About Before the Timer
Before the Timer helps new USPSA and IDPA shooters see which divisions their pistol is legal for, before they show up at a match. Pick your gun, tell us what you have changed, and get a plain-language answer for every division, including why.
Frequently asked questions
What does Before the Timer check?
It checks whether your semi-auto pistol, as you describe it, is legal for each USPSA division (Open, Limited, Limited 10, Limited Optics, Production, Carry Optics, Single Stack) and each IDPA division (SSP, ESP, CDP, CCP, CO). You pick your gun, say what you have changed, and it explains each answer in plain language with the rulebook section it came from.
Which rulebooks does it use?
USPSA rules use the September 2026 ruleset, and the USPSA Production Gun List is the version dated 10/07/2026. IDPA rules use ruleset 2026.2. Every result names the section and ruleset version it came from.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
It is free and there are no accounts. Your build is not saved. If you leave "Share this to help other shooters" on, only facts about the factory gun (such as a missing spec, a factory magazine weight, or a gun we don't list yet) are sent for review, never anything about the parts you changed. The Privacy page has the details.
Can I share my results?
Yes. The results page has a link that carries your answers inside the link itself, so anyone who opens it sees the same results. Nothing is saved on a server to make that work.
Is this an official USPSA or IDPA resource?
No. It is an independent guide, not affiliated with or endorsed by USPSA or IDPA. Always confirm with the official rulebooks, and remember that match officials make the final call on equipment.
What if my gun isn't listed?
You can enter it yourself with the manufacturer, model, and caliber. Any specs you don't know can be left blank. Those parts of the answer then show as needing verification instead of guessing, and the results tell you what to check.
How do the weight and sizing box checks work?
Where a division has a weight limit or a sizing box, the check starts from the published factory figures. If you changed something that affects weight or size, it asks you to weigh the gun unloaded with an empty magazine inserted, or to test it in the sizing box yourself, because only a real measurement is reliable. Results close to a limit are marked for a physical check.
Not an official resource
Before the Timer is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or an official resource of USPSA or IDPA. Always check the official rulebooks at uspsa.org and idpa.com. Match officials make the final call on equipment, and rules change, so use these results as a starting point.
Who makes this
Hi, I'm the one person behind this site. It's a one-woman project, built for fun. It isn't perfect, and updates aren't speedy, but I'd love to hear suggestions and corrections. Email me at hello@beforethetimer.com.