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From: newcomb@world.std.com (Donald R Newcomb)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Target shooting & scoring question
Message-ID: <35774@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 18 Jun 91 18:45:43 GMT
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Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
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I wrote:
#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?
 
Mod inserted:
#[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...)]
 
#From NRA Highpower Rifle Rules (1990) Sorry don't have '91 yet.
 
Rule: 9.45
"Pit Challenge Procedure- Competitors must immediately
challenge the scoring of any shot on which they disagree with the
target marker. It is the duty of the Range Officer to accept the
challenge; collect the fee without comment; direct that no further
shots be fired by the competitor until the challenge has been de-
cided; personally telephone the Pit Officer and remain at the firing
point until the correct value has been signaled from the pit. The Pit Officer
shall examine the challenged target carefully, scrutinizing all lines,
figures, and wrinkles to locate possible undetected hits using a 
magnifying glass and/or scoring gauge to detect close doubles,
and a scoring gauge as appropriate to resolve close scoring values,
before signaling results found. The Pit Officers decision is final.
If the competitor's challenge is sustained, the challenge fee will
be returned immediately; otherwise, it is forfeited and turned over
to the Statistical Office.
 
Rule: 14.3
"How to Score- A shot hole, the leaded edge of which
comes into contact with the outside of the X ring or other scoring
ring of a target, is given the higher value (including keyhole or
tipped shots even though the hole is elongated to the bullet's length
rather than being a circle of the bullet's diameter). X's must be
scored. The higher value will be allowed in those cases where the
flange on the gauge touches the scoring ring. The .30 caliber gauge
will be used to score all targets and calibers.
[Description of gauge and target drawing deleted]
 
My pont is that Rule 9.45 makes it mandatory for the Pit Officer to
"examine the challenged target carefully" and use "a scoring gauge
as appropriate to resolve close scoring values." This is not a 
"judgment call" the rule says "shall." Rule 14.3 says, "The higher
value will be allowed in those cases where the flange on the gauge
touches the scoring ring." If the Pit Officer examines the target and
fails to plug the challenged hole, when to do so _might_ raise the
value, he has failed to follow Rule 9.45.
 
I feel that we were correct to run the shot as an 8. It did not,
after all, touch the scoring ring. The shooter was correct to challenge
the score. The Pit Officer should have personaly examined the target
and plugged the hole, if there was the slightest chance that it would
have raised the score. 

Donald Newcomb
newcomb@world.std.com