Rule Interpretations - New FTR Rules

SPECIAL NOTE TO FTR F CLASS SHOOTERS

Could you please note and pass on the following information to other shooters concerning the latest alterations to the FTR Rules. NOTE That I have issued some rulings about FTR below in this document.

I have had quite a few queries concerning interpretation of some of the new FTR Rules that were issued in the SSR’s as at 1st July 2015.

Over the last few days I have been in close consultation with the International Members of the ICFRA F Class Rules committee. Some of the new ICFRA rules are fairly brief and without much detail. The ICFRA Committee has discussed the INTENT of the new rules and also some of the queries I submitted to them.

One major intention of the new rules is to more firmly establish the principle that “F Class shooting is NOT Portable Bench-Rest Shooting” and shooters should not be able to lock down their front and rear rests to the extent that they are immovable. i.e. some skill is needed in controlling the rifle. For that reason the plate or board under the rear bag must not have spikes or protrusions or any other mechanism that helps anchor it more firmly to the ground.

However there are some shortcomings about definitions as to what other things that can be used. The ICFRA Committee has now realized this and will address the problem at their meeting in 2017.

As a result I am issuing the following rulings regarding equipment that can be used for FTR.

I have now issued another version of the SSR’s. This is Version 4.0 (c). (Anyone want a job?). In it I have altered Rules 20.37 to 20.41 to align almost exactly with ICFRA Rules. Note that the original Rule 20.40 has been removed.

1. You may place carpet or similar flexible matting under both front and rear rests.
2. You may place a flat plate or board under both front and rear rests. These front and rear boards may not be connected. No levelling screws or protrusions are allowed on either.
3. If a Plate or board is used it must be FLAT on both top and bottom, with no design features that that give a firmer or tighter grip to the ground. Note that this bans plates such as the “mesh” plates queried by South Australia. In some circumstances such as gravel or dirt mounds, a mesh plate could embed itself into the ground much more firmly that a flat solid plate. i.e. the plate/board should be free to slide horizontally in every direction.
4. You may stack additional flat plates or flexible matting on top of the bottom plate if needed to raise the rear bag. This often occurs when there is a lot of slope on the mound. Again no protrusions are allowed on the extra plates.
5. NOTE:- Both front and back plates/boards or matting have a limit on their size. See Rule 20.40. (2 inches on any given side.) That means 2 inches bigger on every side. The Bipod plate/mat may be 12 inches deep.
6. You may place or glue flexible matting or material to the top of plates/boards, as long as the surface remains flat.
7. The plate or board may not have side rails or raised edges, and the rear bag and also bipod must be free to move horizontally in all directions.
8. Some shooters put a Sandbag directly on the ground and then place their rear sandbag on this. This is permissible.
9. Some shooters put a “Dead-Bottom” bag (doughnut bag) directly on the ground and then put their rear bag on this. This is permissible.
10. You may put a “Dead-Bottom” bag (doughnut bag) or similar on the rear plate. This is permissible as long as the doughnut bag and rear bag are free to move in any direction.

Bob Pedersen

Rules Director NRAA kkk July 8th 2015