Two trap loads one manufacturer?

Just a thought here.

What would the outcome be if the ATA designated a new shell manufacturer's shotshells each year as being the only shells permitted to be used in competition?

There would be a shotshell for singles. Could be any weight.

There would be a shell for handicap. Could be any weight or speed as long as they were all the same.

The ATA would take bids for being the shotshell of the ATA. The company would have to guarantee prices. I am assuming this would drive down prices and we could get back to buying our shells at the shell house.

Just my thought. Your two cents please.

 

Great way to control speed of shells. You would be eliminating sponsored shooters from getting free shells.

 

Unless they were priced at sale prices like most of the discount stores, that would be absurd. That is why we have a rule book with the specs allowed for shells. I think that factory shells should be used for caps in competition, but thats just my opinion.

 

Griz.......who is measuring those specs? Are the shells shipped by the pallet to the big dogs the same as the one's we get to buy?

 

Though there are words in regards to "specs" they appear to be hollow and without any reasonable way of testing. It used to be, but along with other aspects of the game as controlled by the ATA, it (the rules) over time have been added and/or rewritten to lower the level/fairness/equality of competition.

Why is it, you think in caps, factory shells should be used? You just noted, there are specs for shells. Are you saying factory shells would never exceed specs of the rule? Though, who would know, as Kiehl above appears to note. And, the specs only work for all events other than caps?

It seems you say, it would be an absurd requirement as the rules have specs yet the specs are not good enough for caps, it appears.

 

Yes, the rule book gives the allowable specs for shells to be used at ATA events, I doubt that if you test 10 boxes of shells you will get the same results for all 10. The rules are there for the honest shooter to go by. I feel in my opinion, that you take reloads vs. factory for use on caps, the factory will be a little more consistent, and there will not be any "special" loads. I have not seen anyone challenge another shooters reloads in a competition, but I am sure it happens. If you buy the high priced shells vs the cheaper shells, I think the performance will be better. Just saying, if I go to a competition, I want to shoot the same loads I have been shooting, and that I have my gun patterned to vs a hotter more expensive shell. Everyone has an opinion, this is mine, not trying to argue with anyone.

 

Grizquad,

I am not trying to argue, just understand your opinion as you lay it out.

Your opinion is that "factory will be a little more consistent and there will not be any "special" loads." What consistency are you referring to? What is a special load?

You appear to think, the performance will be better using high priced shell vs the cheaper shells. Yet, you would rather shoot the loads you have been shooting vs a expensive shell, I assume either reload or cheaper load, but maybe you are referring to a expensive less hot load.

When you refer to the loads you have been shooting, are the reloads or factory, expensive (premium) or lessor?

You mention, "rules are there for the honest shooter to go by." It is of my opinion the rules are there for all contestants to go by, not just the honest ones. Though in my opinion ATA rules have no real ability to differentiate honest from dishonest (rule breakers). Though give considerable consideration to the inadvertent (somehow dishonest contestants would confess [be honest] to purposeful) deviation of many rules, which is odd, to me.

Thanks.

 

Hi Hunts, The bit more consistency in the factory loads IMO would be since they are produced under mass production with QC checking along the way. My referral to special reloads are what some shooters produce and they may not be within the legal limits of the ATA rule book, but who is going to check? Has anyone ever seen a shooter stop a squad because they think someone is using ammo that is not legal per the rule book? I have not. Like I said above, most people are honest and abide by the rules, this is in life and everyday activities. There are shooters that will side step the load values to get a step up. If someone is going to break the rules, I do not think they are going to announce what they are doing.
Personally, I shoot Federal #8 1 1/8oz. 1145 fps for my registered targets. I shoot a pretty close reload to that shell for practice and non registered shoots. On the other forum, there was load values for factory shells, and the more expensive shells had better results per the data. I wait until Dicks has them on sale for $5.24 a box and get several flats to shoot.

My answer to the OP is still I do not want to be told I have to shoot a shell or load someone else decides for me, thats all.
Thanks

 

This is what I was trying to figure out because you said, "I think that factory shells should be used for caps in competition, but thats just my opinion.", and I could not figure out if this was your opinion or not.

So, to pin it down, your opinion is that you don't want to be told what shells to use, but it is also your opinion that you want to be told what shells to use, part of the time.

Has there been any known special loads within, the last year or ten years? If there hasn't been any special loads found, are they out there and if they are out there, why doesn't the ATA find them. If the ATA can't find them, does it matter? If it doesn't matter shouldn't the contestant just be allowed to use what they want, like I think what you want. Within the rules of course, whatever that means.

As far as consistency, I am still not sure I understand. I would bet, you do some QC on your shells, maybe I would lose. Have you compared them; what consistency concerns do you have?

You commented, "Unless they were priced at sale prices like most of the discount stores, that would be absurd." I agree, maybe that would be the rule, only economy shells allowed, lol. Though thinking about it, it would provide a flatter level on the fairness scale, it seems.

 

this is still a free country

 

jhunts,giz,

you both have good ideas. But leave out the part about the ATA finding the use of illegal shells. I doubt if they can find their a$$es with both hands, judging from their past performances. Keep in mind it is not the shells, and it is not the gun that makes a champion it is the ability to use the tools at hand. Roger C.