Circa 1900-05 Live Bird gun

[John Davis]

If you run through the list of shooters it seems that the preferred trap/pigeon gun had 30 to 32 inch barrels, weight just under 8 pounds (probably a weight limit rule), DAC of 1 1/2 inches or less, DAH of 2 1/2 inches or less. Straight or pistol grip seems to be a toss up. As was mentioned above, if you want to know whether a gun was used for trap or live pigeon shooting you really need to know who owned it.

[John Davis]

Also, by 1900 clays had pretty much replaced live pigeons.

[John Davis]

That's not to say that they weren't still shooting live birds in the early 1900's but inanimate targets were becoming the preferred target. A shortage of live birds and a changing public opinion had begun to change the tide. The last Grand American Handicap at Live Birds was held in 1902. The first Grand American Handicap at Targets was held in 1900.

April 11, 1891, American Field: “An Ornithological Discovery. - Boston, Mass. - Editor American Field:- The following from the Portland Daily Press in reference to the new law in Maine for the prevention of pigeon shooting, will prove, I am sure, of great interest to your scientific readers, and possibly to trap shooters. A new species does not turn up every day in the week, and we must make the most of it when we get the chance.
‘We presume the intention of the framers of the law against pigeon shooting was not merely to put a stop to the shooting of pigeons, but also to prevent trap shooting of every kind in which live birds are used. Unfortunately, however, they specified pigeons and pigeons only, so that any other kind of bird may be used without violating the letter of the law. In a “shoot” which took place recently in this vicinity Peoria blackbirds were substituted for pigeons, and though the performance was just as barbarous a one as it would have been had pigeons been used, and just as contrary to good moral, still the law as it stands does not touch it. The law should be amended so as to cover all trap shooting in which live birds are used, no matter what their species.’
While some of your readers may possibly subscribe to our Portland brother’s ethics, they will hardly venture to do as much for his ornithology. This is a sad world, but in spite of the cruel treatment which Quiscalus versicolor Peoria experienced in Maine, it looks as though he had come to stay. Thos. Gradgrind.”