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Jeff Davis. | https://gundogcentral.com | All Hunting Articles

Posted 09/01/2023

I've had my eye on this electronic clay thrower for a few years. Browsing the sporting goods section of the local Walmart, I'd see this unit sitting in the store's back corner. I've debated buying it several times in the past but always talked myself out of it. I have a hand thrower and a manual spring load trap that I've used for years. The problem with these is you have to have a partner tag along to use them. Coordinating with someone else is not always the most convenient when you're just looking for a quick tune-up. The manual trap I own does have a trigger that you can attach a string to, so it can be released from a distance, but this has never worked well for me, and you still wouldn't be able to release and shoot your own targets. The manual trap was too difficult for my wife and kids to operate, so I usually loaded and threw while they shot. The hand thrower isn't much different. Since all my kids have flown the coup, I was looking for a way to practice shooting before bird season without needing help. It's probably not advisable to go shooting by yourself, but the main reason I purchased this thrower was in the hopes I could release and shoot targets on my own. I also picked up one of the Wheelybird Wireless Remotes, although the foot pedal would have been easy enough to operate. Now, I can move around without a tether, so I can get a look at different shots without adjusting or moving the machine.

The trap was packaged nicely, and everything was secured, with wood boards in the bottom of the box for support. After taking everything out of the box, my first impression was how solid everything felt. Generally, when you buy stuff from Walmart, you're just buying cheap China crap, and I expected that this thrower wouldn't be much different. I was wrong, this is made out of heavy gauge steel and looks like it could take a beating and still work. Everything seems solid and well-made until you get to the wheels and clay hopper. The wheels are plastic and seem cheap, but you'll be thankful that this has them. The advertisement claims this is lightweight, but I'm not sure I agree. It's pretty solid, and the wheels make it easy to maneuver. The hopper comprises long metal rods and is screwed to a black plastic horseshoe-looking piece. Some assembly is required, but putting it together is pretty straightforward. In all, it took me about an hour to put this together.

After assembly, I was eager to get this thing out to the field and test it. I grabbed my gun, a couple of ammo boxes, and a box of clay targets, then drove to the family farm where I had enough room to shoot. You do need a 12-volt battery to power this unit. I have an extra lawn mower battery that I used. I set this up in the field, connected the wireless remote, and filled the hopper with clay targets. I connected it to the battery and flipped the switch to ON. Immediately, it starts throwing targets, one after the other. Thinking I had something connected wrong, I quickly shut it off. I adjusted the dial on the wireless remote that controls the delay between when you press the button and when it launches the target, thinking this might have something to do with that. I powered the thrower back on … again it just started throwing targets one after the other without stopping. I switched it off again, disconnected the remote, and attached the foot pedal, trying to diagnose what was wrong with it. Again, I powered it on, and it started throwing targets nonstop. Disgusted, I switched it off, loaded everything back in the truck, and drove home.



Since Wal-Mart is only 9 miles from my house, I could have easily boxed everything up and taken it back for a refund or exchange, but I had already invested an hour in assembly and wasn't willing to give up on it yet. I consulted the troubleshooting section of the manual. It did have a section dedicated to my issue, continually throwing targets without stopping. It talked about adjusting a limit switch but also claimed that they were adjusted and set at the factory. After seeing how securely everything was packaged, I'm unsure how the limit switch could have been moved, as a steel plate also protects it. I didn't think the instructions were very clear, so I got on the Champion website and contacted support. Within 24 hours, I got a response, only it was from Bushnell Customer Service. I wasn't looking for an email from Bushnell, so I didn't open it immediately. Champion appears to be part of Vista Outdoors, which owns Remington, Federal, Bushnell, Tasco, and Primos. Attached to their email was another Champion Troubleshooting Guide. Embedded in the guide was another section dealing with my issue, but there was also a link to a YouTube video explaining the problem. The video was super helpful and made everything pretty clear. I made the required limit switch adjustments and returned to the field with my gun, ammo, targets, and thrower.

Last time, I wasted 20 to 30 targets just trying to diagnose what was wrong. Not wanting to repeat the same mistake, I only loaded a few targets, connected it to the power source, and flipped the switch to ON … it just sat there. I grabbed the wireless remote and hit the release button. I had it on a 15-second delay, so I was able to pick up my gun and get positioned for the shot. Sure enough, it released the target, and I got a shot off. It sat obediently, waiting for me to press the release button again. I released another target and then another. Everything appeared to be working as it should. That is until I get to the very last target in the hopper. My limit switch still needs adjustments because the arm isn't stopping exactly where it should, allowing the last target to fall through the trap. I had to switch the unit off and fetch the target from underneath the trap. As long as the hopper was full of targets, I had no issue, but the last target gave me problems every time.



Despite my troubles with my thrower, I'm still pretty impressed with it for the price. It does an excellent job of throwing targets and slings them out a reasonable distance, about 60 yards. Other than the issue with the limit switch, I experienced no other problems except for the last target. The thrower throws the targets consistently to the same spot at a good speed. I was able to hit 19 out of the first 20 targets, and I'm not a good shot. There isn't a lot of variability in the targets coming out of this trap. You'll get the same look repeatedly unless you reposition yourself or the trap. There is a way to adjust how high the targets get thrown, but you need a wrench to loosen four bolts that allow you to pivot it up or down, which I do not want to continually do in the field. It would have been nice if two of the nuts were wing nuts so you could loosen them in the field and pivot up or down without tools. This thrower does have wheels and a handle, so if you're shooting with multiple people, it would be easy to introduce some randomness by spinning the thrower on its axis. Unfortunately, I don't think this thrower will allow you to throw multiple targets or nested pairs. It does come with a long 25' cabled foot pedal that will enable you to launch targets from a distance, but you'll still be looking at the same shots over and over unless you move, tether to the foot pedal. I would recommend the wireless release.



Advantages
• Solid build construction
• Low price ~ around $300
• Strong thrower
• Allows for sole shoots.
• Holds 50 targets.
• Throw about 60 yards.

Disadvantages
• Need tools to adjust in the field.
• Single targets only, no multi or nested-pair
• Predictable flight path

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