No more 18 so will some change to 7 1/2 shot?

Now that our smart people at the top have eliminated the 18 yard line in favor of the more challenging 19 yard marker for handicap events the question is whether the shot companies will be selling more 7 1/2 shot for the longer distance.

 

Why?? The 8's go just as far as 7 1/2's at the same fps. Depending on how far you go back depends on what choke you want to use.

 

You think you need 7.5s from the 20 instead of 8s??? How dumb. Some guys shoot 8s all the way from the fence, and do fine. Heavier shot is advantageous in wind and rain. No difference in 16 and 20 yards.

 

i shoot 8 shot at the 22 right now, gonna give 7 1/2 a try for the cold weather here in jersey

 

Add a yard to a 10 yo sub-junior but nary a foot to the captain of the All-American team. Another fantastic direction added by a bunch of fools.

 

To answer the original question as asked , Yes probably ... Trap shooting is a game of blame, people will say if I only would of been shooting 8's or 7 1/2's , had my foot in the wrong place, gun was not right, had the wrong under ware on, wrong shirt,wrong color lenses, forgot my hat, should not of wore a dam hat, didn't eat my usual breakfast, I got gas, and on and on and on ... I shot on a squad with a guy who broke a 99, when we finished he starting adjusting the rib on his gun so I asked him what the hell he was doing and after shooting a 99 I think I would leave well enough alone ... He responded that he missed one, I said "Yes' but you broke 99 of them guess that don't count ..? Been there and seen it but never going to live long enough to see it all ...
I mixed a box of 7 1/2's with a box of 8's one time just for giggles, looked at the shell after firing the shot, much to my surprise I broke just as many with one as I did with the other from 27 yards ... I can see heavier shot in the wind and from long yardage only because I convinced myself that's the way to go ... The flats of shells I have in the garage are all 7 1/2's so if by chance I do shoot a 16 yard practice it will be with what I have on hand , no other reason ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

When did the ATA get rid of the 18? Any way, its about time!

 

When are they going to wise up and install the 30yd. line is a more important question??????? Roger C.

 

Ditto Roger

 

Eliminate the 18 yd. non-competitive shooters while allowing the under-handicapped 27 yd. others more opportunities to eat their lunch-ATA logic.

 

i use reclaimed shot for all 16 yard events and shoot 7 1/2 factory loads for handicap rounds, they should get rid of the 19 yard line and have 20 and back

 

They should get rid of the 19yd line.

GB......................DLS

 

If you want to "get rid of" the 18 or even the 19 yard line ..... do away with the "changes" that made them "seem necessary" .....

The "improvements" like easier target settings, electronic voice calls, better shells, recoil reducing adjustable stocks, and, and, and ..... made the scores rise to level that some felt the need to make people "more competitive" by moving them forward .....

So ..... if you want to "undo" the need for the "shorter yardage" ..... you should push to "undo" the "conditions" that caused the "need for shorter yardage" .....

 

When I started shooting registered trap men started at the 22 yard line, ladies I seem to recall was the 20 yard line maybe 18, not really sure ... I never shot closer than the 22 yard line or got reductions to any closer yardage ... The targets were 3 hole and 50/52 yards per the stakes that were on every field ... Each field had a "rod" in case anyone experienced a stuck shell, if you didn't shoot at a target it was lost unless the primer was dented and the score keeper looked at it when you opened the gun, then you got one more chance ... The people in the game seemed to be happier and friendlier, always offered you advice (if asked for it or not ) but they mean't well ... If the ATA was today what it was back then you would have crowds like those that existed at the Grand in Vandalia ... Changes are not always progressive as many of us see today with the current situation and the membership dropping to the point where what used to be a big deal isn't even a little bit of a deal any more when it comes to shooting trap ... Without definite changes , well those of you that shot back then know whats going to happen ... Those were the days ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

No need for 7 1/2 from short yardage. Best I ever shot was 1oz of 8 1/2 from the 20yd. line
Good enough for 1 1/2 yds. at the Grand., New Gold Medals.

I agree, 20yd min.

Regards......Gerald

 

The 18 has not been totally eliminated. The ones that are there stay there until they are moved back, but there will no longer be reductions to the 18.
I do agree there should be a 20 yard minimum, but while there are rules in place use them until they are changed for all.

 

When i first started i was on the 22yd line...That lasted for about an hour.

 

When was the 22yd the starting yardage? I joined in 1983 and it was 20yd. Just wanting to know.

 

In 1974 when you joined the ATA you got a temporary 22 yard card and then after shooting 1000 handicap and 1000 single targets you got a permanent card after a target review, a lot of shooters got the 20 yard line, I got the 23. To shoot the grand you needed 1500 of each to shoot your permanent yardage or you shot penalty 25. Of course this was way before Neil Winston's time, I think he was still racing cars or something like that then. Brad

 

I joined in 1975, as Life Member ... 4 People in my family joined as Lifers on the same day ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

So some time between 75 & 83 it changed to the 20yd? Maybe HB can add something.

 

I started on 20. Joined 1987.

 

I started in 1971 at 20yds with a temporary card, received a half yard punch and shot 1000 combined targets. When my 1972 target year card came, it was a 22 yd temporary card. When I shot enough targets for a permanent card I received another 1972 card, and was moved back up to 20 1/2 yds. I just looked at my old cards to verify this to make sure my memory was correct.

 

I look at some of these guys that are shooting from the 18 and it makes me laugh. Handicap should start at the 20 Minimum.

 

You're absolutely right but unfortunately they stink so bad some may need the 10 yd. line to have a chance of winning. On the other hand, we have numerous shooters carrying high averages from the 27 yd. line and haven't moved anywhere in decades. So the moral to your story is what?

 

I agree 20yd needs to be minimum! If you have a high average you need to stay on 27yd! Is that hard to understand?

 

Ollie I'm not disagreeing with you on that. But at the smaller clubs that I shoot at the sandbagging 18 yarders are winning everything. plus the clubs I shoot at are cost restrained and couldn't afford to lay concrete and move back any further. I do think all the major shoots should do something about the Professional's shooting at the 27

 

Your shoots must be really small. It only takes 15 shooters to attain a yardage increase. How does anyone stay on the 18 and continue winning shoots?

 

So your suggesting we move in incompetent 18yd. shooter to the 20 and ignore a high average 27 yd shooter who's lived there for decades? Wow!

 

Trust me, there's no need for a 30 yd. line at your tiny club. Harlan and the others won't show up and shoot for a plastic duck trophy. No All-American points-no show.