I received the message below from a concerned range official and I think it sums it up quite nicely. I did notice and correct some competitors not aiming at the aiming point during the WSSC match, but obviously couldn’t catch every stage every time. We deliberately specified a diameter for the aiming point to accomodate a little bit of variation, but sized it so that the RO should be able to tell if the competitor’s muzzle is pointing at it. In the past, there was an imaginary circle of acceptability, but now there is a defined area to aim at. If you are running Steel Challenge matches, then you should be following the rules in this regard. And, the range of height is indeed 18-24 inches, but that doesn’t mean that if the aiming point is 18 inches high, you can aim at 2 feet. That’s not what the rule says.
As a range officer on the stage, you must not start the competitor until they are in the correct starting position–you wouldn’t start a centerfire handgun shooter with his wrists below his belt, would you? This is no different. If the competitor objects, get the Range Master involved and move on to the next competitor. I also strongly suggest that your match uses 9″ diameter aiming points, and 24 inches is a good aiming height.
As Harry Bosch says, “How you do anything is how you do everything”. Let’s do better.
The start pin/sign for SC
I have people tell me all the time that you are allowed to aim above the pin/sign “a little” or off to the right or left of the start pin/sign “a little”.
8.2.3 In the Rimfire Pistol, Rimfire Rifle, and Pistol Carbine matches, there will be an aiming point (marker, cone, flag, or sign at a maximum of 9” wide) centered downrange directly in front of each 10’ away and 18- 24” high.
I have to say, I’m getting tired of people giving me crap when I tell them to aim at the pin.
It’s either “I’m close enough” or “so and so does it this way” or “a guy who RO’s Worlds says it’s Ok”
Hell, we just had a top shooter post a video of their “fastest time ever” at the 2026 Worlds and the shooter is clearly starting a foot above the pin/sign!
I see it everywhere I shoot and it’s not right. In my humble opinion NROI needs to remind everyone that there are no “un-written rules” I understand there’s a rule that says you don’t start the shooter until they are set up correctly, if I did that, most matches would never get finished because of me.
And also, in my opinion, the 18-24″ high dimension should be tightened up to a set dimension, plus or minus 1″ I have had shooters argue that the start pins at our local match are not 24″ inches high so they are aiming “around 24″ high”.
Alright, enough complaining, I shoot because I like it and RO because the clubs need officials to run the match, it’s getting harder and harder to do this with the crap I put up with and the attitudes of a few clubs that it’s only a level one or two match.
Rules are rules dab-nabbit!!
Club culture leads to problems and is something we should all be working to correct, regardless of the discipline.