Are you wondering what the difference between trap and skeet maybe? Both trap and skeet are used for the purpose of gun safety. It is a popular sport that makes use of a clay bird as a target and was introduced to impersonate bird hunting. Because, in 1920’s the practice of shooting/hunting a bird was made illegal worldwide.
Basically, clay shooting may be broadly categorized into three groups. They are:
- trap shooting,
- skeet shooting,
- sports shooting.
However, in this article, we will discuss the difference between trap and skeet shooting only. Trap and skeet, in turn, have various categories and levels at which the sport is played. Trap and skeet shooting are forms of a recreational shooting activity in which participants try to shoot targets that are put into motion in the air from fixed stations in the field. Wherein, these targets are made out of clay which is flung into the air at a very high speed and the participants make use of shotguns to break them into pieces. Trap and skeet shooting are modern-day forms of pigeon hunting. In which, the primary difference between the two lies only in the manner in which the targets are shot.
Before we get into the differences between shooting trap and skeet, we will discuss the basic differences between the two so that people know why both trap and skeet are used in general.
- In trap shooting, the trap house is kept at such a position that triggers the target from the direction opposite to the shooter and the shooting stations. A course for trap shooting holds five positions for groups of five. The shooter is made to stand at a distance of 16 yards from the target at the shooting range.
- In skeet shooting, the target moves along the side. Skeet shooting hosts squads of a total of five shooters as well.
Trap vs Skeet
Guns Used
You need to know that shooting paper with a rifle is not as same as shooting a clay with a shotgun.
The guns used in games that involve shooting are usually high profile and heavy-duty in nature. Considering both trap shooting and skeet shooting are a part of the Olympic events, the guns are fancy and expensive quite naturally.
Trapshooting usually involves playing the sport with a 12 gauge shotgun. One can also make use of the guns with smaller gauge such as 16 gauge or 28 gauge shotguns. Whereas, the later has four ranges of shotguns at four stages of the competition. These guns are 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, and .410 gauge in respective order. However, shooters tend to stick with one particular type throughout the competition.
Target Presentation
In trap shooting, the target of the trap house is placed such a way that the targets launch themselves away from the station.
On the same note, skeet shooting makes use of targets that are launched sidewise across the field. This means that unlike trap mode, the targets do not move away from the shooter. Instead, they move side to side with respect to the shooter or squads on the field.
Categories of play
When it comes to trap shooting, there are various categories under this in itself. One can play singles where there is a single shooter on the field. At the same time, there can be squads playing together in a bigger competition. Squads form a group of five shooters. Every position on the trap field gives each shooter a different perspective of the target once it’s thrown from the thrower machine.
In skeet shooting, there are two houses on either side of the skeet field. In this form of the game, shooters are placed in groups of five as well. These groups of five are called squads in this case too.
Number of shots
In trap shooting, a player gets five shots from his position which amounts to a total of twenty-five shots per squad. As a result, twenty-five shots make for one round. When a player misses the mark, it is counted as “lost”. However, if the player manages to break a piece off dead target, he/she gets credit for it. On the same note, if he/she manages to break a dead target into many pieces, he/she gets credit for that as well.
In the case of skeet shooting, the count is a bit different due to the shots that are fired as doubles. There are eight shots in skeet which are taken as a double shooting. The games rules in skeet shooting also make use of the terms “dead” and “lost” to distinguish between hits and misses.
Rounds of Play
As we mentioned earlier, in trapshooting every round constitutes twenty-five shots. However, there are four rounds in total which makes the total number of 100 shots. There are four different fields as well, which are colloquially called banks. Every shooter has to play in all four banks wherein every round is played in a different bank.
In the case of skeet shooting, the rounds have a different layout altogether. Stations 1 and 2 have low house single, the high house single, high house, or low house pair. And, stations 3 to 5 have a low house single and high house single. Likewise, stations 6 and 7 have a low house single, the high house single, and low or high house single while station 8 has high house single and low house single.
Number of target launchers
The number of target launchers in trap shooting is one. The number of target shooters in skeet shooting are two which are placed sideways in the course.
Variations in Trap and Skeet
Trap-shooting has a number of varieties which include double trap where two targets are shot simultaneously. Other variants in games which are practiced on an international level are Bunker, International Trap, American Trap, Trench, and ISSF Trap.
Whereas, in skeet shooting, the variations include Standard Skeet, American Skeet, and Olympic Skeet.
Bottomline
All three games of shooting are exceptionally interesting in nature. It makes use of the clay targets which are shot in the air and impersonate birds. The aim of trap or skeet shooting is to replicate bird hunting but on a professional level. Once one is aware of the tiny differences in the games, he/she will be able to follow the games in a much more detailed manner.
Thus, reading our article, you will know the difference between skeet and trap shooting which will make you to know more about gun safety.
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