Single Barrel Traps

[Bill Murphy]

I traded for my first Parker single in 1973 at the Baltimore show. It is still my favorite because I shot it for a long time in local clay target turkey shoots and won a bunch of meat with it. If I really had to shoot ATA, this would be the gun. 52 years and counting. The gun was made in 1917, so it's 108 years old.

[Trap3]

Have had a passion for American Single Barrel Trap guns... Some from a display
I set up at a show about 12 years ago. Baker Gun Co., Fox, LC Smith, Parker,
Ithaca and Three Barrel Gun Co...
The passion has faded and several are in other collections today...
All are wonderful examples of American craftsmanship and the history of Legends at the Traps... Still enjoy a few from the collection.

[John Davis]

Now, that’s a collection of SBT’s!

[Bill Murphy]

Randy Davis is a very respected collector of early shooting history. John Davis is very respected also. Thanks to both of you.

[Phil Yearout]

OK. I only have three SBT's, and I'm just a recreational trap shooter; my name doesn't appear in the club money results, and while I do always hope to improve, well... I just show up, put my card in the slot that counts for my tokens, and do the best I can. My goal is 20 or above from the 16yd line, and 18 or above in the handicap round, whatever the distance. Not a very ambitious goal I guess, and I'm usually there, but not always - ya pays yer money, and ya takes yer chances.

My issue is getting each of my guns the shooting they deserve. For a while I was rotating them, three times on the line with one gun, move to the next gun, and so on. Lately I've been going with one gun for an entire "season" which is usually about 12 weeks or so.

So that was my original question: aside from those who are shootin' for the money, just wondering how y'all pick the gun you're gonna take to the range, and why. Sorry if the question is too complicated

[Bill Murphy]

It isn't complicated. I try to shoot all of my dozen or more singles whenever I get a chance. If I am shooting for money or score, I take my original Parker that I have owned since 1973. It is the most reliable and shoots the highest scores.

[Phil Yearout]

OK.

[John Davis]

Originally Posted by Phil Yearout

Question for youse guys with multiple SBT's: do you shoot 'em or just collect 'em (Mr. Davis exempted). And if you shoot 'em, how do you decide which to take along for a round or two? Rotate 'em on some sort of regular basis, grab whichever one strikes your fancy on a given day, etc. etc. etc.?

I only have three and have a hard time with it; can't imagine what y'all do with so many. For a while I was a "grab and go" guy, then I started rotating every three rounds, lately I've been sticking with one through each league session (currently on my 5E Knick).

Inquiring minds want to know...this one anyway.

Phil, when I’m just shooting for fun (not actual practice or competition), I will take a couple or three of the SBT’s gathering dust and have a shoot off between them. See if the Ithaca beats the Smith or the Fox beats the Baker etc. It’s hard for me to just shoot. Seems like there always has to be some sort of a competition factor built in.