Trap
Trap (American Trap)
American trap is played throughout the United States and may be the most popular form of clay target shooting in North America.
American Trap is broken down into three categories: singles, handicap, and doubles.
1) The Amateur Trap Association (ATA) rules specify that shotguns larger than 12 gauge are not permissible.
2) For singles there are five "stations", each starting 16 yards behind the trap house.
3) Each station is broken into increments of one-yard sections all the way back to 27 yards.
4) Each competitor shoots at five targets from each station in secession, one after another until five shells have been fired by all shooters.
5) The trap machine oscillates left to right within a 54-degree arc (up to 27 degrees right and left of center), and at least a 34 degree arc (up to 17 degrees right and left of center)., the shooter does not know where in that arc the target will emerge.
6) In the handicap events, the game is the same as in singles, but the shooters are moved farther away from the trap house in one-yard increments.
7) In doubles, the machine does not oscillate, but throws two targets simultaneously with each competitor shooting at five pairs (10 targets) from each station.
8) Maximum shot velocity is 1290 FPS (Feet Per Second) for shot charges up to 1 1/8 oz. and 1325 FPS for shot charges up to 1 oz.
Doubles Trap
In doubles trap, the field layout is the same, so you will have 5 stations and 5 squad members. Instead of 1 clay being thrown, when you call “pull” 2 targets are thrown simultaneously, one to the right and one to the left. You are allowed 1 shot at each target.
In singles trap, every bird you call for will be released at a different angle. In doubles, every bird is launched at the exact same angle. From each one of the five stations it will look like they are launching at different angles.
A full round of doubles trap is 50 shells.
Etiquette
1) The game of trap (unlike skeet and sporting clays) is less of a social game and more of a game of concentration and focus. Some of the shooting etiquette guidelines listed below are for safety, and some are simply good manners.
2) Become familiar with the following suggestions and practice them as often as you can:
3) Make sure you are in hearing distance from the field you are assigned to so when your squad is called you are there and ready with all your equipment.
4) If you are leading your squad (meaning you are the shooter on post 1 when the round starts) visually check that everyone is at their post and ready before initiating each round of 5 shots.
5) During the round, when you move from post 5 to post 1, make sure to look at the leader of your squad and give them a thumbs up or a nod to let them know that you are ready begin again.
6) Remain on your post, standing facing the field quietly, until the fifth person has fired. Stay on your post until told to move by the scorer. The scorer will read the score for each shooter and say, “Change” when it’s time to move.
7) If there is a dispute about your score, stay on the post until it is settled. Once you leave the post, your score is final.
8) At the end of the round, remain still on your last post facing the field until the last man has fired the last shot.
9) The last man to shoot should switch the microphones to “off”.
10) Do not have a live round in your action (regardless if your action is open) when walking from one post to another.
11) If using a Semi-Auto Shotgun: make sure your gun is equipped with a shell catcher. No one likes when spent hulls are flung in their face.
12) Try not to talk or yell out as you may cause a clay to be thrown outside of your turn if the microphones pick up your voice.
13) If using a pump or semi auto: try not to close or open your action in front of the microphone, this may cause the machine to throw a target out of turn.
14) Do not pick up empty shells during the round. Movement from other shooters may distract someone who is lining up for their next shot.
15) When closing your action make sure to have your barrel pointed down range. A lot of beginner shooters (more specifically pump action shooters) tend to close their action with the gun facing down towards the ground. If an accident were to happen not only, would you most likely take off your own foot, but you could seriously injure the people around you.
16) When the round is over, pick up the spent shells left on the ground.
17) Trap is a gentleman’s game. Never act frustrated on the firing line.