A Look at Common Rules

Posted On: 03-25-2024

I was looking through the Amateur Trap Association (ATA) rule book and thought I would provide a few of the more common rules we often see and must adhere to when shooting.  Of course, there are many more rules so feel free to read the ATA rulebook here.

The referee/scorer shall not throw a target unless all contestants are

in the correct positions.

All guns used by contestants must be equipped, fitted, and utilized so

as not to eject empty shells in a manner that substantially disturbs or

interferes with other contestants.

This event must be shot 5 or 10 shots at each post from 16 yards with each

shooter in order shooting at one target until all have shot 5 or 10 times, and then

rotating in a clockwise manner to the next post. Should Shoot Management

elect to change to 50, 16-yard targets per trap (10 per post) after a shooter

has made entry, the shooter must be allowed the option to withdraw and be

refunded or change his/her option entry.

A target (called “Dead”) is one that is fired upon and has a visible broken piece

from it, or one that is completely reduced to dust. The referee/ scorer shall

record a target dead when it is broken in the air.  When the contestant fires and fails to break the target whether missed completely or when only dust falls from it. A “Dusted Target,” is a target

from which there is a puff of dust, but no perceptible piece is seen; it

is not a dead target and does not declare a failure to fire;

A contestant shall be allowed two (2) failures to fire for any reason

including a flinch during each Singles or Handicap sub-event,

regardless of the length of the sub-event. When the first or second allowable Failure to

Fire in any sub-event occurs, the contestant shall be allowed to call for

and fire at another target, and the result of the shot will be scored in

accordance with these Official Rules.

When firing, the contestant’s feet must be behind the firing mark at

16- yards, or behind the mark for the Handicap yardage assigned

to him/ her, depending upon the event being participated in. The

contestant must stand with at least one foot on an imaginary line

drawn through the center of the trap and continuing through the center

of the post, or have one foot on each side of the line.

No target shall measure more than four and five-sixteenths (4 5/16) inches

in diameter, and not more than one and one-eighth (1 1/8) inches in height.

A target shall not weigh less than 95 grams or more than 105 grams with an

allowable variation of plus or minus 5 grams per target lot. A target lot is defined

as all targets with the same production number.

Any load with a velocity greater than 1290 FPS (Feet Per Second) with

maximum shot charge of 1 1/8 ounces, or 1325 FPS with a maximum

shot charge of 1 ounce, or 1350 FPS with a maximum shot charge

of 7/8 ounces or less, as measured in any individual shotshell. These

velocities are maximum and no individual shotshell shall exceed these

limits for the designated shot charge. In addition, no load containing

more than 1 1/8 ounces or any shot larger than Number 7 1/2 can

be used. Shot charges are maximum and no charge may exceed

the charge amount by more than 3%. Steel shot in Number 7 will be

acceptable as long as velocity criteria are the same as for lead shot

shells.

David R. Vaught

Executive Director