Recently, Troy wrote a post about the Certified Ammunition Program which was very informative. However, as I work matches around this country I find what is a fairly straight forward program is misunderstood by some competitors. So, let’s go through the steps and comment on how it occasionally fails.
I am only going to go into the errors I have personally either witnessed or had to take an action to fix. In some cases, it is as simple as people not understanding they actually have to turn in two samples and when this is done. Other times I have had people come to Chrono and declared they are using Certified Ammo and I do not have a delivery sample to match up with their staff pulled sample. Every once in a while, we get delivery samples that are not on the Certified Ammunition list. I think this due to a misunderstanding on how Certified Ammo gets on the list. We also have had competitors give us their reloaded ammo because they “certified” it themselves. 😉
Step 1: Before you shoot your first stage you must fill out the proper form as completely as possible and give us 8 rounds. This is normally done at registration. This is your delivery sample and will be sent to Chronograph where it will be held to be used “just in case”. That’s where the term “Chrono Insurance” comes from. Lot numbers are important, as this data is sent to the certified ammunition vendors on an annual basis.
Step 2: When asked by staff on a stage or at chronograph in some cases, you will surrender 8 rounds, this is your test sample. We will pull one bullet and weigh it and then follow the normal procedures to determine your power factor. As long as you make your declared power factor, you will be done. We will collect your form and document your power factor (DNROI tracks data on all certified ammo) and return the 8 round delivery sample to you in most cases. Some matches will hold your delivery sample until the end of the match just in case you are randomly resent to chronograph or change guns and need to test again. You can then retrieve your delivery sample when you are done shooting the match.
Step 3: Your test sample went through all the normal procedures and you failed to make your declared power factor. We will then use your delivery sample and go through the normal steps. In many cases if the bullet weight was as expected we will not weigh the first bullet unless we see odd velocities in the test sample. By odd, we mean velocities we would not expect with that bullet weight, either very high or very low. The other reason we would weigh the delivery sample is if the competitor’s form shows 147 and the actual bullet weight was 124 in the test sample. Surprisingly, over the years we have had competitors mix up two different bullet weight certified ammunition supplies. Even different lot numbers have made a difference.
We will then fire three rounds over the chronograph and if the delivery sample is the declared power factor, we are done. If the three rounds fired make within 10 power factor of the test sample, the ammunition is considered to be valid even if it does not actually make the power factor floor. If, however, we go through the complete procedure including weighing the 7th bullet, and it is not within 10 PF, the test sample will be used as the definitive determination and if it does not make the declared power factor that result will stand and be recorded as final.
Step 4: In all cases where we use certified ammunition to make power factor, it will be noted as such and the RM will be called. We occasionally, get questions about a person shooting 124 PF having a valid score. If they read the notes it will show it was certified ammo.
So, how can the competitor who has purchased certified ammo from a vendor not be able to use the certified ammo procedures. The most common mistake is failure to complete the certified ammo form and surrender the 8 rounds to make up the delivery sample prior to the start of the match. Once you start shooting the match, it is too late to fill out the form and provide the delivery sample. I have had competitors who are having a bad day at chronograph state, but I am shooting certified ammo. That may be true, but no delivery sample and form, no chrono insurance.
The second common mistake is to believe that all factory ammo is in the certified ammo program. For example, I have had competitors turn in delivery samples from a major ammunition manufacturer that is not in the certified ammo program. Some manufacturers have specific loads for which they have completed the proper paperwork to NROI. Other loads, especially high-volume economy ammo, are not in the program because the manufacturer is testing to a different standard. You would be surprised the number of competitors who find out the hard way that some factory ammo does not even make minor power factor. As far as I know no normal commercially loaded .38 Super will make Major PF or Major 9MM except for specialty loaded ammo by companies like Eley who load for our sport. Even then you need to be careful because some is loaded for IPSC Major which is only 160 PF.
Finally, once you decide to use certified ammo, you cannot stop or change ammo without RM permission. To do so is considered to be unsportsmanlike conduct and will result in a disqualification. I have had competitors change ammo with RM permission because of either a problem with their firearm or the ammo. In that case, we will collect a test sample at chronograph if one has not been collected by the RM. The certified ammo, which has already been used in the match, will still have to be tested unless it is unsafe to do so.
To bring this to an end: If you wish to take advantage of the Certified Ammo program, follow the steps and you will not get into trouble. The majority of competitors who use the certified ammo rarely have issues making PF. Most of the certified ammo is loaded with a 5-8 power factor cushion depending on if it is major or minor. The variations of barrels, chambers and other differences can cause bullets to go either faster or slower. That is why the program recognizes occasionally someone might end up below the declared power factor.
The competitor purchased ammo from a certified ammo vendor with the understanding the ammo is loaded to a certain standard. If for some reason they are running a bit too slow due to conditions outside of the control of the competitor, they can still get a valid score. It is my experience there are two things that can cause issues with any one’s ammo. Some powders are very temperature sensitive. In many cases either cold or hot conditions can cause velocity changes. The second issue is barrel length and condition. Some loads do not do well in shorter barrels or barrels with a lot of excess wear. I have had a competitor shooting certified ammo make 90 Power Factor. It turned out the same load in another firearm made 135 Power Factor all day long. It turns out the barrel was pretty much shot out. The competitor switched to a different firearm and was retested with no issues. The funny thing was they were using certified ammo and were within 10 power factors so the score on their first stage stood. I am sure that will be addressed in the next rules audit.