Trap shooting and sporting clays are two popular forms of sport shooting for shotgun enthusiasts. Both can be performed with different gauge shotguns. Many organizations and gun clubs frequently hold trap shooting and sporting clays tournaments across the country. Bird hunters also practice both so as to sharpen their skills. Although trap shooting and sporting clays both use clay pigeons as targets, the sports offer distinctive features.
Trap Shooting History
Trap shooting first arrived in 18th century England, using live pigeons that were released from cages. The sport came to the U.S. in the early 19th century. As live pigeons became scarce, trap shooters devised artificial targets. In 1870, platter-shaped clay pigeons were developed and have since become the sport's chief target.
Sporting Clay History
Sporting clays also developed in England, albeit much later, in the 1880s. Glass balls filled with feathers were used as targets. The sport came to the U.S. in the mid-1900s, and the first sporting clays tournament was held in 1983.
Trap Shooting Features
In trap shooting, the shooter stands behind a trap that launches the clay targets. Singles shooting requires the shooter to stand 16 yards behind the trap and fire from a series of five stations located next to each other. At the shooter's signal, one target is released from the trap away from the shooter. Targets are sprung at various angles and directions to simulate unpredictable bird flight.
In handicap trap shooting, the shooter must stand at 17 to 27 yards behind the trap. Doubles shooting requires the shooter to fire at two targets that are simultaneously launched in different directions.
Sporting Clays Features
In some ways sporting clays are more challenging than trap shooting in that the sport is very similar to real field shooting and is thus more unpredictable. The shooter must fire at targets that are launched from a variety of different angles. Each target simulates a type of bird's flight path, including flushing, crossing and incoming. The shooter must move to a different station after each launch--five to ten stations in all, laid out over a natural course--to complete a round.
Competitions
Regional and national organizations and gun clubs host a variety of competitions in trap shooting and sporting clays. The Amateur Trap Shooting Association is generally considered the national governing body for that sport, while the Pacific International Trap Shooting Association is active on the west coast. The National Sporting Clays Association primarily oversees national sporting clays events.
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