SHOTGUN RULES

FOR

TRAP

AUTOMATIC TRAP

DOUBLE TRAP

SKEET

Edition 2005 (Second Printing, 01/2006)

Effective 1^st January 2005.

9.1	General
9.2	Safety
9.3	Range and Target Standards
9.4	Equipment and Ammunition
9.5	Competition Officials
9.6	Shooting Procedures
9.7	Match Administration
9.8	Malfunctions
9.9	Rules of Conduct for Shooters and Team Officials
9.10	Targets, (Regular, Irregular, Hit, Lost etc.)
9.11	Scoring Procedures
9.12	Tie Breaking
9.13	Violations, Penalties, Protests and Appeals
9.14	Rules for Trap
9.15	Rules for Automatic Trap
9.16	Rules for Double Trap
9.17	Rules for Skeet
9.18	Finals in the Olympic Events
9.19	Figures and Tables
9.20	Index
NOTE:	Where figures and tables contain specific information, these have the same authority as the numbered rules.

9.1.0	GENERAL
9.1.1	These Rules are part of the Technical Rules of the ISSF and apply to all Shotgun events.
9.1.2	All shooters, team leaders and officials must be familiar with the ISSF Rules and must ensure that these Rules are enforced. It is the responsibility of each shooter to comply with the rules.
9.1.3	When a Rule refers to right-handed shooters, the reverse of that Rule refers to left-handed shooters.
9.1.4	Unless a Rule applies specifically to a men's or a women's event, it must apply uniformly to both men's and women's events.
9.2.0	SAFETY
9.2.0.1	SAFETY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
9.2.1	SAFETY REGULATIONS
9.2.1.1	ISSF Rules state only specific safety requirements which are required by the ISSF for use in ISSF supervised competitions. The safety of a shooting range depends to a large extent on local conditions, so additional safety rules may be established by the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee must know the principles of range safety and take the necessary steps to apply them. The Organizing Committee bears the responsibility for safety. Juries and Range officials, Team officials and shooters must be advised of any special regulations.
9.2.1.2	The safety of shooters, range personnel and spectators requires continued and careful attention to gun handling and caution in moving about the range. It is strongly recommended that all personnel operating forward of the firing line should wear high visibility jackets. Self-discipline is necessary on the part of all. Where such self-discipline is lacking, it is the duty of range officials to enforce discipline and the duty of shooters and team officials to assist in such enforcement.
9.2.1.3	In the interest of safety, a Jury Member or a range official may stop the shooting at any time. Shooters and team officials are obliged to notify them immediately of any situation that may be dangerous, or which may cause an accident.
9.2.1.4	No one except a Referee, Chief Range Officer, or Jury Member may handle a shooter's equipment, including the shotgun, without the shooter’s permission, and then only in their presence and with their knowledge.
9.2.1.5	The Referee and the Assistant Referees, under the Jury's control, are responsible during a round for the application of the safety rules and the correct conduct of each of the rounds.
9.2.2	SHOTGUN SAFETY
9.2.2.1	Carrying Guns
9.2.2.1.1	To ensure safety, all shotguns even when empty must be handled with maximum care at all times:
9.2.2.1.2	conventional double barrel guns must be carried empty with the breech visibly open;
9.2.2.1.3	semi-automatic guns must be carried empty with the breech bolt visibly open and the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, up to the sky or down towards the ground only.
9.2.2.2	Guns not in Use
9.2.2.2.1	Shotguns not in use must be placed in a gun stand/rack, locked gun case, armory or other secure place.
9.2.2.3	Loading
9.2.2.3.1	All shotguns must be kept unloaded except on the shooting Station and only then after the command or signal “START” has been given.
9.2.2.3.2	Cartridges must not be placed in any part of the gun until the shooter is standing on the shooting Station, facing the traps with the gun pointed towards the target flight area, and after the Referee has given permission.
9.2.2.4	Gun Handling
9.2.2.4.1	The shooter must not turn from the shooting Station before his gun is empty and open. When shooting is interrupted, the gun must be opened and be made empty.
9.2.2.4.2	After the last shot and before placing the gun in a rack, armory etc. the shooter must ascertain and the Referee must verify before leaving the shooting Station, that there are no cartridges or cartridge cases in the chamber and/or magazine. If the verification does not take place, the shooter may be disqualified.
9.2.2.4.3	The handling of closed guns is prohibited when operating personnel are forward of the firing line.
9.2.3	AIMING