Trap Shooting

John Hogg Memorial Trap Shoot — On Saturday, May 3, the Meeteetse Shooting Club will host a trap shoot in memory of John Hogg at the Rodeo Grounds trap field.   Sign up 9-10am, with competition to begin at 10am.  The format is two rounds (50 birds) for $25.  Under 18s are only $10.  There will be at least two flights – expert and beginner, with prizes in each category.

An Annie Oakley 50/50 shoot and a new target game for shotgun, Block Shot, will be held nearby and afterwards.

 

 

 

 

Memo: for trap tournaments

For the 50-shot trap tournament, ammunition (shot) size should be no greater than 7½ with a maximum velocity of 1290 fps.

A shell catcher on semi-automatic shotguns will keep the ejected shells from hitting a neighboring shooter. A shooting vest (with large pockets) or a shell pouch on a belt will allow a shooter to reload more conveniently and without unnecessary delays. A couple of extra, loose shells will come in handy if you drop one during the shooting (best to pick it up during a move or after the round).

 

During the event:

The basic gun safety rules apply: load only one shell at a time, keep your barrel pointed in a safe direction at all times, and keep your finger off the trigger until it is your turn to shoot.

 

A squad of five shooters will be called up and will take positions in the squares at

the front of the lanes labeled 1 through 5 – the stations. The RSO will ask if the shooters are ready (foot position, ear and eye protection).   If ready, shooters will verbally respond in the affirmative and the RSO will declare the range ‘hot,’ and the first shooter may begin.

 

The shooter will yell “pull” or something similar, and the official with the remote release button will press it to send a clay (or ‘bird’) downrange. The scorer will cry out ‘hit’ or ‘miss’ and so mark the score sheet.   The second shooter will then call for a bird. After the fifth shooter, the first shooter starts again.   After 5 shots each, the RSO will call out ‘all change’ and all shooters move to the next station (1 to 2, 2 to 3, etc. and 5 to 1) with their guns empty. The RSO will again ask if shooters are ready. The first shooter, now on station 2, starts, and will continue to go first each time. When walking from station 5 back to station 1, walk behind the other shooters, unloaded, keeping the barrel pointed in a safe direction at all times, and never at another shooter, even momentarily.

When we are shooting singles: load one shell only. After the shooter before you has taken his/her shot, load your shell and close the action. After taking your shot, eject the spent shell and be ready to reload once your turn comes around again.   After some practice, the squad will develop a rhythm in loading, shooting and ejecting that will help everyone concentrate.

 

Do not reload after your fifth shot at a station; after the fifth shooter has taken his fifth shot, all shooters will walk to their next station with the gun empty. After the fifth station (25 shots in all), the RSO will call out ‘range clear.’ Keep your gun empty, open the action and walk back to the spectator area. If you’ve left any spent shells on the ground, pick them up at this point, after the round is over.

 

After all the squads have shot one round, the first squad will take the field again to shoot their second round.

 

If there is a malfunction of the trap thrower, follow the RSO’s instructions and unload your gun.   The trap loader will place an orange traffic cone on the top of the trap bunker. No shooting is to take place while the orange cone is visible.

 

If you pull the trigger on your (loaded) gun and it does not fire immediately, it may be a hangfire (delayed ignition) or misfire (no ignition).   Keep a firm grip on gun with the barrel pointed downrange. Raise your hand to alert the RSO and the rest of the squad, who are to cease firing. The RSO will come over to help.   After 60 seconds, you or the RSO may attempt to eject the shell.

 

Afterward:

The scorer will total each shooter’s score (0-25) after each round and add the two rounds for a final score after the shooting is complete.   Prizes will be awarded according to the gross scores after the second round.  Leave a phone number with the sign-in official if you can’t stay until the end.

 

Annie Oakley Shoot – Local Rules

$10 entry fee

Shooters line up on the 16-yard line; the first three shooters load their guns with one shell.

The first shooter on the far left calls for a target.

• If he/she hits it, the second shooter starts a new round and calls for a target.
• If the first shooter misses the target, the second shooter must shoot at it. If he hits it, the first shooter is out and steps away from the line.
• If second shooter misses, the third shooter may shoot at it.   If he hits it, the first and second shooters are out.   If the third shooter doesn’t shoot, or misses, all three are safe.   The second shooter starts a new round.

When the next-to-last shooter is up, it makes the person on the far left the third shooter.

A shooter who fires out of turn, or shoots at a target that has been hit, is out.

The rotation and eliminations continue until only one shooter remains.

The winner takes half the pot, half stays with the club