Behind the scenes of the firing line

I’ve been told by a lot of people that in order to really capture the full experience at Camp Perry, one must spend some time in “the pit.” I used today as an opportunity to do just that. This is an area where non-firing competitors score, mark, and replace the targets of the competitors who are firing from the firing line. Since there are usually four relays of competitors, two relays will remain at the firing line while the other two relays of shooters camp out in the pit. In the pit, competitors are located on a platform just in front of the targets. The only obstacle separating them from the firing line is a bunker and a large concrete wall.

During any slow-fire categories, the two target pullers will pull down a target each time it is hit. They then insert a spotter where the bullet hit the target, and mark the score of that hit on that target, outside of the bullseye. They push the target back up and wait for the next shot. When they pull the target down for the next shot, they remove the marker and put it in the new bullet hole, and the process repeats itself. During the rapid-fire rounds, the target stays in the full, upright position for all shots. There are two people at each target in the pit.

The other non-firing competitor on the firing line uses a sight scope to properly record the scores and marks on the target as they are given by the target pullers. Therefore, when one competitor is firing, there are three other competitors helping that one shooter in scoring and replacing the target.

There are also many volunteers and workers in the pit. They communicate with the tower on the firing line while they help oversee the activity of the target pullers.


The white circular mark on the target (shown near center of bullseye) shows the exact location of the last fired shot while the red circular mark (shown in bottom left corner) shows the score of an individual shot. This particular target shows that the last shot fired hit the X in the center of the bullseye. Both of these spotters are moved around after each shot. The red mark indicates an X and would rotate in a counter-clockwise motion for a lower value in score of each shot.

During rapid fire, the target pullers do not mark each individual shot. However, after the round is over they will mark each shot with a golf tee and write the score on a chalk board and place it on the target.


NRA President John Sigler (left) at work in the pit.




For more photos from my trip to the pit, watch this slideshow: