Helice/ZZ in Canada?
- Thread starter pauls
- Start date
stripperclipper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Middle East Alberta
I posted the same question on trapshooters.com a year ago, and got no response.
I'm assuming that's a no.
I'm assuming that's a no.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
I overheard a conversation last year about a fellow who tried it out and what fun it was but I believe he said to the other fellow he shot it at a club in the U.S. or southern Ontario. I didn't really pay that close of attention so can't remember. 
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I’ve never seen it in Canada, probably due to the high cost.
In 2019 we thought about having Helice as a side game at one of our SC events. i emailed the Helice Assoc in the US, to see if they could offer a bit of advice and direct me to a place where i could rent the equipment. Never had the courtesy of a reply so gave up on the idea quickly. We knew it wouldn't be cheap but our executive was willing to at least consider it as it was a special anniversary for our club.
Hopefully I can make in to an event in the US sooner rather than later.
It would definitely be a tough sell to get a club to invest in a Helice setup.
Besides the cost of the machines and targets, it looks like it takes up a good bit of range space.
It would definitely be a tough sell to get a club to invest in a Helice setup.
Besides the cost of the machines and targets, it looks like it takes up a good bit of range space.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I remember reading somewhere that the targets were $2.50usd/each and were not always reusable if they were shot. If this is the case then it would explain why we don't see any around here.
Found emails from back in 2014. A machine set up was about 20k, but birds were 65 cents for witness cap and 65 cents for wings. Wings were usually single use, witness caps would last many blasta supposedly.
I also looked into getting them made here, but a set of molds was 30k, so i stopped pursuing that. Supposedly we could get the cost down to a few pennies if we bought molds and had they made here.
I also looked into getting them made here, but a set of molds was 30k, so i stopped pursuing that. Supposedly we could get the cost down to a few pennies if we bought molds and had they made here.
And that's $20G in 2014 dollars, per machine—and they need 5 per Helice field, right?
Or was that for all five?
Or was that for all five?
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You have to throw a lot of targets to get those costs back...
I don't know what we're going to pay for clay targets this year but even with the inflated costs they will still be a fraction of that price.
I don't know what we're going to pay for clay targets this year but even with the inflated costs they will still be a fraction of that price.
Sorry, that was for all the machines, and if i recall, that was the fancy self loading machines.
It wasnt the set up cost of the machines that got us, it was target price and availability.
It’s fun. Different than other clay disciplines. Worth trying if you ever get a chance
Expensive even in Europe - if you still find a place - neighbours, anti-gun, environmentalist …
The thing that has not been mentioned yet is that it is very slow to shoot
One shooter, reload machines after 2 birds (often manual where someone has to walk out)
That doesn’t help a club to get their return on investment back and unless the club is serious to invest in a few rings and fancy machines (2 birds spinning, auto loader)
If not, you can end up spending hours waiting alongside a bunch of people for a few minutes of very expensive shooting
Expensive even in Europe - if you still find a place - neighbours, anti-gun, environmentalist …
The thing that has not been mentioned yet is that it is very slow to shoot
One shooter, reload machines after 2 birds (often manual where someone has to walk out)
That doesn’t help a club to get their return on investment back and unless the club is serious to invest in a few rings and fancy machines (2 birds spinning, auto loader)
If not, you can end up spending hours waiting alongside a bunch of people for a few minutes of very expensive shooting
And before someone gives me a hard time for reviving this, just tell us if there’s a range that offers or considers it in Canada, because I couldn’t find anything so far.
Alternatively which range (preferably not requiring annual membership) offers ´crazy quail’ or some other unusual stuff?
Alternatively which range (preferably not requiring annual membership) offers ´crazy quail’ or some other unusual stuff?
As it is, we have fewer active members and some shoot less, due to the cost of ammunition, targets and fuel.
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Weve been noticing that for 3 or 4 years now too.
Some clubs are getting their targets in from overseas now to avoid the expensive US made ones.
In Arizona a year ago last spring we were using Nobel Sport shells from italy and they were $10 Cdn a box compared to $10Usd for Super Targets or Gun Clubs but I've never seen those shells in canada. They're a cheap alternative for Americans and it makes me wonder if they couldn't be a cheaper alternative for us too.
We finally increased our prices to $7 per round a couple of years ago, from $5, but that only adds up to $8 per 100 targets, compared to around $25 per 100 more for shotshells. Of course the cost have fuel varies with our members, with some only 10 minutes away, and others 100km away, but if you add an average of even $5 more for fuel to the $8 for targets, and $25 for shotshells, you end up with close to $40 more for 100 targets. With a large percentage of our members being retired seniors on pensions, that makes it tough for some, and the total cost of $80-$90 per day, on top of a shotgun, it's harder to attract new shooters to rhe sport.
