GUNS Magazine September 1956

Big trailer drawn by tiny tractor conveys shooters- along the mile-long stretch of trap ranges at Vandalia. Trap shoot-
ing in top form demands that shotgunner be relaxed and rested and motorized conveyance is necessary .part of tourney
because of distances competitors may have to cover in going to their assigned positions from rest area to the line.
in entries probably accountable to
World. War I1 during which many GIs
were introduced to target shooting with
a scattergun. In 1946 the participants
numbered 1478, almost double that of
the previous year. In 1954 the figure
exceeded the 2000 mark for the first
time in history. Last year the partici-
pants established a new record-2,023.
The comnetition at the Grand Amer-
ican meet is terrific with many types
of shooters taking part. For instance,
the North American Clay Target Chain-
pionship event of 200 targets was
placed on a permanent basis in 1919.
Since that time the annual champions
have missed but 25 targets, giving them
the rather impressive record of 6975
out of a possible 7000.
Another significant race is that of
Champion of Champions, in which the
various state champions compete with
each other. During the past 13 of these
annual events, those champions failed
to post perfect marks in five instances,
giving them a record of 1295 out of a
possible 1300.
The 12-gauge shotgun is the standard
firearm. The ATA rules require the use
of No. 7y2 or No. 8 shot, loaded no
heavier than with three drams of pow-
der and one and one-eighth ounces of
pellets. Copperized shot is not per-
mitted and all shooters must obtain
standard ammo at "the shell tent."
Most popular type of shotguns are
the narrow-alignment model, the single
barrel, over and under and pumps or
slide actions. Double-barrels, except
for the twin-target event, have not been
used much lately because of their
broader sighting plane which many feel
reduces the possibility of accurate gun-
pointing.
Recent years have brought about a
gradual departure from b$h single and
double-barreled types, to 'a preference
for what is ordinarily a field gun, die
repeater. The auto-loading, or so-
called automatics, are growing in popu-
larity.
Contributing to this' trend has been
the legalizing of the auto-loader by
such states as Pennsylvania. The key-
stone state now hunting small
game and varmint hunting with this
type of scattergun after having out-
lawed it since11905.
Almost from the beginning of or-
ganized trap shooting, No. 7y2 was the
accepted size shot pellet, but many
shooters have taken to using No. 8's
and for a good reason. The first-men-
tioned has approximately 394 pellets
to the charge, whereas with No. 8's
there are 461 pellets. The difference
can readily account for breaking &any
an additional target. And at Vandalia
one target can spell the difference be-
tween success and failure.
~racticall~ all shooters resort to the
full-choked barrel which places 70 per
cent or more of the shot pellets in a
30-inch circle at 40 yards. On the basis
of that percentage, the No. 7% would
number 276 in that area, as against 323
for the No. 8'9, giving the shooter an
advantage of 47 more potential clay-'
busting projectiles.
There is some difference in the velocity.'
No. 7's are about two per cent
faster in comparison with No. 8's over
ordinary trapshooting distances.
What the shooter's choice actually
amounts to is whether the slightly higher
velocity and individual pellent energy
of the No. 7% is more preferable
than the denser and slightly slower
pattern of the No. 8 pellet.
Almost the same thing is coming
true with the powder charge, many
shooters going from the three-dram
load to two and three-quarter drams.
The average velocity over 40 yards,
with a 30-inch full-choke barrel differs
only 30 feet per second, that of the
three-dram load being 870 feet- per
second, while the lighter load-and
slightly less kick-gives a velocity of
840 feet per second.
When it comes to being critical and
fussy, there is no group which is more
so than the clay target smasher. The
gun must fit just right, for upon it can
depend a hit (Continued on page 63)
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