This page details specific procedures required at the Quigley Match. Shooter acknowledgement of the procedures and confirmation of compliance will be part of the registration process for the match. Shooters are required to register prior to any practice on the range.
Rules
There are only two rules at the Quigley Match:
#1 Have Fun!
#2 Be Safe following Rule #1!
However, there is also a list of procedures that match participants need to follow to make the match work efficiently.
#1 Have Fun!
#2 Be Safe following Rule #1!
However, there is also a list of procedures that match participants need to follow to make the match work efficiently.
Safety
- Always follow the basic rules of firearms safety.
- Everyone at the Quigley Match is a safety officer and responsible for correcting observed unsafe actions.
- All uncased rifles off the firing line must have the action open and have either an empty chamber indicator or blow tube inserted in the chamber.
- Rifles must be on the cross sticks when a cartridge is chambered.
- Off-hand stands must be used when shooting the off-hand target by all participants.
- All antique and vintage rifles need to be inspected for mechanical issues by a qualified individual.
- Smokeless powder is allowed for modern reproduction rifles using safe published data. No over- powder wads are allowed if using a double-base powder (over-powder wads are cotton or Dacron or similar wads pushed down into the cartridge case over the powder column with the intention of holding the powder column tight against the primer and leaving an air space between the over-powder wad and the base of the bullet or card wad at the base of the bullet). If you don’t know if your powder is double-base, check the manufacturer’s website and find the Material Safety Data Sheet for the powder.
- No side arms are allowed regardless of being part of your period outfit.
- The firing line will be cleared in case of lightning detection within 8 miles of the match site. Take shelter in vehicles and/or campers.
- Before shooting on the range, look to confirm there is no 'range closed' sign displayed at the firing point and ensure the red range flag is up to signify the range is open.
Procedures
Course of Fire
Shooter Organization
Shooting Procedures
The target line is set up to allow one squad to shoot a target for score while the next squad is setting up and preparing to shoot. Be on line and ready to shoot with your squad (your responsibility). Only shooters and spotters can be on the line. All others will be behind the road. Each shooter of a squad takes a shot on the target in rotation until 8 shots have been fired and scored. There are no sighter shots during the match. When your name is called be ready to take your shot. Do not 'wait for your conditions.' VARIABLE CONDITIONS FROM SHOT TO SHOT ARE PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUIGLEY. The scorekeeper will call "target hit" or "miss" based on radio feedback. In cases where a radio is not working the call will be based on spotter input. Listen for the call and if you have a disagreement settle it then where other spotters can help based on their observation. Spotters other than for the disputing shooter will provide input. At the conclusion of the final shot on target the scorekeeper will call the total number of hits for each shooter. Again, if you don't agree settle it immediately. After the squad leaves the line the score is final. Shooters that hit all eight shots on a target during the match will receive an "eight-straight" hat pin award from the scorekeeper.
If you are late for a target with your squad, the shooting and scoring will begin without you. You may set up and notify the scorekeeper when you are ready to join the rotation. Firing will not be delayed to wait for you to get ready. Previous shots will be scored as misses and can not be made up. In case of mechanical failure, if you can make repairs before your group has completed the target you will be allowed to make up the missed shots. In case of total failure you are allowed to borrow another rifle to compete in the rest of the match.
Off-Hand Target
Painting and Closing of the Firing Line
Three blasts of the air horn indicates the range is closing. The squads currently shooting a target will complete all rounds for that target and then move behind the range road, taking all guns and ammo with them. When all groups are behind the road the range flag will be dropped and painters will proceed downrange. A single blast on the air horn reopens the range. Painting will be done as each new group arrives on target #4 (Diamond). Because of varying shooting times for different groups the result should be random painting times to prevent any one group from having consistently fresh painted targets. DIRTY TARGETS ARE PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUIGLEY. Expect that your spotter will not always be able to tell you where your hits are.
Closing the line for weather delays will be the same. In case of lightning in the area the air horn will sound five times. Take cover in your vehicles as the best protection available. One very long blast indicates an emergency situation where all shooters cease firing and move behind the firing line for further instructions.
Other Items
The match will start with a mandatory shooter's meeting in the headquarters area at 8:30 AM on Saturday. The match will resume at 9 AM on Sunday morning with shooters on the firing line of their next target. The first squad to shoot on Sunday will be squad #6 so that squad #1 doesn't get fresh targets to start both days of the match.
Starting targets for each group will be posted in the headquarters area Saturday morning to facilitate sighting in for each day's targets.
Please don't use family radios to communicate during the match. All radio channels are being used for target frequencies.
Back rests can be used only by shooters with medical conditions that could not participate otherwise.
Tie scores are broken by most hits off-hand then by most hits at the longest targets. If there is a complete tie for the match championship, it will be broken by a sudden death shoot off on the off-hand target. All other complete ties will be broken by a coin toss.
Please allow scorekeepers to move to the head of the food line at concessions to facilitate their return to the firing line.
Bore wipers pick up your cleaning patches at the completion of each target. Don't make someone else clean up your mess. That applies during practice and sighting in, too.
- The match consists of six 'gong' targets at ranges from 805 to 350 yards. Five targets are shot from the sitting cross-stick position (no prone allowed). The 350 yard target is fired from an off-hand position. There are eight shots for score on each target with no sighters during the match for a total of 48 shots for score with no sighters over the course of two days.
Shooter Organization
- Shooters will be organized into twelve shooting groups designated with a letter and a color (e.g. C Red). Each group will have a range officer and a scorekeeper. Each group will be further broken down into 6-person squads. Shooters will stay in the same groups and squads for the entire match and rotate from target to target as a group shooting on the line of the appropriate color at each target. There are two identical targets at each firing station, one to be shot by the red group and the other to be shot by the yellow group. Target rotation is to the right to the next higher target number. After the off-hand target rotate back to the #1 Target (Buffalo). Four targets will be fired the first day and two targets the second day. If match participation exceed 650 shooters then three targets may be fired each day to insure adequate daylight for the final target on Saturday.
- You will be assigned a group when you register for the match. You will be assigned to a specific squad by scorekeepers during the squadding process on Friday afternoon from 1-5 in the headquarters area. Have an idea who you want to shoot with to facilitate the squadding process.
Shooting Procedures
The target line is set up to allow one squad to shoot a target for score while the next squad is setting up and preparing to shoot. Be on line and ready to shoot with your squad (your responsibility). Only shooters and spotters can be on the line. All others will be behind the road. Each shooter of a squad takes a shot on the target in rotation until 8 shots have been fired and scored. There are no sighter shots during the match. When your name is called be ready to take your shot. Do not 'wait for your conditions.' VARIABLE CONDITIONS FROM SHOT TO SHOT ARE PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUIGLEY. The scorekeeper will call "target hit" or "miss" based on radio feedback. In cases where a radio is not working the call will be based on spotter input. Listen for the call and if you have a disagreement settle it then where other spotters can help based on their observation. Spotters other than for the disputing shooter will provide input. At the conclusion of the final shot on target the scorekeeper will call the total number of hits for each shooter. Again, if you don't agree settle it immediately. After the squad leaves the line the score is final. Shooters that hit all eight shots on a target during the match will receive an "eight-straight" hat pin award from the scorekeeper.
If you are late for a target with your squad, the shooting and scoring will begin without you. You may set up and notify the scorekeeper when you are ready to join the rotation. Firing will not be delayed to wait for you to get ready. Previous shots will be scored as misses and can not be made up. In case of mechanical failure, if you can make repairs before your group has completed the target you will be allowed to make up the missed shots. In case of total failure you are allowed to borrow another rifle to compete in the rest of the match.
Off-Hand Target
- There are four targets at the off-hand target station. Each group will split at the off-hand target with squads 1-5 on one target and squads 6-10 on another. If you are in squad six you will be shooting right away and not waiting for the first five squads to shoot before you take your turn. There are additional scorekeepers at the off-hand target.
- Small Fry shooters may use cross-sticks on the off-hand target. They do not compete for the Youth trophy because of this advantage. A Youth shooter who is small and unable to handle a rifle off-hand may elect to use cross-sticks but will be scored a zero for the off-hand target.
Painting and Closing of the Firing Line
Three blasts of the air horn indicates the range is closing. The squads currently shooting a target will complete all rounds for that target and then move behind the range road, taking all guns and ammo with them. When all groups are behind the road the range flag will be dropped and painters will proceed downrange. A single blast on the air horn reopens the range. Painting will be done as each new group arrives on target #4 (Diamond). Because of varying shooting times for different groups the result should be random painting times to prevent any one group from having consistently fresh painted targets. DIRTY TARGETS ARE PART OF THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUIGLEY. Expect that your spotter will not always be able to tell you where your hits are.
Closing the line for weather delays will be the same. In case of lightning in the area the air horn will sound five times. Take cover in your vehicles as the best protection available. One very long blast indicates an emergency situation where all shooters cease firing and move behind the firing line for further instructions.
Other Items
The match will start with a mandatory shooter's meeting in the headquarters area at 8:30 AM on Saturday. The match will resume at 9 AM on Sunday morning with shooters on the firing line of their next target. The first squad to shoot on Sunday will be squad #6 so that squad #1 doesn't get fresh targets to start both days of the match.
Starting targets for each group will be posted in the headquarters area Saturday morning to facilitate sighting in for each day's targets.
Please don't use family radios to communicate during the match. All radio channels are being used for target frequencies.
Back rests can be used only by shooters with medical conditions that could not participate otherwise.
Tie scores are broken by most hits off-hand then by most hits at the longest targets. If there is a complete tie for the match championship, it will be broken by a sudden death shoot off on the off-hand target. All other complete ties will be broken by a coin toss.
Please allow scorekeepers to move to the head of the food line at concessions to facilitate their return to the firing line.
Bore wipers pick up your cleaning patches at the completion of each target. Don't make someone else clean up your mess. That applies during practice and sighting in, too.
