GOF wrote:
Gary,
In the case of the revolver shooter with the dud round. That shooter fired 11 of the 12 rounds the COF required. He had a malfunction/dud round. He had additional ammo on his person (2 speedloaders if he was carrying the SSR/ESR required ammo load). He had the opportunity to reload the gun and finish the COF as required. He chose not to do do. That is a specific FTDR in the current Rule Book.

The semi-auto shooter with a magazine full of dud rounds would be, IMO, a different matter. If he attempted to fire the required number of rounds but was prevented from doing so by faulty ammunition... and if he had no other servicable ammunition with him... then there is certainly no FTDR, because he made the attempt. As to whether to issue a PE for failing to fire the minimum specified rounds, or to use DNF/briken gun scoring... I would say that's a judgement call. Personally... if the shooter made the attempt I wouldn't issue a PE and I would go with DNF scoring.

IMHO, FTDR requires 'intent' on the shooter's part (which is why I view it as a poor rule, because intent is not always easy to discern). In the case of the revolver shooter who chose not to make the reload, and made no attempt at a reload... I would issue a FTDR as outlined in the Rule Book. It is clear in "failing to reload to fire the last round because the score would be better" (or something like that... but it's clear to me) OMD  
sorry, semi-auto would have an additional mag or ammo on his/her belt just like the revolver shooter with this 12 round scenario. In your case, the semi-auto "attempted to fire the required number of rounds but was prevented from doing so by faulty ammunition" would this is exactly the same scenario as the revolver shooter. Both put the required rounds into their gun but because of equipment error, gun failure....whatever one wants to call it.....the gun did not work as designed. I totally agree that the shooter should be penalized and the current minimum of 5.5 seconds is clearly not giving any shooter an advantage to get a better score, but a FTDR? This penalty is historically given for a subjective feeling that a shooter is doing something to gain an advantage. Anytime one has to quit (DNF) or clear a problem and still would get 5.5 seconds added onto their time is not getting an advantage......just minimizing or trying to control a bad situation.

Again, I can see this from both sides but still feel that the current rulebook allows shooters options WHEN the gun does not function as it should and ONE of those options is the DNF section of the rulebook. Again, double feed is a clearable broken gun issue. If a shooter stops and quits, do you give a FTDR because they did not finish the CoF? If not, then you gave the shooter the option in the rulebook. I can see this as being similar enough to the revolver situation to warrant consideration
Garry