CHAPTER 1 GENESIS

The development of gunpowder a few centuries ago as a propellant for projectiles, and in particular a cluster of projectiles that has evolved into what we know today as the shotshell, initiated and gave man the challenge of shooting at a moving target. Until the nineteenth century a moving target was epitomized by a fast flying bird on the wing, but time would dictate change and late in the eighteenth century in Great Britian change was already taking place.

Early records indicate that, during the 1790's, in England, shooting enthusiasts were trying a diversification of their wingshooting. Something that would give them a challenging "shoot" without having to face the elements, or walk miles on marsh and moor. They started to experiment with the idea of shooting birds in a controlled manner, from a confined point of release. Contests were held utilizing a very basic procedure...A small hole was dug in the ground and the gunner stood directly behind it. A live bird (pigeons were the most readily available) was placed in the hole and the shooter covered it with his hat. When he was ready for the challenge of a wingshot, the anxious gunner would simply kick his hat and the bird would flush into the open. An alternative of this sport was also used called "high hat," in which the shooter was required to pick up the hat and place it on his head, before he could shoot at the bird. With the slow reloading procedures of the day and the inconsistent patterns obtained, it was, to say the least, a formidable challenge, and not really too hard on the local bird population.

By the year 1805, the contest of man against a "contained" bird had progressed to the use of an actual wooden box or "trap," as they called it, that had a sliding top which was remotely "pulled" by either the shooter or a "trapboy," using a length of string.

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