International or Olympic trap

Singles: This discipline is shot at the same 16 yds( 15 meters) as American style singles with the same
clay targets thrown at an angle of +/- 45 degrees in the horizontal plane and with 1.5 to 3.5 meters in
height variation. The targets are also about 75% faster and shot at with a 24 gram ( 7/8 oz) load. The shooter
has two shots to hit the single target. There are many other subtle yet challenging variations to this game, and
that’s only the single target event! We will update the website soon to provide you with a more detailed look
at this exciting sport. It should mentioned that there are only 5 operating International Style Trapshooting
“bunker facilities” in Canada, with one of them located centrally, just outside of Saskatoon.

We will be updating the website to include more information on the other disciplines within the face paced
International Style Trapshooting Sport, as well as, many of the other rules which make the sport challenging
and enjoyable to even the sharpest eye!

The game

Trap is the most popular shooting sport in North America with some 60, 000 shooters that shot at 83 million
clay targets per year, be it recreational or registered tournament. There are three segments to trapshooting -16
yard event, handicap event and doubles.

• 16 yard event: The shooter stands 16 yards from the trap house "on the 16 yard line". The thrown
  targets will fly from 48 to 50 yards from the shooter, and have angles of 35 to 40 degrees.
  Targets are thrown at varying angles. Most angles are broken at a range of about 35 yards from the
  shooter.
• Handicap event: In this event, the shooter stands from 17 to 27 yards depending on the shooter's
  previous scores. The better the previous scores the further back you shoot from.
• Doubles event: This event is shot from the 16-yard line but at two targets that are thrown simultaneously.
  The targets have an angle of 34 to 36 degrees and a distance of 44 yards. The shooter has one shot at each
  target "25 pair" = 50 targets

Trap shoots may be informal practice or registered events. To shoot registered targets, one must be a member
of Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA). In registered trap, your targets are recorded by ATA, and will be
placed in different classes.

The average shooter will break 12 - 15 targets on the first try trapshooting and gradually improve through the
teens into the twenties. A perfect round is 25 broken targets.

Equipment

• Firearms: The most used shotgun for trap is 12 gauge with full or modified choke, with 28" to 30" barrel.
  The shotgun can be a single barrel, over under, pump, and/or autoloader.
• Ammunition: Shotshells may vary slightly with shooter's preference. The load can be 2 ¾ dram or 3 dram
  equivalent of powder and 1 1/8, 1 or 7/8 ounce of #7 ½, #8 or #8 ½ shot size.
• Targets: Regulation targets cannot be more than 4 5/16 inches in diameter and 1 1/8 inches tall, weighing
  3 ½ ounces. They are made of a composition of pitch and clay or limestone, are saucer shaped and left
  black or painted orange, white or lime green.

History

Trapshooting gets it's name from the device that is used to throw the clay target into the air. Trap simulates the flight
of a game bird flushed ahead of the shooter. In the beginning live bird were used by releasing them from holes in the
ground which was covered. Trapshooting is first mentioned in an English publication titled "Sporting Magazine" in 1793.

The Sportsman club of Cincinnati, Ohio introduced trapshooting in North America in 1831. Live bird where replaced
by a variety of targets made of metal, glass and other materials. A catapult was used to launch these targets. In the
1880's, clay targets much the same as used today were first developed by George Ligowski of Cincinnati and also
credited with the development of the trap throwing machine.

In 1924, Vandalia, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton, became the permanent home of the Grand (tournament) and home of
Amateur Trapshooting Association. The Grand is a ten-day tournament held each August.

Rules & Regulations

For complete rules and regulations governing Trapshooting, contact and of the listed clubs, or The Amateur Trapshooting
Association:

Amateur Trapshooting Association
601 W. National Road, Vandalia, Ohio 45377
Phone: (937) 898-4638
Fax: (937) 898-5472
Email: shootata@bright.net
http://www.shootata.com