Vintage USPSA Scoring Overlays Reveal A Forgotten Rule

Pictured here are some old, probably original USPSA/NROI scoring overlays. Note that they are square, yellowed with age and sport some funny markings. There is also no gauge for .40 caliber/10 mm—another indicator of just how old these overlays are.

Original USPSA/NROI scoring overlays with gauges for .22, .30, .38/9 mm and .45 cal.—but none for .40 cal./10 mm, which had yet to arrive on the practical shooting scene.

So what are the “eyebrows” above each caliber circle for?

Those curved markings were used to determine whether a bullet hole was greater than two bullet diameters, which at the time would not count for score. Think a “tumble,” some splatter of some kind or an elongated hit on a turning target.

Today’s USPSA rules take a more forgiving approach. If a Range Officer can find a partial bullet diameter in the hole on the target, the hit will count for score—and the eyebrows went away a long time ago.

Article from the May/June 2026 issue of USPSA’s magazine.