Olympic Trap, Universal Trap, Double Trap, Helice
The Trap Shooting Disciplines
Also referred to as ABT, Wobble in the US, or Continental. Like Down the Line (DTL), the horizontal direction is randomised, but also the target vertical height is varied from l.5 to 3.5 meters. The horizontal throwing angle is widened from the DTL 22 degrees to 45 degrees. The distance is set at 75 meters. Squads of six shooters shoot in rotation as in Universal and Olympic Trap. Two shots are allowed at each target with no penalty scoring. Because ABT requires a single trap, ranges are much cheaper to build than an Olympic Trap range (15 Traps), as a result many shooting grounds all over the UK have ABT ranges, making ABT one of the most accessible Clay Shooting disciplines.
Also referred to as “Five Trap” and Universal Trench; it is a step up from ABT and is known as "Fair Ball Trap" because whilst the targets are very similar to ABT in terms of their speeds, heights and angles, every competitor will shoot at the same randomised scheme of targets launched from the 5 Traps. This eliminates the possible luck element brought about by the use of a single trap that continuously oscillates hence Ball Trap.
A Universal Trap range comprises a trench (The same as Olympic Trap) in front of the shooting stands that conceals only five machines. Squads of six take turns shooting from each of five stations. Trap position sequences for a round of 25, though predetermined, are unknown to the squad. Each squad member is allowed two shots at each target, with no penalty in scoring. Computer and phono-pull system for target selection are the same as in Olympic Trap. Six shooters will take turns to shoot at a target each, before moving in a clockwise direction to the next stand in the line. Targets for each shooter are thrown immediately upon the shooters call of "Pull" and are randomly selected from any one of the 5 traps in the Trench. On release, the target is set to travel a distance of approximately 76 meters, which means that it leaves the trench at quite a pace!
Competitors are randomly placed into numbered 6 man squads prior to the competition and these details along with range reporting timings are published at the venue the evening before the competition. Each squad will shoot 8 rounds of 25 targets, therefore total score is ex 200. Scoring is done on the basis of 1 point per target hit, regardless of whether this is achieved with the first or second shot. Universal Trap has a larger following in the UK than Olympic Trap because the competitions are run over 200 targets instead of 125, are less expensive, and any shooter can enter into a world championship event, whereas to compete in World Olympic Trap events you must first qualify and then be selected to shoot for the GB Team.
Olympic Trap, Trench, or Bunker Trap (US) is one of the disciplines that form part of the target shooting programme at the Olympic Games. OTR was first shot during the Olympics of 1900 in Paris albeit in a different format. Olympic Trap as it is shot today was first introduced during the Olympic games of 1952 in Helsinki. Olympic Trap is regarded by many as the ‘formula one’ of Trap Shooting and the most difficult of the 3 Olympic clay target disciplines because unlike Olympic Skeet and Double Trap, the shooter does not know what the target trajectory will be. High levels of concentration and self discipline as well as excellent marksmanship skills are required to achieve a winning performance in Olympic Trap.
An Olympic Trap range comprises a trench in front of the shooting stands that conceals 15 traps arranged in 5 groups of 3. Six shooters will take turns to shoot at a target each, before moving in a clockwise direction to the next stand in the line. Targets for each shooter are thrown immediately upon the shooters call of "Pull" and are randomly selected from any one of the 3 traps directly in front of the shooters stand. Olympic trap targets are set to travel 75+/- one metre at varying elevations and with a maximum horizontal angle of 45 degrees either side of the centre line. On release, the target is set to travel a distance of approximately 76 meters, which means that it leaves the trench at quite a pace!
Competitors are randomly placed into numbered 6 man squads prior to the competition and these details along with range reporting timings are published at the venue the evening before the competition. Each squad will shoot 5 qualifying rounds of 25 targets, therefore total score is ex 125. Scoring is done on the basis of 1 point per target hit, regardless of whether this is achieved with the first or second shot. The top 6 competitors in each competition class i.e. Senior Mens, Women, and Juniors are then put forward for their respective class finals which will consist of 25 targets. During the final, shooters have only one shot at the target and therefore must load only one cartridge.
Double Trap (DT) is one of the three Olympic shotgun events along with Olympic Skeet and Olympic Trap. As the name suggests, competitors are shooting at simultaneous pairs and one shot is taken at each target (there are no single Targets). Schemes are picked at random on the day so they can be shot in any order, and unlike Olympic Trap where the targets are released instantly upon the Shooter's call of "Pull", Double Trap has a 0-1 second time delay from the Shooter's call for the target, to the release of the target. The basic range routine is similar to the other trap disciplines, but the choke selection, gun set up, hold points, and technique, are totally different. Only 24 gram cartridge loads are allowed in all Olympic Shotgun Disciplines.
GBR's Olympic Shooters headed up by the Olympic Gold Medallist Richard Faulds MBE.
Double Trap is shot on an Olympic Trap layout (a Universal Trap layout can be used as well), only three traps are used 7,8,and 9 (the middle three). Double Trap competitions are shot over 150 Targets, three sets of 25 pairs ,each set of 50 targets is called a scheme, and each scheme is different. Good gun fit, a consistently reliable technique, and the ability to concentrate for extended periods of time is required to remain competitive in this discipline. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Richard Faulds MBE won the Gold medal in this discipline. Great Britain are currently ranked second in the world rankings. The maximum score has never been achieved in Double Trap (150ex150) , the current world record stands at 147 ex 150.
Target sequences of the Olympic Target Shooting disciplines are called schemes. Double Trap competitions are run over 3 schemes. Scheme one (25pairs), is middle trap (no 8) set at 3.5metres high at ten metres out from trap, the left hand trap (no7) set 3 metres high plus 5 degrees to the left ( note no7 and no9 traps are set the same height)Scheme two, (25pairs), no7 trap is switched off , the middle trap is kept as it is, and then the right trap (no9) is brought into play which is set 5degrees to the right. Scheme three (25pairs), this is the only scheme used in a six man final, and is probably the hardest of the three. The middle trap (8) is switched off and both the two outside traps are brought into play.
Helice shooting is one of the most challenging shotgun sports in the world. The discipline was originally called ZZ- birds or Electrocibles. This discipline simulates the flight of a live bird. Helice launchers are small oscillating electric motors that spin targets at high revolutions. The targets consist of two winged plastic propellers in which a white witness cap is clipped. When released the target flight is erratic and totally unpredictable. The shooter has two shots to disengage the white witness cap off of the orange propeller. The witness cap must land within the fenced ring. Discipline in shooting is required to master this game. Helice is an exciting and challenging sport for the novice or experienced shooter, which offers an alternative experience to those wishing to try something distinctly different. The friendly and exciting atmosphere of the Major Helice competitions is partly aided by the presence of bookies taking bets combined with the unpredictability of the Targets. It can get quite noisy behind the shooters stand, so prima donnas beware!
At many major shooting grounds the Helice range is incorporated around the Olympic Trap ranges. First, imagine a field where you are standing on one designated spot. Five or seven green boxes are in front of you, arranged in a semi-circle, at twenty-seven meters. Twenty-one meters beyond that, in another semi-circle, is a twenty-four inch high fence. Then, imagine it's your turn, you're standing on the designated spot, you don't know which box will produce a whirling zig-zagging target, and you call "pull". Shoot quickly! You've got to hit it hard enough to have the wings fall off and land on the inside of the fence-line to score.
When shooting helice, the shooter walks to the line and makes preparations to shoot as the puller starts the machines. When the shooter is ready to call for the target, the shooter calls "Ready." At that point, the puller responds with "ready" and activates the voice-release. The shooter calls "pull" and the target is released. The puller does not select which machine the target will come from; it is a random release. The shooter does not know which machine will throw the target until the white door of the machine falls open, indicating the release of the target. In most world events, the course of fire is 25 targets, shooters attempting 2 targets per ring on a 5 machine layout.