Plate under the bipod

[majaci@bigpond.com]

Dave, you can certainly have multiple plates under your bipod, or a carpet in addition to your plate(s). There is nothing in the rules banning you from using your range matt under the front plate. The carpet does not need even to be the size prescribed in the rules for the plate, it can be larger if required assuming this is a flexible carpet. If you run multiple plates, as I do, they certainly do not need to be attached. There are no such rules banning the use of multiple plates or layers, for as long as they do not have 'protrusions' and are flat on both sides, in line with the SSR. You can do this for the front as well as rear. As far as sand snakes / doughnuts under the front plate, there are at least two very high end shooters that are using them in competition very successfully. No ruling has been handed down banning them as yet.

You can have holes and cut outs as a handle in your plate, no issues, you just can have levelling screws etc ... "protrusions".
If one was to put an microscope on the issues of front plates, SEB pod pad comes the closest to being illegal out of anything I have seen in competitions.

[mike H]

Dave, you can certainly have multiple plates under your bipod, or a carpet in addition to your plate(s). There is nothing in the rules banning you from using your range matt under the front plate. The carpet does not need even to be the size prescribed in the rules for the plate, it can be larger if required assuming this is a flexible carpet. If you run multiple plates, as I do, they certainly do not need to be attached. There are no such rules banning the use of multiple plates or layers, for as long as they do not have 'protrusions' and are flat on both sides, in line with the SSR. You can do this for the front as well as rear. As far as sand snakes / doughnuts under the front plate, there are at least two very high end shooters that are using them in competition very successfully. No ruling has been handed down banning them as yet.

You can have holes and cut outs as a handle in your plate, no issues, you just can have levelling screws etc ... "protrusions".
If one was to put a microscope on the issues of front plates, SEB pod pad comes the closest to being illegal out of anything I have seen in competitions.

This is an interesting opinion,it would be interesting to know if the liberal interpretation of the rules was allowed at the last World Championships ,or is it an Australian development.

[majaci@bigpond.com]

What specifically is so liberal Mike?

Separate flat boards and or plates not exceeding the dimensions of the individual rests by 51mm on a given side may also be placed under the front rest and rear bag.

Note "plates" being used (plural), clearly permitting the use of more than one plate.

[mike H]

I am referring to the use of sandbags under the plate or board.Rule 20.40 states,no levelling screws or protrusions are allowed on boards or plates,they must be flat on the top and bottom.
In the spirit of the rules,if the plates are not to be levelled by screws,they are certainly not allowed to be levelled by other means.

[Barossa_222]

I agree with you Mike. I've shot the last 3 nationals and after Bendigo, shot against the Australian team who went to South Africa here in Adelaide and no-one was doing that.

[Tim L]

I use a 10mm steel plate front and rear for grass mounds. I also have 3 x 3mm ply boards and a 10mm high density foam packer. The 3mm ply and packer are generally for lifing the rear bag when I can't drop the Joypod low enough, BUT, they are also flat top and bottom so as far as I'm concerned can go under the front plate too, maybe all on 1 side to level it when I get an uneven bit of mound.
I've no issue using the joypod legs to deal with a bit of a slope, but when one side of the plate is an inch lower than the other, that is me being disadvantaged against my compeditors.

[cheech]

I use a 10mm steel plate front and rear for grass mounds. I also have 3 x 3mm ply boards and a 10mm high density foam packer. The 3mm ply and packer are generally for lifing the rear bag when I can't drop the Joypod low enough, BUT, they are also flat top and bottom so as far as I'm concerned can go under the front plate too, maybe all on 1 side to level it when I get an uneven bit of mound.
I've no issue using the joypod legs to deal with a bit of a slope, but when one side of the plate is an inch lower than the other, that is me being disadvantaged against my compeditors.

Sorry for going side ways with the topic but It’s unfortunate that still many ranges that have poorly maintained mounds in today’s times for shooters able to achieve a decent setup of equipment . Those clubs need to get their shit together , should be in the rules for a minimum requirement/ expectation of mound quality . Shouldn’t need to bring a shovel with you .

[wsftr]

I am referring to the use of sandbags under the plate or board.Rule 20.40 states,no levelling screws or protrusions are allowed on boards or plates,they must be flat on the top and bottom.
In the spirit of the rules,if the plates are not to be levelled by screws, they are certainly not allowed to be levelled by other means.

I wouldn't see a sandbag as being the same - leveling screw/s is very precise (FO rest) and unlikely to move where as a sandbag is still subject to movement via recoil torque/ bipod bounce, sand settling etc.
Its not entirely clear to me what the spirit of that rule intends other than to ensure we don't have FO style front rests with a bipod sitting on top.
you could simply not a allow spirit levels on the plates so that any levelling is by eye only i.e. no different to stamping on a heavy metal plate with a level on it to level it up precisely.