Clay Target Q&A
With Russell Mark, Olympic gold and silver medallist
Questions: russell@corporateshootingstars.com.au
Q I have been shooting Trap for several years and I am still confused about where to start my gun in relation to the trap house when I call for the target to be released. What is your opinion?
John Furness, Vic
A John, I have always believed that because you know in Trap that the target will be thrown above the line of the trap house then you should start your gun where it is going to be and not where it is coming from.
Our rules tell us that at 10m from the trap the target must be around 3m in height, so I have always started my gun around 1 to 1½m above the trap. I start my gun slightly below the target flight line for two reasons. Firstly, I like a small amount of upwards movement through the target flight line to promote some gun speed, which helps with the swing through method of lead that most trap shooters use. And secondly, because I use a trap gun that shoots most of its shot pattern well above its point of aim then holding just below the target line will always allow me to actually see the clay target when I pull the trigger instead of having to cover the target completely with my barrel when I am ready to fire.
Holding slightly above the trap house also promotes another very important fundamental skill in trap shooting: it makes you look further out past the actual trap and into the breaking zone where your eyes need to be placed when you call for the targets release. Never ever call for the target with your eyes on the actual trap house. This same fundamental rule applies to all disciplines where the target is on a pre-determined height or trajectory, like Skeet and Sporting in particular.
If you know where the target is roughly going then do yourself a favour and reduce, within reason, the amount of barrel movement you need to make. The more barrel movement you have generally equates into the greater your chance for error.