Jeremy
I seem to recall you loosing a target with me once when your safety was ‘in neutral’ at Churchills?
FITASC sporting is clear cut
6.4 The target is called “zero”:
If the shooter fails to fire at the target without any valid reason (rafale or simultaneous double zero & zero).
If the shooter fires but the target is not hit and no piece visibly comes off or only particles of dust are visible (smoking targets or target dust).
If the shooter, in the case of a gun malfunction, opens the gun him/herself or touches the safety catch before the referee has checked the gun.
If there is a second malfunction of the gun or ammunition during the same round.
So for a report double the first target is called lost, the pair is repeated to establish the result of the 2nd target, simo/rafale both are scored zero.
The ruling for English sporting has always been the same, but I cannot find anywhere in the current CPSA Booklet No1 rule book where it expressly addresses the issue of simo or following pairs although safety catches are mentioned. Whilst I have old sets of FITASC rules going back to early 90s, I have not kept any English sporting rule books.
Something the CPSA needs to address, no wonder there is confusion over a straightforward ruling, even between experienced shooters.
English Sporting Rules
TARGET DEFINITION “LOST”
3.13 The competitor after an apparent malfunction or misfire opens the gun or moves the safety catch.
3.15 The competitor fails to fire for any reason due to personal error, fault or negligence.
MISFIRE ADVICE
3.32 Actions in the event of a misfire: NB Referees SHOULD NOT take the gun from the shooter.
The referee will ask the shooter what has happened. Response: “I pulled the trigger and it did not fire”.
The Referee will instruct the shooter not to open the gun. If competitor opens the gun without instruction from the referee the target will be declared lost.
In all cases the Referee will check the safety catch to ensure that it has not been applied accidentally, if it has, then the target will be declared lost.
Regards
Leigh