Here are recent questions about USPSA rules that don’t seem to be well understood or may need some further explanation.
POOR RANGE COMMANDS
This can be anything from skipping a range command (“Standby” is often left out) to saying something extraneous in the middle of issuing range commands. The specific example was saying “wait” after “Standby” and before the start signal. If that’s what has occurred, you can move out of the start position and speak to the Range Officer about it or just don’t start when the timer goes off. The word “react” is used in the rules, but reacting can be anything, such as turning and looking at the Range Officer or asking them to start over so they will (hopefully) get it right. Making your attempt at the course of fire—either by drawing your gun or by drawing and firing—is the key thing.
Once you’ve made your attempt at the course, there is no reshoot for incorrect range commands or short-interval start signals—even if you didn’t get the exact range commands, you made your attempt and thus accepted the conditions. If this happens and it bothers you, you should not draw your gun; instead, speak to the Range Officer about getting the range commands right.
The same is true with start signals that are too short or too long in coming. While the rules do say “should” for the start signal to be given within one to four seconds, a very short interval between Standby and the start signal throws people off. An overlong interval can have the same effect. Most Range Officers realize they have made this error and restart the competitor from “Are You Ready” after they’ve stopped them and ensured everything is still all right. Nothing in the rules says you must draw your gun and shoot at the start signal, especially if there is a good reason for not doing so.
Range Officers need to strive for consistency in range commands and start signals to ensure a level playing field for all competitors. As competitors, you have a right to correct range commands and start signals, so don’t be afraid to speak up.
REPLACEMENT BACK STRAPS
We’ve recently received numerous inquiries about aftermarket replacement back straps, mostly for Glock handguns, but also for a few other models. Unfortunately, while original firearm manufacturer (OFM) backstraps can be replaced and interchanged, USPSA rules prohibit the use of aftermarket backstraps in Production and Carry Optics divisions.
See Appendix D4, 22.2, Appendix D7, 21.4, and Special Condition number five: Non-OFM grip modifications (addition or removal of material) that provide function, such as a beavertail or thumb rest, are prohibited. Revolver grips may be replaced with grips of any shape, profile or texture. Adding or removing material to change the profile of revolver grips is allowed.
We are working to adjust this rule to allow aftermarket back strap replacements, but this change will require rules committee work and USPSA Board approval. This will probably not be in effect until next year.
NROI CURRENT PROJECTS
We are working on a Match Director certification, planned for release by the end of the first quarter. This will be like the Range Master program, but with less mentoring. We do not presently anticipate charging for this certification, and we plan to make portions of it available to the general membership as a Match Director advisory document.
International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) endorsement is also planned for the end of the first quarter, dependent on any major IPSC rule changes or alterations to the International Range Officers Association (IROA) instructional model. IROA is responsible for training materials for IPSC range officers, but this training does not confer IROA status.
Form C Survey and post-match reporting are also in the works. These will allow match directors, range masters, staff and competitors to provide an after-action report on any given match, offering information we can use to improve training. It will also help identify any holes in the rules or NROI training materials, as well as the sanctioning process for Level II and above matches.
The March 2026 version of the USPSA Competition rules, the Steel Challenge Shooting Association rules and the Rifle, Shotgun and Multigun rules are all available for PDF download and can now be ordered through Amazon. The USPSA app has been updated as well and NROI has updated its training materials accordingly.
NROI SEMINARS
Including both completed and requested seminars, we presently have 58 on the books for 2026. It looks like we are on pace to break last year’s record of 92. If you want to schedule a seminar, please do so as soon as possible. The shooting season and the weather are both warming up, so demand may soon outpace supply. Visit the USPSA website to learn how to host and schedule a seminar.
NROI currently has in-person seminar training available for Level I Range Officer, Level II Chief Range Officer and Steel Challenge Range Officer. Free endorsement training for already certified range officers is available through both Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) and Multigun. This will add an endorsement to your profile in the discipline(s) you choose.
If you’re mainly interested in Steel Challenge competition, I recommend the Steel Challenge Range Officer (SCRO) seminar; if you are already USPSA Range Officer-certified, the endorsement is the way to go. SCSA endorsements can be ported over to a standalone SCRO certification upon request, but you must have both a Range Officer or Chief Range Officer certification and the SCSA endorsement to make that happen.
One caveat: if you are NROI Range Officer-certified and pass the SCRO seminar, your Range Officer certification will be removed and your profile will show SCRO only. Likewise, if you are SCRO-certified and pass the Range Officer seminar, your SCSA certification will go away. Note that this isn’t irreversible, but it will require an email to me at [email protected] to correct it if you wish to keep both.
Article from the March/April 2026 issue of USPSA’s magazine.
