Ok, what constitutes a "broken gun"?  Not being a lawyer but using common sense and logic..... a broken gun is any gun that does not function as designed (ie: other shooter terms normally used for a "broken gun"-malfunction, equipment failure, etc). How is a gun designed (as utilized in our sport)....it should go bang with each trigger pull and function to place the next round in a position for the next trigger pull.

 

It must be noted that the rulebook does not differ "types" of broken gun. A gun is broken if it is not working as designed. Examples of a "broken gun".... IF it is totally locked up. A gun is broken IF it has a double feed. A gun is broken IF the ammo does not work. The gun is broken IF there is a FTE......and on and on. The rulebook does not differ a "broken gun" that has clearable and non-clearable problems. The rulebook does not exclude "broken gun"  because of mag problems. The rulebook does not exclude "broken gun" because of ammo problems. The rulebook does not exclude "broken gun" because of shooter error (weak wristing, etc). Broken gun is a gun that is not working as designed....period.

 

Who gets to decide when their gun is broken? The shooter and the SO (for safety-squib). The shooter has the option of utillizing the rulebook DNF and 5.7.4 anytime THEY feel that their gun is broken (double feed, locked up, etc). Now, if there is not something that can be pointed to to back their claim of "broken gun" and they just quit...then no broken gun.

Why is the "broken gun" not utilized then for gaming? Because at the very minimum it will be 5.5 sec added to a score (at least one shot not fired is 2.5 sec and 3 sec PE for not firing required number of rounds). Even a novice can generally reload (in this specific case) and make a hit under 5.5 seconds and improve their score . It is in the shooter's best interest in a clearable "broken gun" to do so and move on because the penalty is normally greater than the time required to clear the weapon.....but the shooter does always have the option to utilize DNF in the rulebook anytime THEY feel their gun is broken. We see this all the time with novice shooters or less experienced shooters that have double feeds or similar and just quit in the middle of a CoF. We help them, score them out, give the approp. PE's.....but I have never heard of anyone giving them a FTDR because they didn't reload for the last shot.

Also, as a point...."Can you quote a rule from the book that allows someone who has had a malfunction to not reload and/or complete a COF? "....yes I can point to the rulebook to justify not doing the reload to finish a CoF.....rulebook DNF and 5.7.4 IF the shooter declares a broken gun. The shooter has that right and option under the rulebook to declare if AND WHEN his/her gun is broken. The rulebook does not exclude clearable and non-clearable "broken gun" or exclude how or why a gun might be broken (shooter error double feeds, gun parts, mag or mag parts or ammo)......as it is currently written.

Also, as a point the reload to finish this specific CoF that is being discussed. I understand that this was a 12 round CoF? That means that everyone would have to do ONE mandatory reload to insure that enough ammo went into the gun to complete the required shot deemed by the CoF.....correct. Well....that means that the revolver shooter completed THAT mandatory reload between shot 6 and shot 7. It also means that because of a "broken gun" that did not function  as designed (independent of why)  per rulebook sections DNF and 5.7.4 the shooter did have the option of not having to perform an ADDITIONAL reload because the mandatory reload had already been done. During the CoF, he/she did put enough ammo in that weapon to complete the CoF and thus the rule you stated should not apply. Would it have been to his/her advantage to do so....yep...sure....you betcha because I am sure that you gave them the 3 second PE for not firing the required rounds and the points down....so minimally it was an additional 5.5 seconds.


Garry