Centerfire · Handgun
Handgun
Where practical shooting began. Varied courses, paper and steel targets, at most 32 rounds on a long course.
In short
The gun is carried in a holster securely attached to the belt that prevents access to the trigger. Holster and magazine pouches stay in place from stage to stage unless the briefing or a Range Officer says otherwise.
The minimum calibre is 9×19 mm in every division. Only Open and Revolver allow Major with a 9 mm bullet; Standard and Classic need at least 10 mm or .357 SIG for Major, and Production, Production Optics and Optics are scored Minor only.
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Holster at the waist
The belt with holster and pouches is worn at waist level; women may also wear it at hip level.
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The IPSC box
In Standard and Classic the gun, magazine inserted, must fit a 225 × 150 × 45 mm box.
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The Production list
Production and Production Optics only accept stock pistols on the official IPSC list.
Divisions
Everyone shoots the same courses; standings are worked out per division. Pick a division to see its rules.
Handgun
Open
The “Formula 1” of handguns: optics, compensators and magazines up to 170 mm. The only division with a minimum bullet weight for Major, 120 grains.
- Minimum power factor, Major 160
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight 120 gr, for Major
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major No restriction
- Minimum trigger pull No restriction
- Maximum gun size No restriction
- Maximum magazine length 170 mm
- Maximum capacity No restriction
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone No
- Optical or electronic sights Yes
- Compensators, ports, suppressors Yes
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle Yes
Handgun
Standard
Any handgun that fits the IPSC box with any of its magazines inserted. No optics or compensators; Major from 10 mm up or with .357 SIG.
- Minimum power factor, Major 170
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major 10 mm (.40); also .357 SIG
- Minimum trigger pull No restriction
- Maximum gun size IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm
- Maximum magazine length IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm
- Maximum capacity No restriction
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone Yes
- Optical or electronic sights No
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
Handgun
Classic
Handguns with the classic 1911 profile: one-piece metal frame and a single-stack magazine, inside the IPSC box. At most 8 rounds for Major or 10 for Minor.
- Minimum power factor, Major 170
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major 10 mm (.40); also .357 SIG
- Minimum trigger pull No restriction
- Maximum gun size IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm
- Maximum magazine length IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm
- Maximum capacity 8 for Major, 10 for Minor
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone Yes
- Optical or electronic sights No
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
Handgun
Production
Stock handguns from the approved list, Minor only, at most 15 rounds in a magazine. First shot double action; modifications are very limited.
- Minimum power factor, Major Not applicable
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major Not applicable
- Minimum trigger pull 2.27 kg for the first shot or 1.36 kg for every shot
- Maximum gun size Barrel of at most 127 mm
- Maximum magazine length No restriction
- Maximum capacity 15
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone Yes
- Optical or electronic sights No
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
Handgun
Production Optics
The Production rules, with a mandatory optic on the upper rear of the slide. The slide may be milled only to mount it.
- Minimum power factor, Major Not applicable
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major Not applicable
- Minimum trigger pull 2.27 kg for the first shot or 1.36 kg for every shot
- Maximum gun size Barrel of at most 127 mm
- Maximum magazine length No restriction
- Maximum capacity 15
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone Yes
- Optical or electronic sights Mandatory
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
Handgun
Revolver
Revolvers, no optics or compensators. Any cylinder capacity, but 7 rounds or more scores Minor only.
- Minimum power factor, Major 170
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major No restriction
- Minimum trigger pull No restriction
- Maximum gun size No restriction
- Maximum magazine length Not applicable
- Maximum capacity Unlimited; 7 or more is Minor only
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone No
- Optical or electronic sights No
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
Handgun
Optics
Handguns with one optic on the slide, no compensator, Minor only. Magazines up to 141.25 mm, or 170 mm for single stack.
- Minimum power factor, Major Not applicable
- Minimum power factor, Minor 125
- Minimum bullet weight No restriction
- Minimum calibre / case length 9 mm / 19 mm
- Minimum calibre for Major Not applicable
- Minimum trigger pull No restriction
- Maximum gun size No restriction
- Maximum magazine length 141.25 mm (170 mm single stack)
- Maximum capacity No restriction
- Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt 50 mm
- Gun and magazines behind the hip bone Yes
- Optical or electronic sights Mandatory
- Compensators, ports, suppressors No
- Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle No
| Rule | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum power factor, Major | 160 | 170 | 170 | Not applicable | Not applicable | 170 | Not applicable |
| Minimum power factor, Minor | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 |
| Minimum bullet weight | 120 gr, for Major | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction |
| Minimum calibre / case length | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm | 9 mm / 19 mm |
| Minimum calibre for Major | No restriction | 10 mm (.40); also .357 SIG | 10 mm (.40); also .357 SIG | Not applicable | Not applicable | No restriction | Not applicable |
| Minimum trigger pull | No restriction | No restriction | No restriction | 2.27 kg for the first shot or 1.36 kg for every shot | 2.27 kg for the first shot or 1.36 kg for every shot | No restriction | No restriction |
| Maximum gun size | No restriction | IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm | IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm | Barrel of at most 127 mm | Barrel of at most 127 mm | No restriction | No restriction |
| Maximum magazine length | 170 mm | IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm | IPSC box, 225 × 150 × 45 mm | No restriction | No restriction | Not applicable | 141.25 mm (170 mm single stack) |
| Maximum capacity | No restriction | No restriction | 8 for Major, 10 for Minor | 15 | 15 | Unlimited; 7 or more is Minor only | No restriction |
| Maximum distance of gun and equipment from the belt | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Gun and magazines behind the hip bone | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Optical or electronic sights | Yes | No | No | No | Mandatory | No | Mandatory |
| Compensators, ports, suppressors | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Weights on the barrel beyond the muzzle | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
The specs summarise the division pages on ipsc.org. The official rules always take precedence.
Divisions on ipsc.org
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