I have a novice question.

Should I bring my rifle and pass it through inspection, am I still in jeopardy throughout the match or am I afforded an affirmative defense that objections need to be filed before the start of the match on issues that have already been inspected and cleared?

Even if the bald-headed SOB running tech lets your rifle through with an added piece on the grip -- which he probably WON'T because he spent 30 minutes on the phone this morning with NRA getting told exactly what they think is or isn't OK -- then AFAIK another competitor can protest you and/or your equipment at any time until the shooting is done and all final scores and placements have been posted long enough to be common knowledge.

(I believe that protests have to be 'timely'. IOW, if anyone waits until a couple of hours after the match is done and then decides to file a protest, it's probably going to be disallowed. That's based on what I've seen happen before. Of course, if it becomes known that you won because you drugged your nearest rival -- or kidnapped his/her children, dog or cat, whichever would most affect the match -- then the protest could probably be filed and allowed loooong after the tournament ended!)