GEORGIA SHOTGUN QUALIFICATION (GASQ) I. FIREARMS: Standard Duty Issue 12 Gauge Semi-automatic/Pump action shotgun Duty Issued Handgun II. AMMUNITION: 4 ROUNDS - 12 GAUGE - SLUGS 6 ROUNDS - 12 GAUGE 8 or 9 PELLET "00" BUCKSHOT (All MUST be the same pellet count) 2 ROUNDS DUTY HANDGUN III. TARGET: Two (2) SQT A-1 targets per shooter. IV. CLOTHING: Issued duty gear, hat/cap, eye protection, and ear protection. V. SIGHTS: It is strongly recommended that agencies and instructors perform patterning tests using the SQT A1 target from distances of 3, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards in order to determine the spread and patterning characteristics of their issued buckshot loads. VI. GENERAL: All reloads are the shooter s responsibility. Malfunctions must be cleared by the shooter. There are no alibis allowed. Rounds may be made up at the STAGE (distance) where problems or malfunctions occur, but only within the allotted time limits for that stage. VII. SCORING: Slugs and handgun rounds will be scored as two (2) points each for A zone (center mass/central area) hits and 1 point each for hits outside the A zone, but still within the scoring area of the two (2) silhouettes. Total possible (maximum) points for four slugs and two handgun rounds will be 12 points. "00" buckshot will be scored as 1 point for each pellet hit within the scoring area of the (2) targets, without regard to whether the hits are in the A zone (center mass/central area) or the remainder of the silhouettes scoring area. Total possible points for the 8 pellet buckshot load is 48 points. Total possible points for the 9 pellet buckshot load is 54 points. Maximum Raw Score: 60 (8 pellet buckshot) 66 (9 pellet buckshot) Georgia Shotgun Qualification (GASQ) Page 1 of 5
Minimum Qualifying Score: 48 = 80% (8 pellet buckshot) 53 = 80% (9 pellet buckshot) In all scoring scenarios, should the perforation ring of a slug, a handgun bullet or buckshot pellet break the scoring line of any scoring area, the shooter shall be credited with the scoring value of the higher of the adjacent scoring areas and graded accordingly. VIII. SAFETY: While actively engaged in a course of fire and while moving, reloading, and/or clearing a malfunction therein, the shooter will maintain proper muzzle and trigger finger discipline, by keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction downrange and by keeping the trigger finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard. At all other times during this qualification and while moving, the shooter will similarly maintain proper muzzle and trigger finger discipline by keeping the weapon pointed in a safe direction downrange and by keeping the trigger finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard. The shotgun s chamber shall be empty and the safety in the on or engaged position. While loading the shotgun, the shooter must visually and physically inspect each round of ammunition before loading the round into the weapon. Special care must be taken to differentiate between slugs and buckshot ammunition. The duty handgun is subject to the same safety rules relating to muzzle and trigger finger discipline and the engagement of safety devices. Georgia Shotgun Qualification (GASQ) Page 2 of 5
IX. DEFINITIONS: Road Ready / Gun Box Condition: Low Ready / Cover Positions: Covering Offset Position: Covering the target: The action is forward on an empty chamber, the magazine is loaded, and the safety is on. The Low Ready position is defined as shotgun stock in shoulder, weapon pointed down range, safety on and finger off of the trigger and outside the trigger guard. The shotgun will be pointed just below the target so as to clearly observe the suspect s hands. Is defined as pointing the weapon in a safe direction left or right of the target. This is advantageous when utilizing the prone position. A technique under which the target does not become a threat until it is either presented (moving or turning targets) or a sound/verbal indicator command is given by the Range Instructor. X. QUALIFICATION COURSE: STAGE ONE: 25-yard line, use of cover, 2 strings of fire, 2 slug rounds. String 1 STANDING RIGHT SIDE COVER position: 4 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 1 round per iteration, 1 total round. INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all shooters are on the 25-yard line, have them load the shotgun to gun box / road ready condition; with the action closed, load two slugs in the magazine tube, the safety is selected on or engaged. Handguns will be loaded with a full magazine, magazine inserted in the magazine well, a round chambered, the safety selected on or engaged, the magazine removed and topped off with 1 round, the magazine re-inserted in the magazine well and seated, and the handgun holstered. Standing outside cover at a low ready position, upon the Range Instructor s command of Cover, the shooter will move behind cover, and while keeping the shotgun in a low ready position, chamber a round and begin searching for the targets around the RIGHT side of the cover using an angular search technique. Upon the Range Instructor s command to Fire or, when the targets are presented, the shooter will fire ONE Georgia Shotgun Qualification (GASQ) Page 3 of 5
slug round in the RIGHT target in 4 seconds and return to the low ready without ejecting the spent shell or chambering a new round. Upon command of the Range Instructor, the shooters will step from behind cover and prepare for the second string of fire. String 2- STANDING LEFT SIDE COVER position: 4 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 1 round per iteration, 1 slug total round. Standing outside cover at a low ready position, upon the Range Instructor s command of Cover, the shooter will move behind cover, and while keeping the shotgun in a low ready position, chamber a round and begin searching for the targets around the LEFT side of the cover using an angular search technique. Upon the Range Instructor s command to Fire or, when the targets are presented, the shooter will fire ONE slug round in the LEFT target in 4 seconds. STAGE TWO: 15-yard line, use of cover, 2 strings of fire, 4 buckshot rounds and 2 slug rounds total. String 1- STANDING EITHER SIDE COVER position: 8 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds per iteration, 2 buckshot rounds total. INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all shooters are on the 15-yard line, have them load the shotgun to the Road Ready/ Gun Box condition with 4 rounds of 00 buckshot in the magazine tube, the action closed, and the safety on. Standing outside of cover at a low ready position, upon the Range Instructor s command of Cover, the shooter will move behind cover, and while keeping the shotgun in a low ready position, chamber a round and begin searching for the targets using an angular search technique. Upon the Range Instructor s command to Fire or, when the targets are presented, the shooter will fire TWO buckshot rounds in the RIGHT target and TWO buckshot rounds in the LEFT target in any order they choose, within 8 seconds and remain behind cover at the low ready. Georgia Shotgun Qualification (GASQ) Page 4 of 5
String 2- STANDING EITHER SIDE COVER position: 6 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 2 rounds per iteration, 2 slug rounds total. INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Have shooters perform an out of battery loading of the shotgun while standing behind cover with 1 slug loaded into the chamber, the action closed, safety on or engaged and while in battery, load 1 slug into the magazine tube. Come to the low ready position. Upon the Range Instructor s command to Fire or, when the targets are presented, the shooter will fire ONE headshot in the RIGHT target and ONE headshot in the LEFT target in any order they choose, within 6 seconds and remain behind cover at the low ready. STAGE THREE: 7-yard line, 1 string of fire, transition to handgun, 2 buckshot rounds and two handgun rounds. String 1 - STANDING NO COVER position: 6 seconds per iteration, 1 iteration, 4 buckshot rounds, and 2 handgun rounds per iteration, 6 rounds (buckshot and handgun combined) total. INSTRUCTOR NOTES: Once all shooters are on the 7 yard line have them perform an out of battery loading of the shotgun with 1 buckshot round loaded into the chamber, the action closed, safety selected on or engaged and while in battery, load 1 buckshot round in the magazine tube. Come to the low ready position. Upon the Range Instructor s command to Fire or, when the targets are presented, the shooter will give verbal commands and fire ONE buckshot round in the RIGHT target and ONE buckshot round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose, then TRANSITION to their handgun, and fire ONE round in the RIGHT target and ONE round in the LEFT target, in any order they choose, within 6 seconds. Georgia Shotgun Qualification (GASQ) Page 5 of 5