otherwise. Beginners and Marksmen should be squadded together. Squad by classes, whenever possible, to avoid problems. Avoid squadding individual matches with members of the same team on adjoining firing points. This applies particularly to matches where competitors score each other. In gallery matches, there is no weather problem. Consequently, shooters can fire all events on the program during one trip to the range. The shooter can state the hour preferred to shoot, and can usually be accommodated. To provide such squadding, ascertain how long it will take for a competitor to fire all matches. If this totals two hours and there are ten targets available, squad twenty shooters to report to the range every four hours. The first twenty constitute Relays 1 and 2. Competitors on Relay 1 take their firing positions and fire the first event. Then Relay 2 takes it position and fires the match. Relay 1 again takes position and fires the second event. Relays 1 and 2 alternate in this manner until they have completed all fired events (including team matches). Shooters on Relays 1 and 2 are then free to go about their business and are succeeded on the range by Relays 3 and 4 who repeat the process. Many shooters who enter such a tournament would not do so if it required them to stay at the range all day in order to complete the schedule. This procedure allows the Statistical Office to squad out-of-town shooters at an hour convenient to them. A large tournament may be concluded on a small range. Shooting can be carried on for several days or several weekends. This eliminates a crowded range. This squadding procedure may also be used in Approved outdoor tournaments, but is more popular in gallery shooting where wind and weather conditions do not affect scores.
Make sure targets are set up properly
the NRA.
Squadding information: The squadding ticket (stub or labels) on each score card may be completed and furnished by the competitor concerned. A more modern way is to disregard these stubs, combine all squadding information for each shooter on a special single squadding ticket, and put this ticket in the competitor’s packet. These special squadding tickets are available from
Scoring: Scoring targets is no mysterious procedure. Anyone with fair eyesight can score accurately. A basic principle is to plug doubtful shots with a scoring plug, take one careful look at the gauge rim where it is closes to the scoring ring, make up your mind as to that particular shot’s value, and then go to the next. Do not keep looking, as you will not be able to make up your mind what to call it. Make honest decisions and go to the next shot. No matter how long you peer, you will usually come right back to the first decision. Someone will be sure to say, “Should the shooter be given the benefit of the doubt?” If a careful look leaves the honest belief that the shot hole does not touch the higher
Let the scoring gauge find its own direction, do not force it
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Chapter 3
Tournament Operations Guide