Having now been to a handful of IDPA shooting events and still being far from being remotely competitive against anyone but myself, I find questions arising re: the scoring process. I have found the following is a normal sequence of events:
Once the course of fire is completed by the shooter, the range officer advances to the target(s) and proclaims the results. i.e. points down per target, any failure to engage, or hit on non-threat, etc. VERY quickly thereafter, the other shooters are encouraged to paste the targets to keep the shoot moving. At a recent shoot a friend and I experienced:
The RO not correctly scoring the "points down" total (two shots were clearly touching perforations - which are supposed to be given the lesser point deduction )
One call by the RO where the shooter hit a hard cover but was penalized with a "hit on a non-threat. "
No verbal indication to the shooter during any stage of the shoot of a procedural error but then finding two procedurals were assigned as shown on the final shoot scores published for the event.
One shooter failed to complete the course of fire due to a gun malfunction. His time was counted up to the point of malfunction and then a number of points down were assigned to the targets he failed to engage. No FTE penalty points were assigned. The net result was actually to the benefit of the shooter.
This leads me to several questions:
Is it proper and acceptable or considered bad etiquette to request that the targets NOT be pasted until the shooter has had sufficient time to verify the scoring. (not an issue, obviously, if all the shots are in ( and called ) the down zero area ?
At what point, and how, is it correct to question a call on a target. i.e. round showing on the target perforation but given the higer down point ?
Should a shooter request their score sheet and review same at the end of the shoot to ensure his score(s) have been recorded correctly ? Should he actually sign it (like,say, a golf card). I have not been to a shoot where the score sheets are provided for review nor anyone signing their score sheet.
I realize all of the shoots are put on with completely volunteer help doing the very best they can. However, I also finding that all shoots are not run the same nor are all RO's equally qualified and skilled.
I welcome the thoughts and comments of fellow IDPA shooters.
Thanks in advance.
Once the course of fire is completed by the shooter, the range officer advances to the target(s) and proclaims the results. i.e. points down per target, any failure to engage, or hit on non-threat, etc. VERY quickly thereafter, the other shooters are encouraged to paste the targets to keep the shoot moving. At a recent shoot a friend and I experienced:
The RO not correctly scoring the "points down" total (two shots were clearly touching perforations - which are supposed to be given the lesser point deduction )
One call by the RO where the shooter hit a hard cover but was penalized with a "hit on a non-threat. "
No verbal indication to the shooter during any stage of the shoot of a procedural error but then finding two procedurals were assigned as shown on the final shoot scores published for the event.
One shooter failed to complete the course of fire due to a gun malfunction. His time was counted up to the point of malfunction and then a number of points down were assigned to the targets he failed to engage. No FTE penalty points were assigned. The net result was actually to the benefit of the shooter.
This leads me to several questions:
Is it proper and acceptable or considered bad etiquette to request that the targets NOT be pasted until the shooter has had sufficient time to verify the scoring. (not an issue, obviously, if all the shots are in ( and called ) the down zero area ?
At what point, and how, is it correct to question a call on a target. i.e. round showing on the target perforation but given the higer down point ?
Should a shooter request their score sheet and review same at the end of the shoot to ensure his score(s) have been recorded correctly ? Should he actually sign it (like,say, a golf card). I have not been to a shoot where the score sheets are provided for review nor anyone signing their score sheet.
I realize all of the shoots are put on with completely volunteer help doing the very best they can. However, I also finding that all shoots are not run the same nor are all RO's equally qualified and skilled.
I welcome the thoughts and comments of fellow IDPA shooters.
Thanks in advance.