|
The target used for Long Range BPCR contests is 6 feet square from edge to edge.
It consists of an NRA-approved bullseye containing a black "X" ring which
is 10" in diameter, a black "10" ring which is 20" in diameter, a
black "9" ring which is 30" in diameter, and a black "8" ring
which is 44" in diameter. The "7" ring is white and is 60" in diameter.
The remaining open area on the target board is white and a hit anywhere on the paper, but not on or
within the bullseye rings, is scored with a value of "6". Shots that do not hit
the target are scored as a miss with a value of “0”.
 |
The number values located around the edge of the target
are not printed on the target. They are simply the officially designated
positions on the target that are used to indicate the score of the last
shot taken. |
I always mark my target using a Magic-Marker with the number values shown
above so that I don’t get confused. Each value pictured has a hole above or next
to it (not visible in this picture) from which the scorer hangs a 5” “Spotter”
(a round bright orange disc) typically made from cardboard and hung from the
hole with a hooked metal wire. The position along the edge of the target board
where this Spotter disc is hung tells the shooter and the spotter the value of
the shot that has just taken place.
Another scoring indicator — the “Shot Hole” spotter — consists of a 4” round
cardboard circle with a pointed dowel rod pushed through it. This indicator is
white on one side (used for holes that have been made in the black portion of
the target) and black on the other (used for holes that have been made in the
white portion of the target).
Used in conjunction with the orange Spotter, these scoring aids show the shooter
and spotter not only the value of the last shot taken, but also where on the
target the shot impacted.
The “M” at the top center of the target indicates a miss. The orange Spotter is
hung from the hole above or next to the “M”, while the white / black indicator
is placed in one of the holes around the edge of the target. This tells the
shooter where the miss occurred (high, low, left, or right). The targets
displayed below show what the target would look like if the shooter had just
fired a “9” at 8-o’clock, a “Miss” high left, and an “X” at 4 o-clock.
Marking the target properly is the responsibility of the person in the pits.
It’s important to pull the target, get it scored, and run it back up into
position as quickly as possible so that your shooter can make the necessary
sight adjustments needed for his or her next shot. If you dawdle around and take
a long time scoring the target, the shooter may lose an opportunity to take
advantage of a favorable wind change or lighting condition.
Stay alert and pay attention. Any unnecessary delay in scoring your shooter’s
target can be detrimental to his or her performance.
When a shot hits the target, the target is pulled down and the white/black Shot
Hole disc is inserted into the bullet hole (with the appropriate contrasting
color showing) and the bright orange Spotter is hung next to or below the
appropriate value indicated along the edge of the target. Then the target is run
back up into position so that the shooter and spotter can see the target.
Once you are in the pits and have had a chance to watch the other people next to
you, things generally go very smoothly. If the range at which you are shooting
has a berm located directly behind the targets, you should be able to see the
bullet impact the berm after each shot. By watching the berm for the impact of
the bullet, you’ll quickly develop a sense of approximately where that shot hit
or missed the target.
Many ranges, like Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio, do not have berms behind the
target. This type of range makes your job a bit harder. But even without a berm
to watch, there are oftentimes other indicators that will give you a good idea
when your shooter has fired and when it’s time for you to “pull” the target into
the pits to score it.
Talk with the other people who are in the pits with you and ask them to explain
whatever you feel you do not understand. Remember, you are responsible for doing
the best job possible scoring the targets. Your shooter’s overall performance
and final placement depends upon you doing a good job.
As always, if the shot you are scoring breaks the line of the circle with the
next higher value, you always give the shooter the higher value. The picture
below shows two examples to illustrate this point.
 |
The hole indicated by the red dot is clearly not touching
the “X” ring scoring circle. However, the hole indicated by the yellow dot
is breaking the circle, and should therefore be scored as an “X”. |
By Darryl Hedges
Copyright© 2004 All Rights Reserved.
|
