Main match stages are shot with the battle rifle if the competitor is entered in one of the Battle Rifle categories! And I'm here to tell you it is grand fun firing 100 or so rounds from a .577/.450 Martini-Henry or other such "portable cannon" ....even with reduced loads .... as my poor shoulder can attest! (Also, if they could speak, any number of gongs that weren't supposed to be knock-downs would likely tell you the same thing .... )
After a day and a half of sustained firing by the 139 effective defenders of Rorke's Drift (during which they expended almost 20,000 rounds) the most prevalent injuries among the British soldiers were burnt hands (rifle barrels were actually reported to be visibly glowing during some of the night actions) and dislocated shoulders!