Do you think that the current shooting test for the DSC1 qualification is suitable or sufficient?

Do you think that the current shooting test for the DSC1 qualification is suitable or sufficient?

  • Yes

  • No


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No it’s not ridiculous at all, if a shot hits outside the circle they have failed! What you describe is like giving everyone at sports day a participation medal !
Let’s remember there is a 5 inch diameter circle on the DSC1 test target. If you can’t put all of your shots from 100m and 70m into a 5 inch circle you have no business going stalking. If someone post a tidy group on the edge of the 5 inch circle the first time then they reshoot the test and adjust their point of aim
No, it’s not at all. We expect the DSC instructor to assess the simulated stalk part, so why not the target/shooting part?

And yes, most can put all the rounds in a 5” circle but if the area is hidden (as it is in the DSC) you aren’t shooting at a 5” circle, you are shooting at a silhouette…and most people who have spent any time dealing with roe deer can say if a shot would be a humane kill shot. Saying it’s 3-5mm outside of that hidden circle, so it’s not a good shot IS nonsense.
 
No, it’s not at all. We expect the DSC instructor to assess the simulated stalk part, so why not the target/shooting part?
Because it is then no longer an objective test. Human behaviour is that everyone that is close, will want a remark and argue. So it has to be in the exact target
 
Why is that any different to the simulated stalk part?
Because that cannot be anything other than subjective and they are usually so obvious as to be effectively objective.

It's a cahllenge to design tests (be it practical or written exam) that offer an objective assesment with a fair marking scheme. The shooting test is a good example of a truly objective test - the bullet holes do not lie, you are either in or out. The opinion of an assessor is irrelevant. The reasonableness of the test has been lost by usign a group too small to qualify as a truly zeroed rifle - the two shots could be luck
 
Because that cannot be anything other than subjective and they are usually so obvious as to be effectively objective.

It's a cahllenge to design tests (be it practical or written exam) that offer an objective assesment with a fair marking scheme. The shooting test is a good example of a truly objective test - the bullet holes do not lie, you are either in or out. The opinion of an assessor is irrelevant. The reasonableness of the test has been lost by usign a group too small to qualify as a truly zeroed rifle - the two shots could be luck
If that’s the case make the circle visible - if it’s the circle that’s the measure of a pass fail….why the need to hide it?
 
If that’s the case make the circle visible - if it’s the circle that’s the measure of a pass fail….why the need to hide it?
It isn’t hidden, everyone can see the target up close before you shoot when the circle is readily defined. You don’t need to see the circle from 100m providing you have figured out where in relation to front leg and spine/sternum you just plonk the bullets in one after the other. If you are really canny you figure out that the circle is centred on the A4 target insert and pop a shot in the middle of that then aim at your bullet hole for the second shot…… or if you are mega cocky adjust your turrets so you can aim at the bottom left corner of the target insert and have the bullet hit 10.5cm right and 13cm high which should centre your group. No need to see the circle at all! And as Buchan has said the bullets don’t lie and everyone knows what is expected of them. Adding a fudge factor of “well it’s a dead deer” does no one any favours at all !!
 
It isn’t hidden, everyone can see the target up close before you shoot when the circle is readily defined. You don’t need to see the circle from 100m providing you have figured out where in relation to front leg and spine/sternum you just plonk the bullets in one after the other. If you are really canny you figure out that the circle is centred on the A4 target insert and pop a shot in the middle of that then aim at your bullet hole for the second shot…… or if you are mega cocky adjust your turrets so you can aim at the bottom left corner of the target insert and have the bullet hit 10.5cm right and 13cm high which should centre your group. No need to see the circle at all! And as Buchan has said the bullets don’t lie and everyone knows what is expected of them. Adding a fudge factor of “well it’s a dead deer” does no one any favours at all !!
So it’s a memory test of where the circle is then huh?

I haven’t seen many roe deer running around with defined circles….and the heart lung area definitely isn’t a circle when you open them up…

There will always be an element of subjectivity on the part of the assessor - if a shooter hits 1mm into the outer rim of the circle - what then?
 
You can buy a full size target think it is about £6.00 with postage.
To see where the two rings and study them from the shooting distances as on the test. (i made a few copies and still practice in all weathers )
And note there position to legs and ears and eye .
You will see what i mean when you see the target.

Good luck
 
So it’s a memory test of where the circle is then huh?

I haven’t seen many roe deer running around with defined circles….and the heart lung area definitely isn’t a circle when you open them up…

There will always be an element of subjectivity on the part of the assessor - if a shooter hits 1mm into the outer rim of the circle - what then?
Yes of course its a memory test just like when shooting at the internal organs of a deer! Its a very very easy concept..... if scoring is "inward" and the line is broken by the bullet hole it counts as in and if it lies outside the circle but doesn't break the line it counts as out! With outward scoring if the bullet touches the line it counts as out. I'm not sure what DMQ specifies to be honest but I would assume inward scoring. Cant see any reason for confusion myself and it is as objective a test as you can possibly create as a bullet that lands outside the circle but doesn't cut the line is a fail!! There is no room for subjectivity and yes if your bullet fails to cut the line by 1mm you have failed! Next time do the test better!
 
Yes of course its a memory test just like when shooting at the internal organs of a deer! Its a very very easy concept..... if scoring is "inward" and the line is broken by the bullet hole it counts as in and if it lies outside the circle but doesn't break the line it counts as out! With outward scoring if the bullet touches the line it counts as out. I'm not sure what DMQ specifies to be honest but I would assume inward scoring. Cant see any reason for confusion myself and it is as objective a test as you can possibly create as a bullet that lands outside the circle but doesn't cut the line is a fail!! There is no room for subjectivity and yes if your bullet fails to cut the line by 1mm you have failed! Next time do the test better!
You just said you’re not sure if inward or outward scoring - that’s subjectivity right there!

Anyway - the point being, instructors/assessors doing DSC should be able to tell if shot placement would be a humane killing shot - the circle should not be required. A simple outline of the heart and lung area and as someone stated on here - this could be on the reverse of the target.
 
You just said you’re not sure if inward or outward scoring - that’s subjectivity right there!

Anyway - the point being, instructors/assessors doing DSC should be able to tell if shot placement would be a humane killing shot - the circle should not be required. A simple outline of the heart and lung area and as someone stated on here - this could be on the reverse of the target.
Not subjective at all, there should be a defined ruling on how the test is scored provided by DMQ, I just dont know it so wont feed the forum a pile of BS and I cant be bothered to contact DMQ to check. We are going to have to disagree as there is a defined objective standard to be met where the bullets have to hit within the zone defined by the circle that is centred reasonably accurately on the desired kill zone in the chest. It is not a hard standard to achieve. What you suggest with the criteria being to hit an anatomically significant region would allow passes from candidates that shot at the chest and hit the neck, head, lungs, spine, liver, kidneys etc....."Well its a dead deer!" Perhaps yes it is but it is no test of marksmanship. Have you had difficulty passing the test? just wondering why you are promoting such a subjective standard?
 
When I did the test 20 odd years ago, kill zone is centred on the intersection of the centre of the foreleg and halfway up the body.

Ie put your vertical cross hair on the foreleg and your horizontal at point where the neck joins the body.

Squeeze trigger and repeat. Provided all your shots are within an inch or two either way you have humanely killed deer and you will pass the test.

The test is not about can you shoot tiny little groups off a bench. Much more do you have the skills to humanely kill a smaller deer off typical field shooting positions.

It is a test that is difficult enough than an inexperienced shot will struggle to pass, but something that a reasonably competent individual can.

No it is not testing whether an individual can shoot sub MOA groups at 500m, nor whether he can headshoot weasels at 1000m. For the vast majority of deer stalking such skills are unnecessary.

DSC1 is an entry level test / examination - does the individual have the basic skills, knowledge and competence to use a rifle to shoot deer in the field safely and competently.

With DSC1 you are far from the finished article, nor so with DSC2. You need lots of experience. I suspect most of the older, now retrieved stalkers on here will admit that every year they stalked, they realised how much more there is still to learn. Same in any walk of life.
 
You just said you’re not sure if inward or outward scoring - that’s subjectivity right there!

Anyway - the point being, instructors/assessors doing DSC should be able to tell if shot placement would be a humane killing shot - the circle should not be required. A simple outline of the heart and lung area and as someone stated on here - this could be on the reverse of the target.
I like that idea
 
It is a test that is difficult enough than an inexperienced shot will struggle to pass, but something that a reasonably competent individual can.
It's interesting to note how many experienced stalkers fail the test, and how many complete novices (some who have never fired a rifle before) pass at the first attempt.

Many experienced stalkers are not half so good as they think they are, and are not receptive to being taught (because they think they know it all already), but a complete novice has an almost insatiable desire for knowledge and a will to improve.
 
Not subjective at all, there should be a defined ruling on how the test is scored provided by DMQ, I just dont know it so wont feed the forum a pile of BS and I cant be bothered to contact DMQ to check. We are going to have to disagree as there is a defined objective standard to be met where the bullets have to hit within the zone defined by the circle that is centred reasonably accurately on the desired kill zone in the chest. It is not a hard standard to achieve. What you suggest with the criteria being to hit an anatomically significant region would allow passes from candidates that shot at the chest and hit the neck, head, lungs, spine, liver, kidneys etc....."Well its a dead deer!" Perhaps yes it is but it is no test of marksmanship. Have you had difficulty passing the test? just wondering why you are promoting such a subjective standard?
If it’s a marksmanship test why not just have a defined 4” circle?

I’m not promoting any subjective standard - quite the opposite, a hidden circle to me in not a good solution as I know many question the area the circle is in.

If an attendee said to the assessor, I’m going to neck shoot it and the impact hole is in the neck - fine! The marksmanship aspect would be calling the shot - not reliant on a feint circle - what benefit was there to making the circle undetectable at distance?? What purpose does it serve?
 
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