OK Guys,
After the match on Saturday I received a call about the DQ issues. At that time I was told about what had happened. As most of you know, I answer my phone or return a call almost Immediately. Had I been called during the discussion about the gun weight I would have had the option of issuing a variance on the gun weight based on the weighing of the gun at Salem a week or so before. I am not saying I would have allowed the score, but I would have had the option.
After the fact, I have no option but to support the decision of the referees. Keith has been the gentleman I have known and has been gracious in accepting what happened. Thank you Keith. Everyone was upset about the DQ's. I am upset about the DQ's. I can't however, second guess every decision made at every range. I have to accept decisions made by the referees at the time or I will be asked to change scores. rescore targets, Change results etc. That would be total chaos.
The scales were checked on Sunday with weights , the gun was weighed again and was still overweight. Keith changed scopes at that time and continued the match.
I have opened the discussion with my Match Directors about how to avoid this same thing happening in the future. Is anyone happy about what happened? The answer is no, but we can work to see that something like this does not occur again.
I am sure the entire shooting world is going to weigh in on this, but it is what it is. I have heard from several shooters that attended the Match and they have been very positive about the match, the referees and the Match Director.
I have answered about 10 phone calls so far and discussed the issue at length. It is time to put it to rest and get on to seeing what we can do to avoid this happening again.
Again, the people who were most effected by the issue have handled it most properly and I thank them for that.
Wayne Wills
It explicitly states in the rules the Match Director will have certified weights at each state match, which was not present. The match director refused to get the weights at home as it was too long of a drive. Weighing any rifle the next day is bogus. You have a referee's stating the rifle was weighed with scope caps ? The first time the rifle was weighed it was 7.4 next time 7.2 ? The rifle had no scope caps.
Wayne good luck to you .........This is why IR 50/50 is dying a slow death !!!
If the match director was not adhering to the rules it should not count . Your world records will not mean anything.
It goes from the good to the bad to the worst !!
Have a nice day...
IR 50/50 Rules state :
SCALES
Scales must be available to all shooters to determine class. Each club should have a 7.5 lb. weight, a 10.5 lb. weight, and a 13.5 lb. weight to check scale accuracy. Weights may be checked for accuracy at any United States Post Office.
Sounds like the DQ wasn't valid ,if the Match Director and Referee's did not follow the rules. Leaving the weights at home is a poor excuse.
If this is the case the Match Director should reinstate yours score. It was an error on his part and it is not the shooters responsibility,
The rifle was weighed without the turret covers every time. It was weighed exactly the way I shoot it. Every time.
I get you guys point about the weights not being there but I would like to add that Pete & the referees are as honest as the day are long. I'm confident that the scales were checked & the proper ruling issued.
Let's not take away from William's potential records because of this BS. He shot his butt off & deserves everything coming to him.
His rifle was of legal weight. Mine wasn't. Lets not turn this into something any different.
Keith
If there were no check weights the rifles should not have been weighed - it's pointless. On the other hand, the deed is done and an official protest is the only thing that remains.
Have y'all ever tried to buy check weights...they're somewhat expensive...but absolutely necessary. Additionally, why would anybody think the post office would have accurate scales? I'm just asking as I don't know. Maybe they check their scales on a daily basis or something.....
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While we're here, we could help Wayne with the rule. Black Jack makes a good point - the rule is not really a rule but rather a loose statement that doesn't mean squat. I believe I wrote that rule except for the thing about the Post Office - could be wrong. It's a good rule until it's challenged and then it's a terrible rule. The reason it's written that way is to allow clubs to host a match without having to buy check weights. That said, if there was somebody in the area that had check weights, and brought them to a match, then weigh rifles! The NBRSA supplies check weights to the regional director for just that purpose. You don't have to weigh every match to keep the rifles in check.
Now, go the other way and consider a scale that doesn't weigh the check weights within the allowance of the rules. What do you do? I know the answer but am curious as to what y'all think.
Thank You Wilbur!!!
Very well put!!!
NO CHECK WEIGHTS HOW DO YOU PROVE IT"S OVER WEIGHT?!?!?!?!
Pete