My son has decided that he wants to explore the shotgun sports at our local 4H. He can already hunt and shoot birds with the guys. But he wants to step it up a notch for competition. We are heavily involved in 4H horse stuff already and he's won a bunch of stuff but he really enjoys shooting sports. That said, we are fortunate to be able to practice where we live. I have about 3 throwers already. They are the full cock style which is fine but they don't throw far and I'm kind of tired of pulling after two rounds.

Do All makes 3/4 cock models and they have electric ones. The 3/4 manual looks pretty good and is reasonably priced. Of course I'd like one they have at American shooting centers but those are expensive. I can fix stuff and am cool with used but does anyone have any opinions on a thrower? Even if he gets burned out, we all hunt and would still use it so it's still worth hanging.

Any thoughts on this?

I KNOW someone here had some Real pro models but I think that ship sailed a few years ago. Lol.

Not trying to set up a full clays course just something to kind of keep in practice during the week. We homeschool and I'm self employed so he can shoot any time he wants for the most part. Should take advantage of that.

I had a do all electric and it was junk, it basically destroyed itself from the violent throwing motion

II have a MEC now and it is nice

https://www.mecoutdoors.com/clay-targets-products

Are you in B/CS or Brazos County? The Brazos County Sportsman's Club is the country's oldest 4H clay shooting club. I'm a coach out there, happy to get you and your son plugged in. No need to purchase a machine(s), the club has an awesome set up.

Brazos......Do NOT buy DO-ALL electric throwers. They are really poor. I waisted a bunch of money on two of them. Constantly breaking and low quality. In their defense customer service was good but they could not really fix them. They sent me two new machines and they did the exact same thing.....I sold them to a guy for parts.
Their manual machines, however, seem to be of good quality.

I set up a five stand and a small clay course on the ranch. I went with Atlas and Mec. I also bought some rebuilt LaPortes from R&R Trap sales in Helotes Texas. He is also a dealer for Atlas.

Ask for Jeremy or Mike....they are Aggies.

Hope you and your son have fun. Good dad for teaching him right!

This.

Battery pro models are very expensive. I ended up buying an Atlas thrower for a friends ranch. Good quality and well made, but by the time you get their cheapest/smallest, battery, wheeled cart etc, you are well over $1000.
https://www.atlastraps.com/AT-50_p_10.html

One of the best 3/4 cocking manual traps are the Lincolns, very well made and sturdy, but not cheap.
https://www.lincolntraps.com/sc90e-details


I think we bought the Atlas from https://www.rrtraps.com/

Outside San Antonio.

We have an Atlas ATA AT50 with wobble and it is very solid. It would be great for practice and tuning up for 4H Trap and Skeet, you can get a 250 clay capacity model as well.

Thanks for the info, everyone. Those are the brands I was looking to be refreshed on. Actually, I was looking at the 3/4 cock do all manual one. If he gets serious, I'll look into a commercial style as suggested. Helotes is really close, so that's probably by guy. Setting up a five stand would probably be the way to go. I really don't want to foot the bill for buying enough throwers to set up a full clays course. LOL.

I would be interested in rebuilt throwers though, that might be a good option. I'll even take broken ones, I am confident I can repair or fabricate parts if needed. It's not like we are throwing them for 100 customers a day 7 days a week or anything.

I appreciate the offer for brazos county, but I am not close.

By the way, I LOVE that Lincoln thrower. Out of my price range since we are just starting, but that seems to be a quality machine. I like that a lot. The price is good, just more than I want to spend right now. If I see one of those somewhere used, I'll snatch it up.

Brazos...I wanted to add that I have two of those dual head Do-All manual machines with the little seat on the stand. I have them up at our Ozark ranch and have had them for about 10 years or so. They are a real quality machine imho.....totally unlike their electric machines. They give you a nice way of doing true doubles and they will really get them out a good distance. They are totally adjustable for all kinds of angles on three axis.
I have used them when training and teaching and they have worked well for me. Just wanted to give you my input on them.

Ours have been left outside, cows have walked all over them, laid in the mud etc...and they still work well.

Hope all goes well with your son. Should be a good way for you two guys to have fun together.

BrazosDog02 said:

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Of course I'd like one they have at American shooting centers but those are expensive.

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If your son gets into 4H Shotgun sports, the clays thrower will be the cheapest thing you buy.

Well, can't take it with you, eh?

The 4H Shotgun program is a great program to get kids involved in. A couple of my shooting friends have their daughters in 4H. One of them is a very serious shooter and is one of the best tournament shooters in the nation for her age. She won a $20,000 scholarship at this year's Houston Rodeo and a $10,000 scholarship at last year's rodeo. I am hoping she will go to A&M next year and shoot on the National Championship Aggie team.

Our team is obscenely good. They won nationals the last two years and just won the Lower Midwest Super shoot while two of the best shooters were in the Middle East at a huge world shoot taking 3rd and 4th.

And there is a lot of money out there for female shooters.