targets first prone then kneeling, then standing, if after this no winner is established then there will be sudden death shoot off. The first to miss would be eliminated from the tied place. In the case of a three way tie or above, any shooter scoring a complete

miss, i.e. a zero on their card will be eliminated from the tie. Equal number of shots per shooters will always apply. For 4th places and below the positions may be calculated using a count back system depending on number of shooters and time permitting. The Organisers reserve the right to amend and adjust any shooters scorecard at any time during the series, if infringements of the rules or evidence of cheating is subsequently discovered during or after any scheduled events. • this assumes targets that are available from target manufactures in the event custom or non standard target are to be and used at any MAAC-HFT events then please seek guidance from UKAHFT as to the design criteria and their acceptability. Please note once a off the shelf target is altered in anyway it them becomes a non standard target.

Malta Allied Airgunners Club (MAAC) PO BOX 38 Naxxar Malta ©UKAHFT Regulations adapted for Malta by MAAC with UKAHFT Permission.