IDPA Rule Clarifications 2012

IDPA Rule Clarifications 2012

via Gun Nuts Media by Caleb on 3/12/12

IDPA is posting clarifications to the rulings on the IDPA Rules Clarification forum. These are official rulings from HQ on various questions that have been asked to clear up (mostly) equipment related questions regarding IDPA. Let’s take a look at some of the clarifications that will likely affect readers of Gun Nuts.

• Gripforce Adapter not legal for SSP. I agree with the result of this ruling, but not the rational behind it. The ruling was based on the statement that “no extended beavertail is available as a factory option for Glock”, which is kind of not true. The Gen 4 Glocks will/do have a beavertail option that is/isn’t available. It’s fairly ambiguous, because I’ve heard conflicting reports of the Gen 4 Glock beavertail grip’s availability. Like I said – correct ruling, wrong reasoning.
• Sevigny Speedway not legal for SSP.  I don’t have any kind of strong feeling about this ruling one way or the other.  On the one hand, the Sevigny Speedway is legal for USPSA Production because to them it’s not a “visible external modification”, but IDPA says it is a visible permanent modification.  On the flip side, ruling that the Sevigny Speedway is illegal for SSP makes the most sense within IDPA’s rules, because it does create a bitchin’ magwell, and that’s explicitly illegal in SSP.  So I think ultimately that while I would have liked to see this rule come more in line with Production, I think it’s the correct ruling based on the existing IDPA rulebook.
• Legal to disable magazine disconnect safeties, and S&W revolver locks.  This is probably the best ruling to come out of the clarifications so far.  Previously, IDPA had maintained that a S&W revolver with the IL system must have that system functioning to be legal for competition as it was a “safety” and disabling safeties is a no-go.  Reversing that ruling is the smart thing to do, and now allows shooters with Browning Hi-Powers to disable the magazine disconnect safety as well as finally allowing wheelgun shooters to “fix” the guns that S&W sells with those locks.

There are several other rules clarifications at the original link, and if you’re a member of the IDPA forum you can post your own request for rules clarifications at this forum.  Make sure that it’s an issue that cannot wait until the new rulebook comes out, and not just a pet peeve you may have with IDPA’s rules.