The May Question of the Month probably caused some frustration, but I hope that after reading this post there is no frustration when scoring Fixed Time stages. Let’s review the question and see what the answer is, and why!
Stage Info: Standard Exercise, Fixed Time, Best 6 hits per target will score, 24 round total. Par time for each string is 6 seconds.
Start Position: Inside shooting area, handgun loaded and holstered with wrists below belt.
Stage Procedure: String 1: Upon audible start signal, from within the shooting area, engage each target with only two rounds each, then perform a mandatory reload and reengage each target with only one round each strong hand only. String 2: Upon audible start signal, from within the shooting area, engage each target with only two rounds each, then perform a mandatory reload and reengage each target with only one round each weak hand only.
What happened: On string 1, the Carry Optics competitor fired 2 shots at each target, then performed the mandatory reload and fired 2 shots each at 3 targets, strong hand only, before time ran out. On string 2, the competitor fired 2 shots at each of the first 3 targets, fired one shot at T4, had a malfunction, cleared the malfunction, and then shot T4 2 more times, then did the mandatory reload and shot one target, weak hand only, with one round before time expired.
Is the winning answer correct? Let’s break this down and see (we are only discussing penalties before we go down to score, not extra hits). Let’s start with string 1 first. Extra shot penalties are determined by the total number of shots for the string or stage (9.4.5.1). For this stage, each string was 12 shots. In string 1, the competitor fired 8 shots before the reload and 6 shots after the reload which is a total of 14. This means 2 extra shot penalties were earned on the first string.
The second string is where things can be confusing. Before the reload, the competitor shot T1-T3 2 times each and T4 three times. Is that an extra shot? Is it failing to make the mandatory reload? The reload point is after engaging all the targets with 2 shots and then reengaging them. The reload was completed before he reengaged the targets, so no reload penalty. Then on to after the reload where only one shot was fired so a total of 10 shots for the string. Which means it is under 12 shots and no extra shot penalties. But what about that third shot on T4? Does it earn a penalty?
In the past, I have written a few posts about Virginia Count and Fixed Time scoring and always say for penalties we apply the ones specific to those scoring systems first (e.g. extra shots, stacking, overtime shots) and then penalties with specific rules (e.g. failing to make reload, foot faults, using wrong hand for strong/weak hand only, etc.). We can then look at 10.2.2: ‘Except as addressed in other rules, a competitor who fails to comply with the procedure specified in the Written Stage Briefing will incur one procedural penalty for each occurrence. However, if a competitor has gained a significant advantage during non-compliance, the competitor may be assessed one procedural penalty for each shot fired, instead of a single penalty (e.g. firing multiple shots contrary to the required position or stance).’ And the subrule 10.2.2.1: ‘Procedural penalties for failure to comply with stage procedures do not apply to the total number of shots fired. Penalties for firing insufficient or additional shots in total for the string or stage are addressed in other rules, e.g. Misses (9.4.4), Extra Shots (9.4.5.1) or Overtime Shots (9.4.6.2), and must not be penalized under the provisions of 10.2.2.’
These two rules were updated in 2023 to make them more clear and due to member feedback from a Question of the Month on this blog. It was similar to this situation in that an extra shot was taken on one target before the reload and the answer was no penalty. There was a ton of fan mail basically wanting some sort of penalty. The result was the clean-up and clarification of 10.2.2 and 10.2.2.1. The revision allows us to apply a penalty for failing to follow the stage procedure of shooting a target with only two shots.
The action of shooting T4 three times in string 2 did not earn an extra shot and did not violate the mandatory reload rule. Since it has not been penalized, we can look at using 10.2.2. Did it violate the stage procedure of shooting each target 2 times, yes. Which means the correct answer to this question should be 2 extra shots (string 1) and 1 procedural (string 2).
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