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Clay pigeon shooting is a thrilling sport enjoyed by both young and adult enthusiasts. For those dedicated clay pigeon shooters looking to sharpen their hunting skills, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the finest clay pigeon throwers available in the market.
Every clay shooter has a different type of requirement, some people just want to shoot clay in peace without interruption, some need more range to test their skills and some opt for a different approach, such as various in angle. Most of them just want to shoot the clay pigeon alone.
That’s why, in this article, we have included three types of clay pigeon throwers. For uninterrupted shooting, we have automatic clay pigeon thrower. For a wider range, we have a spring-activated clay pigeon thrower, and for those who need to test their shooting skills, we have a handheld clay pigeon thrower, which is unpredictable as well.
6 Best Clay Pigeon Throwers in 2024
1. Champion WheelyBird Auto-Feed Trap – Best Skeet Thrower
Clay pigeon thrower, skeet thrower, or trap thrower, all are the same things when it comes to clay pigeon shooting. Champion produces some of the most famous and best clay target thrower in the market.
Champion wheelybird comes with two wheels and pull handles to move them around easily. Champion clay pigeon automatic thrower has a range of 55 yards which is a great clay pigeon throw for any enthusiast. It also has a 25 foot wired paddle that can be operated by stepping on it.
Champion wheelybird has an adjustable angle which can be changed to 30 degrees elevation. It has 2 second reload time, it means no interruption in the shooting. It has 50 target capacity which fits standard size clay. More than 3,000 throws from a fully charged 12-volt deep cycle battery.
It’s one of the most sophisticated thrower and very easy to use. All you need to do is load the clay and start shooting, it will automatically release the clay. It’s perfect for experienced shooters to practice at the shooting range or for beginners to have some fun.
- Compact and lightweight design is easy to store and load in-and-out of a vehicle
- Quick, 2-second cycle time for continuous action
- Adjustable launch angle, up to 30-degrees of elevation
- 50-target capacity, removable magazine fits standard(108 millimetre) and international(110 millimetre) clays
- 25-foot release pedal cord accommodates various shooting positions
2. Do-all Outdoors Clay Pigeon Thrower – Best Seller
Do-all outdoors is one of the leading manufacturers that makes the best automatic skeet thrower in the market. You can stack up a total of 50 clay pigeons for your target practice in one go. It has a 55-yard range which is impressive and 2.5 seconds recycle time.
That means farther the target, more clay pigeon to shoot, and with no interruption. You can also adjust the target angle from 5 degrees to 35 degrees for better shooting practice.
Do-all Outdoors has a body frame and is made from aircraft aluminum for heavy-duty target practice. The feeder tray is smooth, so the target would fly off more smoothly and frictionless.
Ground spikes are for better hold and they absorb the vibration as well. It has a 25-foot paddle and a wireless remote for releasing the clay pigeon. All of this made Do-all outdoors clay pigeon thrower a best seller.
This automatic skeet thrower is perfect for all types of shooters, from beginners to professionals. It’s also one of the most affordable options in the market. It can launch clays up to 55 yards which is a great range for target practice. Testing your shooting abilities was never this fun.
- 50 clay auto feeder throws clays 55+ yards at 5 to 35 degree adjustable angles
- One person operation with 15’ foot pedal cord for different angle shots
- Handles standard or bio clays
- Remote Compatible
- Runs off of a 12V deep cycle marine battery (not included)
3. TRIUS 10201 One Step Trap – Best one step thrower
Everyone who loves to shoot clay pigeon knows that there is nothing better than manual clay pigeon thrower. TRIUS 10201 is one of the best in the market for one step clay pigeon thrower. There are not many moving parts so you don’t need to worry about assembly.
Also, it weighs around 21 pounds so its lightweight. Despite being lightweight, it made from steel, so it’s tough and rigid. One of the best things about it is, you don’t need any battery or any other equipment for this, just step on the pedal and it will throw the pigeon clay. That’s why it’s called a one step trap, because its manual clay pigeon throwers.
It can throw up to 50 yards and that is impressive for a manual thrower. It has Trius TrueSpin Technology, which makes sure that your clay pigeon gets optimal spin for better target practice.
Because of this, we have to add this to out best clay pigeon thrower list. Also, you can throw two clay pigeons at ones for a more competitive shooting experience.
With its attachable safety ring guard, you don’t need to worry about the safety as well. You can also use it for commercial purposes because of its great build quality and performance.
- One easy step cocks and releases target effortlessly
- One person can throw and shoot
- Throw regulation singles plus piggy back doubles
- Comes partially-assembled
4. Birchwood Casey Clay Target Thrower – Best handheld
There are many automatic clay pigeon thrower in the market and some manual pedal thrower as well, but all of them are missing something small yet significant, throwing angle.
You can adjust their angle for a few degrees for better practice but they have limits, on the other hand, handheld clay pigeon automatic thrower has no limit. Wingone is one of the best clay pigeon throwers in the handheld category in the market.
You just need to load the clay in the wire carrier and pull it back behind, this will cock it backward and throw. It has an automatic cock mechanism that will make sure that your clay pigeon is loaded and ready to go at distance.
Wingone clay pigeon thrower is one of the best and budget-friendly trap thrower in the market.
- TOP-QUALITY CLAY THROWER - For realistic target practice without injury, wing it with the Wingone Ultimate Clay Thrower; This clay thrower is handheld for simple, easy-to-adjust target practice that mimics the variable nature of live targets
- RUGGED CONSTRUCTION - The rugged construction of the Wingone Ultimate Handheld Clay Thrower always performs and lasts a lifetime; Drop-in loading of clay birds eliminates breakage; Build your confidence in shooting skills
- ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES - These hand-held throwers from Birchwood Casey are great for generating different trajectories, angles, speeds, and distances and help to create the unpredictability of live quarry shooting
- EASY-TO-CONTROL - The Wingone handheld target thrower's auto-cocking action is easy on the arm and makes throwing the clays much easier; Throws a wide variety of clay types: standard, battue, midi for example
- BEST SHOOTING GEAR - Since 1948, serious shooters, avid collectors and professional gunsmiths have relied on Birchwood Casey for shooting and gun care products; Birchwood Casey has pioneered innovative products with an unwavering dedication to quality
5. MTM Case-Gard EZ-3 – Friendly Design
Just like the other handheld clay pigeon thrower, it has almost the same mechanism. One of the main differences is, it made of plastic and has a more user-friendly design.
Throwing clay pigeon has made easy with this and you can throw it further without tired your hand. It has ergonomic palm swell and comfort grip finger grooves for more comfort.
MTM has one of the most innovative designs and cheapest in the market and that’s why we have added this to our best clay target thrower list.
It has a patent-pending Power Pivot Arm, which makes sure that your clay pigeon can go further than other handheld trap thrower with ease. It requires no maintenance and uses standard clay pigeon in the market to throw.
- Handheld clay target thrower with (patent pending) Power Pivot Arm, with ergonomic palm swell and comfort grip finger grooves
- Total length 20 inches
- Uses standard 4.5" clay targets
- Throws left or right handed and has "toss anywhere" packability
- Color: Red; Made in USA
6. Do-All Outdoors Clay Cannon – Handheld Clay Pigeon Launcher
There are many great designs in the clay pigeon thrower category and this one is one of them. It’s a manual trap thrower so it does not require any batteries.
All you need to do is push the clay pigeon inside and pull the trigger. It has a horizontal drum-type design that fits Standard, Midi, Mini, Stacked or Nested, 2 Midis, 2 Minis types of clay pigeon.
We have added this to our best clay targets thrower in the market because of its design and throwing range. It can shoot up to 60 yards, which is farther than any other trap thrower on our list.
Because of its design, you don’t need to throw it physically, you can just load it and push the trigger. This way you can throw as many clay pigeons you want without tiring your arm.
The clutch mechanism is very smooth and you can easily cock it for next shot. It has a powder-coated steel frame that is durable and can last for a long time.
- Portable and Lightweight
- No Batteries Required
- Throws Standards, Midi’s, and Mini's.
- Ambidextrous Handle for Right & Left-Handed Shooters
- Affordable Fun
Best Clay Targets Thrower Buying Guide
Finding the right clay pigeon thrower is important because your whole shooting experience depends on it. That’s why we have gathered some of the best trap throwers or skeet throwers in the market.
But if you are still confused and don’t know how to choose a clay pigeon thrower than we have also created a buying guide.
There are three types of Clay pigeon thrower in the market.
Automatic Clay Target Thrower
In this type of clay thrower, all you need to do is set up the thrower and load it with a clay pigeon and press the paddle. You can shoot up to 50 clay pigeons at one go with almost no interruption. This device can be operated by one person as well.
Most of them can adjust the throwing angle for better shooting practice. One of the main drawbacks is, they are heavy and hard to move around. But this one is best for rapid shooting or shooting with friends.
Most automatic throwers come with a foot pedal so you can operate it without moving your hand or with a remote control.
Spring Activated Manual Thrower
This type of clay targets thrower is almost the same as automatic one, the difference is, they don’t have a battery. You just need to set it up, load the clay, and press on the spring paddle to throw. They are most affordable and have a throwing range up to 50 yards.
One of the main benefits is, you can use it on your own. Just load the clay pigeon and shoot. What we don’t like is manual loading, you need to load it every single time for shooting.
Manual throwers tend to be lighter than automatic ones but they still need a firm ground for stability. The firing mechanism is not as good as an automatic one but with a little practice, you can master it.
The foot release pedal can launch targets without you having to bend over each time.
Handheld Thrower
This one is more basic in this category. All you need to do is load the clay pigeon and throw it. Most handheld thrower doesn’t need much throwing power and can be done by anyone. These are the cheapest clay targets thrower in the market and don’t require any maintenance.
What we don’t like is you need two people to do the job. One for shooting and one for loading and throwing the clay pigeon.
Also, even with good design, your hand will get tired of all those throwings. The cock trap is usually harder to use on this type of thrower than on automatic traps. The throwing arm also has a shorter range.
Now that you know the types of clay pigeon throwers, it’s time to learn about the things you should look for before buying one.
Things To Consider Before Buying Clay Pigeon Thrower
Portability
One of the best skeet and clay thrower needs to be portable so you can take it with you wherever you go. You don’t want a heavyweight machine which takes half-hour just to drag around.
Most automatic clay throwers are made from steels which makes them heavy. Spring activated is also crafted from steel but without any moving parts, they are lighter. The best portable clay pigeon thrower is a handheld trap thrower. From their name, you can guess they are easy to carry around and most of them don’t even weigh over 2 pounds.
Distance
How far it can throw? Most automatic clay pigeon throwers are ranged up to 50 to 55 yards. Others are the same, but some handheld clay throwers can get up to 60 yards. Shooting a clay pigeon at distance is one of the most challenging and fun parts, so make sure to select one with a higher range.
Throwing clay discs or pigeons are one of the most popular shooting sports. It requires skills, practice, and of course, a good clay pigeon thrower.
Ease Of Use
If it takes 20 or 30 minutes just to set it up than it doesn’t worth it. Most automatic clay throwers just need to load the clay and they are ready to go. Spring activated need to load every single time and handheld trap thrower is just the same.
What makes them apart is how much effort you need to put in. handheld trap thrower will make your arm tired. Spring activated need to be loaded every single time, but automatic clay thrower doesn’t need reloading even for 50 or 100 clay pigeon throw.
The cycle time is also important. It should be as short as possible so you can shoot one after another without interruption. If the reloading takes too long, it will mess with your shooting rhythm.
Stability
When a clay pigeon is being launched in the air, the throwing mechanism needs to be stable. It matters the most in automatic and spring-activated throwers because they are connected to the ground.
Slight vibration and clay will change its direction or wobble around. Most thrower comes with stable ground spikes which make sure that the whole unit stays at one place and stable.
When pressing the foot pedal or release the spring, it should be done smoothly without any jerking movement.
Singles Or Doubles
Most of the thrower in our list is capable of throwing single clay pigeon. If you need a double-throw, then you need to look for that specification when you want to buy a clay pigeon thrower.
As the name suggests, a double-thrower can release 2 clay pigeons at once. It adds more challenge to your shooting practice. But of course, it also means more fun and excitement. Your gun club will also be more fun with this kind of clay pigeon thrower.
Tips For Improving Your Shooting Skills With A Clay Pigeon Thrower
1. Start Simple: Don’t rush into complex shots at the beginning. Start with straightforward shots and gradually increase the difficulty as your confidence grows.
2. Consistent Stance: Maintain a consistent stance while shooting; changing your position frequently can lead to inconsistent results.
3. Focus on Your Grip: Ensure you have a firm grip on your shotgun to control the recoil effectively and maintain accuracy.
4. Follow Through: Just like in golf or baseball, follow through with your shot. Tracking the clay until it breaks is critical.
5. Practice Regularly: There’s no substitute for regular practice. Dedicate time regularly to work with your clay pigeon thrower for consistent improvement.
Setting Up Your Own Backyard Shooting Range
Creating a personal shooting range involves more than just having a good thrower; safety protocol and local regulations must be paramount:
1. Check Local Laws: Before setting anything up, make sure you conform to all local laws and regulations regarding shooting firearms on private property.
2. Safety Measures: Establish a clear, safe zone where no one is allowed to enter while the range is active. Also, make sure there’s an adequate backstop to stop any missed shots.
3. Notify Neighbors: As a courtesy, inform your neighbors about your plans to minimize any concerns or complaints.
4. Positioning: Place your clay pigeon thrower in such a way that it directs clays away from any buildings, roads, or areas where people may be present.
Maintenance Tips For Clay Pigeon Throwers
To ensure the longevity and consistent performance of your clay pigeon thrower, routine maintenance is necessary:
1. Clean Regularly: After each use, wipe down your machine to remove dirt and debris that can accumulate and affect functionality.
2. Lubrication: Moving parts should be lubricated regularly according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to maintain smooth operation.
3. Battery Care: For automatic throwers that operate on batteries, ensure the battery is charged after use and maintained properly during off-seasons.
4. Check for Wear and Tear: Regularly inspect springs, launch arms, and other components for signs of wear or damage. Replacing parts when necessary can prevent malfunctions and ensure safety.
5. Storage: When not in use, store your clay pigeon thrower in a dry, covered area to protect it from the elements and reduce the risk of rusting.
Best Clay Target Thrower FAQ
What is the best automatic clay pigeon thrower?
Champion WheelyBird Auto-Feed Trap is one of the best clay target throwers in the market with an automatic mechanism.
What is the best handheld clay pigeon thrower?
WingOne W1-L Clay Pigeon Thrower is the best clay target thrower in the handheld category.
How does a clay pigeon thrower work?
Basically, there is a shooting unit and clay feeding unit attached to each other. They are connected by a trigger mechanism which once activated, feeds the shooter with clay and it will shot it out.
Best Cheap Clay pigeon thrower?
MTM Case-Gard EZ-3 is one of the cheapest clay pigeon throwers in the market. It has a handheld design and it has a fraction of the price of other clay throwers.
Can skeet throwers be used for clay pigeons?
Yes, skeet throwers can be used for clay pigeons. In fact, most of the clay target throwers in the market are also capable of throwing skeet.
Is a clay thrower easy to use?
Yes, clay throwers are easy to use. Most of them just need you to load the clay and they are ready to go. Some of them even have an automatic mechanism which doesn’t require reloading.
Is a clay thrower safe to use?
Yes, clay throwers are safe to use. Just make sure to follow the safety instruction and you will be fine.
Does an electric thrower throw clays further?
Yes, electric clay throwers can throw clays further than manual or spring-loaded throwers. This is because they generate more power which can be used to throw targets further.
What shooting positions can be used with a clay thrower?
Clay throwers can be used in various shooting positions. The most common position is the standing position. But you can also use them in prone, sitting, and kneeling positions.
Are there any standard sized clays that fit all throwers?
Yes, there are standard sized clays that fit all throwers. These clays are called “international” or “universal” clays.
Embrace The Thrill
Selecting and using a clay pigeon thrower isn’t just about improving your shooting skills; it’s also about embracing the thrill of shooting sports. Every launch, every hit or miss, adds to your experience, hones your reflexes, and deepens your appreciation for this remarkable sport. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter aiming for precision or a hobbyist seeking some outdoor fun, investing in the right clay pigeon thrower can significantly enhance your shooting journey.
Remember, the key to mastering clay pigeon shooting lies not only in the equipment but also in patience, practice, and passion. The moments spent loading clays and predictively awaiting their flight path before pulling the trigger are invaluable. These are opportunities to learn and excel.
