IDPA Rules 2026 in 60 Seconds (BLUF)

Short answer: IDPA scores you on raw time plus penalty seconds — lowest total wins. Hits in the centre -0 zone add nothing, -1 adds one second each, -3 adds three, and a miss is five. The 2026 rulebook calls the two scoring methods Unlimited Scoring (best hits count, extra shots allowed) and Limited Scoring (extra shots get punished) — the old “Vickers Count” and “Limited Vickers” names are gone from the book, though everyone at the range still says them. You must use cover when offered, engage near-to-far (Tactical Priority), reload behind cover, and wear a concealment garment that hides your entire rig with arms outstretched. Procedural errors are 3 seconds, Flagrant Penalties 10 seconds, FTDR 20 seconds, hits on a non-threat 5 seconds, and safety violations (sweeping a muzzle, dropping a loaded gun, AD) are an immediate DQ.

🎯 The 60-Second Answer

The eight official IPSC range commands, in order (Section 8.3, IPSC Handgun Competition Rules, January 2026 Edition):

1. “Load And Make Ready” — or just “Make Ready” if the stage starts unloaded (8.3.1)
2. “Are You Ready?” — silence means yes; say “Not Ready” if it is not (8.3.2)
3. “Standby” — one word, and the beep follows within 1 to 4 seconds (8.3.3)
4. “Start Signal” — the beep itself is an official command (8.3.4)
5. “Stop” — any RO on the stage, at any time (8.3.5)
6. “If You Are Finished, Unload And Show Clear” (8.3.6)
7. “If Clear, Hammer Down, Holster” (8.3.7)
8. “Range Is Clear” — nobody moves downrange before this (8.3.8)

Three things that will cost you: creeping after “Standby” is 1 procedural penalty under Rule 10.2.6. Reacting to the beep and then stopping without an official time recorded gives you zero time and zero score for the stage (8.3.4.2). And only the RO’s timing device counts as your official time (9.10.1) — your own timer never does.