The Handgun Divisions List


Open Division

1 Minimum power factor for Major 160
2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125
3 Minimum bullet weight 120 grain for major
4 Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748")
5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major No
6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No
7 Maximum handgun size No
8 Maximum magazine length 170mm (see Appendix E1)
9 Maximum ammunition capacity No
10 Max. distance of handgun and allied equipment from torso 50mm
11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies No
12 Optical/electronic sights Yes
13 Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash suppressors Yes

 
Special conditions:

  1. Ammunition which fails to meet the minimum bullet weight above, but which chronographs at Major power factor, will be treated as unsafe and must be withdrawn (see Rule 5.5.6). If the weight of the first bullet weighed under Rule 5.6.3.3 fails to meet the minimum bullet weight required for Major power factor, Rule 5.6.3.6 will apply, and a second bullet will be weighed as a final and definitive bullet weight test.

Standard Division

1 Minimum power factor for Major 170
2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125
3 Minimum bullet weight No
4 Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748")
5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major 10mm (0.40"), see below
6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No
7 Maximum handgun size Yes, see below
8 Maximum magazine length Yes, see below
9 Maximum ammunition capacity No
10 Max. distance of handgun and allied equipment from torso 50mm (see Rule 5.2.5)
11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes
12 Optical/electronic sights No
13 Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash suppressors No, see below

 
Special conditions:

  1. A handgun in its ready condition (See Section 8.1), but unloaded and with an empty magazine inserted or empty cylinder closed, must fit wholly within the confines of a box which has internal dimensions of 225mm x 150mm x 45mm (tolerance of +1 mm, -0 mm). Note that all magazines must comply.

  2. The handgun is placed inside the box (and ultimately removed) by the competitor with the slide (or revolver barrel) parallel to the longest side of the box. Rear adjustable sights may be slightly depressed, but the slide must be fully forward, and all other features of the handgun, (e.g. collapsible and/or folding sights, slide rackers, thumb rests, grips etc.), must be fully extended or deployed when the gun is seated inside the box. Additionally, telescoping magazines and/or magazines with compressible base pads are expressly prohibited.

  3. Only porting of barrels is prohibited. Slides may be ported.

  4. 357SIG is also an approved caliber for Major, subject to achieving the applicable minimum power factor.This concession has been extended until 31 December 2017.

Classic Division

1 Minimum power factor for Major 170
2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125
3 Minimum bullet weight No
4 Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748")
5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major 10mm (0.40"), see below
6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix E4) No
7 Maximum handgun size Yes, see below
8 Maximum magazine length Yes, see below
9 Maximum ammunition capacity Yes, see below
10 Max. distance of handgun and allied equipment from torso 50mm (see Rule 5.2.5)
11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes
12 Optical/electronic sights No
13 Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash suppressors No

 
Special conditions:

  1. A handgun in its ready condition (see Section 8.1), but unloaded and with an empty magazine inserted, must fit wholly within the confines of a box which has internal dimensions of 225mm x 150mm x 45 mm (tolerance of +1 mm, -0 mm). Note that all magazines must comply.

  2. The handgun is placed inside the box (and ultimately removed) by the competitor with the slide parallel to the longest side of the box. Rear adjustable sights may be slightly depressed during insertion but the slide must be fully forward when the gun is seated inside the box.

  3. Handguns must be based on and visibly resemble the classic 1911-genre design. This means a single-stack, one piece metal frame, slide with stirrup cuts, and a dust cover (with or without an accessory rail) which has a maximum length of 75mm when measured from the leading edge of the dust cover to the rear of the slide stop pin.

    1. Magazine wells cannot exceed a maximum outside width of 35mm. Compliance is checked by way of a 35mm wide, and at least 5mm deep, notch carved into the outside of the box, or by use of a ruler or caliper, as approved by the officiating Range Master.

  4. Prohibited modifications/parts are slide lightening cuts, weak hand thumb rests and slide rackers.

  5. Permitted modifications are shaped slides (flat-top, tri-top etc.), shaped trigger guards (squared, undercut etc.), bob-tail backstraps, bull or coned barrels, external extractors, finger-grooves (machined, add-on, wrap-around etc.), custom magazine release buttons, triggers, hammers, single/ambidextrous thumb safeties, any open sights (which may be embedded into the slide), and extended slide lock levers and thumb shields provided they do not act as a thumb rest.

    1. Other modifications permitted include those of a cosmetic nature (e.g. custom grip panels, scrimshaw or similar surface engravings, checkering, serrations etc.).

  6. Magazines accessible to a competitor during a COF must not contain more than 8 rounds (for Major power factor) or 10 rounds (for Minor power factor) at the Start Signal.

  7. 357SIG is also an approved caliber for Major, subject to achieving the applicable minimum power factor. This concession expires 31 December 2017.

Production Division

1 Minimum power factor for Major Not applicable
2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125
3 Minimum bullet weight No
4 Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748")
5 Minimum bullet caliber for Major Not applicable
6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix F2) 2.27 kg (5lbs) for first shot
7 Maximum handgun size Maximum barrel length 127mm
8 Maximum magazine length No
9 Maximum ammunition capacity Yes, see below
10 Max. distance of handgun and allied equipment from torso 50mm (see Rule 5.2.5)
11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies Yes
12 Optical/electronic sights No
13 Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash suppressors No

 
Special conditions:

  1. Only handguns listed as approved on the IPSC website may be used in Production Division. Note that handguns deemed by IPSC to be single-action-only are expressly prohibited. The official IPSC protocol used to measure barrel length is described in Appendix E4b.

  2. Handguns with external hammers must be fully decocked. (see Rule 8.1.2.5) at the start signal. First shot attempted must be double action. Competitors in this Division who, after the issuance of the start signal and prior to attempting the first shot, cock the hammer on a handgun which has a loaded chamber, will incur one procedural penalty per occurrence. Note that a procedural penalty will not be assessed in respect of courses of fire where the ready condition requires the competitor to prepare the handgun with an empty chamber. In these cases, the competitor may fire the first shot single action.

  3. Original parts and components offered by the OFM as standard equipment, or as an option, for a specific model handgun on the IPSC approved handgun list are permitted, subject to the following:

    1. Modifications to them, other than minor detailing (the removal of burrs and/or adjustments unavoidably required in order to fit replacement OFM parts or components), are prohibited. Other prohibited modifications include those which facilitate faster reloading (e.g. flared, enlarged and/or add-on magwells, etc.), changing the original color and/or finish of a handgun, and/or adding stripes, stippling or other embellishments.

    2. Magazines accessible to a competitor during a COF must not contain more that than 15 rounds at the Start Signal. Identifying marks or decals, internal capacity limiters, bumper pads and additional witness holes, which add or remove negligible weight to/from magazines, are permitted.

    3. Sights may be trimmed, adjusted and/or have colors applied. Sights may also be fitted with fiber optic or similar inserts.

  4. Aftermarket parts, components and accessories are prohibited, except as follows:

    1. Aftermarket magazines are permitted, subject to 16.2 above.

    2. Aftermarket open sights (see Rule 5.1.3.1) are permitted, provided their installation and/or adjustment requires no alteration to the handgun.

    3. Aftermarket grip panels which match the profile and countours of the OFM standard or optional grip panels for the approved handgun and/or the application of tape on grips (see Appendix E3a) are permitted, However, rubber sleeves are prohibited.

Revolver Division

1 Minimum power factor for Major 170
2 Minimum power factor for Minor 125
3 Minimum bullet weight No
4 Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length 9mm (0.354") / 19mm (0.748")
5 Minimum caliber for Major No
6 Minimum trigger pull (see Appendix F2) No
7 Maximum handgun size No
8 Maximum magazine length Not applicable
9 Maximum ammunition capacity No, see below
10 Max. distance of handgun and allied equipment from torso 50mm (see Rule 5.2.5)
11 Rule 5.2.10 / Appendix E2 applies No
12 Optical/electronic sights No
13 Compensators, ports, sound and/or flash suppressors No

 
Special conditions:

  1. No limit on cylinder capacity. A maximum of 6 rounds to be fired before reloading. Violations will incur one procedural penalty for each shot in excess of 6 rounds actually fired before reloading.

  2. "Self-loading" revolvers with retractable slides are prohibited in this Division.