Shooting Rule 2.01 - Common Mark and Handicap Shooting
- Graded event
- Graded meterage event
- Grading percentages
- Shooters record book
- Re-registering
- New shooter
Shooting Rule 2.02 - Handicapping Formula
Shooting Rule 2.03 - Inward Movement
Shooting Rule 2.04 - Adjustments
Shooting Rule 2.05 - Errors and amendment on shooters record
Shooting Rule 2.06 - Handicap Returns
Shooting Rule 2.07 - Rights to re-handicap or re-grade

Rule 2.01 - Common Mark and Handicap Shooting
a. - All appropriate 15 metre scores (common mark) shall be recorded for precentage performance classification irrespective of how the event is run.
Note: All targets that are shot under 15 metre (common mark) competition conditions are to be entered on the ACTA Shooters Record Book - with the exception of Eye-Openers (maximum of 10 targets), Double Rise and those shot "targets only".
b. i. - A graded event is a competition common mark event where all competitors shoot from the same mark and prizes are allocated for various grades of competitor.
ii. - A grade meterage event is where a shooters grade is used to determine a mark from where all shooters in that grade shall compete, eg AA Grade may shoot from 20 metres; A Grade from 18 metres; B Grade from 16 metres and C grade from 14 metres. Scores shot in this event shall not be recorded on a shooter's record.
c. - Shooters shall be graded into four grades by their percentage performance over all legal targets fired upon in 15 metre competition day or night, including shoot-off targets, with broken targets to count in Double Barrel and Point events. Results in events shot from other than 15 metres shall not be included.

d. - Clubs shall have the option of running all Championships other than State or Commonwealth Championships either as graded events or as one class events.
e. - Grades shall be:
AA Grade - 97% and over;
A Grade - 94% and under 97%;
B Grade - 87% and under 94%;
C Grade - Under 87%.
Note: Management have the option of shooting D Grade under 80%.

f. - Shooters failing to produce their ACTA Score Book at competition shoots shall pay a $20 fee to the club.
g. - Club management have the option of running common mark events OA, AA, A, B, C or AA, A, B, C or OA, A, B, C or A, B, C with the further option of First, Second or Third in grades.
h. - It shall be the responsibility of a designated club official to enter individual event scores and progressively mark the shooter's book with his 15 metre results and after each 200 targets regrade the shooter if necessary.
Any one bad score entered in the Double Barrel column will be wiped off and replaced by one better score from the Continental or Single Barrel column.
If the 200 targets fall during an event or shoot-off, regrading will not take place until the completion of that event. All targets to the end of that event and shoot-off targets are to be used in the calculation of percentage.
i. - A shooter must shoot a minimum of 3 consecutive groups of 200 targets, i.e. 600 targets, at a lower grade percentage to be down-graded. He can only be down-graded one grade at a time. All scores after the last grading must be carried forward onto a new record book.
j. - Shooters awaiting the issue of a record book after registering for the first time shall be allowed to enter any competition. Scores shot during this period must be kept and entered into his book when received.
k. - If a shooter has lost his record book he shall be allowed to compete provided he is registered with the ACTA. He shall be allowed to compete in his grade in common mark events and shall be allowed to compete in handicap events from the mark he claims to be his correct handicap. Should he win prize money or trophies they must be retained by the club until such time as the shooter presents his record book to the club for marking.

l. - Should it be found the shooter has claimed the wrong handicap mark or grade, the club shall advise the State Association so the matter may be investigated. If it is determined the shooter deliberately misled the club regarding his grade and/or handicap, the shooter may be suspended for up to three months.
m. - A shooter must not shoot in a grade higher than his best performance. Once having attained a grade he may elect to remain in that higher grade when due for regrading. If he so elects he must remain in that grade for the next three groups of 200 targets. If the shooter so elects his record book must be marked to indicate such, e.g. "Prefer A Grade".
n. - Managements conducted graded common mark events shall provide a minimum of one prize or trophy for each grade.
o. - All wins shall be recorded with an OW (Overall Win) or GW (Grade win) beside scores on handicap records.
p. - Any shooter re-registering after a period of non-registration shall be placed in the same grade and handicap as when he was last registered.
q. - A shooter registering for the first time shall be graded on the first 50 double barrel targets. These 50 targets then become part of the first 200 targets for grading purposes. Newly registered ACTA shooters with experience and grade classifications in other shotgun codes (eg Field and Game) shall for the first 200 targets shoot at the highest grade attained in that code.

Rule 2.02 - Handicapping Formula
a. Each club must appoint an official to handicap and grade shooters, check to see that all 15 metre and double barrel handicap scores are entered on shooters records and to check that handicap and grade changes are recorded on cards.
b. Minimum handicap marks are tied to grades and are as follows:
AA Grade - 21 metres, A Grade - 19 metres, B Grade - 17 metres, C Grade - 15 metres.
c.i.Backward movement is tp apply on high scores according to the following table:

c.ii. Handicapping on percentage will apply after every 100 handicap targets shot, earned metreage wil apply as per the following table:

c.iii.Any score of 50/50 will earn 1/2 metre provided it does not earn at least that much under the above tables.
c.iv.Maximum Handicap 25 metres.
c.v.The shooter's card is to be ruled off at any handicap change and the 100 targets will then restart.
Note: With earned 1/2 metres no backward movement is necessary until the shooter has earned a total of 1 metre.
d. There shall be no group handicaps.
e.All handicap events, including Sweepstakes, must be shot to finality - broken targets to count and not points to determine the outcome.
f. Maximum load for Handicap shooting to be 32g.
g.All shooters registering for the first time with the ACTA shall commence on 15 metres.
h. Members from other Clay Target Associations will commence from the following handicap marks unless their current handicap is greater than that stated:
AA Grade - 21 metres, A Grade - 19 metres, B Grade - 17 metres, C Grade - 15 metres.

Rule 2.03 - Inward Movement
a. A one (1) metre inward movement will apply if a shooter's recorded percentage is less than 87% for 5 consecutive groups of 100 targets. No shooter will reduce more than one (1) metre in any year. Any forward movement is optional.
b. A competitor may apply through the State Handicapper for inward movement due to proven physical disability.

Rule 2.04 - Adjustments
Club Management and Secretaries are instructed that after any event the Management must immediately re-handicap each and every shooter who for any of the reasons prescribed in the ACTA Handicapping Formula qualified for any movement of his handicap. Such adjustments are to strictly conform with the handicapping formula.
No shooter is to be permitted to compete in another event should he refuse to accept his new mark.

Rule 2.05 - Errors and amendments on shooters record
a. If some celerical error appears on a shooters handicap card, it is the shooter's responsibility to have the mistake corrected and to shoot off the correct handicap mark.
b. Errors and/or amendments may be corrected by the Club Secretary, a member of the Executive Committee of the ACTA, Rule Supervisors or the State Handicapper.
c. Correction to errors and amendments must be ruled out and signed with the correction or amendment clearly visible. Correction fluid or the likes of are not permitted to be used.
d. It is the shooters responsibility to ensure that all handicap and common mark scores have been entered correctly, and progressively totalled.

Rule 2.06 - Handicap returns
Club Managements are informed that a Handicap Return must accompany every Result Sheet forwarded to the ACTA office within fourteen days of each shoot being held.

Rule 2.07 - Rights to Re-handicap or Re-grade
a. Club management, Rules Supervisors, State or Zone Handicappers or a member of the ACTA Exeutive Committee have the right to re-handicap or re-grade any obviously under-handicapped or over-handicapped, under-graded or over-graded shooter immediately. The Association is to be notified within 14 days with the reason given on a handicap return form.
b. In determining a shooters grade an official may disregard any score obviously not indicative of the shooters ability.
c. Handicap records may carry a signed drective by the State or Zone Handicapper, Ruler Supervisor or ACTA Executive member.
d. Should a shooter's handicap record carry any signed directive, then no person can vary the directive without the prior consent of the State Handicapper or a member of the ACTA Executive Committee.
Any alteration to the directive must be accompanied by the signature of the respective State handicapper or ACTA Executive member.
It shall be the shooter's responsibility to ensure that any directive is carried over to any new or replacement record book.