Event Rules

TECHNICAL RULES FOR "DOWN THE LINE"

SHOOTING ORDER

3.00 With the trap and targets set as detailed in 3.39 -

3.50 the shooters comprising the squad shall stand at the designated firing marks from 1 to 5 (from left to right facing the trap) in the order in which their names appear on the scorecard. ALL GUNS SHALL BE OPEN AND EMPTY. (Note rule 1.36 regarding "Clearing of Guns")

VIEWING TARGETS

3.01 When the squad is ready competitor number one shall call to view a single target, this procedure will be permitted on all layouts shot by each squad.

PROCEDURE

3.02 When all is ready and correct the Referee shall call "Line Ready". At this point all competitors may then insert 2 cartridges into their barrels but guns must remain open.

3.03 Note: Those using semi-automatics must keep the bolt to the chamber open, but a cartridge may be loaded into the magazine.

3.04 The first competitor, standing on firing mark 1 (subsequently referred to as peg 1) may then close their gun and adopt a shooting stance and call "Pull" or some other word of command when they are ready.

3.05 Upon this command, the Puller, who shall be positioned behind the line of shooters, will immediately release a target. Should an acoustic system be in use this will activate and release a target at this time. Where the acoustic system as a built in delay this setting shall be used.

3.06 No claim of an alleged "quick" or "slow pull", will be accepted unless the Referee has distinctly called "No Bird" prior to the firing of the shot in the event of the "quick pull", or prior to the emergence of the target in the event of the "slow pull". Otherwise if the shooter fires, the result shall be scored.

3.07 The shooter on peg 1 may shoot at this target in flight with one or two shots and be scored accordingly (See rules 3.18 / 3.21.)

SECOND & SUBSEQUENT SHOOTERS

3.08 Provided that a "No Bird" has not been called and the Referee has announced the result of the shot from the previous shooter, the shooter on the second firing mark may then follow the same procedure, followed afterwards by the third shooter and repeated for shooter Nos.4 and 5.

3.09 After shooter No.5 has shot, shooter No.1 shall again call for a target and all the shooters in the squad follow this sequence until the required number of targets have been shot at.

3.10 Each competitor shall shoot at an equal amount of targets from each stand [five] during any round of 25 targets. (Excluding shoot offs.)

CHANGING STANDS

3.11 After the required amount of targets have been shot at from each stand an indication to cease shooting and change stands shall be given by the Referee/Scorer calling "change please!"

3.12 Each shooter (except No.5) then moves to the firing mark (Peg) next on the right and No.5 takes the place of No.1.
Note;: when competitors walk between firing marks (Pegs) each shooter must ensure that the gun is open. In the case of semi-automatics, the breech must be open and empty.

3.13 The shooter leaving No.5 firing mark to take up position No.1 firing mark must move to that position by walking behind the line of shooters with the gun open and empty of cartridges or cases. Particular care must be taken to ensure that semi-automatic magazines and chambers are completely empty.

RE-STARTING AFTER CHANGING

3.14 When all is in order and all the shooters are again in proper position and ready to shoot, the Referee shall call "Line Ready" and shall do so after each change and before the commencement of shooting.

3.15 No.1 shooter of the squad (after the first move and standing at Peg No.2) commences the second round, at the end of which the squad again moves to the right, the No.1 shooter also commences the third and remaining rounds finishing at No.5 firing mark.

END OF STAGE

3.16 Once all members of the squad have shot at the required number of targets from each firing mark this will conclude the shooting of this particular stage. At this point the Referee shall call "unload and check your scores" whereupon all guns shall be opened and emptied of any cartridges or cases.

TIME LIMITS

3.17 All competitors must call for their target within ten seconds of the Referee announcing the result of the previous shot unless change has been called. Then shooter No. 1 will call within ten seconds of the Referee calling "line ready". Competitors failing to call within ten seconds will be warned on the first occasion and a one-target penalty for each subsequent occurrence shall be imposed.

SCORING & SCORER

3.18 Competitions (unless otherwise stated) shall be scored using the following "Points" system:

3.19 3 POINTS FOR A 1ST BARREL HIT

3.20 2 POINTS FOR A 2ND BARREL HIT

3.21 0 POINTS FOR A TARGET NOT HIT BY EITHER SHOT

The Scorer shall:-
3.22 Keep an accurate record of the result of shots at each target.

3.23 Mark the scorecard clearly and consistently to indicate a first barrel hit, but always with a "2" for a second barrel hit and "0" for a lost target as the Referee so calls.

3.24 Shall give an opinion as to whether a target is hit or not but only when asked by the Referee.

3.25 Mark the scorecard appropriately to record malfunctions [MAL], foot faults [FF], safety warnings [SW], conduct warning [CW] or interruptions [INT] as the Referee so directs.

3.26 Total the numbers of hits and points accurately at the completion of the required number of targets and announce the final scores aloud of each competitor after they complete their final stage.

NO BIRD

3.27 The Referee shall declare a " NO BIRD" and another target shall be allowed only if:-

3.28 The competitor shoots out of turn.

3.29 More than one person shoots at the same target.

3.30 A shooter shoots from the wrong firing mark.

3.31 A broken target is thrown, (whether shot at or not).

3.32 An allowable simultaneous discharge occurs.

3.33 A clay target of an entirely different colour to those used elsewhere in the competition is suddenly thrown, (whether shot at or not).

3.34 An irregular whole target appears and is not shot at.

3.35 In the opinion of the Referee, some occurrence takes place that may materially affect the equity of the competition.

3.36 There is a permissible MISFIRE or MALFUNCTION

SECOND BARREL MALFUNCTION

3.37 If the first shot is a miss and the competitor's second shot misfires, a new target must be thrown. The first shot at the new target must miss the target and the shooter must attempt to hit the target with their second shot. If the target is hit with the first shot it is scored "LOST"

CLAIMS FOR A "NO BIRD"

3.38 When a Referee does not declare a "No Bird" and the competitor in question considers that an award of "No Bird" should be given, the competitor must consult with the Referee immediately after the shot or target in question. IF THIS IS NOT DONE ANY SUBSEQUENT CLAIMS WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED.

SETTING THE TRAP [Datum or Reference Point]
3.39 All measurements are taken with reference to the top surface of firing mark No.3 (the datum point). Adjustments must be made where the ground is at a different level to the datum.

3.40 Distances, where given, are all measured from the centre of the pivot point of the trap when it is set to throw a target straight away. Care should be taken that traps are set whenever possible, in still weather, slight adjustments may be necessary in certain wind conditions.

TARGET HEIGHT

3.41 At a distance of 9.14m from the trap, a regular target shall attain a height of 2.44m to 3.05m. To ensure the correct elevation, procure a 2.44m pole with a hoop 61cm diameter attached to the top end. Place the pole upright at 9.14m in front of the trap. The trap should then be set to throw the target through the hoop centre.

3.42 Care must be taken to ensure that the correct measuring height is attained 9.14 m from the trap.

TARGET DISTANCE

3.43 With the trap set to throw a target straight away when viewed from firing mark No.3 a regular target shall travel a distance of 45.7m to 50.3m. A suitable post shall be set at this distance.

ANGLES

3.44 Targets shall be thrown randomly, within an area bounded by an angle of 22° each side of an imaginary straight line, drawn through the centre of firing mark No.3, and projected past the centre of the pivot point of the trap set to throw a straight away target.

3.45 The trap shall be set at this angle to the left and to the right of this straight line for all registered events. During Competition the trap will be set to throw at random, continuously changing angles.

Note: These angles can be visibly checked, by noting that with the trap set to throw an extreme left hand target, this would appear as a straight away bird when viewed from firing mark No.5. For an extreme right hand target as a straightaway bird when viewed from firing mark No.1.

WIDELY DIFFERENT ANGLE

3.46 To allow for unfavourable wind conditions, an additional tolerance of 10 degrees either side of the 22 degree angles left and right shall be considered as the boundary defining a WIDELY DIFFERENT ANGLE, and two posts set at these further angles may be placed about 30m from the trap. Targets thrown within this area shall be considered to be within bounds and therefore a regular target. If however a target travels outside the prescribed extreme limits it is an irregular target.

RECOMMENDATION

3.47 The trap should be set so that the tip of the throwing arm, in the released position, is a minimum of 50cm above ground level. Ideally the arm should be as near as possible to the underside of the trap house roof.

3.48 Height (at rear) 0.76 +or- 0.1m

3.49 Width 2.44 +or- 0.16m

3.50 Length 2.44 +or- 0.16m

SHOOT OFF

3.51 All those involved in a tie break will shoot a standard full round, with normal scoring to establish final positions (If there are less than five people involved in a shoot off, shooter number one shall start on stand two). If after the initial round a tie still exists, those shooters involved will shoot a further full round under the same conditions to reach a decision.

3.52 If after these two shoot off rounds shooters are still tied, they will enter into a sudden death, one bird shoot off until the tie is broken. Competitors must shoot at the same number of targets and may only fire one cartridge at each target. Nothing may be loaded into the remaining barrel.

TEAM TIES

3.53 If two or more teams obtain the same scores the captain of each team will nominate three members of the team to shoot in a sudden death shoot-off. The captain may include himself/herself as one of the three. The selected team members will be numbered one, two and three. To start the shoot-off all the selected team members numbered "one" will shoot at a single target from peg 3, in turn, in a team order to be decided by the tossing of a coin. Should a tie still exist after they have shot, the selected team members numbered "two" shall then shoot at a single target in turn. Should a tie still exist after they have shot, the selected team members numbered "three" will then shoot at a single target in turn. Should a tie still exist after all three members of each team have shot, then the same procedure will be carried out until the tie is broken. Team members may only fire one cartridge at each target with nothing loaded into the remaining barrel.

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