2025 TEAM SAFARI

Oct 16-19, 2025 at Logan, NM

The TEAM Safari


This is a team "hike-and-shoot" rifle match for long-range rifle and semi-auto "carbine." It will test a 2-man team's ability to locate, range, and engage practical targetry spread in the terrain using both weapons systems. Some of the skills involved include target recognition, ranging, wind doping, ballistic data management, marksmanship under field conditions, non-standard shooting positions, rudimentary trail skills.

You can think of the Team Safari as a Team version of the Steel Safari

This match is much easier physically than the TBTC and is more on-par with the Steel Safari.

Note that afternoon "assault" courses and the pistol requirement have been dropped for 2025. This it to keep it more focused on bolt-gun/DMR type engagements. We will, however, still have one or two more action-style "tiebreaker" stages.

RATINGS
What do these ratings mean?
 
   Physical Difficulty: 3 (Moderate)
   Marksmanship Complexity: 6 (Hard)
MATCH OVERVIEW

  • 3-day match
  • 2-man teams
  • 24-27 total stages spread over 3 field courses (plus tie breaker)
  • No night stage
  • "Steel Safari" RO format: Teams will RO the team behind them on the course
  • ALL TEAMS MUST BRING A RELIABLE STOPWATCH - RECOMMEND a cheap Casio digital watch, or other digital watch, to be worn by one member
  • movement between stations during each field course will not be timed;
  • Rugged desert terrain with natural hazards
  • Locate, range, and engage targets under strict time constraints
  • Local altitude of 4000'
  • Competitors will carry all gear used during the courses of fire
  • Carbine targets: 100 to about 500 yards
  • Rifle targets: generally 150-800 yards
  • Unknown, various, and non-standard target sizes
  • Almost all targetry will be reactive armor steel plate
  • Minimum recommended round counts, 180 rifle, 120 carbine. It is suggested to bring 2-3x more carbine and pistol due to shots permitted rounds for possible re-engagements.

TEAM MEMBER 1 - LONG-RANGE RIFLE SHOOTER

TEAM MEMBER 2 - CARBINE SHOOTER

See rules for full equipment specifications.

MATCH NEWS
SPONSORS
LOCATION OF MATCH SITE
GPS coordinates for the parking area / front range:
UTM 13 S 645794 E / 3904352 N (Lat/Lon: 35* 16.409' N / 103*23.823' W)

Lodging is available in Logan.
LINK TO LOGAN LODGING INFO.
Match staff will be staying at the Budget Inn Express.

The TEAM SAFARI will be held at the Blue Steel Ranch [BSR], also known as the site of the Steel Safari match. The BSR is located very near to Logan, NM. It is a private ranch turned shooting range, with some of the best geography for field shooting available anywhere.


MATCH SCHEDULE
BLUE STEEL RANCH CLOSED TO SHOOTING WEEK PRIOR TO EVENT
MATCH FRIDAY - SUNDAY

THURSDAY
1400-1700 MANDATORY CHECK-IN PERIOD, also Optional Sight-in/Check Zero (Front Range)
1700-1730 MANDATORY SHOOTERS' MEETING
SHOOTERS MUST CHECK IN BEFORE 1700 THURSDAY. If you cannot check in during this time and attend the shooters' meeting, you must contact the match director privately for other check-in arrangements and to get an offline briefing.

FRIDAY
0715 First teams out must be present at the Front Range.
0730-1700 Shoot scheduled courses

SATURDAY
0715 First teams out must be present at the Front Range.
0730-1700 Shoot scheduled courses

SUNDAY
0730-1400 Shoot scheduled courses
1400-1630 Awards
MATCH RULES

SAFETY

This section is the 2017 Competition Dynamics Unified Safety Rules for Shooting

  1. USPSA safety rules are the baseline for safety at this match.
  2. Violation of any safety rule will result in match disqualification (DQ).
  3. The Match Director has the right to disqualify any competitor for Unsportsmanlike Conduct based on his judgement.
  4. Competitors shall practice good muzzle control and firearm safety at all times. Competitors that do not handle their weapons safely will be disqualified from competing further in the match with no refund of match fees.
    1. Do not ever allow the muzzle of your weapons to point at anyone.
    2. Do not load your weapons until directed to do so by a range officer.
    3. Do not put your finger on the trigger until your sights are aligned with your target.
    4. Obey all Range Officer commands immediately.
  5. In addition to the USPSA definition of an Accidental Discharge, the stage RO may call an A.D. using his own judgement, e.g.: if the competitor was clearly not engaging a target. Any round that does not impact within 10 yards of the target the competitor is engaging, or impacts in an unsafe area or direction, is declared to be an AD.
  6. The entire competition area is a "cold range."
    1. No firearms may be loaded at the match site except under the direct command of a RO.
    2. Long-guns shall be kept unloaded in cases or on a designated rack, and carried muzzle up or muzzle down and the action open.
    3. "Sweeping" any person with a weapon's muzzle will result in immediate D.Q.
  7. All firearms must have a functioning safety, subject to verification by an RO at any time. (A pistol that has not had any factory safety devices disabled will be considered to have a safety for the purpose of this rule.)
  8. Any firearm or ammunition deemed by any RO or match staff to be "unsafe" for any reason may not be used in the match until a determination is made by the match director that it may continue.
  9. All firearms must be able to be completely unloaded without firing a round.
  10. Any firearm that can be demonstrated by any RO or match staff to have a hammer/striker that will fall without the trigger being pressed shall be deemed unsafe and may not be used in the match until repaired.
  11. Any rifle slung must have an empty chamber, unless directed by the stage RO.
  12. No person shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the match site. Any person found to be impaired and unsafe as a result of legitimate prescription drugs may be directed to stop shooting and requested to leave the range.
  13. Safety glasses and ear protection are required to be worn/used at all times by competitors and spectators when in the vicinity of any weapons being fired.
  14. No person shall place a rifle in such a position that it points at any other person. Find a safe direction if you need to set your rifle down! If you find out there are people passing or downrange, wait until they are clear and then relocate your rifle.
  15. This match may include dynamic shooting in natural terrain. Match staff will communicate what are safe directions to point firearms while shooting, or while waiting. This will typically be presented during a stage or match briefing. The competitor shall note and obey the safe muzzle direction guidelines.
  16. Ammunition must not cause unusual target damage or cause a fire or other safety risk.
    1. No steel jacket or core projectiles
    2. No armor piercing, incendiary, or tracer bullets
    3. Ammunition that must be "fired" to be unloaded once chambered is declared to be unsafe and may not be used in this match.

TEAM DEFINITIONS

This section is the 2023 Competition Dynamics Unified Team Firearms Rules

  1. Each team shall be comprised of two shooters.
  2. One shooter shall be designated the "rifle shooter," and one shooter shall be designated the "carbine shooter."
  3. Targets designated as rifle targets may only be engaged by the rifle shooter, with his rifle.
  4. Targets designated as carbine targets may only be engaged by the carbine shooter, with his carbine.
  5. Each shooter shall shoot the same firearms for the entire match.
  6. For the purposes the preceding rule, the "same firearm" shall be defined by a specific combination of caliber, receiver, barrel, stock, grips, sighting device.
  7. Unless otherwire directed by the stage RO, team members will stay within arms'-reach while shooting on all stages. Every shot fired without team members in this proximity will incur a procedural penalty. Team members may be separated by more distance while on transit legs. For Assault Stages, team members must be within a pace of each other unless otherwise specified. It is strongly recommended that they stay two abreast while engaging targets in the same direction for safety.

Equipment

  1. Rifle
    1. Minimum caliber: .243/6mm
    2. Maximum caliber: 300WM
    3. Maximum muzzle velocity: 3200fps
    4. Ammunition subject to verification by chronograph at any time
    5. Bolt-action is a typical choice, but not required
    6. (This section is the 2017 Competition Dynamics Unified Rifle Definition)
  2. Carbine
    1. Minimum caliber: .223/5.45
    2. Maximum caliber: 300WSM
    3. Loaded cartridge OAL not to exceed 2.90"
    4. Maximum muzzle velocity: 3200fps
    5. Ammunition subject to verification by chronograph at any time
    6. OPEN division carbines are permitted.
    7. Semi-automatic strongly recommended
  3. Pistols (if required by match)
    1. Minimum caliber: 9mm Luger
    2. Maximum muzzle velocity 1500 fps
    3. Maximum caliber .45"
    4. Must be carried in a holster that will retain the pistol during vigorous activity.
    5. Cross-draw holsters are prohibited.
    6. Each team member must carry his holstered pistol on designated stages.
    7. Pistol must be in safe operating condition
    8. 2023 CHANGE! "OPEN" Pistols allowed. This means your RDS and comps are OK. The only restriction is that the slide must be at least partially contained while holstered and the holster must retain the pistol safely under vigorous movement
  4. When selecting your rifle and carbine choices, keep in mind that the majority of targets will be reactive armor steel plates. If your load does not have enough momentum to cause a hit indication that is detectable by a spotter, your shot will be counted as a miss. For reference, .243 is known to have acceptible target indication for rifle, and .223 is known to have acceptible target indication for carbine targets.
  5. Any shooting accessories may be used provided they are carried by the team during every stage. Accessories include but are not limited to:
    1. bipods, bags, shooting sticks, slings, jackets, gloves, or other shooting support devices
    2. optics such as spotting scopes, binoculars, and range-finders
  6. Teams shall use only one carbine, and only one rifle throughout the match. The carbine shooter shall use only one carbine throughout the match. The rifle shooter shall use one rifle.
  7. Ammunition and magazines may be replenished at any time.
  8. Ammunition that must be "fired" to be unloaded once chambered is declared to be unsafe and may not be used in this match. All firearms must be able to be completely unloaded without firing a round.
  9. In the event a weapon breaks or becomes inoperable during the match, the shooter may substitute a weapon of substantially similar configuration for subsequent stages, subject to approval by the Match Director.
  10. Teams violating Equipment Rules will be subject to scoring and/or monetary penalties. Fines will be assessed if target damage occurs due to: forbidden bullet types (AP, steel, tracer, etc); disallowed calibers; or exceeding the muzzle velocity limits.
  11. In the interest of fairness to all competitors, active night vision devices (night vision optics) are not permitted for use in the night stages.

PENALTIES

  1. There is no penalty for misses besides the potential points not gained by missing.
  2. A failure to engage (FTE) penalty will be assessed for every target not engaged by the time the team moves past the target's shoot position. The team may not back up. The RO determines and has final say if shooter engaged a target or not.
  3. A procedural penalty will be assessed for failure to follow directions on appropriate stages.
  4. Procedural and FTE penalties will cause -5 points to be applied to the stage score per infraction on appropriate stages.
  5. The match director may apply scoring penalties up to full match disqualification for match disruptions caused by competitors or inividuals in their party, on his discretion alone.

Note: rules are subject to change up until the match date.

PROCEED TO REGISTRATION AREA