Malta Allied Airgunners Club

(MAAC)
Shooting Sport Discipline Commission

MAAC – ARBR
Open Match Rules.
Rules V1.2 2008

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1. General Information
1.1 The following information is based on ERABSF General Rules for International
Air Rifle Bench rest Competitions amended to suit MAAC– Air Rifle Bench Rest
shooting (ARBR) OPEN Competitions
1.2 The targets used in OPEN competitions will be the ERABSF targets only.

2. General Rules of Shooting - Definitions

Duties of Tournament Officials
2.1 Any person may hold more than one Match Official position. When possible, it
is suggested that matches be scheduled such that persons holding the Official
positions may also be able to compete in the matches. General Club Rules apply
to Official / Range / Safety Officers etc.

3. Match OPEN (Only)

3.1 A match contests 2 main classes: Standard A/R Class, Unlimited A/R Class.
Class specifications are listed in the Equipment section 6.
3.2 A competitor can compete only one time in each class at any Match and can
use different air rifle at any match,
3.3 Matches are one time Open events.

4. Match Requirements 25 yards / 50 M -

4.1 There must be a minimum of 4 competitors for a class to be valid.
4.2 If more then 5 competitors form a class final awards for the match will be
awarded to the first three (3) positions.
4.3 A club must have a minimum of one bench or mat where prone shooting is
preferred.
4.4 All competitors must have a TS-B license and Insurance Policy.
4.5 The 25 yard and 50 meter matches will be shot outdoor.

5. Bench
5.1 A bench to be a solidly constructed table with chair or stool, prone shooting to
be from mat.
5.2 Bench specification will be those of international standard.

6. Equipment
6.1. Air rifles PCP or Spring type of calibers 0.177, 0.2 and 0.22 only.

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6.2 Rests all commercially available except one piece rest that support both front
forearm and buttock in the same arrangement. Windage adjustment can only be
used on front rest. Rest must not be clamped to the bench or to the air rifle.

6.3 Wind flags can be utilized. Flags must be no higher than level of bench top to
bottom of target. Shooters must place wind flags in position before match begins.
Wind flags cannot be moved or taken down until match is over. If a flag is in a
shooter’s line of sight, the RO will lay the flag on the ground. This must be done
before commence fire.
6.4 Standard A/R Class specification: No Weight limit – No limit magnification
and max power of 15ftlbs. Distance 25 yards.
6.5 Unlimited A/R Class specification: No Weight limit – No magnification limit
and max power over 15 ftlbs. Distance 50 meters.
6.6 Rear Sand Bags - Rear rest must be a sand bag with no adjustable or
mechanical means. Sand bags must be made of leather and/or cloth. Only sand
bag can touch sides and bottom of stock. Front and/or rear. Spacers may be
placed under the rear rest to attain elevation, a block of wood measuring a
maximum of 6” x 6” x 2” may be used. A coin, bearing, or similar device may be
placed under the rear leg of the front rest to facilitate smooth operation of
mechanical elevation. The block of wood cannot be connected to the bench.
6.7 Shooters can use a Bipod for a front rest if required in all classes.

7. Course of Fire
7.1 Generally 25 record shots at 25 yards or 50 M with a time limit for Matches of
maximum 30 minutes.

8. Eligibility of Competitors
8.1 No competitor may be required to be a member of any organization in order to
compete in open matches held by MAAC.
8.2 However they must be a Member of a Shooting Club which have submitted an
application of participation and has settled with MAAC the match or championship
fee. The competitor must have TS-B and insurance policy and the air rifle/s are
registered under his TS-B license.
8.3 MAAC Administrative can deny the opportunity to compete to any person who
they feel does not comply with the above, or incapable of safely completing the
match, or to any person who violates Safety or
Sportsmanship rules. The VSR Range Directors decision is final; there are no
rights to Appeal.

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9. Safety
9.1 The MAAC Range Officer or Club Officials will be responsible to see that
appropriate safety precautions are taken.

9.2 It is expected that the Match Director and MAAC ARBR Rep and all
competitors will exercise their best judgment to keep our sport safe for all that
participate.
9.3 The Range Officer to go over basic safety rules if appropriate before a match if
there is any question that anyone in attendance may not be familiar with the rules
in effect at that range
9.4 MAAC Range & Safety rules and ARBR Match Procedures will apply.
9.5 All persons are required to be in complete control both mentally and physically
during MAAC matches. The regulations of the Worldwide Anti-Doping Code (best
practices models written by the World Anti-Doping Agency – A.M.A.) completely
apply to all the people and all the competitions taking place under the authority of
the MAAC.

10. Sportsmanship
10.1 There shall be no foolish conduct on, or near, the firing line during the firing of
any match.
10.2 Everyone should treat all shooters as they would like to be treated if they
were about to shoot a new record score.

11.Targets
11.1 Only Official ERABSF targets to be used these consist of twenty-five (25)
record bulls and six (6) sighter bulls with best edge (inward) scoring.
11.2 The targets are A3 printed on 130gsm or higher quality paper.
11.3 There is a separate lined box between the sighter bulls and the record bulls.
All shots to the right of this area count for record.
11.4 Any number of shots may be fired into the sighter bulls. If the first shot
impacts in the record area, you must notify the Range Officer (before firing another
shot) who will inspect the target
and make note that the shot will not be counted.
11.5 There are different targets for the 25 yard and 50 M matches.
On 25 yard targets the six ring is black to aid sighting, all other rings are white with
black-line borders. The central X ring is 2 mm in diameter; this is to be obliterated
to score a 10X. On 50M targets the 6 and 5 ring are black to aid in sighting, all
other rings are white with blackline borders. The central X ring is 1 mm in
diameter; this is to be obliterated to score a 10X.

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11.6 More the 25 shots on the record area carry -2 pints per extra shot from the
total score.
11.7 More then two shots on the same scoring targets will obtain the minimum
score -1 for that target.

12. Range Commands

12.1 The Range Officer will call competitors to the line at least five minutes before
the commence fire command is to be given, in order to allow rests and other
equipment to be set and adjusted.
12.2 Before the match the Range Officer will explain the procedure
that is in use.
12.3 The RO will explain also an emergency cease-fire procedure.
If an emergency cease-fire is called, the reason for such should be corrected, and
then the match should be restarted. The RO will stop the stop watch before calling
an emergency stop and will restart once this issue is settled. Two Blows mean
cease fire clear gun downrange into the ground and remove magazines. One
whistle blow will recommence match.
12.4 The Range Officer will announce a 15 minute, 10 minute, and 5 minute and
one-minute warnings before the end of each match (30 minutes).

13. Weighing Guns

13.1 Not applicable for Open Matches.

14. Air Rifle Power Check Procedure

14.1 Real Air Rifle power to be check before the match so there should be a
suitable chronograph system available at each event.
14.2 Each shooter will register the pellet type and weight and filling pressure.
The air cylinder must be filled at declared filling pressure before test, if the
cylinder does not have a gauge this must be filled before the official and
verified.
14.3 A sequence of 5 shot to be measured by a chronograph. As “effective power”
will be considered the speed media value noticed by the chronograph.
14.4 Determining power – We use the imperial system for determining power.
Imperial System ( 1ftlbs = 1.3558 J or 1J = 0.737 ftlbs)
Pellet weight (grains) X speed (Ft/s) X speed (Ft/s) X 0.0000022 = Ftlbs.

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Example Imperial.

Declared by shooter checked by officer.

Pellet Type and Weight: JSB Exact 0.177 Cal – 8.4 grain
Filling Pressure : 180Bar

Chronograph Data (Feet/sec)

Shot 1 : 800
Shot 2 : 805
Shot 3 : 812
Shot 4 : 804
Shot 5 : 812

Average ft/sec: 806.6

Power
8.4x806.6x806.6X0.0000022 = 12.02ftlbs
(12ftlbs is equivalent to 16.27 J)

For our classes

Standard A/R Class specification must be below 15ftlbs.
Unlimited A/R Class specification anything beyond 15ftlbs.

Note if a rifle registers more then 15ftlbs then it must be tuned down for entering
the Standard AR class otherwise it will compete in the Unlimited AR class.

14. 5 Rifle and/ or Equipment Conformity

In case of non conformity of rifles and equipment noticed by Weapons &
Equipment Check Officer(s), competitors do have the possibility to replace it or
adjust his / her rifle / equipment, but are only allowed up to 15 minutes before the
start of the relay / match.

It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure that all rules are understood and
clarity is sought if they are not.

The combined decision of the Director Sports Commission and ARBR Rep is final.

Random Check
Rifles & Equipment Check Officer(s) has the ability to verify rifles and equipment
on the firing line at any time during the competition, when firing is not taking place.

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If Officer(s) verify that any element of the equipment, already submitted to
preliminary control, are altered or replaced, the competitor will be
immediately disqualified for the whole match.

The check can be done on any of the following items.

Fill Pressure against that declared (At start or end of session or during a
refill).
Pellet weight (any time pellets can be taken and verified to declared weight)
Chronograph test. ( Any time if there is a doubt or protest.)

14. Bench Drawing

14.1 If necessary a drawing for bench assignments will be made before the first
match of the day. Any fair method shall be allowed.

15. Scoring
15.1 Best edge scoring will be used throughout all Matches.
15.2 If the hole breaks into the border of the next higher ring, the higher score will
be awarded.
15.3 Tears in the paper are not counted, only the portion of the hole the size of the
bullet.
15.4 If a bullet hole touches a line or X on the target bull, shooter receives the
highest point.
15.5 If a plug must be used, the letter (P) must be written on that shot’s square by
scorer.
15.6 Inner most ring counts as ten points, and each succeeding ring counts one
point less. Outer most ring counts as 5 points. The dot in the middle of the inner
most ring counts as an X, any hit that obliterates this dot counts as 10X.
15.7 If a shot is in a target square but misses the outer most ring (5) of the bull, the
score is zero.
15.8 Any shot touching target square’s inside or outside border lines will be
counted in that block as a zero.

15.9 A plug is to be used if visible determination cannot be made by scorer.

15.10 Any bullet hole that is between blocks shall be plugged. The block that
contains the majority of the bullet hole will count for that block as a zero.
15.11 If more than one shot appears in target square, shooter receives lowest
score minus one (1) point.
15.12 The perfect score: 250 and 25X’s.
15.13 If a competitor is disqualified for any reason, such as an equipment violation,
the score will be reported as "DQ".

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15.14 The MAAC ARBR Rep will report the reason for the DQ in the match results.
15.15 If a competitor does not finish their target in the allotted amount of time, the
score will be reported as "FTC" Failed to complete.

16 Tied Score
16.1 If two, or more, competitors shoot the same score, the X-count will be used to
break the tie.
16.2 If, after including the X-count, the scores are still tied, the next higher amount
of 10, 9,8,7,6 and 5 points will count to break the tie.
16.3 If both remain the same both are declared winners. MAAC will compensate
for that and reward both equally.

17. Crossfire
17.1 In case of a crossfire, if the person making the crossfire reports it first, or
admits to it immediately after it's being reported by the person whose target was
accidentally fired on, the crossfire will not be counted on the target that was
accidentally fired on. The shot will be recorded as if it had impacted on the target
of the person making the crossfire. Adjustment to the score of the person making
the crossfire, including both the score on that target and the number of shots on
the target, will be made, and additionally, a minus ten (-10) point penalty will be
added to the score of the person making the crossfire.
17.2 If the crossfire impacts a bull on which a legitimate shot has also been fired,
and it is not possible to determine which shot belongs to which shooter, the
highest scoring hole will be counted for the legitimate shot, and the lowest scoring
hole will be counted as the crossfire.

18. Stocks Clarification

18.1 Not applicable for Open ARBR Matches.

19. MAAC ARBR Championships.

19.1 All ERABSF Rules and Regulations apply for MAAC ARBR Championships
Only. This includes classes and equipment specifications.
19.2 These rules are intended for ARBR Open Matches only.

MAAC-2008