USPSA scoring question

[71Commander]

While shooting a match yesterday, a question came up wondering if , while shooting a target that is partially hidden behind a barrel, your shot hits the edge of the barrel, causing the bullet to key hole throught the target, while the barrel itself was not shot through and through (no holes), is this considered a miss?

[HSMITH]

No, it is a hit. Unless the cover is designated as 'hard' cover AND it can be proven that the shot passed through the hard cover it is a hit.

[Jeeper]

If it IS hardcover then there must be a full diameter hole on the hard cover to make it into a miss.

[MNgoldenbear]

I'd mostly agree with HSMITH. The citation you're looking for ("Green" book, 2004 USPSA rules):

9.1.6 Unless specifically described as “soft cover” (see Rule 4.1.5.2) in
the written stage briefing, all props, walls, barriers, vision
screens and other obstacles are deemed to be impenetrable “hard
cover”. If a:
9.1.6.1 Bullet strikes wholly within hard cover, and continues on to
strike any scoring or penalty paper target, that shot will not
count for score or penalty, as the case may be.
9.1.6.2 Bullet strikes wholly within hard cover, and continues on to
hit or strike down a metal target, this will be treated as
range equipment failure (see Section.4.6). The competitor
will be required to reshoot the course of fire, after it has
been restored.
9.1.6.3 Bullet strikes partially within hard cover, and continues on
to strike the scoring area of a paper target, the hit on that
paper target will count for score or penalty, as the case may
be.
9.1.6.4 Bullet strikes partially within hard cover, and continues on
to strike down or hit the scoring area of a metal target, the
fallen metal target or hit thereon will count for score or
penalty, as the case may be.

So, the prop is hard cover by default unless otherwise noted. If there was no hole made in the prop, normal judgment of the RO should be that the hit was NOT wholly within the hard cover, and therefore would score. Someone may have been thinking about the old rule applied to turning targets, that stated that a bullet hole over twice the diameter of the round was ruled to have hit the target after it had turned away from the shooter, and therefore did not score (was fired when the turner was edge-wise to the shooter). This rule is no longer used, and wouldn't have applied in this case anyway. Rules are very necessary to games, but often a pain in the rear.

(Level 1 RO since about '95)

[71Commander]

Thanks all and especially MNgoldenbear for providing the rule number I need. It's not gonna change anything, but I will know the next time.

[Ankeny]

I guess the question is would a riccochet be considered a hit?