Hit Factor Calculator
What is Hit Factor?
In practical shooting sports like USPSA and IPSC, Hit Factor (HF) is the mathematical representation of your efficiency on a stage. It is defined as the number of points earned per second. The higher the Hit Factor, the better the performance.
The formula is simple: Hit Factor = (Total Points - Penalties) / Time.
Major vs. Minor Scoring
Depending on the caliber and "Power Factor" of your ammunition, your hits are scored differently for Charlies and Deltas. Alphas always count for 5 points.
| Hit Zone | Major Scoring | Minor Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha (A) | 5 | 5 |
| Charlie (C) | 4 | 3 |
| Delta (D) | 2 | 1 |
| Miss (M) | -10 | -10 |
Example Calculation
Imagine you shot a stage in 10 seconds. You had 10 Alphas and 2 Charlies, shooting Minor Power Factor.
- Points: (10 x 5) + (2 x 3) = 56 Points
- Time: 10.00 Seconds
- Hit Factor: 56 / 10 = 5.6000
Strategies to Improve Your Hit Factor
Because Hit Factor is a ratio, you can improve it in two ways: increasing your points (accuracy) or decreasing your time (speed). On a high Hit Factor stage (e.g., HF of 10+), speed is often more critical. On low Hit Factor stages (long-range technical stages with HF of 2-3), accuracy and avoiding penalties become much more important.