Clay/skeet thrower options

[MK2750]

Nice thing about the bush is you can call the little buggers whatever you like without fear of ridicule. If you aren't shooting well you can even cuss the day they were created. Take your buddy, wife and kids, when you get tired of shooting you can search for mushrooms, shed antlers, pick some berries or do a little scouting depending on the season. No need to keep score, identify your weaknesses and work on them. A nice lunch over the campfire adds to the enjoyment.

As an added bonus you can pick up the skeets at CT for only $25 a case and hardly a soul looks down their nose at you.

 

[sledman8002002]

What would you recommend?

Champion, no question. I can fully recommend. You'll soon find out there is no comparison to a manual thrower and never go back.

I've a 10 or 12 year old first generation Wheelybird converted to a Gen 2 and most recently a Workhorse. Yes, both units are quite modified with homemade frames but not because I 'had' to, both models work fantastic right out of the box.

Wheelybird with wobbler kit and remote

Workhorse with remote and homemade tilt for curling birds

Side by side...

 

[sledman8002002]

As an added bonus you can pick up the skeets at CT for only $25 a case and hardly a soul looks down their nose at you.

Myself I'm not big on the CT Champion birds as there are only 90 clays in a box, BUT I have used them in a pinch. Check your local gun shop as they 'may' carry or possibly order in the Lawry's which are 135 birds per box for the same price.

Just like everythig else pricing is just silly these days, it wasnt all that long ago they were $11 a box...

 

[MK2750]

Myself I'm not big on the CT Champion birds as there are only 90 clays in a box, BUT I have used them in a pinch. Check your local gun shop as they 'may' carry or possibly order in the Lawry's which are 135 birds per box for the same price.

Just like everythig else pricing is just silly these days, it wasnt all that long ago they were $11 a box...

That comment was just in regards to the earlier comments. I generally buy mine in Red Deer at the local gun shop. I purchased a bunch from a company in Stettler that brings them in directly from Lawry's but I haven't gotten out that way for a while. I believe that they are a franchise out of Quebec.

 

[andyng88]

wow, good to know we have options

 

[kevin g]

We been using a couple of the champions for a few yrs now. Work great !! One had to be returned to Bass Pro..right out of the gate for a faulty remote setup. NO issues at all with the replacement or the other one !! We also added a manual one for doubles...gives us 3 different angles / places to shoot from.

Ya really gotta watch when you buy clays...from anywhere ! LGS are a bit better with some more care provided in their handling and stacking.

IE..Several yrs ago we were at CT to buy 5 boxes of "skeets" LOL
...the young dude had em on a two-wheeler and when he hit the door way lip coming from out back, the cart flipped forward and dumped the 5 boxes azz over tea kettle...he put em back on the cart and came over to us....I told him I wouldn't be taking them because of what he just did. WHYYYY ??????? boxes aren't broke ??? Tried explaining to him...sadly, it fell on deaf ears. I then borrowed his sharpie from his pocket protector and put large X's on those ones...just to make sure I never got em back when he replaced them for me...but I imagine some poor sap did....staff likely told them they were inventory X's...lmao

 

[Callee]

Nice thing about the bush is you can call the little buggers whatever you like without fear of ridicule. If you aren't shooting well you can even cuss the day they were created. Take your buddy, wife and kids, when you get tired of shooting you can search for mushrooms, shed antlers, pick some berries or do a little scouting depending on the season. No need to keep score, identify your weaknesses and work on them. A nice lunch over the campfire adds to the enjoyment.

As an added bonus you can pick up the skeets at CT for only $25 a case and hardly a soul looks down their nose at you.

Well said!

I've never shot skeet at my club, but i don't think the guys there would be nearly as snobby as the guys in this thread sound. Looking down on noobs just for being noobs and saying the wrong words? That's a good way to make sure no one wants to be a noob, and if you don't have noobs, your sport dies in one generation.

All the same, while not snobs, i know my club does have a bunch of rules. Whenever i've shot skeets(!), which i do a couple times a year, it's been with friends, back in the bush, and just like you say it's more of a casual fun time, with breaks for berry picking, swimming, food and maybe a campfire. I think that's a lot more my style, and none of us have to worry about saying the right words.

 

[stubblejumper]

Well said!

I've never shot skeet at my club, but i don't think the guys there would be nearly as snobby as the guys in this thread sound. Looking down on noobs just for being noobs and saying the wrong words? That's a good way to make sure no one wants to be a noob, and if you don't have noobs, your sport dies in one generation.

All the same, while not snobs, i know my club does have a bunch of rules. Whenever i've shot skeets(!), which i do a couple times a year, it's been with friends, back in the bush, and just like you say it's more of a casual fun time, with breaks for berry picking, swimming, food and maybe a campfire. I think that's a lot more my style, and none of us have to worry about saying the right words.

The reason that clubs have rules, is that the rules are there to prevent people from getting hurt. Not long ago, some people chose not to follow the rules at a local range, and the result is a young man that was shot in the back with a shotgun, and is now crippled for life. As for new people, I have been a member and executive at two clubs, both of which were very welcoming to new people. Some people do feel a bit intimidated when they first visit the club, but they almost always have a great time, and they usually thank the club members for being so friendly, and welcoming with new people. If you show up with an open mind, you will have fun, and you will likely improve your shooting as well. The only people that don't seem to enjoy the club as much, are those that brag too much about their abilities, and then do poorly, or the people that refuse to obey the rules, such as wearing eye protection, our restrictions on ammunition.

 

[Callee]

The reason that clubs have rules, is that the rules are there to prevent people from getting hurt. Not long ago, some people chose not to follow the rules at a local range, and the result is a young man that was shot in the back with a shotgun, and is now crippled for life. As for new people, I have been a member and executive at two clubs, both of which were very welcoming to new people. Some people do feel a bit intimidated when they first visit the club, but they almost always have a great time, and they usually thank the club members for being so friendly, and welcoming with new people. If you show up with an open mind, you will have fun, and you will likely improve your shooting as well. The only people that don't seem to enjoy the club as much, are those that brag too much about their abilities, and then do poorly, or the people that refuse to obey the rules, such as wearing eye protection, our restrictions on ammunition.

I didn't mean safety rules. Those are fine.

I mean the other rules, like about what gauges you can use, what times you can shoot during, whether you can start up a bbq, etc.

Those rules are not safety rules, but are basic regulations to ensure an orderly club.

I can understand how such rules would be necessary in a club environment where you need to keep a bunch of different people organised and orderly.

But i also don't find them very fun. That was my point.

 

[stubblejumper]

I didn't mean safety rules. Those are fine.

I mean the other rules, like about what gauges you can use, what times you can shoot during, whether you can start up a bbq, etc.

Those rules are not safety rules, but are basic regulations to ensure an orderly club.

I can understand how such rules would be necessary in a club environment where you need to keep a bunch of different people organised and orderly.

But i also don't find them very fun. That was my point.

We allow any gauge that is legal, but there are shot size restrictions, which is for safety. As to when you can shoot, someone has to run the equipment, so of course there has to be set times, we aren't going to sit around for hours waitig for you, because it isn't convenient for you to shoot when we shoot. As to bbqs, there are fire restrictions, but my previous range actually provides gas bbqs for members to use. Obviously we don't allow alcohol to be consumed, and that seems to be the excuse that some people use why they can't have fun at a club.

 

[Callee]

We allow any gauge that is legal, but there are shot size restrictions, which is for safety. As to when you can shoot, someone has to run the equipment, so of course there has to be set times, we aren't going to sit around for hours waitig for you, because it isn't convenient for you to shoot when we shoot. As to bbqs, there are fire restrictions, but my previous range actually provides gas bbqs for members to use. Obviously we don't allow alcohol to be consumed, and that seems to be the excuse that some people use why they can't have fun at a club.

Ya, sure. Like i said, i get why i club would have to have such rules to keep things organised. It would be hard to run a club otherwise.

I'm not saying it's bad, i'm just saying i don't like it.

It's ok for someone else not to like what you like, and it's ok for you to be ok with that! You don't need to keep defending what you're doing and trying to give me reasons why i should like it. Just keep on sitting over there liking the things you like, and i'll keep on sitting over here liking the things i like, and we'll all be fine, right?

 

[stubblejumper]

Ya, sure. Like i said, i get why i club would have to have such rules to keep things organised. It would be hard to run a club otherwise.

I'm not saying it's bad, i'm just saying i don't like it.

It's ok for someone else not to like what you like, and it's ok for you to be ok with that! You don't need to keep defending what you're doing and trying to give me reasons why i should like it. Just keep on sitting over there liking the things you like, and i'll keep on sitting over here liking the things i like, and we'll all be fine, right?

Absolutely, I happen to enjoy the challenge of actual skeet, I would be bored shooting virtually the same presentation from a portable thrower over and over again, but if you enjoy that, then keep enjoying it. What I do find ironic though, is that you have never shot skeet at your club, yet you are sure that you wouldn't enjoy it. Perhaps you should try it once, you might be surprised.