EDITORIAL NOTE ON CROSSFIRES
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| Bert the Editor |
A Crossfire can really hurt the shooter on whose target a crossfire appears and who might lose the match because of it. The shooter may lose confidence in his/her scope settings and begins to adjust sights unnecessarily. They also hurt the club and the sport when they result in a loss of trust in one's fellow shooters and the method for resolving this issue.
It is generally a good idea to have a formal procedure in place to deal with crossfires when they happen to avoid this from becoming a personal issue or conflict. Remember - they can usually be resolved amicably with the Range Officer right on the firing line.
In matches held at Petitcodiac the following procedure is in place:
"When an identifiable crossfire occurs on another competitor's target, the low value or identifiable shot shall be transferred to the offender's target and a penalty of one point deducted. A competitor who shoots a cross-fire must not fire on his or her own record bull. To do so may result in disqualification if it is determined that this was an attempt to conceal a cross-fire.
If no identifiable crossfire has occurred, an empty bull is scored as a "0" and is not a disqualification.
If there is an extra shot(s) on a record bull, and no identifiable crossfire has occurred, the lowest shots on the bull will be scored and a one point penalty applied for each excessive shot."
In matches held in Minto, the following procedure is to be followed:
"If a shooter shoots another shooter's target it must be reported to the shooting officer to be recorded for scoring purposes."
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When a shooter fires a Crossfire, it is courteous and sportsman-like to declare it. You will generally know that you crossfired when there is an unexpected blank bull on your target, when your string of ammo for that target has run out but you still have a bull to shoot, when you suddenly realize you're on another target, when you can't find where your shot fell, or when you see that your target number is not on the target you just fired on. It is to your advantage to declare a crossfire as this may avoid more serious penalties later. Not declaring it, may also be construed as an attempt to avoid the usual penalties for crossfires if such exist. If this is determined to be the case, it usually leads to disqualification of the crossfiring shooter's target or total score.
When a shooter notices a Crossfire on his/her target, it must be declared to the RO. The RO will usually make note of it and inform the scorer. In a friendly match, the RO may also instruct the shooter who fired the Crossfire(s), if he/she can be identified, to shoot only the remaining shots on his/her own target (that is, all shots minus the crossfired ones). In a serious match of some importance, this is not allowed. Whether or not a penalty is imposed is a local club or match decision.
When no-one declares a crossfire and it is not noticed by the shooter on whose target the crossfire has occurred, the scorer, if he/she has the time, generally makes every effort to identify the extra shots and their source. The scorer may ask for an opinion from the verifyer or other experienced scorers. The scorer must eventually come to a decision and will record this on the affected shooter's target along with the score.
Appeals (also called protest or challenge). The shooter who has suffered a crossfire may appeal the scorer's decision to a Match Committee composed of senior shooters with scoring experience. A protest fee of $1 - $5 is usually levied to prevent frivolous protests. This fee is returned to the shooter if the protest is successful. The Match Committee may make use of all information it deems relevant to the issue and this may involve looking for blank bulls on another shooter's target, identifying caliber differences from the affected shooter's caliber, comparing the pattern of the affected shooter's shots or talking with the affected and/or other shooter(s).
Once the Match Committee has made a decision, it is final and that score is entered into the records of the match. A courteous and sportsman-like shooter will accept this decision and stop all disagreement with it.
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Here are some rules on crossfires from the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia. These are typical of most other Benchrest Associations' Rules.
"SECTION 13: CROSS-FIRES
13.1 If a competitor realizes that he/she has cross-fired on another competitor's Record Target he/she shall report it at once to the Range Officer, and shall then fire the balance of their shots on their own Record Target;
If a competitor cross-fires and does not report doing so, and this competitor has not fired more than the required number of shots, including those shots fired on someone else's Record Target, and the cross-fired shot(s) can be identified and attributed to him/her by a stationary backing card, or by any other means, including their own admission of having cross-fired unintentionally, then in either case, the competitor shall not be disqualified, but their own cross-fired shot, or shots shall be transposed to their own Record Target, and these shots shall then be eliminated from the other competitor's Record Target on which they were actually fired.
The competitor responsible for cross-fires of this kind shall have their Record Target measured, so that the group includes the transposed cross-fired shot or shots, and a penalty of one minute of angle shall be added to the actual measurement of their group, per shot crossfired.
13.2 When a crossfire has been determined by the match officials which was not declared by a competitor an automatic protest will be initiated. Match officials will determine the source of the crossfire shot(s) and identify the bench location. If a competitor has fired in total, more shots on their own target and the crossfired target than allowed then a penalty shall apply. The penalty applied in this rule to the crossfiring competitor for an undeclared crossfire shall be that no score or group size will be recorded for the relay.
13.3 Any competitor, who notices that another competitor has cross-fired on their Record Target, shall report the cross-fired shot(s) to the Range Officer immediately he/she becomes aware of it.
13.4 Any competitor or competitors who have lost time reporting cross-fires, or other unforeseen circumstances (excluding rifle malfunction), shall have extra time allowed to complete firing their group, the amount of time allowed shall be equal to the time lost and the Range Officer should note the length of time lost by a competitor or competitors under these circumstances."
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When a shooter fires a Crossfire, it is courteous and sportsman-like to declare it. You will generally know that you crossfired when there is an unexpected blank bull on your target, when your string of ammo for that target has run out but you still have a bull to shoot, when you suddenly realize you're on another target, when you can't find where your shot fell, or when you see that your target number is not on the target you just fired on. It is to your advantage to declare a crossfire as this may avoid more serious penalties later. Not declaring it, may also be construed as an attempt to avoid the usual penalties for crossfires if such exist. If this is determined to be the case, it usually leads to disqualification of the crossfiring shooter's target or total score.When a shooter notices a Crossfire on his/her target, it must be declared to the RO. The RO will usually make note of it and inform the scorer. In a friendly match, the RO may also instruct the shooter who fired the Crossfire(s), if he/she can be identified, to shoot only the remaining shots on his/her own target (that is, all shots minus the crossfired ones). In a serious match of some importance, this is not allowed. Whether or not a penalty is imposed is a local club or match decision.
When no-one declares a crossfire and it is not noticed by the shooter on whose target the crossfire has occurred, the scorer, if he/she has the time, generally makes every effort to identify the extra shots and their source. The scorer may ask for an opinion from the verifyer or other experienced scorers. The scorer must eventually come to a decision and will record this on the affected shooter's target along with the score.
Appeals (also called protest or challenge). The shooter who has suffered a crossfire may appeal the scorer's decision to a Match Committee composed of senior shooters with scoring experience. A protest fee of $1 - $5 is usually levied to prevent frivolous protests. This fee is returned to the shooter if the protest is successful. The Match Committee may make use of all information it deems relevant to the issue and this may involve looking for blank bulls on another shooter's target, identifying caliber differences from the affected shooter's caliber, comparing the pattern of the affected shooter's shots or talking with the affected and/or other shooter(s).
Once the Match Committee has made a decision, it is final and that score is entered into the records of the match. A courteous and sportsman-like shooter will accept this decision and stop all disagreement with it.
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Here are some rules on crossfires from the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia. These are typical of most other Benchrest Associations' Rules.
"SECTION 13: CROSS-FIRES
13.1 If a competitor realizes that he/she has cross-fired on another competitor's Record Target he/she shall report it at once to the Range Officer, and shall then fire the balance of their shots on their own Record Target;
If a competitor cross-fires and does not report doing so, and this competitor has not fired more than the required number of shots, including those shots fired on someone else's Record Target, and the cross-fired shot(s) can be identified and attributed to him/her by a stationary backing card, or by any other means, including their own admission of having cross-fired unintentionally, then in either case, the competitor shall not be disqualified, but their own cross-fired shot, or shots shall be transposed to their own Record Target, and these shots shall then be eliminated from the other competitor's Record Target on which they were actually fired.
The competitor responsible for cross-fires of this kind shall have their Record Target measured, so that the group includes the transposed cross-fired shot or shots, and a penalty of one minute of angle shall be added to the actual measurement of their group, per shot crossfired.
13.2 When a crossfire has been determined by the match officials which was not declared by a competitor an automatic protest will be initiated. Match officials will determine the source of the crossfire shot(s) and identify the bench location. If a competitor has fired in total, more shots on their own target and the crossfired target than allowed then a penalty shall apply. The penalty applied in this rule to the crossfiring competitor for an undeclared crossfire shall be that no score or group size will be recorded for the relay.
13.3 Any competitor, who notices that another competitor has cross-fired on their Record Target, shall report the cross-fired shot(s) to the Range Officer immediately he/she becomes aware of it.
13.4 Any competitor or competitors who have lost time reporting cross-fires, or other unforeseen circumstances (excluding rifle malfunction), shall have extra time allowed to complete firing their group, the amount of time allowed shall be equal to the time lost and the Range Officer should note the length of time lost by a competitor or competitors under these circumstances."
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