How much should a single barrel trap gun weigh?

[John Davis]

Letter from Parker Bros. to E. E. Bishop of Bradentown, Florida, March 2, 1931:

“We have your letter of the 26th enclosing check for $100, which is to be a deposit on a single barrel trap gun. In reading over the specifications, we note that you have specified a weight of 7 ½ pounds. We feel quite sure that this is going to be too light for you, and that there will be an unpleasant recoil, because the weight should be in our opinion about 8 pounds. It might run a very little under if you prefer. A trap gun, in which you are liable to shoot 200 and perhaps more loads in a day, and then repeat perhaps the next day in the same tournament, must necessarily be a gun which does not develop unpleasant recoil, and aside from stock dimensions, which in your case are correct, the only way of overcoming this recoil is by having as much weight in the barrel and gun as the shooter can easily handle.”

[Trap3]

"A trap gun, in which you are liable to shoot 200 and perhaps more loads in a day, and then repeat perhaps the next day in the same tournament, must necessarily be a gun which does not develop unpleasant recoil, and aside from stock dimensions, which in your case are correct, the only way of overcoming this recoil is by having as much weight in the barrel and gun as the shooter can easily handle.”

I would agree... Have never weighed my Parker SBT, but I prefer to shoot a 9 1/2 to 10 pound Single Barrel Trap gun...

RD
Trap3

[Researcher]

In those days they weren't shootin' no sissy loads either! Up to April 1940, there were plenty of 1 1/4 ounce Trap Loads.

The 3 1/8 Drams Equiv. 1 1/4 ounce was a popular load.

Western RECORD Super Trap.JPG

Western RECORD Super Trap Lubaloy 02.JPG

Super-Trap Load Lubaloy, Hercules Red Dot.jpg

Super-Trap Load Lubaloy, DuPont M.X. Smokeless.jpg

TARGET full sealed GILDKOTE 75 May 2019.jpg

[Dean Romig]

You'd want a gun with some considerable weight if you're going to shoot competition with those loads!





.

[John Davis]

So, I guess there shouldn't be any problem shooting 3 dram equivalent, 1 1/8 oz (1200 fps) loads in my 1937 SB.

[Researcher]

These would be best --

Federal Premium Paper Target Load 12-gauge label flap.jpeg

Federal Premium Paper Target Load, 12-gauge front.jpeg

for the proper period aroma.

[Trap3]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

In those days they weren't shootin' no sissy loads either! Up to April 1940, there were plenty of 1 1/4 ounce Trap Loads.

The 3 1/8 Drams Equiv. 1 1/4 ounce was a popular load.

Attachment 74794

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Attachment 74798

Dave... is that Gildkote box in your collection?

RD

[charlie cleveland]

mighty nice shell boxes...i like the wording on the old shells...and what high brass... charlie

[Researcher]

Dave... is that Gildkote box in your collection?

No. All three of those boxes went for well past my comfort level in Ward's auctions. I just saved the pictures for educational purposes. All I have are the two shells.

[Trap3]

Dave, I agree... I`d like to add a Gildkote box to my trap load collection.
maybe one day ...

RD