Competition incident involving the SH Discipline 4/6/22

[macguru]

Gday, on 4/6/22 I shot in the North shore DRA club championship representing North Sydney rifle club, in SH/std.
There were only 3 competitors in total
My rifle , that I have been using on club practice days. is a savage 10 308W, 6-24 vortex scope, std savage trigger, Harris Bipod, 26in varmint barrel and MDT stock. under 6.5kgs
The other two used tikka actions in the original plastic stocks as far as I know ....
We were weighed and barrel measured, the RO saw my rifle getting checked...
started shooting ....
I won the 4 range total by about 4 points.... then one of the runners up protested that my stock was not the original
I was disqualified by the NSDRA range officer

Now I think this is rather poor and arbitrary since at no time was I told you cannot restock a rifle, provided it makes the weight. If people are going to arbitrarily make up stuff like this it will bring the sport and the DRA into disrepute.
Is there a rule in the fine print I missed ? (23.3?) I am happy to just shoot the thing at a club level or give PRS a try now that I have something that is accurate.... but I competed in good faith and dont feel I was gaining an unfair advantage by chucking away my piece of crap savage "accustock" ??? Savage even sells a model with an MDT stock as standard...

Andrew Beavis

23.1 Rifles - Sporting/Hunting Class Target Shooting (SH)
23.2 Introduction:This section is designed to allow standard shop bought sporting type rifles to be used on NRAA rifle ranges. The prime purpose for its introduction is to encourage participation, rather than competition and to foster membership.
23.3 Any rifle bought as a standard factory-made practical walk around sporting/hunting/varmint rifle and without the features or attachments that would place it in the style of a target, match or service rifle, and which complies with the following conditions:
23.3.1 Weight: Not greater than 6.5 kg (14.3lbs.), including any telescopic sight or bipod.
23.3.2 Actions may be bedded in the stock.
23.3.3 Barrels: Rifles may be re-barreled if necessary, but the replacement must not exceed the heavy varmint barrel profile.
23.3.4 Barrels are not to exceed 26 ins (66.04 cms) in length.
23.3.5 Muzzle Brakes: Muzzle Brakes are permitted, subject to permission by the Organising Body/Range Officer and provided they are allowed under the Range Standing Orders.
23.3.6 Calibre: Any calibre that does not exceed the calibre and/or energy limit as designated in the Range Standing Orders and/or Police Range Approval.
23.3.7 Trigger: Any trigger system may be used provided that it is safe.
23.3.8 A trigger shall be deemed safe if:(a)Its activating mechanism is enclosed in a suitable trigger guard; (b)Vigorous cycling of the action does not cause the trigger to release.
23.3.9 Magazine: Magazines are allowed.
23.3.10 The shooter is to be in the firing position before placing a loaded magazine onto the rifle.
23.3.11 Rounds may also be manually placed into the magazine by virtue by single round loading, or by direct loading to the chamber of the rifle.
23.3.12 On completion, the action of the rifle is to be opened; the chamber and the magazine are to be inspected by the competitor and scorer to ensure that both are free from live rounds or empty cases.
23.3.13 Sights: Any, including magnifying or telescopic.
23.4 Ammunition: Either factory or hand loaded is allowed.
23.5 Rests: The front of the rifle may be supported by a hunting bipod (e.g.,Harris, or similar).
23.5.1A rear bag may be used.
23.6 Distances Shot: Same as TR and F Class
23.7 Applications to be 2 convertible sighters and 10 shots on standard ICFRA targets. Scoring as per TR i.e., with 5 and V bulls.

[Downes Equestrian]

Interesting how this all panned out for you macguru. And I feel as a fellow s/h class shooter that it was bound to happen. If you have a look at the comments on the S/H forum page this is a real topic of conversation. The rules are to me very vague and this allows almost any shooter to interpret them how they want.
At a recent shoot I attended only one class Hunter division was being shot. But the class was won by a shooter with a rifle that was a very long way from a shop bought rifle as the SSR's state. Benchrest wild cat cartridge, custom barrel, action and custom stock with add on's and even an eared rear bag it was certainly not a walk about hunting rifle as the rules state. He I feel should have been in another class BUT as I say the rules are not very specific and this class is now being pretty hotly contested even though it's not supposed to be a competition class.
This class for our local club has been a game changer with membership up massively. I use my work rifle which does the job just fine but the class is being weaponised and clearer rules would help. If it turn's into a class where shooters are basicaly shooting f/class rifles (as yours was not) it will drive future members into the PRS

[PeteFox]

It could be argued that you were in breach of rules 23.2 not a "standard shop bought rifle" and 23.3 not a "standard factory-made" rifle.

However the RO's ruling seems to be in breach of 23.3 "The prime purpose for its introduction is to encourage participation, rather than competition and to foster membership."
I would like to know where an appeal and disqualification fits into that framework.

You are entitled to be told the rule under which you were disqualified and also the interpretation made. A bit of a rough deal from the RO.
Pete

[Weairy]

"... without the features or attachments that would place it in the style of a target, match or service rifle"
This is the point the argument would hinge on. Is an MDT chassis in the style of a target, match or service rifle? That's open to opinion.

This is where the grey area is so severe. What was a traditional "shop bought hunting rifle" back in the day (ie. A CMC Mountaineer with a 9x Scope, chambered in 308W, in a traditional timber stock) is not a modern hunting rifle. I've seen hunting setups that put our F-Class rifles to shame. We had a member turn up with a fully titanium custom Wetherby 300 Mag, with a $9k Swarovski range-finder self-adjusting scope, and that's his everyday deer rifle.

I used to be of the opinion that anything of a "tactical" style (ie. Tikka T3X Tactical) was outside the spirit of this class, but having seen some of the S/H shooters around and talking to more people, these are really more common now with long-range deer hunters and sports shooters (PSR/PRS competitions). I believe a stock should be free choice, as long as it hasn't been designed specifically for target shooting, or accessorized to do so. Comfort is important, and having a stock that is adjustable is important to achieving this.

The one I find very disappointing is the amount of shoots where muzzle brakes are banned. Muzzle brakes are allowed in the SSRs and form quite an integral part of many of these rifles, especially the likes of those who shoot Practical Rifle.

A lot of clarity could be brought into these rules, but it's hard to do so without excluding people. The fact you were disqualified AFTER the event, AFTER having the rifle scrutineered, is not at all acceptable in my opinion. You've been out and wasted a day and a box of ammo (which is like gold at the moment), only to get told you're out at the end of the day? Not fair.

It really needs some simple changes in my opinion; scope restriction (dollar value, power; I've seen a couple of Nightforce NXS and Competitions being bolted on, clearly not okay), calibre restricted to commercially-available calibres (if you can't buy factory loads, you can't shoot it), commercially mass-produced actions only (no Curtis/Defiance etc). At the end of the day, to shoot out to 1000yd, you need SOME amount of target equipment (20MOA rails, decent quality scope with enough adjustment).

For reference, I've (very briefly) used a Rem 700, in a Form stock, with a Hardy 26" barrel, chambered 308W with a Hardy muzzle brake. ZeroTech 27x Scope, Atlas bipod. And I think this is within the rules and definitions.

[PeteFox]

The one I find very disappointing is the amount of shoots where muzzle brakes are banned. Muzzle brakes are allowed in the SSRs and form quite an integral part of many of these rifles, especially the likes of those who shoot Practical Rifle.
.

The problem with this issue is that they are banned in TR and F Class. I don't have an issue with muzzle brakes on rifle ranges, but I do have an issue with one beside me in an F class shoot.
It's an organizational issue i.e. squadding .
Pete

[Weairy]

The one I find very disappointing is the amount of shoots where muzzle brakes are banned. Muzzle brakes are allowed in the SSRs and form quite an integral part of many of these rifles, especially the likes of those who shoot Practical Rifle.
.

The problem with this issue is that they are banned in TR and F Class. I don't have an issue with muzzle brakes on rifle ranges, but I do have an issue with one beside me in an F class shoot.
It's an organizational issue i.e. squadding .
Pete

Find a way to accommodate rather than a reason to exclude. Squadding and barriers would go a long way. A few people have made some really good sound barriers/baffles/barrels/guards to stop a lot of the percussion and blow-back from muzzle brakes. Even a bale of straw does a hell of a lot.

[Matt P]

Hi Andrew
Very poor form by the organizing body, from my understanding the rifles (were all classes checked ???) were checked and weighed prior to the start of the match and given a tick of approval. If the range officer had an issue it should have been dealt with prior to the beginning of the first range.
The fact that you can changed the barrel and trigger and that it doesn't specifically say you can't replace the stock in the rules makes me think there may have been another agender at play here.
Regards
Matt P

[shadow]

This is so so easy fixed, its not ment to be competive class,
Hmmm, oh , so dont give out prizes for it, just mention results.
I shot f open quite a few times just as a guest before i joined

[!Peter!]

23.2 Introduction:This section is designed to allow standard shop bought sporting type rifles to be used on NRAA rifle ranges. The prime purpose for its introduction is to encourage participation, rather than competition and to foster membership.
23.3 Any rifle bought as a standard factory-made practical walk around sporting/hunting/varmint rifle and without the features or attachments that would place it in the style of a target, match or service rifle, and which complies with the following conditions:

Well I'm sure you get two lawyers to argue the highlighted bits until the cows come home given that these days almost all of the mainstream firearm manufacturers have an off the shelf chassis option. Have a look at the wide variety of stocks savage offer https://savagearms.com/content?p=firear ... paginate-1

I also wonder what features of a target, match or service rifle stock gives it an unfair advantage? Pistol grip, adjustable cheek piece, accessory rail under the front????

To me the free trigger and trigger weight would give a bigger advantage over a "standard" hunting rifle than a target, match or service rifle stock.

I'm also thinking along the lines of Matt P that there was something else at play and what ever it is/ was it ultimately won't encourage participation nor foster membership....

[shadow]

Hers another view i have on this, now you guys are going to
Shred me for this, but this is my view,
This class was designed to attract new shooters,
So i think its piss poor that andrew a seasoned f class shooter even enters this class, theres
Other classes to shoot ,,,so to me you got what you deserved , nothing, stay out of begginers class
This is y there should be no prices for this class ,JMO
cheers jacko, 0402317506

[Tim L]

Hers another view i have on this, now you guys are going to
Shred me for this, but this is my view,
This class was designed to attract new shooters,
So i think its piss poor that andrew a seasoned f class shooter even enters this class, theres
Other classes to shoot ,,,so to me you got what you deserved , nothing, stay out of begginers class
This is y there should be no prices for this class ,JMO
cheers jacko, 0402317506

Harsh, but I see the reasoning. I was at a Queens one year where age of the C grade TR (a beginners class) exceeded their scores! The youngsters won a range or two but were nowhere to be seen in the Aggs.
I still feel the only real way to moderate this discipline is to remove the rear bag. At least then, regardless of rifle make up, it would be the best shooter winning. It also puts a clear destinction between it and F class. Easy to police and very challenging.

[macguru]

Hers another view i have on this, now you guys are going to
cheers jacko, 0402317506

all 3 of us were seasoned shooters, its alot of fun, so ill keep doing it thanks, and I will be back with the same rifle because it complies with the rules as I read them

[shadow]

Yerp , you keep doing it , and everone wonders y new shooters dont come back
If this is the attude of people in this class , then theres no point to
Try and get new shooters into it, it has now just become another
F class class, ill stay in open untill i die

[!Peter!]

shadow, my experience is that people don't not come back because they get outshot but because of stuff like what happened to macguru where his rifle was equipment checked before the competition and then after the competition disqualified because of non-compliant equipment. That's the sort of stuff that drives shooters away.

[macguru]

Yes Peter although I will not get discouraged ... I am an optimistic kind of person and try to encourage new shooters and show them what can be achieved with SH rifles with decent bedding and ammo. But nothing discourages people more than having them turn up with a lightweight 243 and inappropriate loads that cannot reach the target ... those ones never come back or join the club .... but if they are not ready to hire a gunsmith at least they can go buy a lithgow woomera (or similar spec) and get a decent SH score and hone their shooting skills. ... those are the people that come to stay and might move onto F standard next and learn to handload !