In 2004 I was one of the founders of Trooper Class that is now an equipment class/division at some 3 Gun matches. The goals of this class are to encourage shooters to use field practical equipment that is reliable in adverse conditions and add an element of physical endurance to the competition not found in other classes. Trooper class is a popular division at the matches that do feature it, as it attracts a different demographic of competitors.
High Desert 3-Gun/Hard as Hell 3-Gun Rules Updated 2019
In an effort to bring Trooper back it its original practical intent, and simplify running stages the following changes are being made for 2019.
1) Troopers may only use 3 guns on each stage except when precision rifle bonuses are present, then they may use a 4th to engage bonus targets only. Other trooper firearms may only be used in the event the Trooper’s firearm becomes inoperable. The Trooper must inform the RO of his intention abandon an inoperable firearm and then run back to the start area to retrieve that other UNLOADED firearm themselves.
2) A holstered handgun must be worn even if it is not to be used on a stage. The shooter may insert an empty magazine with a floor plate marked with blue paint or tape to protect it from the environment. In the event the Trooper’s PCC mechanically fails they may transition to pistol after safely abandoning the PCC.
3) Staging of ammunition or equipment is forbidden. Everything must start in hand, on person, or attached to firearms being used on the stage.
• Troopers must check in and park their vehicle INSERT TROOPER CHECK POINT DESCRIPTION HERE
• All gear being used during that day’s shooting must be carried in one trip from the Trooper Check-In Point to the range.
• At the end of each shooting day, all Troopers must check out with all their equipment from the Trooper Check-in Point.
• Pre-staging gear at the range for the next day’s shooting is not allowed.
• Troopers must carry all gear being used during a day’s shooting to each stage in one trip.
• All troopers will walk everywhere between Trooper Check-in and Check-Out.
• Troopers must carry all their gear with them any time they leave a stage.
• All gear carried by Troopers must be carried on their body (no wagons are allowed). “drag-bag” style cases are considered legal, rolling cases and carts are not.
• Troopers may not accept gear or ammunition, nor may they borrow firearms or use personal equipment not carried in from the Trooper Check-in Point (the exception being any stage guns or other equipment designed into a Stage)
• Troopers may use any equipment deemed safe by the Match Director/Range Master, provided they carried it in from the Trooper Check-in Point.
• Troopers may use a pistol-caliber carbine in lieu of a pistol or rifle on any designated pistol/rifle target.
• Troopers may not opt-out of any physical challenge.
• Violation of Trooper Division Rules will result in the competitor being removed from Trooper Division and placed into a division where there equipment is legal.
• Troopers only need to carry the guns and ammo they intend to use on a stage during a stage. Rucks/Backpacks can be grounded.
• Water can be resupplied at any time
• Food and Drinks other than water will be carried in from the Trooper Check-In Point
• Troopers may eat lunch provided on the range
• Medical assistance does not drop a shooter out of Trooper.
In Layman’s Terms:
Troopers will check in and hike all their gear for that day’s shooting into the range. Troopers have to carry all their gear from stage to stage in one trip. The upside is they get to use any gear they can carry that won’t hurt our steel. At the end of the day, they have to hike all their gear back to the Trooper Check-in. After they check out, they can do whatever they want with their stuff.
Armored Category
Shooters must wear front and rear rifle rated armor plates during every course of fire
Single Day Match Rules
- Trooper: No limitations on firearms/accessories.
- Troopers must carry all ammunition they will use for the entire match on every stage.
- Troopers are required to participate in all physical challenges (if there are any optional ones in the stage description)
- Troopers must use the same rifle for the duration of the match, or have tools/cleaning equipment/parts with them to fix it if it stops working.
- Troopers must start with at least 1 liter of water. Water may be refilled at the shooter’s discretion.
- Failure to comply with any of these rules will drop the shooter out of Trooper into whatever division their firearms would put them in.
Old Multi-Day Match Rules
1) The shooter must transport all firearms, ammunition, equipment, and cleaning supplies with them for the duration of the match from the moment they sign in the first day of shooting.*
2) The amount of ammunition the shooter begins the match with, is all they are allowed to use for the duration of the match. The shooter may have as much ammunition in their pack, vest, or ammunition carriers as he/she wishes.
3) Any back up guns the shooter may wish to use should their primary firearm become inoperable during the course of the match must be carried with them for the duration of the match.
4) The equipment must be carried via any man portable means and in a safe manner. No wagons, wheelbarrows, carts, sleds, etc allowed. The shooter must transport all their equipment to the next stage in one trip. If the shooter fails to do this, they will be made to return to the previous stage and walk back again carrying all their equipment in one trip.
5) The shooter does not need to carry all this equipment during the course of fire, they may ground their rucksack and use only the equipment on their person if they wish.
6) Trooper class shooters must start with at least one liter of water on their person or in their rucksack. Additional Water will be provided at all stages. The shooter must carry the container of water for the duration of the match. The shooter must carry any beverages other than water themselves.
7) Lunch will be provided for all Trooper Class shooters on the range. Any food a Trooper Class shooter wishes to eat must be carried on them other than the food served at lunchtime. This means not even accepting a piece of gum, candy, beef jerky, or other food item from another competitor. Trooper shooters may ground their gear on a stage when going to lunch, if eating on the range.
8) Any time a Trooper class shooter leaves the range, he/she must check his/her gear at the stat house where it will be secured to prevent tampering and/or adding or removing of equipment. Trooper class shooters will check out for lunch, and check out at the end of the shooting for the day.
9) Equipment may be “abandoned” at any point during the match, after it is abandoned it may not be used again for the rest of the match. To abandon equipment, the shooter must Declare to their squad that they are abandoning it, walk back to the stat house or trooper check point with it, declare to a match official that they are abandoning it, and then may secure it in the stat house until the end of the match or in their vehicle.
10) Safety equipment including ear and eye protection may be replaced if it is lost or damaged during the match. It may only be replaced with equipment of the same general type. i.e. sun glasses may only be replaced with sun glasses, not clear glasses.
11) The only assistance allowed to a trooper class shooter during a course of fire, is verbal direction from the Range Officer only.
12) If a trooper forgets something on a stage, they may hike back with their entire loadout to retrieve it so long as this is done within one stage of where the equipment was unintentionally left at.
13) To avoid injury, troopers may use benches, tables, terrain, and help from other competitors to put on their packs.
- Failure to follow these rules or voluntarily choosing to drop out of Trooper Class will place the shooter in a class as determined by the firearms and accessories they are using.
- Another individual can give medical assistance without bumping the shooter out of Trooper Class.
- All trooper class shooters will be squaded together to ensure that participating shooters properly follow the rules.
- Every Trooper squad will be assigned a squad leader familiar with the rules to ensure sportsman like conduct and that the rules are followed. Squad leaders will report violations of the rules to The match director and trooper class director who will reach a ruling together
- Any trooper competitor found to be willfully violating the rules of trooper class to gain an advantage will be disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Ironman Specific Rules
1. For the MGM Ironman match the shooter will have one ammo can in which they may store extra ammunition, spare parts, spare firearms, food, etc for re-supply during the match. Shooter will provide their own ammo can which will be a Tall .50 BMG can (7”x 12”x 9”) or smaller (less than 756 cubic inches)
2. Troopers will participate in all physical challenges including but not limited to the zip-line and tower climb. Stage descriptions should denote optional actions for other classes that are required for trooper.
Firearms
1. Trooper Class shooters may use firearms from any of the other specified classes. A Trooper class shooter may use all iron-sighted guns, or open class guns, however they must be able to transport any firearms (and spares) without assistance from stage to stage by themselves.
2. There is no limit on magazine capacity, bipods, scopes, etc in Trooper Class.
3. If a shooter decides to carry more than one firearm, spare upper receiver, optics, etc they may elect to use them on a stage as they see fit. Rifle calibers may only be used on rifle targets, shotguns on shot targets, and pistols on pistol targets. Multiple firearms of the same category may only be used at the discretion of the range officer or as prescribed by the course of fire. For example; a shooter may not begin the stage with a bolt-action rifle and swap out to a semi auto carbine for the rifle targets unless authorized to do so by the range officer or switching guns prescribed by the course of fire. If a range officer assesses that it is reasonable and safe to allow a trooper class shooter to use multiple guns on a stage, they must do so for all Trooper class shooters.
4. Trooper Class shooters may use pistol caliber carbines or submachine guns to engage both rifle and pistol targets. The equivalent start position for holstered handgun if PCC or subgun cannot be holstered is slung across the front of the body with safety on. Hands will be in the same required start position for pistol. All Safety rules including the 180 still apply. The shooter should still bring a handgun and be prepared to use it if stage design makes it more practical.
5. The only thing a trooper class shooter may add to their gear and not carry with them is a hard locking case to store their firearms in the locked stat house at the end of the day. All firearms maintenance must be performed at the range, with the cleaning kit and supplies the shooter has brought with them in their pack.
Trooper Class Director will be the final arbiter for rulings on any circumstances not foreseen in these rules.
SinistralRifleman 