Skeet Thrower Research

[Snakester]

I am going to clear an area to set up a Skeet Shooting Range this summer. Nothing very elaborate , just a simple clearing about the size of a soft ball diamond. I want to purchase an auto feed 12v thrower . I have been looking at Do All Outdoors RAV1 Raven Auto Trap and at Champion Wheely Bird . Both seem to be exactly what I am looking for and are in my budget of $350 to $500 range. I have shot skeet using these but , have not operated either. I have a couple friends that are REALLY in to Trap Shooting and claim if I don't spend 3-5K on a Trap , it's a waste of $$$$$.....NOT going to happen . Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated !

[Swampman]

Ask your friends if they spent that kind of money on the setup or was it someone else's money. Also, what kind of a setup is it. Is it a straight line, same every time thrower, or does it throw in different directions?

I've used a straight line, same every time thrower before, and have also had someone throwing them for me, so I won't have much information at all. But it was fun!

[wittmeba]

I have not shot skeet since 1970 or so but I loved it.

These seem to be labeled Trap not skeet but I am not aware of any differences. I also noticed they are mostly for 2" not 3.25 targets...don't know which you are looking for.

Champion WheelyBird Auto-Feed Trap (don't know why it couldn't be used for Skeet)
12 Volt
Price here is $228.99 better than any of the Sporting Goods stores I see.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004U8HZWY?psc=1

https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-target-throwers?id=tdw


Champion EasyBird
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN ... ezvid02-20


Comparison of various throwers
https://wiki.ezvid.com/best-target-throwers?id=tdw
https://www.top5reviewed.com/the-5-best ... -throwers/

Best deals
http://www.bestdeals.today/thrower-skeet?


I only offer this link for reference -- their pricing is terrible
https://ads.midwayusa.com/clay-target-t ... et_thrower

[Snakester]

Ask your friends if they spent that kind of money on the setup or was it someone else's money. Also, what kind of a setup is it. Is it a straight line, same every time thrower, or does it throw in different directions?

I've used a straight line, same every time thrower before, and have also had someone throwing them for me, so I won't have much information at all. But it was fun!

I have to say Tom and Harry have great set ups and I'm sure thousands upon thousands invested. Throwers located for cross shots , throwers for long range and for short range. All top notch and remotely controlled. They shoot all the time and travel to events everywhere. Way out of my league....I just want a simple set up with an auto thrower so Carol and I can easily enjoy it . We own the land and have the equipment to clear it. The biggest expense will be the Thrower ....The rest is fairly cheap.

[jdonovan]

It really depends on what kind of field you want to setup and what is going to entertain you.

Most folks call any shotgun hitting a target, 'skeet'. So lets figure out what your trying to build

This is skeet:



Trap:



Most folks don't setup either for a home range. Too much space required, and too much cost in machines.

0 - yard Trap is probably the most practical to setup. I.e the shooter is near, or even with the thrower. It cuts the space required dramatically. And for hobby shooters, the birds are closer, and easier to hit. if you want more of a challenge, you can move yourself back from the trap.

Your simplest throwers are adjustable, but fixed in operation. Ie. one angle/elevation/speed.

As you move up the cost/complexity ladder, you'll be able to add variation in angle/elevation on each bird thrown. None of the units you linked to seem to be variable shot to shot. To get to that level you're taking $1000+ for the machine. Probably out of the budget for now. (looks like do-all has an add-on wobbler for $300-ish)

There really is a 'pattern' to shooting the fixed thrown shotgun fields. Once you capture the pattern, it become quite easy to hit the birds. A local range had a hand cocked machine with a slightly variable angle, fixed elevation. I used to hit 50% on that machine. I got into skeet/trap, and got to the point where I could hit upper teens (17-19/25) fairly consistently. I had a chance to go back to the local range, and ran a box (135 birds) on 140 shells. Non broke on the ground, a few took a second shell. Not intending to be a 'brag' story, but a bit of a caution. Once you get a few thousand birds thrown, you're going to figure out your non-moving throwers pattern, speed, etc. Once you do it will get to be much less of a challenge, and you're going to have to add some variable, to restore the challenge.

[wittmeba]

If you are truly talking skeet you are looking at two machines -- regardless of what you buy.

[Snakester]

In the 80's I use to shoot a lot of Skeet . Visited many clubs with friends that competed in many events. TODAY....What I am thinking is having an area cleared with an auto thrower so Carol and I do a little shooting with friends. I have 2 manual throwers but I'm ready to move up just a little.

[wittmeba]

We always enjoyed the hand throwers to give others something to do while one was shooting.

We had hand throwers like this -- they actually cock when loading (flip backwards before releasing) and worked quite well.




The new versions seem to either not release the clay or it would not fly in the direction desired.

[Snakester]

Sounds good...You throw and I'll shoot !