Time Limits

Preparation Period - Competitors:  In all cases, including refires, competitors will be given a 3 minute preparation time to take their places on the firing point and make ready to fire after the firing point has been cleared by the preceding competitor.

All targets will be cleaned and visible during this time.

Dry firing is permitted.  No ammunition is to be loaded, in any way, into the rifle.  There is to be no sighting shots permitted during this time.

After the expiration of the preparation period, the targets will go down, signalling to the shooter that the period is over.  There will be NO further time given to the shooter before the string starts.

The targets should reappear within 1 minute for the start of the next phase (sighters, record string, etc).

Sighter Period ^{Refer to Definitions}
When a sighter period is given, typically before a rapid or snap fire string, then the targets will be available to shooters for the whole prescribed time irrespective of how quickly the sighter shots are fired.

Timing is typically 1 minute per sighting shot, i.e. 2 sighters = 2 minutes, etc.

Where sighters precede a slow fire period, the sighter period is simply added to the string time.  Example, 2 sighting shots plus 10 record shots = 2 + 10 minutes to total a 12 minute period (for sighters and record string).

Unless otherwise stated, by course of fire or event, sighters are generally permitted when there is a:
     - change of target,
     - change of position,
     - change of distance,
or there was a stoppage of the match.  As an example, a match consisting of 2 strings that is being shot in 1 visit to the line would have no sighters between the 1st and 2nd string, provided the shooting position, distance or target is unchanged.  If the 2 strings will be shot over 2 visits to the line (perhaps pit change in between), 2 sighters would be allowed before the 2nd string.

String Time – Slow Fire ^{Refer to Definitions}
Strings equate to approx 1 minute per shot, unless otherwise stated.  For a 2 sighter and 10 scoring shot match, a maximum of 12 minutes is allowed.  Likewise, a 2 sighter and 20 shot match will have a limit of 22 minutes.

Note:  There is NO stopping between the sighters and business/record shots.

String Time – Rapid Fire ^{Refer to Definitions}
Rapid fire strings typically follow a sighter period, depending on the match program.

After the sighting period is complete, the targets are pulled and cleaned out ready for the match.  The cleaning of the targets for the match must be done as quickly as possible (eg 10 seconds).

Rapid strings should follow within 1 minute after the completion of the sighter period.

Targets should start from the half mast position to show that the target crew are ready to commence the string.

Where multiple target exposures are given (such as the AMC), targets should be in the fully off or fully down position between exposures.

String times depend on the course of fire, but typically 200yards is 60 seconds, and 300 yards is 70 seconds.  Timing starts from the last target up, and never should time be insufficient (insufficient times will incur a range alibi resulting in a complete refire).

Notes:
- For rifles with optical sights, and an internal magazine that needs to be loaded 1 (single) round at a time, a 10 second time extension will be given if requested.

- Every effort should be made to equally bring all targets UP together.

String Time – Snap Fire ^{Refer to Definitions}
Snap fire strings typically follow a sighter period, depending on the match program.

After the sighting period is complete, the targets are pulled and cleaned out ready for the match.  The cleaning of the targets for the match must be done as quickly as possible (eg 10 seconds).

Snap strings should follow within 1 minute after the completion of the sighter period.

Targets should start from the "off" of fully down position (depends on range equipment and infrastructure).  The method used should be that which offers the most consistent exposure to shooters.

Target should be in the fully off or fully down position between exposures.

String times depend on the course of fire, but typically, as a guide:

   - Single snap - 0 to 400m, 3 seconds, 5-15 between exposure.
   - Single snap - greater than above, 4 seconds, 5-15 between exposure.

   - Double snap - 0 to 400m, 6 seconds, 5-15 between exposure.
   - Double snap - greater than above, 8 seconds, 5-15 between exposure.

Timing starts from the last target up, and never should time be insufficient (insufficient times will incur a range alibi resulting in a complete refire).

Notes:
- There will be no addition exposure time for rifle types, however consideration should be given to those with 5 round magazines during double snap strings.

- Every effort should be made to equally bring all targets UP together.