Appendix C: IPSC Poppers

Calibration of IPSC Poppers

Where Pepper Poppers are used in competition, the Range Master or Match Director shall make arrangements to ensure that they are calibrated prior to commencement of the competition, and at any time required during the competition. The Range Master or Match Director shall designate a specific handgun and a specific supply of ammunition as well as an official to act as calibration officer. An official shall be responsible to perform calibrations of all Pepper Poppers used in the competition.

For the purpose of expediency in larger competitions, the officiating Range Master may designate more than one official and multiple handguns and a supply of ammunition, for this purpose. In this case, the same handgun and supply of ammunition is used consistently for any single course of fire through out the match. Each calibration handgun shall be chronographed during the chronograph verification procedure in 5.6.4. prior to start of the competition. The calibration handgun(s) and ammunition shall average results of 3 rounds as close as possible but not less than 125 power factor. The approval and designation of the calibration handgun and ammunition is the responsibility of the Range Master or Match Director and is not subject to protest.

A calibrated Pepper Poppers shall fall as a result of a full diameter minor caliber hit on or above the horizontal centerline.

The calibration official shall fire one (1) round from the calibration handgun on or less than 50mm above the horizontal centerline. This shall be repeated as necessary until the Pepper Poppers falls when hit in this manner. The official shall then fire one round below the centerline to ensure that the Popper is not set too light. This process shall be repeated as necessary but not less than once each day before the match starts. All calibration and calibration check shall be conducted from the closest possible point (directly up range) where a competitor could engage the Popper.

If during a course of fire, a Pepper Poppers does not fall when hit in the manner above, there are three possible scenarios:

1. 1. The competitor re-engages the Pepper Poppers and knocks it down. This results in no further action required. The stage is scored as it stands.
2. 2. The competitor does not re-engage the Pepper Poppers and does not question the calibration. This results in no further action and the stage is scored as it stands.
3. 3. The competitor does not re-engage the Pepper Poppers but advises that they want the Pepper Popper's calibration checked. At this point, the Range Officer shall require that the Pepper Popper be calibrated. Note that the Pepper Popper may not be moved from the position or condition when the competitor finished the course of fire. If for any reason it is disturbed prior to re-calibration, the competitor must re-shoot the stage. Failing this, when the Official properly hits the Popper as specified above, and it falls, the stage is scored as shot with appropriate misses for the Popper. If the Popper does not fall when properly hit by the Official, it must be re-calibrated and the competitor shall re-shoot the course of fire. Should the Official hit the Popper incorrectly, it shall be recalibrated and the competitor is required to re-shoot the course of fire.

USPSA Calibrating Poppers

The calibration procedure for both the US Popper and Pepper Popper is as follows: Calibration is done with factory 9mm minor ammunition. Set the Popper so that a full-bullet-diameter hit within the circle radius of the Popper knocks it down. In cases where proper calibration is brought into question, visually inspect the Popper for obstructions that may have prevented proper operation. Then, if no obstruction is found, calibrate the Popper using the above procedure. In cases where the Popper falls when struck with within the radius of the circle, or below it, the Popper is deemed to be properly calibrated. In cases when the bullet strikes the Popper above the circle radius, the Popper is to be recalibrated and the competitor must reshoot the course of fire.

If, during a course of fire, a Popper does not fall when struck in the radius of the circle or higher, there are three possible scenarios:

1. 1. The competitor re-engages the Popper and knocks it down. This results in no further action required. The stage is scored as it stands.
2. 2. The competitor does not re-engage the Popper and does not question the calibration. This results in no further action and the stage is scored as it stands.
3. 3. The competitor does not re-engage the Popper but advises that they want the Popper calibration checked. At this point, the Range Officer shall require that the Popper be calibrated. Note that the Pepper Popper may not be moved from the position or condition when the competitor finished the course of fire. If for any reason it is disturbed prior to re-calibration, the competitor must re-shoot the stage. Failing this, when the Official properly hits the Popper as specified above, and it falls, the stage is scored as shot with appropriate misses for the Popper. If the Popper does not fall when properly hit by the Official, it must be re-calibrated and the competitor shall re-shoot the course of fire. All initial calibration checks shall be conducted from the closest possible point (directly up range) where a competitor could engage the Popper, all challenged calibrations, must be done from the approximate point where the competitor engaged the target.