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Percussion Live Pigeon Guns


Feltwad
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Before the clay pigeon has we know today the sport was known has live pigeon shooting which became illegal in 1920,s In the early days the guns were percussion from a period of 1820 to 1850 when the breach loader became more popular .Enclosed are a couple of images of percussion pigeon guns which range from 4 bore to 12 bore notice these guns do not have a ramrod

Feltwad

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Live pigeon guns

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Edited by Feltwad
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Live pigeon shooting was known has trap shooting shot in a simular way has todays DTL shooting of 5 guns on the line.In the days of pigeon shooting from traps there could be more than that {See image}. I have also enclosed a image of the score board those names pulled out are those that have missed .

Feltwad

The Score Board

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Trap shooting {DTL]

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Edited by Feltwad
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So the last pic is actual clay shooting as we know it today...1893 and "inanimate" targets?

The image shows the sport of Trap shooting DTL for live pigeon today it is known has DTL still the same principle but less shooters on the line instead of live pigeon it is a clay pigeon Notice the scorer or umpire on his elevated stand

Feltwad

Edited by Feltwad
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What were the rules for lives pigeon shooting Feltwad - I was told that on release the pigeon had to 'die' within a certain circle from the release point, and if they flapped over the line then it was called as a miss.

 

Hence the gradual increase in bore size/load to ensure that the pigeon did not cross the line.

 

Is this true at all?

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What were the rules for lives pigeon shooting Feltwad - I was told that on release the pigeon had to 'die' within a certain circle from the release point, and if they flapped over the line then it was called as a miss.

 

Hence the gradual increase in bore size/load to ensure that the pigeon did not cross the line.

 

Is this true at all?

Dead Eye Duck

 

What you said is almost correct I will follow later with the full rules for shooting ground , the shooter, and the loading of the guns for different bores

 

Feltwad

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Enclosed are the rules for the sport of live pigeon shooting in the days of the percussion muzzle loader Records show that the sport started in 1820 at the OLd Hats public house Ealing London ,by 1840 clubs were operating in all parts of England. Most grounds had a boundry fence erected around the ground these varied by different clubs from 60 to 80 yards any bird falling outside the boundry fence was scored has a loss. Guns used in the early days were s/b muzzle loaders with a bore size from 4 to 12 the standard load for a 4 or a 6 bore was 6 drms of black powder to 2or 3 oz of shot has this load was unfair to those shooters using a smaller bore gun rule 24 was introduced

Rule 24

Powder not too exceed 4 drms

Shot size 5,6,7,8

Chilled shot may be used

The weight of the gun not to exceed 7lb 8 oz

Charge of shot not to limited to 1.1/4 oz

Rule 25

To make sure Rule 24 was observed all muzzle loaders to be loaded with shot from the clubs bowls only

Each shooter to shoot at a distance of 22yards if handicaped not to exceed 33 yards from the trap , all birds to be called for with gun down below the elbow

By 1850 onwards saw the breech loader the first were pinfire sxs these were followed by the centre fire most were underlever hammer guns with 32 inch barrels and chambered for 2.3/4 inch cartridgesThe breech loading did bring in new rules untill the sport became illegal in 1921 guns were specially made from the percussion period muzzle loaders through too the hammergun and the hammerless in both boxlock and sidelock most of the hammerless guns which we still see today were made by top London and Birmingham Gunmakes

Feltwad

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an old chap once told me about when he and his dad used to supply live pigeons for shoots, he said the chute or gate on the lofts where they kept the birds had a dog leg going to the left and running along the floor, this was to train the bird so it was harder for the shooters to hit them,and if the bird got away it headed back home to be sold another day, crafty or what !

 

DD

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The true live pigeon was the blue rock these were supplied by what was then called a meat purveyor and most birds came from the Norfolk area,later when the sport became well estabulished the feral pigeon was used these came from dove cotes but most came from specially made housing in farm buildings .When you travel arround the countryside and you see these old farm buildings with pigeon holes in the apex of the roof then thats is where the pigeons were supplied from at the later part of live pigeon shooting

Feltwad

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