What happens if the shotgun does not fire?
A · Advanced · Penalties, safety and equipment · 4 of 6A malfunction is a properly loaded shotgun failing to fire, or a faulty cartridge. An athlete is allowed two in a round, and each one gives a repeat target. From the third, the target is lost. After a misfire the athlete must not open the gun or touch the safety until the referee has looked.
How it works
- What counts: a mechanical failure or misfire when the trigger is pulled, a defective cartridge that does not deliver its full load, or both barrels going off together on one pull.
- What does not: faulty handling of the mechanism by the athlete, a cartridge in the wrong chamber and any other fault that belongs to the athlete.
- After a misfire, the athlete must: keep the gun pointed at the target flight area, not open it, not touch the safety catch, and hand it safely to the referee if asked.
- The limit: two malfunctions per round, "whether or not he has changed his shotgun or ammunition".
- The third and later: the target is lost, whether or not the athlete tried to fire.
- A disabled gun: if the referee finds the gun cannot be used and it is not the athlete's fault, the athlete may use another if it can be obtained within three minutes. Otherwise the athlete may leave the squad with permission and finish the round later, with no penalty.
- Which barrel: the athlete is assumed to fire the bottom barrel first unless they tell the referee otherwise before the round.
Tricky cases
The gun does not fire and the athlete opens it to look. Is the target repeated?
No. If the athlete opens the shotgun or touches the safety before the referee has examined it, the target is lost.
The athlete forgot to load. Is that a malfunction?
No. Forgetting to load is the athlete's fault, and the target is lost.
After two malfunctions the athlete changes to a spare gun, which then misfires. Is there a third allowance?
No. The limit of two applies whether or not the gun or ammunition has been changed.
Does the limit carry over to the next round?
No. It is two malfunctions per round.
Why the rule exists
Guns and cartridges fail through nobody's fault, and an athlete should not lose a target to a dud primer. The limit of two, and the rule against opening the gun, stop a "malfunction" being produced on purpose to escape a difficult target.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 9.11 |
| Finals | Two malfunctions in the whole final (shoot-offs included) and three minutes to repair or replace the gun | ISSF 9.17.6 |
| Wrong-size cartridges | Not defective ammunition, and may bring a penalty for unsafe handling | ISSF 9.11.3.3 (e) |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), Shotgun Rules, rules 9.7.5, 9.11 and 9.17.6. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).