Double Trap in the UK

Unfortunately the rules for Double Trap are quite complicated and difficult to remember, this can make the job of being a referee difficult, not to mention stressful ! Whether competing or refereeing it is worth having a knowledge of the basic rules and regulations. This is a 'summary' of the main rules, and is not intended to be comprehensive, however it covers most of the situations that you are likely to encounter. Pay particular attention to the 'no bird' rules as they aren't straight forward and it is important that they are followed correctly.

!! SAFETY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE !!

Trap Setting
After the traps have been adjusted and approved by the Jury one trial double must be thrown. Before the beginning of the competition and after each subsequent setting of the traps, a trial double must be thrown. A trial double must be thrown before the start of each round. The shooters may observe these trial doubles. If a round of shooting is interrupted for more than five minutes because of a technical malfunction that is not the fault of a shooter, before the competition resumes the squad must be allowed to view a regular double from the machines on which the interruption occurred.

Shooter's Conduct
It is the responsibility of the shooter to be present on the proper station at the proper time, with all necessary equipment and READY to shoot. If a shooter is not present at the station when their name is called, the Referee must have the shooter's name called loudly three times within one minute. If the shooter does not appear within the three calls, the Referee must declare them "ABSENT" loudly. From that moment the shooter declared ABSENT must not be allowed to join the squad and shooting must begin without them. They may be permitted to shoot the missed round at a time and on the range decided by the Chief of Referees but the shooter must be penalized with a deduction of three targets.

If a shooter arrives late for a competition and it can be proved their lateness was due to circumstances beyond their control, the jury must whenever possible give them the opportunity to take part without disruption of the overall shooting program, no penalty will be deducted.

A shooter must position them self, load the gun and call for their targets within 10 seconds after the shooter to their left has fired at a regular double or after the Referee has given the signal to START. In case of non-compliance with this time limit, a warning is given; subsequent occurrences are penalized by one target.

When the shooter is ready to fire, they must call crisply and loudly "PULL" or some other signal or command, after which the targets must be released following a random delay of 0 to 1 second.

The shooter must not leave their station before the shooter at their right side has fired at a regular double and a result is declared, except when the shooter has completed shooting on Station 5. In this latter case, they must proceed immediately to Station 1 according to the program. A shooter having shot on one station must proceed toward the next station in such a way as NOT TO INTERFERE WITH ANOTHER SHOOTER or MATCH OFFICIALS.

Regular Doubles
A regular double is when two regular targets called by the shooter, are thrown simultaneously. The targets should be thrown after a random delay of 0 to 1 second. If a double is not thrown within 1 second of the shooter's call, the shooter may refuse the double by removing their gun from their shoulder, or changing their ready position. See 'Lost Targets'

Irregular Doubles
An irregular double is any double in which :

One or both targets of a double are broken
Only one target is thrown
One or both targets fly along a path other than that specified
The shooter receiving an irregular double must repeat the shots on a regular double regardless of whether the targets were hit or missed

Hit Targets
A target is declared HIT when it is thrown as a regular double and shot at according to the rules and at least one visible piece is broken from it (or coloured powder is visible from a flash target.)

Lost Targets
A target is declared as LOST when the competitor has shot at the target and there is no visible broken piece (or powder from flash targets)

BOTH targets should be declared LOST when :

The shooter fails to fire at a regular double without an evident reason
If the shooter is not able to fire his gun because he has not released the safety, has forgotten to load, or has failed to cock the gun
After a malfunction of the gun or ammunition a shooter opens the gun or touches the safety catch before the Referee has inspected the gun

The SECOND target is declared LOST when :

A shooter is unable to fire his second shot because :

They have failed to load a second cartridge
They have failed to release the stop in the magazine of a semi-auto
The recoil from the first shot has applied the safety catch
Using a single trigger, they have not released it sufficiently
Any other reason whatsoever which is attributable to the shooter
After a malfunction of the gun or ammunition a shooter opens the gun or touches the safety catch before the Referee has inspected the gun

If the first target has already been missed then BOTH targets are declared LOST.

Gun Malfunctions
When a competitor has declared that their gun has not fired due to a malfunction they must immediately hand the gun to the Referee. They should not touch the safety catch or attempt to open the gun, if this happens the target (or targets) must be declared LOST. When the gun is handed to the Referee he/she must aim the gun out to the range and try to fire it. If the gun fires then the fault is with the shooter and the target (or targets) must be declared LOST. If the gun does not fire then it should be opened to ensure that 2 cartridges have been placed in the gun, if the cartridge (or cartridges) are missing then the target (or targets) must be declared as LOST. If two cartridges were in the gun then it is declared as a malfunction and the competitor should receive a repeat double (see Repeat Doubles).

When the third or subsequent malfunction of the gun or the ammunition occurs for the same shooter in the same round and the shooter is unable to fire the first shot due to the malfunction the double must be declared LOST and LOST. If the shooter fires their first shot and the third or subsequent malfunction prevents the firing of the second shot the first shot result must be recorded as HIT or LOST and the second target declared LOST.

Actions After Malfunctions Are Declared
If the Referee decides that the disabled gun or malfunctioning of gun or ammunition is not the fault of the shooter, and that the gun is not repairable quickly enough, the shooter may use another approved gun if it can be obtained within three minutes after the gun has been declared disabled.
Or, the shooter may after obtaining the permission of the Referee, leave the squad and finish the remaining targets of the round at a time determined by the Referee.

NO BIRD Doubles
A NO BIRD double is one, which is not thrown according to the rules.

The NO BIRD decision is always the Referee's responsibility.

A double declared NO BIRD by the Referee must always be repeated WHETHER THE SHOOTER HAS FIRED OR NOT AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE TARGET OR TARGETS WERE HIT.

The double must be declared NO BIRD and the shooter must shoot a repeat double to determine the result of BOTH shots -WHETHER OR NOT THE SHOOTER HAS FIRED WHEN :

A "broken target" emerges
One or both targets in a double are irregular
Only one target is thrown instead of a double
One or both targets in a double are of distinctly different colours from the others used in the competition and training
A malfunctioning gun or a faulty cartridge prevents the shooter from firing their first shot
The shooter hit one target from a regular double with a first shot and the fragments from this target broke the second target before they had fired at the second target
Both shots are discharged simultaneously, after the shooter has called, the double is declared NO BIRD and must be repeated as a regular double to determine the results of both shots, whether one or both targets were hit or missed. If the above situation occurs twice in the same round, the double must be scored HIT and LOST or LOST and LOST if the shooter fails to hit the first target in the repeated double.
The shooter breaks both targets of a regular double with the same shot, the double must be declared NO BIRD. On the second consecutive attempt, if the same situation occurs, the double must be scored HIT and LOST.
Either target of the double is irregular. If the shooter fires at both targets, the result of the double must be scored and no claim will be allowed if the alleged irregularity consisted simply of a deviation from the prescribed flight path, insufficient initial velocity or an alleged fast or slow pull.

Repeat Double
A repeat double may be thrown PROVIDED THE SHOOTER HAS NOT FIRED when :

The targets are thrown before the shooter has called
The targets are not thrown within 1 second of the shooter's call and the shooter has refused the targets according to rules
The target flutters, takes an irregular course or has insufficient velocity
The shooter's first shot misfires due to a malfunction of either gun or ammunition and they do not fire the second shot. If the second shot was fired the result must be scored.
In the case of a malfunction of gun or ammunition through no fault of the shooter, a repeat double may be thrown a maximum of two times, regardless of whether or not the shooter has changed their gun or ammunition during the same round.
Note: In the case of a third or subsequent malfunction both targets are declared LOST.

No claims of irregularity will be allowed where targets were actually fired at, if :

The alleged irregularity consists simply of a deviation from the prescribed line of flight
In the case of an alleged "QUICK" or "SLOW" pull unless the Referee has called distinctly NO BIRD prior to the firing of the shots in the event of the "QUICK" pull, or prior to the emergence of the targets in the case of a "SLOW" pull.

Otherwise, if the shooter fires, the result must be scored.

A repeat double must be thrown (EVEN IF THE SHOOTER HAS FIRED) when :

The target was missed with the first shot in a regular double and the shooter fails to fire a second shot because of a malfunction of the gun or cartridge; the double must be repeated to establish the result of only the second shot. The first shot is recorded as LOST. The shooter must fire at both targets in the repeated double.
The shooter hits one target from a regular double with the first shot and a malfunctioning gun or cartridge prevents the shooter from firing the second shot, the double must be repeated to establish the results of both shots
The shooter has been visibly disturbed
The Referee cannot for some reason, decide whether the target was HIT, LOST or NO BIRD. In this case the Referee must always consult with the Assistant Referees before making his final decision
The shot is accidentally discharged before the shooter has called for their target
If the shooter accidentally discharges their gun and the targets are released, and they then shoot the second shot at a target, the result will count. Accidental discharges may be cause for penalty or disqualification.