2016 2016 US OPTICS TEAM CHALLENGE

Aug 5-7, 2016 at Douglas, WY

a hard team match


US Optics came to us with a request: set up a challenging rifle match that combines the funnest stage concepts we've all shot with the unique Competition Dynamics match flavor. We've put together a match that combines hike-and-shoot field shooting with precision rifle and semi-automatic carbine; timed "3-Gun style" shooting with rifle, carbine, and pistols; and features some US Optics stage guns.

Two-man teams will be required to navigate rugged desert / mountainous terrain, recognize, locate, range, and engage challenging rifle targets from compromised shooting positions, communicate with their partner and the range officer (RO), and do it under time constraints.
OFFICIAL Title Sponsor - US Optics
OFFICIAL OFFICAL TARGETRY SPONSOR - AA Targets
OFFICIAL Media Sponsor - Contingency X
OFFICIAL CD Holster Sponsor - 303 Arms
OFFICIAL FOOTWEAR - LA SPORTIVA

RATINGS
What do these ratings mean?
 
   Physical Difficulty: 6 (Hard)
   Marksmanship Complexity: 8 (Very Hard)
MATCH OVERVIEW

  • 3-day match
  • 2-man teams
  • nominal stage count: 3 field hike (long), 6 discrete/timed
  • the 3 field hike (long) stages will involve significant movement on foot while engaging rifle, carbine, and/or pistol targets.
  • the approx 6 discrete/timed stages will involve the rifle, carbine, and pistols and will be of shorter duration but will be scored significantly based on time spent plus penalties
  • be prepared to engage targets with all weapons systems to their effective range, e.g. rifles to 1000 nominal, carbine to 600 nominal, and pistols to 60 nominal
  • Rugged desert / mountainous terrain with natural hazards
  • Locate, range, and engage targets under strict time constraints
  • Significant movement while on the clock
  • Local altitude of 5200'
  • Competitors will carry all gear used during the courses of fire
  • Unknown, various, and non-standard target sizes
  • Almost all targetry will be reactive armor steel plate
  • Round count - (minimums): Long-range rifle: approx 110, carbine 220. Pistol, about 50 each minimum. These account for average number of rounds required by an average good team to engage all targets. If you may need to shoot extra to make up for misses, bring more ammo.
  • T-shirts will be available for a reasonable price prior to the event

TEAM MEMBER 1 - LONG-RANGE RIFLE SHOOTER

TEAM MEMBER 2 - CARBINE (SEMI AUTO RIFLE) SHOOTER

See rules for full equipment specifications.


MATCH NEWS

USOTC Demo Day

Posted By: Zak Smith on August 2, 2016


During Thursday, the US OPTICS Demo Day, teams that have checked in will have the opportunity to shoot Assault 7 & 8. Be sure to attend the demo day for some great US OPTICS demos and additional chances to win US Optics scopes.

 

Final USOTC Info

Posted By: Zak Smith on July 30, 2016


The match is held at our Douglas shooting facility. This is a private ranch, so please follow directions, take care of the property, and be respectful so we can continue to shoot here.

To get to the parking area for this match, plug the “virtual address” 440 Wagon Hound Rd. (Douglas) into Google Maps. On Google Maps, this is coincident with a minor intersection with a short drive south down into a pasture area. Park here. This will be the check-in and demo area.

THURSDAY SCHEDULE
0800-1700 US OPTICS LIVE FIRE DEMOS, SIDE MATCHES, ZERO CHECK, and CHECK-IN
1700-1800 MANDATORY SHOOTERS’ MEETING
SHOOTERS MUST CHECK IN BEFORE 1700 THURSDAY.

Staff will be heading down Saturday for final setup. Thus, we will have limited communication between now and match check-in on site. The best way to get a hold of the match director will be email or to leave a voicemail. We will check messages in the evening.

 

US Optics Team Challenge Updates

Posted By: Zak Smith on June 22, 2016


The U.S. Optics Team Challenge is coming up quick!

USO has a special promotional deal, anyone who registers prior to July 1, 2016 will go into a drawing to win a U.S Optics ER-25 scope. Drawing will take place July 1, 2016. Winner will be notified via phone and/or email provided during registration process. The prize will be mailed to the winner prior to the beginning of the competition.

There have been a few questions about the USOTC, specifically if a team needs to bring two carbines– the answer is NO, you only need one “rifle”, one “carbine”, and two pistols. Also, the USOTC will not have night stages.

 

2016 US OPTICS TEAM CHALLENGE

Posted By: Zak Smith on June 14, 2016


Anyone who registers prior to July 1, 2016 will go into a drawing to win a U.S Optics ER-25 scope. Drawing will take place July 1, 2016. Winner will be notified via phone and/or email provided during registration process. The prize will be mailed to the winner prior to the beginning of the competition.

Sponsor Demo Day will feature prizes and giveaways for participating in the demo event
on the registration day.

First time Competition Dynamics competitors will receive a 40% off certificate to one of
the U.S. Optics Academy courses.

All competitors will receive a 30% off certificate for a U.S Optics scope of their
choice.

CLICK HERE FOR MATCH AND REGISTRATION INFO

 

La Sportiva to be OFFICIAL FOOTWEAR Sponsor for 2016

Posted By: Zak Smith on February 19, 2016


LA SPORTIVA

We are pleased to announce that La Sportiva is the OFFICIAL FOOTWEAR Sponsor of the 2016 COMPETITION DYNAMICS season!

La Sportiva, with US operations based in Boulder, Colorado, is a global manufacturer of premier outdoor gear and is best known for their world-class mountaineering, hiking, and trail-running footwear. Their Nepal EVO boot is probably the most-recognized modern mountaineering boot in the world and you’d be hard pressed to find a Crossfit Gym around the country in which there aren’t a few people wearing their Crosslites.

Speaking personally, I have been spending my own money on La Sportiva mountaineering boots and trail-running shoes since the late 2000’s. They are simply my “go-to” footwear for active endeavors.

LA SPORTIVA


La Sportiva will be sponsoring our prize tables throughout the 2016 season as well as offering a very special discount package for 2016 COMPETITION DYNAMICS Range Officers.

 
SPONSORS
LOCATION OF MATCH SITE
Venue: Private 17,000+ acre ranches near Douglas, WY.

Check-in will be at 440 Wagon Hound Rd.



MATCH SCHEDULE
MATCH FRIDAY - SUNDAY

THURSDAY
0800-1700 US OPTICS LIVE FIRE DEMOS, SIDE MATCHES, ZERO CHECK, and CHECK-IN
1700-1800 MANDATORY SHOOTERS' MEETING
SHOOTERS MUST CHECK IN BEFORE 1700 THURSDAY.
FRIDAY
0715 First teams out must be present .
0730-1700 Shoot scheduled field courses

SATURDAY
0715 First teams out must be present .
0730-1700 Shoot scheduled field courses

SUNDAY
0730-1400 Shoot scheduled field courses
1400-1630 Results, Awards, and Prize table
MATCH RULES

Safety

  1. Violation of any safety rule will result in match disqualification (DQ).
  2. USPSA Safety Rules shall be followed, with the following notable additions:
    1. In addition to the USPSA definition of an Accidental Discharge, the stage RO may call an A.D. using his own judgement. Example: if the competitor was clearly not engaging a target. If a round impacts more than 20 yards from the closest target, it is declared to be an A.D.
    2. The Match Director has the right to disqualify any competitor for Unsportsmanlike Conduct based on his judgement.
  3. The Blue Steel Ranch 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. * When hiking to or from a Stage, or while in a Transit Section during a Field Stage, the bolt may be closed on an empty chamber with no magazine in the rifle, after the RO has declared the rifle “clear”.
    3. "Sweeping" any person with a weapon's muzzle will result in immediate D.Q.
  4. 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.)
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. Any rifle or carbine slung during a stage must have an empty chamber, unless directed by the stage RO. * This does not apply to use of slings during the Assault Stages
  8. 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.
  9. Eye and ear protection is mandatory.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

Teams

  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
  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. MUST CONFORM TO TACTICAL DIVISION" RULES, with the exception that bipods are permitted. Only one optical sight permitted. Silencers will be allowed under Tactical Division carbine rules.
  3. Pistols
    1. Minimum caliber: 9mm Luger
    2. Must be carried in a holster that will retain the pistol during vigorous activity.
    3. Cross-draw holsters and prohibited.
    4. Each team member must carry his holstered pistol on designated stages.
    5. Pistol must be in safe operating condition
    6. Pistol must not exceed USPSA's "Limited" division specifications.
  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
    3. The only exception to this rule is that the RIFLE SHOOTER's carbine must only be carried on designated stages.
  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. No steel core, steel jacketed, armor piercing, incendiary or tracer bullets are permitted.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. In the interest of fairness to all competitors, active night vision devices (night vision optics) are not permitted for use in the night stages.

SCORING

Each stage will be scored in a manner to combine accuracy and speed. Accuracy will be emphasized, and first-round rifle hits will be worth more than second round hits and/or carbine hits. Stage scores will be normalized into match points to comprise the overall match scores. Full scoring details to follow.

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.
  4. Procedural and FTE penalties will cause -5 points to be applied to the stage score per infraction.
  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