Best Skeet Thrower Reviews of 2021 (Buying Guide)
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A skeet trap thrower is a mechanical device that flings clay pigeons for you to shoot at with a shotgun. That’s all it has to be.
Yes, there are a time of models out there that do all sorts of things and include many widgets and gadgets on board but at the end of the day, your skeet thrower is just a means to an end. A way to get clays in the air.
This sentiment has led many budget hunters to try the plastic “Clay Flingers” that amount to an orange stick used to throw clays into the air. This is certainly a learned skill and is not as effective as even the cheapest mechanical thrower on the market. If you are looking for a mechanical trap thrower so that you can enjoy your time on the range more, you’re in luck. There’s never been a better time to buy a thrower, there’s a ton of different options for clay shooting on the market and here is the best five you can get your hands on.
How Long Will You Be Shooting?
While there’s many factors that go into choosing the correct trap thrower for your certain situation, one in particular should be counted among all others. How often and how long are you going to be shooting?
The simple fact is that this equipment can get expensive quickly, depending on how much you’re going to use it and how long you’re going to use the equipment each time is going to play a major role in how much you’re going to spend and what sort of features you need.
For example, if you are going to be shooting with six people for multiple hours you are going to get tired of having to manually pull cord or step on the thrower. This would be a good situation for you to invest in a thrower with a large battery capacity and electronic trigger.
However, if it is just you into of your hunting buddies going out to sharpen before opening day of duck season, you probably don’t want to spend several hundred dollars on a topic and unit. That money would be better spent on gas and ammunition for the season.
Of course, getting your hands on the best skeet thrower you can is going to make a difference, but think about how you are going to use the equipment and what difficulties you are willing to put up with before you determine your budget. Check out our recommended best 5 skeet throwers with reviews below.
Top 5 Rated Model Comparison Table
Image | Skeet Thrower | Capacity | Delay | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
50 | 2 seconds | |||
2 | None | |||
50 | 1 Second | |||
50 | 2.5 seconds | |||
1 | None |
Reviews of The Best Skeet Throwers
If you’re in the market for one of the absolute best skeet throwers on the market, you’re in luck. Champion makes all sorts outdoor equipment for many different sports and they put together an awesome line of trap throwers for shooting sports.
Many of the models that champion makes seem to be the exact same and only differ in price. While this is one of the more expensive models it also has the most features and is the most well put together for the money.
The great thing about this trap thrower is that you get every feature you need; no feature you don’t need it all works well. You get decent capacity of 50 clays, a long battery life, extended cable for the included foot pedal at a long handle to maneuver the trap around in the field. In fact, the only downside about this thrower is that the time it takes for the clay to be in the air is slightly longer than other models in the same price range.
The advantage of this model though, is that it does not prioritize any feature above another, everything works well and it has everything you would need for a great day at the range
Pros
- Decent capacity
- Long battery life
- Long foot pedal
- Long handle
Cons
- Takes a long time to fire the clay
If you’re looking for a bottom of the barrel price without sacrificing capability you’re going to have to forgo some the luxuries of electronics and capacity. If you’re okay with having a manual thrower but need a consistent arc of the clay, this is good as it gets.
This model from true this is a step powered manual clay thrower that performs well in the field, especially considering the price. It is a stout all steel constructed skeet thrower that can throw regulation singles or piggybacked doubles that makes a day at the range affordable and a blast!
One of the problems that plague the units like these is movement in the unit when you go to step on the foot pedal. The extra-long stakes included in the design of this unit prevent any movement even when you stop on the thrower. The range and consistency of the thrower is on par with the most expensive electronic units while only costing a fraction, and needing virtually no maintenance or replacement parts for the life of the unit.
The only downside to this skeet thrower is that you have to be literally on top of it to make it work. This limits how many throwers you can have for skeet shooting, or sporting clays. If you want inexpensive bombproof ready to go out of the box clay thrower, this is an excellent option.
Pros
- Stays put
- Inexpensive
- Bombproof
- Doesn’t run on batteries
Cons
- Foot activated
- Hard to adjust thrower arm
While there’s a ton of different models that champion makes in that electronic trap throwing market, this is one of their best if you’re looking for speed and ease-of-use. If you are working around a large group of beginners and want an easy to set up and worry-free piece of equipment so that you can concentrate on teaching or making sure the range is safe this is going to become your go to skeet thrower.
Reason being, everything about this trap thrower has been optimized around be easy to set up takedown and run. In fact, the only hard part of using this trap thrower is the models weight. It is several pounds heavier than other models with comparable features but the bulletproof design of this trap thrower is worth it, if you need an easy to use maintenance free model.
It comes with everything you would expect including extra fast launch time, an extended corded foot pedal and a few features that you would expect like an adjustable arc and full safety arm. Those features make this an excellent model for sports like sporting clays or five stand, where you will be using non-regulation arc paths for the clays.
If you are a high-end user that needs features an easy set up, and don’t mind paying a premium for it, take a serious look into this model from champion.
Pros
- Fast launch time
- Adjustable arc
- Comes with long foot pedal
- Has safety arm
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
With all the different models that champion makes their skeet trap throwers seemed all blend in with each other. While they all do the same thing, throw traps well, a few nuances and how they operate lend themselves better two different tasks.
This model from champion excels if you are going to be setting up multiple trap throwers on a single day. The ease-of-use combined with the lightweight design of this model make it perfect for transporting trap and using multiple throwers at a time.
The ideal scenario for a thrower like this is for sporting clays or five stand because you can afford multiple throwers easily, you can adjust the arc easily, and the models are lightweight and mobile. If you are going to be setting up throwers often or you are going to be setting up multiple throwers, this is going to be your workhorse. That’s where it got its name!
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to move around
- Adjustable arc
Cons
- Short foot pedal cord
Inexpensive mechanical trap throwers and sometimes looked down on. The simple fact is, they have their place. If you need something just to chop the clay out that you can shoot it you can get a model for cheaper than ever these days. This is an excellent example, a remote pull cable fired unit that can fling competition singles or piggybacked doubles.
One of the best qualities of this trap thrower is not immediately obvious. The fact that it fires from a pull cable is excellent because you can extend the range as far as you can pull cable. If you’d like a longer distance between you and the trap, all you need to do is tie on an old shoelace or scrapper 550 cord and you’re good to go. No expensive panels or extension cables to buy nothing to worry about maintaining and nothing to add to the complexity or maintenance of the unit.
If you need an inexpensive skeet trap thrower that fires remotely with a pull cable this is one of the best on the market. It is stable, comes fully assembled and is very inexpensive. Perfect for someone setting up a shooting course on a budget.
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Fully assembled
Cons
- Requires pull cord for operation
Things To Consider When Buying ATrap Thrower
With a diverse range of skeet throwers on the market to choose from, what features set the good apart from the bad?
Portability
You want to be able to shift your skeet thrower around and use it where you want? Well, the assembly and setup must be straight forward, as well as the model being light enough to transport around. Most people want to use their shooter in various locations, so having the ability to pack away and be transported wherever you like, is a big plus.
Stability
Do users complain that the thrower wobbles and lacks stability? You will find that a lot of models may be stable on their own and may require you to tie them down. A lot of the built-in posts for sticking throwers into the ground aren't up-to the job, but don't let that put you off purchasing your desired model, as you can always use a cheap attachment to secure it to the ground. Some models are worse than others for wobbling and lacking stability, the main thing is that it doesn’t affect your aiming.
Distance
How far can it shoot the discs? This is a big one for some people, as the having full control over the distance is a must. Obviously some models can shoot further than others, so check out what the recommended distance is and whether you can adjust it to your needs.
Operation
Simply, is it easy for you to operate? Some models are more complex than others when releasing the clays, but ultimately it should be simple enough and not affect your balance or aim in any way when operating. Also, some launchers come with a pedal that allows one person to operate and release the target, this is a highly desirable feature if you intend on doing shooting alone.
Singles and Doubles?
Does the machine have the ability to shoot single and double clay targets? Of course, you may not require the double target capability, but if you do then be aware of what models have this feature.
Other Recommended Purchases
Shooting Vest
If you're going to be shooting clays competitively or even for fun, then make an investment in a special clays shooting vest. These vests are designed to hold all the essential items that you will require on hand when skeet shooting such as shells.
Final Word
Setting up the trap field and shooting clay pigeons is an excellent way to get new shooters into the joy of firearms ownership in the conrod area going to the range. There is a gentleman’s quality to shooting clay pigeons and having the correct equipment breeds this nostalgia like nothing else. Traps can be expensive, but all 5 of our best skeet thrower traps listed offer great value for your money.
After all, if you’re not enjoying your time at the range why are you there?