I fully understand the 170 rule, but I would like someone to explain to me what safely issue one is fearing from an open action shotgun pointing straight up at 180 deg.????
I have always used a common sense approach, if see it begin to get out of the 170, WARN by saying "Muzzle", then discuss with the shooter after the stage to be careful and watch their muzzle. Flagrant side to side violations are a different matter,(they ARE a safety issue) but a firearm pointed straight UP is about as safe as we can be!