I just got back from the Carry Optics Nationals and again the chronograph stage became the place where people’s match crashed and burned. Ending up shooting for no score (sub-minor) or being put in Open because your equipment failed testing should not happen but does.
We were having a discussion one day and it was decided that chronograph as currently run does not prevent deliberate cheating. The procedures are well understood and if you really want to get around them you can, but why would you? Save yourself some stress and save some extra primers. Having to go to all 8 rounds to barely pass or not to me is being a bit short sighted.
I understand I am not a higher-class competitor anymore, if I ever was. However, I have fired guns in USPSA competition for over 40 years. I grew up when the power factor for major was 180 and then dropped to 175. I was still shooting .45 ACP out of a 5” Gold Cup when we dropped to 165 PF. I have shot Production from its beginning and frankly, I cannot tell the difference between a 123 PF and a 130 PF. Actually, the felt recoil is to me more a factor of bullet weight than actual velocity. And yet we have competitors who just barely make power factor or not while most high-level competitors run in the low to mid 130 power factor range.
So back to the discussion I started. So, if the reason we run a chronograph stage is not the catch people skating the power factor rules why do we do it? And as a corollary, why should you do it at your Level II matches?
People get into trouble at major matches for one of three reasons. First, they do not know the rules and how it applies to their gun and equipment. A great example from Carry Optics is a competitor handed in his firearm and the external safety was not operable. I do not mean it did not work, I mean you could not move it if you had a hammer. The competitor stated it was very tight and since he did not need it, since he
was starting with the hammer down on all stages, he did not try to fix it. However, our rules are very specific. Under 8.1.2.4 and 8.1.2.5 the external/primary visible safety is described, and the various division rules state the external safety must remain operable. Also, in Carry Optics and Production you are not allowed to disable the grip safety.
The second way people get into trouble at chronograph is possession or use of non-compliant equipment. Obviously, the most common mistake is using magazines which will not fit the gauge. Over the last two years I have had four people come to chronograph and present magazines which will not fit the gauge. After the failing the test all four stated, “Well, I did not use this magazine. I just have it in my bag and it was the only one that was empty.” First, once you hand that piece of equipment over to the range officer to be tested, you just used it in the match. Secondly, why are you carrying anything in your bag that you are not going to use during the match? To me, that is just asking for trouble. I would never carry anything in my range bag that I did not plan to either use or have in case of rain or repairs, i.e. squib rod, small hammer, spare parts, batteries, ammo, mags etc.
A second bit of lunacy is carrying two different types of ammo in your range bag. I know I have had people fail chronograph when they “accidentally” mixed up their Steel Challenge ammo with the USPSA match ammo. Now I understand, it can be a pure mistake. Recently at a major match I had a competitor groan when told the bullet weight and realized they grabbed the wrong ammo. They expected 124 grain bullets and they were 147 grain and they knew they were not going to make it with their Carry
Optics gun. Stuff happens.
The third way is just plain ignorance. This comes in three forms. First and most common, using ammunition you have never tested and/or relying on someone else to make sure your ammunition is compliant. At the CO Nationals we had a competitor fail because their commercially loaded ammo did not make power factor in their firearm.
This is a case where local clubs can really help out their club members. With the advent of the use of radar style chronographs, it is easy to set-up a test bay whether as part of the match or as a side match to allow your club members to make sure the bullets are running what they think they should. In the past the set-up of a chronograph box with proper lighting could be a bit of a production. No longer. All you need is an open bay, at least one radar unit (two is better) and minimum of between 10-20 yards depending on velocities and the type of unit you are using. Competitors can weigh their own bullets at home, but most do not have their own radar units unless they are into either long-range rifle or general load development, i.e. Open shooters. Some Open guns are a bit picky on the loads they run as a former Open shooter I can tell you. My Caspian Open Gun 1.265 +/- .02 OAL.
Another way to fail chronograph is not understanding the rules that apply to your division. I had several CO people go into Open Division because of magazines that did not fit the gauge. In at least one case, the magazines were some off brand with odd baseplates. It was clear the competitor came with equipment he did not actually know was non-compliant. This was a case where either he was really new, or he was allowed at this local club to use non-compliant equipment and no one took him aside and discussed it with him.
Finally, the last way to fail chronograph, and fortunately least common, is attempting to circumvent the rules and/or doing things that are or can be construed as shady. Now I know it turned out to be an innocent action but handing in a small 8 round bag with your special “2024 Carry Optics Chrono Ammo” marked on the bag is just asking for the chrono crew to go “Hmm!” It turned out to be an overly prepared competitor, but just don’t do it. Also, my crew do enjoy little gifts, but $5.00 does not get you anywhere besides asking where the other $95.00 is? My personal favorite is when we get 8 rounds of multi-colored bullets. What really is weird is when we get a mixture of Blazer cases mixed with regular brass. It appears there are people who actually reload the aluminum cases. Also, 4 jacketed bullets and 4 coated bullets. We tend to pull one or the other and the competitor can take their chances. I also had someone put 16 rounds into a bag, 8 of 2 types because he was not sure if he had enough ammo to complete the match. BTW: We do look for steel jacketed bullets. They are not allowed, and their use is a DQ under 5.5.3/10.5.15. It is surprising how many times that issue has come up at major matches.
So, to bring this to a logical end, how can you and your clubs help out your competitors. First, if you have newer competitors talk with them and if they have
questions either answer them if you know the answer or refer them to rules@uspsa.org.
Second, encourage your competitor to be sure they have made sure their equipment complies, their ammo makes power factor and if they decide to use the Certified Ammunition Program fill out the form and surrender their delivery sample at registration. The common joke is this is “chrono insurance”, but it has helped many more than it has ever hurt. I have had people shooting ammo on the Certified Ammo List who did not take that extra step and it has come back to bite them. No delivery sample and form, no insurance.
Finally, I strongly encourage Level 2 matches to run a chronograph stage. If you have any of your shooter who are planning on shooting Area or National matches, finding out they are good to go at your Level II match means a low stress trip at the majors and everybody can enjoy their trip to chronograph. Speaking for me, everybody likes a happy trip to chronograph.