From: scot@hpfiseh.fc.hp.com (Scot E. Heath)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: RE: Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays ?
Date: 12 Aug 92 23:34:09 GMT

Anthony Selikow asks:

# What is trap shooting, skeet shooting and sporting clay shooting ?
# Specifically, what is the difference between the three ?

Here is as brief an answer as I can give you about the three (actually 5) games
you mentioned.  I am dead sure about the ATA trap section, the rest is as
near as I can recall, take it with a grain of salt.


American trap shooting, as governed by the Amateur Trap Shooting is
composed of three different events.  Singles, Handicap and Doubles.  All
events are shot on a field consisting of a house 5 runners spaced ~ 12 degrees
apart and extending from 14.6 meters (16 yards) to 24.7 meters (27 yards) 
behind the house (top view shown below).


                       *****************************
                        ***************************
                         *************************
                          ***********************
                           *********************
                            *******************
                             *****************
                              ***************
             TARGET PATH       *************
                                ***********
                                 *********
                                  *******
                                   *****
                                    ***
                                     *
                                    ___ 
             HOUSE --------------> |___|

  


                                 . . . . .
                                .  . . .  .
                               .  .  .  .  .
             RUNNERS ---->    .   .  .  .   .
                             .   .   .   .   .
                            .    .   .   .    .
                           .    .    .    .    .
                          .     .    .    .     .
                         .     .     .     .     .
                        .      .     .     .      .
                       .      .      .      .      .
                      .       .      .      .       .



Targets are thrown out of the house in a random arc but always at the same 
height.  A total of 25 targets (50 in doubles) are shot in each sub-event on 
any one field.  There are typically 5 contestants at a time, one on each 
runner.  Beginning with the contestant on the far left runner, each contestant 
in turn calls for and receives a target (2 in doubles) then fires one shot at 
each target.  After each contestant has fired 5 shots (10 in doubles), the 
contestants move one position to the right and the contestant on the far right 
moves to the far left station.  Typically, a total of 100 targets are shot
at by each contestant in any event, singles, handicap or doubles.

Contestants all stand at the 16 yard line in singles and doubles.
Contestants stands at various distances from 17 to 27 yards in handicap,
depending upon past performance.

Equipment is limited to shotguns no larger than 12 gauge and shells of a
maximum of 1-1/8 oz of shot and 3 dram equiv. powder.

International trap shooting differs quite a bit from ATA trap.  A top view
of the field is shown below.


              *****************************************
               ***************************************
                *************************************
                 ***********************************
                  *********************************
                   *******************************
                    *****************************
                     ***************************
    TARGET PATH --->  *************************
                       ***********************
                        *********************
                         *******************
                          *****************
                           ***************
                            *  *  *  *  *
                           _______________
    BUNKER -------------->|_______________|

  



    PADS -----------------> .  .  .  .  .


Instead of one machine in the house, there are 15 machines in the bunker,
three per pad.  Each machine is pre-set for an angle and height and does
not vary during any sub-event, however, the competitor does not know from which
of the 3 machines related to any particular pad the target will be thrown.
The targets are thrown much faster than in ATA trap.  A sub event consists
of 25 targets but they are shot differently than in ATA trap.  As soon as
the competitor on pad 1 (the left most pad) shoots, he/she moves to the
right behind the competitor on pad 2.  When the competitor on pad 2
shoots, he/she moves to pad 3 and is replaced by the competitor from pad 1.
This pattern of shoot/move/shoot/move is repeated non-stop until each
competitor has fired at 25 targets.  One of the main differences is that a
competitor may fire at all targets 2 times, a hit on either shot counts as
a dead target.

Equipment is limited to shotguns no larger than 12 gauge and shells of a
maximum of 1 oz of shot and 3-1/4 dram equiv. powder.


American skeet is shot on a field as shown below.



   LOW HOUSE                                                       HIGH HOUSE
   TARGET PATH ---> ********                           ********* <-TARGET PATH
                            **********         ********
                                      *********
                            **********         *********
   HIGH      __   _ ********              _             ******** _   __   LOW
   HOUSE--> |__| |_|1                    |_|8                  7|_| |__|<-HOUSE



                      _                                      _
                     |_|2                                  6|_|

                                _                   _
                               |_|3               5|_|
                                          _
                                         |_|4


The field consists of 8 pads, 7 of which are arranged in a semi circle and
the eighth at the center of the semi-circle, and 2 houses where the target 
throwers reside.  The targets are always thrown in exactly the same direction 
and at exactly the same height.  The target out of the high house starts at 
approx 3.5 meters off the ground and is thrown nearly horizontally.  The 
target out of the low house starts at nearly ground level and at the point 
the target paths cross, is the same height as the high house target, 
approximately 3 meters.

Once again, a total of 25 targets are fired at by each competitor.  The
competitors take turns shooting from the pads in the order they are
numbered with all competitors finishing each pad before proceeding.  A
perfect round of skeet is shot as noted below:

Pad 1 - One high house target, one low house target, one of each thrown
        simultaneously (known as a pair).  Nearly all competitors shoot the 
        target from the house they are standing closest to first when shooting
        a pair.

Pad 2 - One high house target, one low house target, one pair.

Pad 3 - One high house target, one low house target.

Pad 4 - One high house target, one low house target.

Pad 5 - One high house target, one low house target.

Pad 6 - One high house target, one low house target, one pair.

Pad 7 - One high house target, one low house target, one pair.

Pad 8 - One high house target, two low house targets.

If a competitor misses a target, he/she will immediately attempt to shoot
an identical target again ONLY ON THE FIRST MISS.  When this happens, the
last low house target on pad 8 is eliminated.

Equipment is limited to shotguns no larger than 12 gauge and shells of a
maximum of 1-1/8 oz of shot and 3 dram equiv. powder for the 12 gauge
contest.  There are typically also 20 gauge, 28 gauge and .410 bore
contests as well; I don't know what the requirements are for equipment
here.


International skeet is shot on a field identical to the American field, but
the competitors must start with the butt of their guns touching an
imaginary line running around their hips at the point of the hip bones.
In the previous three games, contestants are allowed to shoulder their guns
before calling for a target.


Sporting Clays is widely varied.  Most courses consist of 50 targets but
they can be thrown in limitless configurations.  This game requires the 
competitors to start with the butt of their guns below their arm pit until
they see the target.

This is the fastest growing of the shotgun sports.  It was originally
intended to simulate a variety of hunting situations and is an enormous
amount of fun!


If you're interested in more detail, I suggest you visit your local library.
If you're interested specifically in ATA trap, the address for the ATA is:

  Amateur Trapshooting Association
  601 West National Road
  Vandalia, Ohio  45377


Good Shootin'!

-Scot