USPSA mag/mag-pouch question

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Detritus

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Ok, this is a simple bordering on stupid (for a guy who's been shooting USPSA for multiple years) question, and I KNOW I've seen it answered before, but now can't remember the answer or where I saw it, so....

In those divisions (SS, Prod) where mag pouches/retention are limited to having to be at or behind the point of the hip, does this apply AT "Load and make Ready", or does it come into play at the Beep??
In other words when I (as a SS shooter who can't just put an extra round in my first mag) step up to the line and am given the command to load and make ready can I use the following procedure?
  1. un-holster
  2. insert Barney Mag, load one round off top
  3. return Barney to it's pouch
  4. take fully loaded 8rd mag from front pants pocket, and insert in gun
  5. Re-holster
Or do the rules require me to have all on-body mags behind the point of my hip When I step up to/into the starting position, I've simply never been sure on that one small detail.

The reason I am asking is that I decided to Ditch the Kludged together mag pouch I'd been using (cloth 8-in-line storage pouch with the top removed) and buy myself the Christmas gift of a set of new "proper" (normal) mag pouches and at the same time experiment with bullets forward instead of Bullets out. this new arrangement forces the placement of my Barney mag out to the very limit of my range of motion with my left arm. and makes it very awkward to stick that sucker back into it's place.
But if I can move my "starting mag" to my front pocket, I can drop a pouch from the belt and move the Barney up enough to no longer be a PITA to deal with.

truth is no matter what, I'm thinking i'll only use this long enough to get a set of Bullets-out compatible pouches. which with my bills might be awhile...:(

Anyway, Thank you for any input or advice you can/choose to share
 
I shoot mostly IDPA but this works both ways.
My Barney AND my LAMR full magazine start out in my left pocket, only reloads on belt.
1. Unholster.
2. Take Barney out of pocket (floorplate is different, I can draw it by feel) chamber a round.
3. Return Barney to pocket, come back out with full magazine.
4. Insert full magazine, holster.
 
I shoot mostly IDPA but this works both ways.
My Barney AND my LAMR full magazine start out in my left pocket, only reloads on belt.
1. Unholster.
2. Take Barney out of pocket (floorplate is different, I can draw it by feel) chamber a round.
3. Return Barney to pocket, come back out with full magazine.
4. Insert full magazine, holster.

Good, just needed to make sure I was right about that part.
have a few overly zealous (read as "borderline obnoxious in how they go about it") range-lawyers at my current club and feel better with a different person's read on things.
 
Note: This answer is from memory. There is a chance I am misremembering this.

You could bring a forklift to the line with you carrying a palette full of loaded mags. The restrictions are on what gets used during the course of fire.

CAUTION: You reach into that pocket for a mag during the course of fire (maybe because you ran other mags dry or because you're having a brain cramp) and it's welcome-to-Open for you!
 
Note: This answer is from memory. There is a chance I am misremembering this.

You could bring a forklift to the line with you carrying a palette full of loaded mags. The restrictions are on what gets used during the course of fire.

CAUTION: You reach into that pocket for a mag during the course of fire (maybe because you ran other mags dry or because you're having a brain cramp) and it's welcome-to-Open for you!

Pretty much how I was remembering it too. just wanting to reassure myself I guess is the right words here.
And with what I had/have in mind, once I've "made ready" there won't BE a mag in that front pocket to be retrieved during the course of fire. it would only be there from when I retrieved it from my range bag till I have loaded and made ready. after that nothing in my pockets (I typically empty my front pockets when I gear-up, for comfort).
 
Good, just needed to make sure I was right about that part.
have a few overly zealous (read as "borderline obnoxious in how they go about it") range-lawyers at my current club and feel better with a different person's read on things.

Smash them on the head with your rulebook. You have one, right?


5.2.4

Should the division restrict the location of the magazines or speed
loading devices, carrying them in apparel pocket(s) forward of the
restriction point will be allowed providing they are not removed from
the apparel pocket(s) between the “standby” command and the
command “ if clear, hammer down and holster”.
 
Put the Barney in your back pocket.

Some RO's will state the CoF starts at "Make Ready" You pull that barney from the front you could be in violation...

They cannot say a darn thing if its in your back pocket "behind the hip" for those classes that require...
 
What waktaz said, and additionally, there is a key difference here between USPSA and IDPA.

In USPSA, think of the rule as applying from the beep until the ULSC command. If you pull a magazine from anywhere forward of the hip bone during the course of the stage, off to Open you go.

In IDPA, it is common practice to store a magazine in the appendix position during the course of fire for a "reload with retention". In USPSA, this is a danger zone at best, and will definitely send you to Open if you then pull that magazine and use it, even if it wasn't there at the start beep. I had a buddy go to Open at a level 2 match doing this in his early days of USPSA; he didn't think anything of it since he did it all the time in IDPA. (I don't remember why he was doing this in the first place in USPSA). Best practice in USPSA, just never put a magazine forward of the hip bone in the applicable divisions. This will eliminate any issues or questions.
 
I don't like having in my back pocket when shooting.
USPSA
I load one round in barney, stick in my back pocket and at load and make ready load it, chamber a round and drop it, then pull a full 10 rounder from my back mag pouch. (SS minor)
As far as I can determine this is legal. (at least none of the ROs or other shooters have made a comment, but level 1 match)

PS: Did check the rule book again (3rd or 4th time)and can't see anything that says it isn't
 
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Put the Barney in your back pocket.

Some RO's will state the CoF starts at "Make Ready" You pull that barney from the front you could be in violation...

They cannot say a darn thing if its in your back pocket "behind the hip" for those classes that require...

The competitor should know the rules. A good RO must be able to prove from the rulebook the violation if they apply one.
 
The COF does start at make ready, but there is an exception for barney mags in the front pocket as long as you don't use them between the beep and range is clear.
 
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