What happens to a shot fired at the wrong time or at the wrong target?
A · Advanced · Penalties, safety and equipment · 4 of 6A shot fired after "STOP" is scored as a miss. A shot too many is annulled and costs two points. A match shot that lands on another athlete's target is a miss. A stray sighting shot costs two points only if it lands on another athlete's match target.
How it works
- After "STOP": the shot is a miss. If it cannot be picked out, the best hit on that target is taken off and scored as a miss.
- Not fired in time: scored as misses on the last competition target.
- Too many shots: the extra shots are annulled on the last competition target. If they cannot be picked out, the highest shots are annulled. The athlete also loses two points for each extra shot, taken from the lowest shots of the first series.
- A match shot on the wrong target: a crossfire, scored as a miss.
- A sighting shot on another athlete's sighting target: no penalty.
- A sighting shot on another athlete's match target: two points off the shooter's own first series.
- Receiving a crossfire: if it cannot be worked out which shot is the athlete's own, they are credited with the highest of the shots in doubt.
- Disowning a shot: an athlete who thinks a shot on their target is not theirs must tell a range officer at once.
- A sighting shot after the match has started: scored as a miss.
- 25 m, too many match shots on a target: the highest hits are disregarded and two points come off the series for each extra shot.
- 25 m, too many sighting shots: two points off the first match series for each one.
- 25 m, too many cartridges loaded: two points off that series.
- 25 m, a shot before "LOAD": disqualification.
- 25 m, a sighting shot on another athlete's sighting target: no penalty and no repeat.
Tricky cases
A shot from the next firing point lands on an athlete's target and nobody can tell the holes apart. What does the athlete score?
The value of the highest shot that is in doubt.
An athlete fires 61 shots in a 60-shot match. Which shot is removed?
The extra one, on the last competition target. If it cannot be identified, the highest shot on that target goes. Two points are also deducted.
Does a stray sighting shot always cost points?
No. On another athlete's sighting target it costs nothing. On their match target it costs two points.
A shot appears on the target and the athlete says it is not theirs. Is it removed?
It depends on what the range officer can confirm. If the officer confirms the athlete did not fire it, the shot is annulled. If that cannot be confirmed beyond reasonable doubt, the shot is credited to the athlete.
Why the rule exists
A target cannot tell who fired at it, so the rules have to decide in advance who carries the cost of a mistake. The athlete who made the mistake loses the shot, and the athlete who received it is never left worse off than their best shot in doubt.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 6.11.1.3; ISSF 6.11.5; ISSF 6.11.6 |
| Finals | An extra shot is nullified and two points or hits come off the last correct shot or series | ISSF 6.17.1.14 (l) |
| 10 m air guns | A release of air with no hit, after match firing starts, is a miss | ISSF 6.11.2.2 |
| 25 m events | Their own list of irregular shots | ISSF 8.8.2; ISSF 8.7.6.2 |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), General Technical Rules 6.11.1.2, 6.11.1.3, 6.11.2, 6.11.5 and 6.11.6, with Pistol Rules 8.7.6.2 and 8.8.2. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).