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From: newcomb@world.std.com (Donald R Newcomb)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Target shooting & scoring question
Message-ID: <35675@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 15 Jun 91 02:56:10 GMT
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Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
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Thanks to everyone who responded to my previous posting on the need
for a target shooting discussion group. Several people have recommended
that we NOT split off rec.guns. while still wishing for more target
related content. I recommend that target related postings have the
word "target" somewhere in the subject line. That way anyone just
interested in those postings can use the subject scan feature to
pick them out.

Here is a question for US highpower shooters.

In a 600 yd. Highpower match (U.S. National Match course) I was in
the pits during 300 rapid. The shooter was firing an AR-15 (.223).
One round hit at 12:00 O'clock _just_ outside the 9 ring. Between the
bullet hole and 9 ring there was a very thin but distinct black line.
My partner in the pit insisted that it was a legal 8 and we should not
call for a plug. It was run as an 8. The shooter challenged for score
on that shot. The pit officer asked us, "Can you see black between the
bullet hole and ring?" I replied, "Yes, but its a .223 and close." He
replied, "Well, if it doesn't touch and you see black, he lost his
dollar." The challenge was denied. The pit officer never plugged
the hole.

Is this the correct way to score a close .223 hit? Was proper
procedure followed?

Donald Newcomb
newcomb@world.std.com

[MODERATOR:  Its the pit officer's call, but I would have plugged it.
In the case that the hole is clearly, cleanly punched through, then seeing
black between the hole edge and any part of the *white* line (that itself
constitutes the beginning of the next scoring region) means the lower score
is used.  If that hole cuts any part of the white line (or black line, if 
you are out of the black center) then the higher score is given.  Now, few
hi power shooters use nice wadcutters.  So with typically-used bullets, like
from the pea shooter you mention, the paper tears a little, the bullet passes
through, but then the paper edge is still there over the hole.  This is why
you use a plug, to precisely define the edge of what constitutes the "hole".
Get 'hold of the NRA rule book for hi power, its makes interesting reading
after you've already been out to the firing line (though to me it was a bit
confusing to read before I'd actually been in a match...)]