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Course of Fire

SPARC SEP 2025

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SPARC SEP 2025

September 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM Mountain Time

Santaquin, UT

SparcSeries.com

Match Summary

Stages
12
Expected impacts
91
Avg distance
387y
Avg positions / stage
4
Avg targets / stage
2.4
1
Marble tables
3 targets2 positions
Impacts8
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start the shooter will take a position on one of the tables and engage T1 with 2 impacts, then T2 with two impacts. Shooter will transition to the unsupported position and engage the unsupported target with two impacts. Shooter will then take a position on table 2 and engage T1 with one impact, then T2 with one impact, then T3 with one impact.
Targets (3)
382y
T1
475y
T2
820y
T3
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T1, T2, T2, T3
  • P2
    T1, T2, T3
No starting position specified
2
Sneaky Sniper’s Hide
2 targets4 positions
Impacts8
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take a position on window 1 and engage T1 then T2 with one impact each. The shooter will then repeat this from the designated doorway, window 2, and window 3.
Targets (2)
364y
T1
484y
T2
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T2
  • P2
    T1, T2
  • P3
    T1, T2
  • P4
    T1, T2
No starting position specified
3
PRS barricade – make your shots count
2 targets4 positions
Impacts8
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take a position on the barricade and engage the left then right target with one round each. Shooter will repeat this three more times for a total of four positions. A position cannot be reused. This is the only stage with a limited round count. The round count is 8. You get one round per target engagement. Each miss results in a “failure to engage” penalty of 20 seconds added to your raw time.
Targets (2)
423y
Left
349y
Right
Course of fire
  • P1
    Left, Right
  • P2
    Left, Right
  • P3
    Left, Right
  • P4
    Left, Right
No starting position specified
4
Danger close…. And far.
2 targets5 positions
Impacts7
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position (left side) with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start the shooter will take a position on the left barricade and engage T1 with two impacts. Shooter will then transition to the middle unsupported position and engage the close right then the close left target with one impact each. Shooter will then take a position on the right barricade and engage T1 with two impacts. Shooter will then transition back to the middle unsupported position and engage the close left then the close right target with 1 impact each. The shooter will then build a position on the left barricade and engage T1 with 2 impacts.
Targets (2)
618y
T1
75y
Close
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1
  • P2
    Close, Close
  • P3
    T1
  • P4
    Close, Close
  • P5
    T1
No starting position specified
5
Drums
3 targets3 positions
Impacts7
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take a position on a drum and engage T1 then T2 with one impact each. Shooter will transition to another drum and engage T2 then T3 with 1 impact each. Shooter will then transition to another drum and engage T1 then T2 then T3 with 1 impact each. Drums may not be reused.
Targets (3)
520y
T1
340y
T2
225y
T3
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T2
  • P2
    T2, T3
  • P3
    T1, T2, T3
No starting position specified
6
Speedy Truck (DONE)
3 targets2 positions
Impacts10
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take one of two designated positions on the truck and engage targets in the following order with one impact each: T1, T2, T1, T3, T1. Shooter will then transition to position two and engage targets with one impact each in the following order: T3, T2, T3, T1, T3.
Targets (3)
210y
T1
210y
T2
212y
T3
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T2, T1, T3, T1
  • P2
    T3, T2, T3, T1, T3
No starting position specified
7
Utah “Cactus” (4x4s) (DONE)
1 target9 positions
Impacts9
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start shooter will take a position on a “cactus” and engage the target with 1 impact. The shooter will repeat this until they have successfully impacted the target from 9 different positions. Positions cannot be reused.
Targets (1)
402y
T1
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1
  • P2
    T1
  • P3
    T1
  • P4
    T1
  • P5
    T1
  • P6
    T1
  • P7
    T1
  • P8
    T1
  • P9
    T1
No starting position specified
8
Tripods and Totes by Really Right Stuff
2 targets4 positions
Impacts5
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. The tripod legs must be collapsed and stowed. Upon the start, the shooter will deploy the tripod and engage T1 over the three high positions with one impact at each position. The shooter will then move to a low position and engage T2 with two impacts. During the entire stage no equipment may touch the totes or drums while using it to engage the targets. The rifle, bipod, and bag cannot touch the ground while firing.
Targets (2)
494y
T1
240y
T2
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1
  • P2
    T1
  • P3
    T1
  • P4
    T2, T2
No starting position specified
9
Token Prone Stage
4 targets3 positions
Impacts7
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take a prone position and engage T1 two impacts. The shooter will then move to the top of the spool and engage T2 with two impacts and T3 with one impact. The shooter will then take a prone position on the other side of the spool and engage T3 and T4 with one impact.
Targets (4)
276y
T1
378y
T2
498y
T3
682y
T4
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T1
  • P2
    T2, T2, T3
  • P3
    T3, T4
No starting position specified
10
Stinkin’ Logs
3 targets4 positions
Impacts6
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will engage the unsupported target from the left side of the logs with 1 impact. The shooter will then take a position on a log and engage T1 with 2 impacts. Shooter will transition to another position and engage T1 and T2 with 1 impact each in that order. Shooter will transition to another position and engage T1 and T3 with 1 impact in that order. The shooter will finish by engaging the close target unsupported with 1 impact from the right side of the logs.
Targets (3)
470y
T1
434y
T2
410y
T3
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1
  • P2
    T1, T2
  • P3
    T1, T3
  • P4
    T1
No starting position specified
11
Bouncy Tires
2 targets4 positions
Impacts8
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start shooter will take a position on one of the tires and engage T1 then T2 with 1 impact each. The shooter will move to another tire and engage T2 then T1 with 1 impact each. The shooter will move to a third tire and engage T1 then T2 with 1 impact each. The shooter will then transition to a fourth tire and engage T2 then T1 with 1 impact each. A position may not be reused.
Targets (2)
313y
T1
218y
T2
Course of fire
  • P1
    T1, T2
  • P2
    T2, T1
  • P3
    T1, T2
  • P4
    T2, T1
No starting position specified
12
Tank Trap Tango
2 targets4 positions
Impacts8
Par120s
Description
The shooter will begin standing in the designated start position with mag in, bolt back, and all gear in hand. Upon the start, the shooter will take a position on one of three tank traps. Shooter will engage the left target with two impacts. Shooter will then take a position on another tank trap and engage the right target with two impacts. Shooter will then transition to the third tank trap and engage the left then right target with one impact each. Shooter will then switch to a previous tank trap on an unused position and engage the right target then the left target with one impact each.
Targets (2)
320y
Left
373y
Right
Course of fire
  • P1
    Left, Left
  • P2
    Right, Right
  • P3
    Left, Right
  • P4
    Right, Left
No starting position specified

SPARC Series Rules

SPARC SERIES RULE BOOK

Version 1.1 - 2026

Series Intent and Purpose

The intent of this series is to test competitors' ability to engage targets with precision and speed. Stages should test a shooters ability to engage targets at various ranges, from different positions, with different mental stressors, and/or accounting for environmental factors. This is not a physical fitness event. Matches should be comprised of stages that test different aspects of marksmanship and match directors should try to test different skills on each stage where possible. Stage diversity is key to maintaining an attractive match and series while delivering an opportunity to train and test important fundamentals of practical shooting with accurized rifles.

Safety

SPARC matches operate at cold ranges – meaning ammo and magazines are not in the rifles until instructed to do so by the stage RO. Bolts are to be locked back while rifles are not in use. Rifles shall be staged in the designated areas along the firing line (generally between stage props).

Participants are responsible for muzzle discipline. Any flagging (muzzle pointed at another or oneself) will not be tolerated and will result in a match DQ. Muzzles shall be pointed up while transporting rifles from stage to stage.

While shooting a stage, muzzle discipline must be maintained. Muzzle must be either pointed down range, or straight up. When transitioning position the shooter must engage the safety. Sky loading is not permitted. (Sky loading is defined as sending the bolt forward to chamber a round before the intended target is within the field of view of the optic).

Trigger finger shall remain out of the trigger guard until the shooter is ready to fire – especially during position transitions.

Any ND/AD (Negligent and Accidental discharges) will result in a match DQ.

Warnings may be issued by ROs in the following scenarios, but if the issue persists a stage or match DQ may be issued:

  • Failure to engage safety during position transitions

  • Breaking the 180-degree shooting plane but not muzzling someone

  • Violation of cold range rule (ammo/magazine in gun off of clock)

Shooters are responsible for every round that leaves their rifle. Match Directors have the right to disqualify anyone performing any unsafe act.

Divisions

There are two divisions in 2026. Divisions may evolve as the needs of the series evolve. Rifles must be semi-automatic. Competitors may only use one rifle during the match with exceptions only to be approved by match director.

General Purpose Rifle (GPR) Division

To qualify for the GPR division a competitor must shoot a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16.5". (Not including muzzle device or suppressor) The optic on the rifle must not have an adjustable parallax, a base magnification of 1.5x or less, and a max magnification no greater than 10x. Most LPVO style optics fit this description. Cartridge restrictions are the same as the open division.

Open Division

Every rifle that does not fit into the GPR division falls into this division. Projectile caliber must be .308 or less with a muzzle velocity less than 3200 feet per second.

Match Guidelines

Shooters will be organized into squads. These squads will move together from stage to stage. The first shooter will randomly be selected for the first stage. The first shooter will rotate for each stage thereafter.

Matches shall have at least 5 stages to count for score toward series standings. These stages shall require no fewer than 5 impacts and no more than 15 impacts. Par times for stages shall be 90 seconds. Targets shall not be placed further than 850 yards. Targets shall be no smaller than 1.5 MOA. Stage starts will require that shooters have all gear they intend to use on the stage in hand at stage start.

Stage Start Cadence

Stage start cadence shall be as follows:

  • - RO will ask, "Shooter do you understand the course of fire?" (shooter will indicate yes or no)

  • - If yes, then RO will say, "Load and make ready" (Shooter will make ready)

  • - RO will then ask, "Are you ready?" (Shooter may or may not indicate ready. If a shooter is not ready, they must indicate so.)

  • - RO says, "Stand-by." (Timer will then start on a random start between 1-3 seconds)

Impact Calls and Coaching

RO's and squad-mates are responsible for calling impacts for the shooter. "HIT" should be called upon impact. No calls are made when there is a miss. No coaching is permitted on the clock. This is an individual sport. Shooters are responsible for understanding the stage before the start. If a shooter engages the wrong target, the RO only may say "wrong target" but may not indicate which target is correct. ROs and squad-mates cannot make elevation or windage calls to shooters while on the clock. Once the timer starts, a shooter is on their own to complete the stage. If a shooter requests confirmation on what target they need to engage, the RO may say "Re-engage" or "next target". ROs may also provide elapsed time of last shot if the shooter requests it.

Skipping Targets

If a shooter has attempted to engage a target with 3 rounds, they may elect to skip the target by audibly calling "skip" to the RO. The RO will call back "skip" to confirm, and the shooter will move to the next target. The shooter cannot go back to reengage a skipped target and will receive a failure to engage penalty for every skipped target.

Scoring Accuracy

To reduce errors in scoring there shall be at least two spotters calling impacts. Human error will always be part of the game, but every effort should be made to reduce its impact on scoring. If a spotter calls impact by mistake, that call is final. The shooter will proceed as if that round impacted the target even if it did not. RO's and spotters should not instruct a shooter to reengage after calling impact by mistake. This can cost the shooter precious time. Try to minimize these mistakes, but we understand they happen, when they do, it is better to benefit the shooter than to penalize the shooter.

Reshoots will be given and assessed by the Match Director.

Scoring and Season Standings

Upon completion of a stage, the shooter's raw time will be recorded. Penalties will be added to the raw time for the final stage time. The main penalty added to a shooter's raw time will be a "failure to impact" penalty. This is a 20 second penalty added for each impact not achieved by the stage.

The shooter with the fastest cumulative time after adding all stage times together will receive 100 points for the match. All other shooters will receive a percentage of points based on their time as a percentage of the winner. Example: first place shooter's cumulative time was 400 seconds for the match. Another shooter's cumulative time was 500 seconds. The first-place shooter receives 100 season points, while the other shooter receives 80 points. (400/500)*100 pts.

A shooter's top three matches during the regular season will count toward season standings. For match points to count toward the season standings, the match must be sanctioned (approved) by the SPARC series and have at least 20 shooters attend the match. The finale will count for double (200 points instead of 100). Season rankings will be determined by adding each shooter's points from their top three regular season matches and their finale score.