PURPOSE

To establish a shooting organization of Rimfire Competition based on the theory of group size and extreme accuracy with the 22 caliber rifle and promote safety, fellowship and sportsmanship for those who participate.

ARG Club and Range Sanctioning

In order to host recognized “ARG” rimfire-shooting events, a prospective club/range must be officially sanctioned by ARG Headquarters. The ARG Board of Directors sets sanctioning fees.

Every ARG sanctioned club/range must submit, for approval, their proposed match schedule, not less than thirty (30) days prior to their first ARG match of the season.

An ARG sanctioned club/range must host at least five (5) ARG sanctioned matches per calendar year. One of the five matches may be designated as the “Club Championship Match”. A later match date may be designated as the “State Championship Match”. The state’s club with the highest competitor attendance record may host “State Championship” matches.

Reasonable match fees are set at the discretion of the local club’s Match Director and/or Range Owner. Appropriate trophies and/or plaques are recommended for club and state tournaments and shall be at the expense of the host club. Match fees for such tournaments may be increased by a marginal amount to cover this added expense, not to exceed ten dollars ($10) surcharge per competitor. ARG Headquarters furnishes all official ARG Targets and ARG Achievement Pins for each and every sanctioned match.

The American Rimfire Group “ACE of CLUBS” National Championship match location and date shall be as approved by the ARG Board of Directors, acting in the best interest of ARG. In the interest of quality competition, the ARG Board of Directors are dedicated to producing a well-organized and enjoyable National Championship Match venue, where National Records are set and broken.

Sanctioned Match Requirements

All matches shall be contested at fifty (50) yards, as measured from leading edge of bench to target frame.
All ranges shall employ an approved moving target backer system capable of proving the number of rounds fired into an individual record group.
All ranges must have a minimum of four (4) shooting benches of suitable design and construction.
Benches and shooting shed must be constructed in such a manner so as not to impair the competitor’s peripheral vision and the shed’s roof over-hang shall not be so excessive as to create problems for competitors.
All sanctioned matches require a minimum of four (4) competitors.
Bench assignment shall be by luck of draw or random computer selection. Exceptions may be made by the Match Director in some necessary cases to accommodate new shooters sharing equipment, adults helping juniors, left handed shooters on tight benches, and the physically impaired.
All four gun weight classes shall be contested at each sanctioned match, beginning with Sporter Class (8.5#), followed by Light Custom Class (10.5#), Heavy Custom Class (14#), and Unlimited Class, in that order.
The first relay “Commence Fire” command shall not be given before 0800 hours. Early arrival sight-in time is at the discretion of the Match Director/Range Owner.
Official ARG Achievement Pins shall be awarded at all sanctioned ARG matches, to ARG members only.
Non-members may participate in sanctioned ARG matches but shall not receive ARG pins or published recognition. Even though a non-member competitor might shoot a better score, the award must go to the best ARG member’s score.
All ARG sanctioned ranges are urged to employ a computer software scoring program such as “BugHole” or similar Excel type program, which allows for timely export of scoring data to ARG Headquarters via the Internet. Not only do these programs speed up and smooth out the scoring process, they also help eliminate embarrassing calculation errors. All sanctioned match scores should be emailed to ARG Headquarters within two (2) days of match date.
ARG Headquarters’ portion of each competitor’s match fee is seven ($7) dollars, whether member or non-member. ARG Administration funds from match fees shall be mailed to ARG Headquarters within five (5) days of match date. Payment shall be made by personal check or money order only, made payable to “ARG”.
Each sanctioned club/range shall have available the proper forms for new membership and renewal membership application and shall collect the applicable monetary sum due. Membership forms and funds shall be mailed to ARG headquarters with match fees.
Each range is responsible for its own liability protection and must provide its own liability release agreement forms.
ARG sanctioning of a club’s/range’s scheduled matches may be subject to suspension by the ARG Board of Directors and be forfeited by the club/range if the club’s/range’s matches do not adhere to the ARG Rules stated, herein.
Each club/range shall have the ARG Rules posted accessible to all competitors.

Unsanctioned ARG Matches

For the general purposes of familiarity and recruitment, unsanctioned matches using ARG Targets and General Rules may be approved by the ARG Board of Directors from time to time. Official ARG Targets may be purchased from ARG Headquarters.

Any match with less than four (4) competitors is considered a non-sanctioned match, at which no ARG awards or ARG website recognition may be given. However, the ARG Administration fee of seven ($7) dollars per match/competitor is not waived for unsanctioned ARG events without the prior and written consent of the ARG Board of Directors.

CLASSIFICATIONS

There shall be four classes of rifles; Sporter, Light Custom, Heavy Custom and Unlimited.

Sporter- shall be any 22 Long Rifle weighing 8½ pounds or less inclusive of sights. Any scope may be used. It may be clip fed. Any modifications to factory action, trigger, barrel and stock is allowed. Return to battery is not allowed and no barrel tuners may be used.

Light Custom- any 22 Long Rifle weighing 10½ pounds or less inclusive of sights. Any modifications may be made to the rifle including barrel tuners. Return to battery is not allowed.

Heavy Custom- any 22 Long Rifle weighing 14 pounds or less inclusive of sight. Any scope may be used. Any modifications may be made to the rifle including barrel tuners. Return to battery is not allowed.

Unlimited- any 22 Long Rifle not meeting the previous classes. No weight limit is imposed. Return to battery is allowed, but no part of said firearm or support will be attached to the bench in any manner.

Sporter Class Rifle may be used in all higher classes.

All firearms may be inspected and deemed to be in safe
operating condition by the host club and or range officer
previous to and after a match.

AMMO

.22LR ammunition must be a lead projectile produced by factory manufacturing. Competitors using hand-loaded ammunition and/or ammunition produced with jacketed bullets will not be allowed.

RESTS AND BAGS

Rear Rests shall support the Rear of the rifle and may not use any
guiding adjustments. Appropriately filled leather or cloth bags must
Contact the rifle in a manner to allow movement forward and rearward and may not restrict it's movement from battery when fired. Reasonable bags or blocks may be added to gain the necessary height to obtain the target in sights when used with the front rests. It may not be connected to the front rest in any manner.

Unlimited Rests may use guiding adjustments for elevation and windage in any direction either front or rear. Bags are permitted but not required and the front and rear may be connected or attached to a plate. No part of the rifle or supporting rest may be attached to the bench in any
fashion.

MATCH PROCEDURES

Normal benchrest procedures and safety rules used by but not limited to ARA, RBA, USBR, IR50/50, IB and NBRSA shall be employed for the conduct of the match and may be modified by the host range in the interest of safety and orderly conduction of a match.

The host range shall select the range officer and one or more referees.

All groups shall be five shot groups and will be fired at 50 yards as measured from the front of the bench to the target frame.

SCORING

Measuring, recording and tie breaking

Scoring will be conducted using the normal equipment and rules as used by the host range for measuring group size. State, Regional, and National Championship matches shall be scored by experienced score measuring and statistician person/s who are not competitors in the match at hand. Likewise, the target crew personnel and Match Director shall not be competitors. The scorekeeper shall measure the entire match at hand. If possible a private scoring room will be available, no competitors shall be allowed in the scoring room. In the event that a private scoring room is not available then the match director shall ensure that competitors are not allowed to rubberneck or talk to the scorekeeper while scoring is in progress. A competitor will not be allowed to handle any targets until the match is over.

A group’s size shall be scored by determining the center to center distance between the two widest shots in a five shot group. This distance shall be recorded to the nearest one thousandth (.001) of an inch. When calculating the five group aggregate or average of a particular rifle weight class, the aggregate score shall be recorded to the fourth decimal place (.0000)

In the event of a five group aggregate tie in a particular rifle class, the winner will be the competitor with the first smallest group on the five group target card in contention. Should a four-gun aggregate tie occur, the winner shall be the competitor with the best sporter aggregate score.

Penalties

A competitor’s first shot on the target card of any rifle weight class may be free or forgiven if said shot lands in the penalty zone of the record target by mistake or malfunction, so long as the competitor immediately calls the attention of the Match Director to his errant shot before firing another shot. At this time the Match Director may call a cease fire if needed to correctly mark the location of the errant shot.

Cross fire penalty

There is no excuse for cross firing at 50 yards, check your competitor number before firing. The bench assignment/target card number is located in the center of the target between the sighter and the record target. It is noteworthy to mention that all shots above the sighter area count as record shots. It is the competitor’s responsibility to insure that the target crew has place the correct numbered target on his target frame prior to shooting the target. For each shot cross fired by a competitor, a ½ inch penalty shall be added to that competitor’s group score in that rifle weight class. (For example: If a competitor fires his first record shot on another target, he should only fire four shots on his own target for that group. His score would be determined by measuring the four shots on his own target then adding ½ inch to that group size. If he crossfired two shots then he would only shoot three times on his target and his score would be determined by the measure of his three shot group and add 1 inch. Therefore if a competitor cross fired 5 times he would not shoot any shots on his own target group and would take a score of 2.50 inches for that group.) Usually, crossfiring a complete group will net the competitor a last place finish.

Penalty for failure to fire less than five shots in a group is the same as firing a crossfire.

Penalty for shot impacting outside the record target boundary lines. When one or more shots of a five shot group impact outside the boundary line , the entire five shot group shall be measured and 1/4inch (0.250”) added to the measurement for each shot outside the boundary line. Shots that are touching the boundary line are considered inside the boundary and will not be penalized. The record target box for each of the five record groups measures three inches by three and one quarter inches (3” x 3 ¼ “)

Protest

A competitor may protest a scorekeeper’s group measurement within 5 minutes of the last target being placed on display for that match. A protest fee of five dollars ($5.00) shall be collected from the protestor prior to taking the target back to the scoring room for rescoring. If after remeasurement, the measurement changes by nine thousandth (.009 inches) the score will be changed and the fee returned to the protestor, otherwise the original score will stand as good. Note, Any competitor may protest any target by calling the target to the attention of a referee. Only a referee can remove the target from display and return it to the scorekeeper for rescoring. Competitors may not use their own measuring equipment to measure any targets while the targets are on display.

All protests must be settled before shooters involved leave the range on match day and before the match scores can be proclaimed Final.

All bolts must not be inserted until the command is given by the range
officer and must be removed at the end of each match or at the
discretion of the host range, approved breech flags may be employed in the interest of time restraints or safety.

Bench rotation is to be used at the discretion of the host range, or if three or more shooters voice their desire to do so. If used, it will be after the match of each gun and the number to be dictated by the host range. Time may be allowed to move flags if necessary.

Normal matches will consist of the firing of all four guns at fifty yards at each match. Shorter matches may be used if advertised by the host range and competitors may choose not to participate in all matches and be scored accordingly.

Awards may be given and will be determined by the host range.

TARGETS

Official ARG targets will be used. Each of the five bulls on the target will be measured separately and an aggregate will be compiled for each gun. Five shots for each bull. Sighters are provided and must be kept in the sighter portion of the target.

Each match will be thirty minutes and all five targets must be completed.
Five record shots per target.

This match will be repeated once for each gun class. Ample time must be allowed for shooters to change gun classes and reset their shooting equipment.

After each match is completed, a cease-fire will be called, firearms will be made safe and target crews will retrieve and score targets.

An aggregate will be compiled for all guns fired and used to determine the four gun winner.

Moving backers may be used at the discretion of the host range, but must be used for all championship matches and to insure any records that may be set. If moving backers are not used, records will not be recognized.

RECORDS

The winning scores of the First Annual AMERICAN RIMFIRE GROUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP of 2004 shall be used to establish the baseline for National Records. The National Records established at the 1 st Annual ARG National Championship Match may be broken at subsequent ARG National Championship matches ONLY, and WHEN, the pre-existing record is bettered by more than nine thousands (.009) of an inch.

Regional and State Records may be established in like fashion.

The Host Range Location chosen for the annual ARG National Championship shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors acting in ARG’s best interest.

ARG By-Laws

ARTICLE I

MEMBERS

A. MEMBERSHIP shall consist of individual members and affiliated clubs.

1. Individual- Shall be admitted to membership after application in

approved form and dues are submitted.

2. Affiliated clubs- Shall be admitted to membership after application in approved form and dues are submitted.

B. DUES. Individual and affiliated club dues shall be set from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

A. ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS. The annual meeting of members of this association may be held each calendar year during the period of a National Championship Tournament at such time and place as may be designated by Board of Directors and specified in the notice of such meeting. A written notice of any annual or special meeting or publication thereof in the official publication of the Association shall be deemed sufficient, if either is deposited in the mail not less than 20 days, or more than 60 days prior to such meeting addressed to the members of the respective addresses appearing on the records of the Association. Additional, in lieu of the use of mail or official publication such notice may also be posted on the ARG website.

B. QUORUM. At any annual or special meeting of the members, twenty-five (25%) of the members in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum to transact any and all business. Meetings of the members will be held in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

C. BOARD OF DIRECTORS may, from time to time, submit by mail specific questions for advisory purposes only. Such questions shall be sent by mail, not less than 10 days or more than 30 days prior to a meeting of the Board of Directors at which the matter shall be acted upon.

ARTICLE III

REGIONS

A. REGIONS. There shall be 4 regions as follows: North Eastern, South Eastern, Central, and Western. The Business Manager shall maintain a membership list by region with the addresses of each member.

B. NORTHEASTERN REGION

Connecticut Maine New Hampshire

Pennsylvania Delaware Maryland

New Jersey Rhode Island Illinois

Massachusetts New York Vermont

Indiana Michigan Ohio

Wisconsin Washington DC

SOUTHEASTERN REGION

Alabama Kentucky North Carolina

Virginia Florida Mississippi

South Carolina West Virginia

Georgia Tennessee

CENTRAL REGION

Arkansas Louisiana Nebraska

South Dakota Iowa Minnesota

North Dakota Texas Kansas

Missouri Oklahoma

WESTERN REGION

Alaska Colorado Montana Oregon

Arizona Hawaii Nevada Utah

California Idaho New Mexico

Washington Wyoming

ARTICLE IV

DIRECTORS

A. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the Match Directors each sanctioned

club.

2. Any Director shall be at least 18 years of age.

3. The official website of the ARG shall list the Board of Directors.

B. DUTIES OF DIRECTORS. The Directors shall conduct the business of ARG and shall meet at least once a year during the week of the Nationals or at some other time as determined by the Board, at a site to be selected by the Board, or by mail or conference call. All directors shall be notified by the President by mail at least 30 days prior to the meeting. Meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. The Board of Directors will elect officers: a President, a Business Manager, and may elect an Executive Committee. The Board will be responsible for deciding by a simple majority vote any changes to the rules and By-laws of ARG.

C. VOTING OF DIRECTORS

1. Each Director shall have 1 vote. A quorum shall constitute a majority of all

Directors.

2. If a Director cannot attend the meeting of ARG then he/she may appoint another

member from his/her club to represent him/her.

3. If any Director should die or resign during his/her term, then the Sanctioned Club

shall appoint a new Director.

4. Balloting by mail or conference call is allowed in cases where timedoes not allow

for delay of the action until the next Board Meeting. Mail ballots sent by the

Business Manager to the Directors must be returned to the Business Manager

within 14 days of receipt.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

A. The officers of the Association shall be elected by the Board of Directors, to serve at the will of the Directors. The President and Vice-President will be a full voting member of the Board of Directors. The President may be a Match Director of an affiliated club, or any individual elected by the Board. The President of the Association shall have full power and authority to appoint members of the Association to such committees, as he/she may consider in the best interest of the Organization. The Board of Directors shall also appoint a Business Manager who will serve as a Secretary, Treasurer, and statistician of ARG and other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors. The Business Manager may also be a member of the Board of Directors and will serve as Business Manager at the pleasure of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect an Executive Committee composed of four members of the Board of Directors and the President to attend to the day to day business matters of the ARG. The Executive Committee will not have authority to act for the Board of Directors in any matter involving a change to the by-laws or rules. All such officers shall have such authority and duties as prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. The President shall cast a vote should a tie occur on any matter.

B. The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.

C. In the event of the death or resignation of the President, Executive Committee member or Business Manager, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of the Board of Directors, which may be done by mail without the necessity of calling a special meeting.

D. The President shall have the power, with Board of Directors approval and with substantial proof in writing or witnesses to prove dereliction of performance, to replace any Director not fulfilling the responsibility of his/her office to the best interest of the Association.

ARTICLE VI

A. These by-laws may be amended, altered, repealed or suspended either in whole or part by the affirmative action of a simple majority of the Directors at any annual or special meeting at which a quorum of Directors is present.

B. The Association will publish a rule book from time to time establishing rules for the conduct of tournaments, type of equipment to be used, and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the Association.

C. These By-Laws will be included in such rule books as may be published by the Associationfrom time to time.