US INTERNATIONAL S/S CHAMPIONSHIP

[Andy]

As far as I know the only true bunker trap set up in NY is at Binghamton Gun Club. 15 traps set to go at three different angles each I believe. It is FAST. I've shot it a dozen times, best score I've gotten was 21, the worst was like a 12. I would think an XF choked SBT gun would a blast but you sacrifice that second shot you're allowed. By the time you get your second shot off I think that bird is at 50+ yards away. Vernon and Rochester Brooks have "international trap" but it's not a true set up, there are only 3 or 5 traps I believe on a wobble set up. There is a gentleman who built this setup with his own money some years back who was trying to make the 2004 Olympic trap team (he didn't make the final cut but still shoots there). There is also international skeet there but that's way too freaking fast.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Ontelaunee has had bunker trap set up for decades. Alan Chubb was the driving force there. They hosted quite a few truly international events.

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

Ontelaunee has had bunker trap set up for decades. Alan Chubb was the driving force there. They hosted quite a few truly international events.

The "golden age" of the bunker at Ontelaunee was essentially from 1990-2001. There were usually 4 major International shoots per year, including the Grand Prix of America, which drew shooters from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. Michael Diamond, Olympic Gold Medal winner in International trap in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, along with the ladies' All-England champion from Wales joined us in 2 successive seasons.

Alan Chubb always put on a first class event program; everything started ON TIME, there were awards for every event class, and the machinery and layout were as good or better as any other facility in the US, which at the time, numbered less than 30 in the continental US. The facility still hosts registered shoots in the beautiful valley in New Tripoli PA, about 30 minutes northeast of Allentown PA.

[Big D]

Hillsdale is now the headquarters for several of the Olympic shooting teams. They have 5 bunker fields and 5 International skeet facilities. As Andy pointed out there are 15 traps in the trench at a bunker facility. At $5K/trap, that's $75K just in traps at each facility. Add in computer controls, etc. etc. and you're beginning to get into real money.

The birds are thrown substantially faster than American trap birds. As a result, standard clay targets won't withstand the launching pressure, so the birds are stouter (I think the same is true for International skeet). I don't know how you could make it more difficult.

Here's info on the facility. https://shootingsports.hillsdale.edu/

If any of you have youngsters who show aptitude as competitive shooters, check out Hillsdale. A conservative college which takes no federal money ( which pi**es off Washington)and as a result is never shown n any national rankings. They have won the National shooting competition about the last 6 years, and offer scholarships for shooting.

[Bob Jurewicz]

A friend who shoots compitition International Trap and shoots at Brooks and Binghamton brought this event to my attention. I believe it to be unique in that it is exclusively a S/S event. He will be attending to compete and I may go as an observer.
Bob Jurewicz

[Bill Murphy]

In the past, participation at Keystone has been poor, very poor for skeet events. I'm not sure about the Helice events. I hope participation has been better recently. I can't find results or shooter numbers on the website. Don't worry, a capacity of 30 shooters is enough for the side by side event. I hope I can make it.

[Dean Romig]

So if the clays are harder to withstand the increased torque of the trap I’ll bet they’re harder to break with typical American Skeet loads…





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[Big D]

From a 2009 posting
In true International (Olympic) competition, the following quote from the ISSF rules will apply.

9.4.3 AMMUNITION
9.4.3.1 Cartridge Specifications
Cartridges permitted in ISSF competitions must meet the following specifications:
• case length after firing must not exceed 70 mm
• shot charge must not exceed 24.5 g
• pellets must be spherical in shape
• pellets must be made of lead, lead alloy or of any other ISSF approved material
• pellets must not exceed 2.6 mm in diameter
• pellets may be plated
• black powder, tracer, incendiary, or other special type cartridges are prohibited
• no internal changes may be made which will give an extra or special dispersion effect, such as the inverse loading of components, crossing devices, etc.

However, I believe a relaxation of those rules have been allowed in the USA for some shoots, such as local and regional competitions. I think in those cases, a full 7/8 ounce load can still be used. When it gets to the team selection competitions, I believe the ISSF rules kick in and the true 24 gram loads are required. I don't have access to a USA Shooting rule book to verify this for sure, but thats the way it was a few years back

[6pt-Sika]

What would really make this Intresting was if you had to use the same gun no changing chokes for all three events .

[Andy]

I believe they're harder to break as I've seen more than one bird "wobble" and nothing chip off. Usually those guys who insist on using #9 which is too small. I did well with Federal Gold Medal paper #7.5 in a Caesar Guerini Ascent choked IM/LF. I have one of Frank's Model 12 Trap guns, that's the deal right there, then for giggles shot it with the same loads in a Browning Gold sporting an XF Turkey choke. That smoked 'em. If there was enough interest I'm sure Binghamton could host a fun one day Int'nl Skeet/Trap event for SxS this summer and have lunch catered.