1: Trench
Included in this group are Olympic Trap and Universal Trench Olympic Trap uses 15 trap machines which are located in a trench in front of the shooters. Six shooters form a squad and shoot a single target in turn. The shooters stand in a line behind the trench. Targets are set in different ‘patterns’. Universal Trench uses the same shooting range as Olympic Trap, but only uses the middle 5 machines. Shooters shoot targets in rotation as per Olympic Trap. The patterns of targets are different. Maximum cartridge loads are 24g for Olympic disciplines and 28g for Universal Trench.
2 : Trap
Included in this group are ATA Trap, DTL Trap, Double-Rise, ATA Trap Doubles and FITASC TRAP1. A single trap is located 16 yards in front of the line of shooters. There are 5 shooters in a squad and each shoot a single target in turn for both ATA Trap and DTL Trap. The main difference between the two is that only one cartridge may be loaded for ATA but both barrels can be used for DTL. The widest angle for the target also varies between the two disciplines. Maximum cartridge load for ATA is 32g and 28g for DTL and TRAP1. ATA Trap Doubles and Double-Rise are where two targets are launched off the same machine and the shooter must fire one shot at each target. All disciplines are shot over the same shooting range. In 2017 FITASC introduced a new discipline called TRAP1, which is similar to DTL Trap but shot over a Trench range. There are 6 shooters to a squad, maximum load is 28g.
3 : Skeet
Included in this group are English Skeet, NSSA Skeet, Olympic Skeet and NSSA Skeet Doubles. The same range is used for all disciplines. The differences between them are variations of shooting sequences and speeds/distances of targets. Two trap ‘houses’ are located at opposite ends of a semi circle. Single targets are launched at which the shooter has only one shot. On some stands, two targets will be launched simultaneously (one target from each trap house). Maximum cartridge loads are 24g for Olympic Skeet, 28g for English Skeet and 32g for NSSA Skeet and NSSA Skeet Doubles.
4 : Sporting
Included in this group are English Sporting, 5-Stand Sporting and FITASC Sporting. The main theme is the simulation of live field shooting. Targets must comply with strict range setting rules for safety and fairness. English Sporting is mainly set using combinations of ‘doubles’, also known as ‘pairs’ – in other words, two targets (one shot at each target) where the shooter has one shot at each target. FITASC Sporting is more difficult in that there is a far greater variation of targets using both singles and doubles. 5-Stand Sporting uses Sporting targets but the group/squad of shooters stand in a line and shoot a target one after the other (unlike in the other two disciplines where only one shooter is on the shooting stand). Maximum cartridge loads are 28g for all Sporting disciplines except 32g for 5-Stand Sporting.
For purposes of clarity, we put our disciplines into either ‘standard’ and ‘sporting’ groups. Standard being numbers 1 – 3 above because they are shot over fixed ranges with targets that are set according to very rigid rules on their trajectory and speed.
Each discipline has a different limitation on the shot size and load for ammunition. Please check the latest rules for exact specifications.
