FTR front plate

[SunnyCoast 5r]

After some more advice to avoid breaching any rules...

Can I have a front plate (300mm x bipod max width plus 50mm) made from ANY material?

I was thinking either 10mm stainless or aluminium.

Can I have a section cut out of the centre so I can pick it up easily?

I was thinking stylised shape of Australia, round target or just a handhold slot.

Any images of what is legal and works well gratefully accepted. My bipod is a Sinclair Version 2 with the rounded ski feet.

Thanks

[Gyro]

Inertia is your friend Grasshopper. Supposed to be "flat on the top and bottom" BUT people do cutouts. Naughty.

I believe the INTENT of the rules here is to essentially rule against any of the various means of "point loading" like spikes for example that greatly help when the ground is not level and/or spongy.

This part of the rules for FTR is problematic or at least looks a whole lot that way when you look at what shooters bring to the mound.

[johnk]

It's OK until you start to stomp it into the ground, at which time the profile depth is liable to be considered having the effect of spikes.

[Pommy Chris]

Cutout no issue not even at the worlds.
Chris

[Gyro]

Ok. Seems it's a lot about what everybody decides is 'ok', despite what the rules suggest.

[johnk]

Some check matters like this through our national association & ICFRA.

[SunnyCoast 5r]

Thanks for the feedback.
Before I spend the cash how do I go about checking this nationally/internationally?

I would really like to ensure I comply.

[johnk]

Before I spend the cash how do I go about checking this nationally/internationally?

Cutout no issue not even at the worlds.

Isn't that what he said?

[Gyro]

As Johnk mentions check what's accepted locally. If you cross the ditch to NZ then its different ie cutouts on FTR front plates were not ok at our Nationals in January.

Same as spiked rear plates for the F Open shooters are not ok here. I reckon we should allow them here like your F Open class does.

I see shooters on the mound employing all kinds of dodgy and potentially rule-breaking aids just to get themselves a good level setup with reduced wobble. One of the best ways to get to an acceptable setup on an uneven or excessively spongy mound is to just go heavy with the rests to increase the inertia value. Personally I have a bad back so the ruling against spiked plates sucks to me !! How much easier it would be to just have to carry a nice light aluminum plate with spikes and a small lighter rear bag !!

Maybe we F Class shooters just need to work these sorts of things out between us to get us all on the same page ? Regards Rob Kerridge.

[johnk]

Seems that if it is ICFRA acceptable & not Kiwi, then New Zealand may need to check with the world body too.

[Gyro]

B b b b b b but Johnk I have mentioned above one example where the shooters and/or the country have decided to NOT adhere to an ICFRA rule. Straight away that begs a few questions ?

Don't ya reckon ?

[mike H]

B b b b b b but Johnk I have mentioned above one example where the shooters and/or the country have decided to NOT adhere to an ICFRA rule. Straight away that begs a few questions ?

Don't ya reckon ?

Rob,
I would say that New Zealand is adhering to the printed ICFRA rule,surely it shouldn't be too hard ,when the intent of a printed rule is changed,for the rules committee to advise the member nations of any changes.

[Gyro]

True Mike it's all doable.

I'm just airing out loud here my issues with parts of the rules and how people are interpreting them. Some of this stuff needs a tidy up I reckon.

That aside the birds are still singing here and the beers cold. Cheers.

[bsouthernau]

I'm just airing out loud here my issues with parts of the rules and how people are interpreting them. Some of this stuff needs a tidy up I reckon.

Trouble is the rules are written by shooters not lawyers and the language can be imprecise. Early in the ICFRA rules there's a statement that innovation is to be encouraged so as long as you do everything stated as mandatory and nothing specifically prohibited you can do what you like.

I haven't looked it up this morning but my memory is that the rule states that the plates must be PERFECTLY flat (my emphasis). Does a cutout destroy this perfection? I'd say it does but offers no competitive advantage so a clause in the rule allowing these would be an improvement.

Barry

[Steve N]

I'm just airing out loud here my issues with parts of the rules and how people are interpreting them. Some of this stuff needs a tidy up I reckon.

Trouble is the rules are written by shooters not lawyers and the language can be imprecise. Early in the ICFRA rules there's a statement that innovation is to be encouraged so as long as you do everything stated as mandatory and nothing specifically prohibited you can do what you like.

I haven't looked it up this morning but my memory is that the rule states that the plates must be PERFECTLY flat (my emphasis). Does a cutout destroy this perfection? I'd say it does but offers no competitive advantage so a clause in the rule allowing these would be an improvement.

Barry

Barry they can still be flat even with a cutout. If it's not curved or bent in some other way then wouldn't it be flat? A flat plate can have holes in it.To specifically prohibit a cutout wouldn't the rule have to say a flat solid plate with no holes or cutouts?