The game of Trapshooting

The Squad Leader is the person at the first station, the Squad Leader will ask the other shooters, "Squad Ready?". When the squad is ready the Squad Leader then asks if the Puller is ready, "Puller ready?" After the Puller has replied, the Squad Leader says, "Eyes forward, let’s see a target". The puller releases a clay target from the trap house for the squad to see.

The Squad Leader begins the round by calling, "Pull", shoots the first target and the round is started. Shooters at positions 2 through 5 shoot begin their rounds in sequential order. After the squad leader has shot his fifth shot, before rotation, the Scorer says, "Ready", this lets the squad know that it's there last shot before a rotation will happen. When the squad has shot at five targets they advance to the next station. With their chambers empty, actions open, and guns pointed in a safe direction, the squad rotates from 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, and 5-1. The Scorer will call out scores as the squad is rotating to the new positions. When the Squad Leader determines that all shooters are in place, the second round begins. The Squad Leader calls for another target and the next round is started. After the last shooter has shot his or her last shot the puller will say, "Out", and the round is over. The squad should not move until the last target is shot in any round.

The clay targets are typically thrown by a voice-activated machine. Some clubs still use a button pushed by the puller. In either case, the shooter traditionally gives the command, "Pull", to launch a target. The target machine oscillates left to right continuously so that targets are launched at random angles from the house. This is a reactive sport. The shooter must see the target and react to its direction of travel, in order for the target to be broken.

Handicap:
In handicap the distances are increased. The shooters are grouped by skill and stand farther from the house. The distances are increased in one-yard increments up to 27 yards. All shooters are grouped together by skill level; shooters in a squad must be with two yards of each other. The target machines oscillate in the same manner as in Singles. The shooters move from station to station in the same manner as Singles.

The Shotgun :
A favorite bird gun will work as well as a competition shotgun when it is in the hands of an experienced shooter. Some trap guns will have a higher comb than field guns. The most common gun used for trap is a 12 gauge shotgun. Single and double barrel guns are used. Pump, Automatic and Breech loaders are all used in this sport. Some people use trap as a way to improve their field skills. They may use a 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or even 410 shotguns..

See how to pattern your shotgun

Trap guns tend to have longer barrels than field guns. This is to create a tighter pattern at longer distances. Trap guns will have a higher comb than field guns so that the sight picture is better. The most common guns used for this is a 12 gauge shotgun. Single and double barrel guns are both used. Pump, Automatic and Breech loaders are all used in this sport. Some people use trap as a way to improve their field skills. As such they may use a 20, 28 or even 410 shotguns. The gun must fit properly ask more experienced shooters about this subject on how your gun should fit you.

A Tragic end to a Trapshooting Legend Bob Allen

A remarkable trapshooting career was ended on November 17, 2004 in a one car automobile accident on Interstate 29 between Omaha and Des Moines, IA. Bob Allen and his wife Sari were killed when their car hit a bridge railing, fell 50 feet and burst into flames. Mr. Allen earned 13 All American team honors plus won the 1957 Grand American doubles title. He was also runner-up in the Clay Target Championship in 1956, and runner-up in the C/C in 1954. He won 15 major titles at the Iowa State Shoot. He was also a world class flyer shooter, author (Shooter) and started his famous Bob Allen sportswear business. Bob Allen was enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of fame in 1982.

I was very sorry to hear this tragic news. Bob, I have your book on my dresser and may I someday shoot as well as you have. God Bless You and Sari.

I would like to Thank Boyt Harness Company for what they have done for this Young Trapshooter. I now look really good on the line while breaking clay targets. Thank You for making all of this affordable to me.

Clothing and Terms:

Clothing:

Some trapshooters find a vest or jacket helpful for shooting. Typically they these have some padding on the front of the shoulder to help with the recoil. The vest is to help the shooter mount the gun in the same place consistently. Also there are pouches that hold full shells and empty hulls. A great place to purchase items on-line is Gamaliel they have a full line of items for all your shooting needs and the prices are very good, shop around then go to Gamaliel.

Some Common Terms Used:

Hulls - Empty shotgun shell

Primer - A primer is placed at the bottom of a hull. The purpose of the primer is to ignite the gun powder within the hull, this is done when the trigger is pull the guns firing pin strikes the primer and the primer fires.

Recipes - Known amounts and kinds of primers, powder, wads, shot used in reloading shot shells. Always follow a known recipe for shot shell reloading.

Round - A round can be either a shotgun shell, or a round of trap.

Shot - Shot is the pellets in a shotgun shell.

Shotgun Shell - A hull that is loaded and ready to shoot. A Shotgun shell consists of a hull, primer, gun powder, wad, and shot.

Wads - A wad is an object that separates the gun powder from the shot inside of a shotgun shell. Wads come in several configurations and made of felt, paper, and plastic.