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Accidental discharge

Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:00 am
by JohnLK
A question came up at the club I shoot at (it's not a shotgun club).
If the shotgun discharges accidentally when the shooter closes the gun
but before gun mount or call for the target is it "lost"?
Is there a difference International Trap and American Trap?
Thanks!
JLK

Re: Accidental discharge

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:44 pm
by smoking357
JohnLK wrote:A question came up at the club I shoot at (it's not a shotgun club).
If the shotgun discharges accidentally when the shooter closes the gun
but before gun mount or call for the target is it "lost"?
Is there a difference International Trap and American Trap?
Thanks!
JLK
The utterly worthless answer is "Perazzis don't accidentally discharge."

I wish I had a real answer for you.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:33 pm
by jhmartin
First of all in International T, DT & S:
9.8.3.1 In the event of misfire due to any reason, the shooter must:
? keep the gun pointed to the target flight area
? not open the gun
? not touch the safety catch
? hand the gun safely to the Referee for examination if asked
? answer any questions put by the Referee

Rules further state:
A target must be declared "LOST" when:
after a malfunction of gun or cartridge, a shooter opens the gun or touches the safety catch before the Referee has inspected the gun


9.2.4.1 Shots may be fired only when it is the shooter's turn and the target has been thrown.

9.2.4.4 Test fired shots must not be fired into the ground within the shooting areas.

If it is indeed a malfunction you only get 2. and if I were the referee after the 2nd I'd say the gun is unsafe.


I'm not as familiar with rules of ATA trap, but it appears that unless there is a call, there is no penalty.
Again, if it happened more than twice, I'd ask the gun/shooter be removed from the line. I would not want to be on the line w/ that gun near me.
If it has a release trigger, I'd warn the shooter sternly on the first occurrence.

Re: Accidental discharge

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 2:22 pm
by nglitz
"misfire" is a non-fire, i.e. pull the trigger and no bang.

Unintentional discharge is bang with no trigger pull (or release if so equipped).

I've seen a Perazzi discharge unintentionally when it was closed. A Krieghoff, too.

Re: Accidental discharge

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 7:48 pm
by j-team
nglitz wrote:Unintentional discharge is bang with no trigger pull (or release if so equipped).
Actually can be with a pull of the trigger too, in fact most are caused by careless trigger pulling! Still unintentional either way.