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Action Match
handgun competition is one of the most demanding, if not the
most difficult handgun competition available to the sporting
shooter. Developed in 1979 by John Bianchi, a former LAPD police
officer and then CEO of holster manufacturing giant Bianchi
International, the match included variations from existing
handgun competition such as IPSC and PPC. In 1985 the National
Rifle Association (NRA) took control of the Bianchi Cup
Tournament and since that time has awarded the trophy to the
National Action Match Champion.
The
competition consists of four stages – the Practical event, the
Barricade event, the
Moving
Target event and the falling plates. 48 rounds are fired for a
possible score of 480 points on each stage. Total match score
is 1920, with the winner often decided by the number of “X ring”
hits obtained in the 10 ring.
Handguns can
be semi-automatic or revolver and they fall into three
categories of competition. “Open” class includes highly modified
firearms with optical sights allowed and other major changes to
the handgun.
“Metallic
Sight” class specifically disallows the use of peep, optical or
electronic sights, orthopaedic grips, thumb rests or
compensators or ported barrels.
“Production”
class is a handgun which is or has been a catalogue item readily
available to the (licenced) general public equipped with
metallic sights. International rules dictate the calibre must
be 9mm or higher, although recent changes to Australian firearm
laws bans Australian sporting shooters from owning handguns
above 38 Special/9mm in calibre, so for us down under it is 9mm
Parabellum, 38 Special, 38 Super, 357SIG or 38/45.
Holsters
must be safe, practical, serviceable and suited to the pistol
use, and must retain the handgun during any activity within a
course of fire.
With support
from Sydney based Grycol International, the Australian
representative
of Smith & Wesson, the SSAA
 will continue to promote this
competitive discipline to ensure all sporting shooters who legally own
and use sporting handguns can access international competition to
further develop their competitive skills and justify ownership of their
firearm. The SSAA welcomes all licenced firearm owners to compete,
regardless of affiliation, and will continue to work closely with
federal, state and territory governments to ensure lawful handgun
competition is not isolated to Olympic and Commonwealth Games events.
For further
information on SSAA Action Match email: bianchi@ssaa.org.au
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