IPSC RULES question 'Gear Distance'

Avenida

Avenida

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
62   0   1
I have been recently 'questioned' :) by one of the ROs at one IPSC match, apparently my holster was illegal because it is literally 5MM too far from my torso...

The measurements were taken from the middle/left face of the grip/right hand shooter, towards my torso, and the card used touches my belt but not my torso if the measurements are taken from this point ( see the link to the pictures below).

I did not argue, and I was not given any 'penalty points' due to this but I did receive a warning by one of the RO -I have to fix it otherwise in the next match...'.

Once this was pointed out a few other ROs started discussing about this and they all seemed to agreed that my gear was illegal although we could not find the rule in the book that indicated how the measurement should be taken.

So I went back home, disassembled my holster and changed the drop off set that I was using for a different one that is shorter and closer to me: there is no way in this life that I will be able, with a drop off set, to have my gear closer than 50mm+ if the measurements are taken from the middle of the grip, like the folks at this match were doing .

If you measure from any other part of the gun, it is ok.

So I went to the rule book, and, I found the section on the book that talks about gear distance, and it seems that it does not indicate that the measurement should be taken from the middle of the grip like the were doing. The book only talks about 'EQUIPMENT' and 'TORSO'. There is no reference as to where from the measurement should be taken, nonetheless, the RO at the match picked the farthest distance possible from my gun to the belt, which seemed very odd to me.

I am confused simply because I did not get a proper response at the match and I was not shown the rule in the rule book although we had one on site, so I have decided to bring the topic here to hear a couple opinions.

I don't want to shoot a match and run into this scenario again, and would like to take the necessary steps to fix my gear if it needs to be.

With that being said, I still got 3rd place in production at the match... So much for the psychological war eh? :popCorn::popCorn::popCorn::popCorn::popCorn:
:)

Photos of my gear to torso distance clicking here
 
Rule 5.2.5 has been discussed at length. It's the closest distance between the competitor’s torso and the center of the longest dimension of the handgun grip. Based on the picture, you look over to me too.
 
If the same piece of equipment can be within the rules on one person, and outside of the rules on another, due to their weight difference.....the rule is stupid. If the equipment is good to go one person it should be good for all.
 
pmt said:
If the same piece of equipment can be within the rules on one person, and outside of the rules on another, due to their weight difference.....the rule is stupid. If the equipment is good to go one person it should be good for all.
Click to expand...

Cant say as I agree, to be fair the distance between grip and body must be the same regardless of body type. If it was measured 50mm from the belt there could a huge gap on a thin person and could touch the body on a large person.
 
xldbldbl said:
Cant say as I agree, to be fair the distance between grip and body must be the same regardless of body type. If it was measured 50mm from the belt there could a huge gap on a thin person and could touch the body on a large person.
Click to expand...

To be fair, a Blade-Tech DOH, or any other brand of holster, that is generally accepted in any division should not be cause to have a person warned, penalized, or bumped, based on the shape or size of a persons body.
 
pmt said:
To be fair, a Blade-Tech DOH, or any other brand of holster, that is generally accepted in any division should not be cause to have a person warned, penalized, or bumped, based on the shape or size of a persons body.
Click to expand...

So tell me how its "fair" if a small competitor had a 4 inch gap between his body and the grip and using the same set up the grip was embedded in the love handles of a large competitor. A competitor buys a belt that fits him, a grip/gun that fits him, then buy a holster/adapter that also fits, its just that simple.


That being said, common sense must also be used, if a competitor is so thin that the gap is more than the allowed min when using a flush holster with no offset then there is no option to adjust it closer. As the rule states some competitors my not be able to comply.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for sharing this, I did a search (not properly apparently) and missed it.

IT seems a very common issue, wonder why this rule has not been somehow modified to be a bit more specific.

I guess I am going to have to remove the offset.


VanMan said:
here's a prior thread on the Bladtech DOH holsters. There was a lot of confusion on how the measurement was to be made. There's some good pic's in the thread showing how the 50mm should be measured.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1410688-Bladetech-DOH-IPSC-compliance
Click to expand...
 
Heat the offset and bend it (bladetech) , instead of having muzzle of the gun at an angle towards your leg, it will simply point straight down.

If you just remove offset, gun will be higher and draws will be slower
 
pmt said:
To be fair, a Blade-Tech DOH, or any other brand of holster, that is generally accepted in any division should not be cause to have a person warned, penalized, or bumped, based on the shape or size of a persons body.
Click to expand...
As I said in the other thread, nobody should be getting bumped, penalized or warned based on 5.2.5. If you're not in compliance, you get to re-adjust and the RO shouldn't start you until you do.
 
Last edited:
MartyK2500 said:
Heat the offset and bend it (bladetech) , instead of having muzzle of the gun at an angle towards your leg, it will simply point straight down.

If you just remove offset, gun will be higher and draws will be slower
Click to expand...
The bladetech will comply with 5.2.5 for all but he thinnest shooter. The OP was not wearing a Bladetech
 
A general word of advise when dealing with ROs
Don't be the guy who asks what the rules are. Be the guy who knows the rules and can show how you're in compliance. A rule book in your range bag can be a handy thing.
 
From looking at the picture. You don't need to move the whole gun.

You just need to reduce the outward cant by a few degrees.

Try adding a couple of washers under the lower attachment point.
Make it so the barrel points straight down. Not pointing towards your leg.
 
This topic has been beat to death on Global Village, and even Vince is stating the measurement has leway. If RO's have nothing better to do we have problems.
 
I tried all combinations, bending it seems like an option but honestly, trying today the regular setup without the offset, I did not notice any differences in my time, which are 1.2 to 1.5 seconds draw/fire.
So what the heck, I am going to leave it like that for now. Nonetheless, this whole thing seems silly to me, I understand what they are coming from but being off by maybe 5mm, I really don't want to spend my energy debating this with a RO, I want to go and have fun at a match.

Sigh...

Thanks for all the feedback.
 
Last edited:
Well I had washers in my DOH but was still over the 50mm limit so I heated up the DOH attachment and tried to bend it a few hours ago. Maybe it wasn't hot enough but now I have two pieces of DOH attachment....great!!

Wondering if it is worth replacing or just mounting the holster directly to my belt with the Tec Lock attachment. Bah!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom