From: refrig@dixie.com (Todd Hedenstrom)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays ?
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:31:24 GMT
Organization: Dixie Communications Public Access.  The Mouth of the South.

First off, great job on describing the clays games - I've been considering
putting together a FAQ of sorts on the various clay games, perhaps you'd
like to work with me on it?

Just a few points, some that perhaps you didn't know - the International
games are regulated and officated by the National Rifle Association. (See
folks, they DO do something outside of Washington)

In International Trap, the machines are sunk below ground in a 'bunker', and
in ATA trap, the machine is in an above ground 'house'.  In International,
on each station, the three machines will be set in one of nine defined
configurations, and not changed during the course of a shoot.  At each station,
there is one straight-away, one to the left, and one to the right.  In the
course of a 25-shot round, you'll shoot one straight-away at each position,
two lefts, and two rights.  The order that they will be presented is random.
If you're REALLY good at counting targets, you'll know your last five-ten
targets.

In NSSA (American) skeet, you MUST shoot the target from the nearest house
first on the double.  Also, there's a doubles game in skeet, too.

In International Skeet, besides the low gun mentioned, the birds travel at
a speed of 100 MPH out of the house, rather than the 55 MPH in NSSA skeet,
and there is a mechanical device in the system to create a random 0-3 second
delay of the throw.  The gun cannot be mounted before the bird leaves the
house.  International skeet separates the men from the boys.

In Sporting Clays, most tournaments are either 100 targets (one day) or
200 targets (two day).  The gun MUST be low mount.  Two shots may be taken
on single birds, with a dead bird called on either hit.  The most interesting
thing in sporting clays is the variety of angles, speeds, and even target
shapes presented.  The standard target, used in all games, is 120 mm, called
a 'standard'.  Sporting clays also uses: Midi - 90 mm, Mini - 60 mm,
Rabbit - a thick-edged 120 mm target that rolls on the ground, Battue - a 120
mm target that's only 10 mm high, Rocket - a thick 120 mm target that's half
as high as a standard, and the Teal - hard to describe, kinda like a standard
with a ridge for a dome, and a dent in the top.

Some events you didn't mention, that are becoming VERY popular are the new
5-stand sporting, which we hope to make an Olympic event, and FITASC, which
is a French clays game that is as much mental as a shooting event.

Other, less formal and hard to find games include: dove towers, mexican snipe,
flurry flushes, crazy quail, and ZZ-bird.

On the trap field, there's a game that's somewhat dangerous, usually frowned
upon, and generally gambled upon - it's called Annie Oakely.  The competitors
ALL line up back at the fence of the trap field, and ALL load at the same time.
When the first man calls pull, he shoots, and if he misses, the next man tries
to pick the bird up.  If HE misses, it goes to the third man, and so on.  All
the people who missed drop out if someone hits the bird.  Another target is
thrown, and so on until only one man remains.  Just remember - having 20 guys
all swinging on the same bird is dangerous, stupid, and not recommended.
ESPECIALLY when you realize that half of them are trapheads with release
triggers on thier guns!!

Anyway, anyone who wants to goad me and help me put together a clayshooting
FAQ please Email me at: (preferred) todd@refrig.dixie.com, or refrig@dixie.com.

	[MODERATOR: Go for it!]

-- 
Todd++;
refrig@dixie.com

"Others may hate you ... but they cannot beat you ... unless you hate them.
 Then you destroy yourself."     ----  Richard M. Nixon