The standard turn-of-the-century inanimate target load was 1 1/4 oz. 3 1/4 Dr. Eq. (1220 fps) but many of the "Top Guns" used 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 Dr. Eq. for Live Birds. 1 1/8 oz. 3 Dr. Eq. became increasingly popular for Targets after 1900 however.
GAH Live Bird competitions were handicapped back to 31 yds; at the 1899 (won by Tom Marshall) 6 shooters were at 31 (including J.A.R. Elliott with a Winchester Repeating Shotgun) and 11 at 31 yds (including E.D. Fulford winner in 1898 with a Remington Hammerless)
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1899/VOL_33_NO_05/SL3305011.pdf1901 GAH at Live Birds shooters were handicapped from 25 to 33 yards: W.R. Crosby, J.A.R. Elliott and Fred Gilbert shot from 32 yards. Thomas A. Marshall & Jack Fanning at 31 yds. E.D. Fulford & Rolla Heikes at 30yds. Charley “Sparrow” Young at 29 yds.
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1901/VOL_37_NO_04/SL3704018.pdf The first GAH at Targets in 1900 shooters were handicapped 14-25 yds.
http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1900/VOL_35_NO_14/SL3514012.pdf Most of the doubles were ordered full and a little fuller, and single barrel repeaters full; "Choke Bore" or as a pattern %.
Courtesy of Kenny Ray Estes
The old-time shooters shot targets from 50-60+ yards distance and any target within a 130 degree area was legal. (45 degrees + 20 degrees each side of the center stake)
At some point the rules were amended to throw a softer target, ie: the legal target area diminished to 22 degrees + 25 degrees outside of the extreme angle) or a total area of 94 degrees for legal targets.
(Since 1997) targets are illegal if they are outside of a total area of just 54 degrees; (17 degrees + 10 degrees outside); or 27 degrees each side of the center stake.
