Until about 1900 the same 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/4 - 3 3/4 dram loads were used for Pigeons and Inanimate Targets.
See
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfg2hmx7_333g89dwqg8http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1902/VOL_40_NO_04/SL4004014.pdf Some of the crack shots are discovering that "pigeon loads" are not necessary for long distance flying target shooting. When distance handicap was first tried many of the experts came out with big charges of powder. Lately the work of W. R. Crosby at 22 yards on the stiffest kind of shooting has astonished the followers of trap shooting. It will surprise many to learn that Crosby’s load was only 3 drams of "New E.C." powder, when he won high average at Cincinnati recently, shooting from 22 yards on the back mark, in a field of 150 crack shots, he had his old Smith gun and Winchester Leader shells.
Guns used at the 1899
Grand American Handicap at Live Birdshttp://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1899/VOL_33_NO_05/SL3305013.pdfhttp://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1899/VOL_33_NO_05/SL3305014.pdfhttp://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1899/VOL_33_NO_05/SL3305016.pdfGuns: Parker 78, Smith 56, Greener 31, Francotte 24, Winchester 12, Remington 11, Cashmore 10, Lefever 6, Purdey 5, Scott 6, Colt 4, Daly 3. Stannard 3, Boss 2, Richards 2, Baker 2, Forehand, Syracuse, Clabrough, Renette, Abbey, Spencer & Webley 1 each.
Smith: C.M. Grimm, Charles Young, W.B. Leffingwell, Fred Gilbert (Gilbert switched to a Parker after the 1899 GAH), F.P. Stannard, J.J. Sumpter, J.S. Fanning, Fred Quimby, J.J. Hallowell (U.M.C. Co.), “Wanda” and Milt Lindsley, Wanda Shattuck, Fen Cooper, H.C. Hershey (Hazard Powder Co.)
Parker: Neaf Apgar, John Parker (Peters Cartridge Co.), Wilbur F. Parker, A.W. duBray, H.D. Kirkover, H.E. Buckwalter, L.W. Stoddard, Harold Money, C.W. Budd, J.D. Gay, George Loomis, O.R. Dickey, Ed Bingham, R. Merrill, C.M. Powers, Howard Ridge (Laflin & Rand Powder Co.)
"E. A. Sturdevant shot a 16-gauge Parker at 26 yards, with 2 3/4 drams Du Pont, and 1 ounce No. 8 and 7 shot. He killed 23, which was a very nice performance."
Winchester Repeater: J.A.R. & Dave Elliott, Ed Banks (“E. C.” and Schultze Powder Co.), Ralph Trimble (WRAC)
Cashmore: T.A. Marshall, Dr. W.F. Carver
Francotte: Fred Coleman, Paul North (Cleveland Target Co.), J., C., & O. Von Lengerke
Remington: R.O. Heikes, Col. A.G. Courtney, Frank Parmelee, B. Le Roy (Remington, DuPont and U. M. C.) E.D. Fulford, George Roll, Captain J. A. H. Dressel (U.M.C. and president of the Interstate Association)
Greener: Capt. A.W. Money
Baker: "William Crosby, of the Baker Gun Company, made a good showing with his $30 Baker hammerless, killing 24 out of 25 in the big event, and 15 straight in the Nitro handicap. "Billy" made last year’s record with 98 straight kills."
