Lewis F Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Hi everyone, I have been looking into dummy launchers and was just wondering how many people actually use them? and what are good about them? and if they are worth the money? Also I have seen these bird launchers same questions apply to this as well, has anybody used one? Any advice will be great! thanks Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I think they are well worth using. I bought one for my little Springer, who progressed onto it after learning to drop to shot with a starting pistol over a period of some weeks. Once she seen the thing being taken out of the bag she was well happy Also it'll launch a dummy a hell of a way so helps the dog learn to gauge distance, starting with low power short range to full blown over the horizon launches.......still amazes now just how high/far a dummy will go. I used the standard plastic dummies and a Dokken teal. I found as well that she was very steady once out on the real thing as she was never sent until the dummy had come to rest when using the launcher, sometimes i'd make her wait a good while before sending her out. For me i'd always use one so mine has been put away ready for the next pup and reckon they're money well spent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andythechicken Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 what make and cost are we talking about here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I think they are well worth using. I bought one for my little Springer, who progressed onto it after learning to drop to shot with a starting pistol over a period of some weeks. Once she seen the thing being taken out of the bag she was well happy Also it'll launch a dummy a hell of a way so helps the dog learn to gauge distance, starting with low power short range to full blown over the horizon launches.......still amazes now just how high/far a dummy will go. I used the standard plastic dummies and a Dokken teal. I found as well that she was very steady once out on the real thing as she was never sent until the dummy had come to rest when using the launcher, sometimes i'd make her wait a good while before sending her out. For me i'd always use one so mine has been put away ready for the next pup and reckon they're money well spent Hi, Thanks for that!! I think I'll be investing!! Have you used the bird launchers were you but a live Bird in it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 what make and cost are we talking about here? Hi, I've been looking at the turner Richards one Is this any good? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) Hi, Thanks for that!! I think I'll be investing!! Have you used the bird launchers were you but a live Bird in it? Thanks Only used the dummy launchers Lewis, using the standard and a rubber type teal dummies.........check out the 'Dokken' ones on line. Edited June 17, 2011 by ziplex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Only used the dummy launchers Lewis, using the standard and a rubber type teal dummies.........check out the 'Dokken' ones on line. Right I'll get looking right away then! Thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Right I'll get looking right away then! Thanks a lot! Just to point out, I used the Turner Richards type launcher (fairly cheap and reliable).....be advised, they go off with a fair old wallop so be careful to hold it properly or make up a tube to use it from the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archi Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I found the best way us using them was to fix the launcher onto an old airgun stock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I found the best way us using them was to fix the launcher onto an old airgun stock ......agreed but very easy/cheap to cobble together something like this from waste pipe, will cost next to nothing and works really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 ......agreed but very easy/cheap to cobble together something like this from waste pipe, will cost next to nothing and works really well Thanks for putting that up! much appreciated! Do you need to add scent to these dummy's? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Thanks for putting that up! much appreciated! Do you need to add scent to these dummy's? thanks You can if you feel the need, my little Springer always found them without a problem so I guess it's not required. Might help if your firing them into dense cover? but I used mine more over open ground and into water....the little sprout only goes pigeon shooting and wildfowling where she tends to use her eyes more than her snout! depends on the dog and what you'll be using it for I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 You can if you feel the need, my little Springer always found them without a problem so I guess it's not required. Might help if your firing them into dense cover? but I used mine more over open ground and into water....the little sprout only goes pigeon shooting and wildfowling where she tends to use her eyes more than her snout! depends on the dog and what you'll be using it for I guess. oh right I see! well my springer is going to be used for beating/rough shooting and hopefully do a working test, so the dummy will be in thick cover! but she has no problem finding normal throwing dummies so I guess she wont have a problem finding these thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I use the Richard & Turner dummy launcher very good addition to the training, I bought several dummies to which I tape bird wings, to give smell & feather appreciation. Just be mindfull of where you use it as said above they can go a long way plus very loud. Happy training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 I use the Richard & Turner dummy launcher very good addition to the training, I bought several dummies to which I tape bird wings, to give smell & feather appreciation. Just be mindfull of where you use it as said above they can go a long way plus very loud. Happy training. Yeah I see you can get a lot of different dummies for the launchers which seems really good! I use wings and rabbits skins on normal dummies as well so this should be no different! haha yeah ill keep an eye on the were about's of the dummy thanks a lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsm1968 Posted June 17, 2011 Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hi, I used a turner richards launcher with great results and can't add to what has already been advised. Other than to re-iterate the use of some support for it. When useing black powder blanks it is quite manageable, but I had some others! The type that are used in captive bolt or Hilti guns and colour coded for power. I found out the hard way useing some high power nitro blanks, and nearly broke my wrist. Our club also used the bird launchers that were quite popular with the field trials clubs. We used homming pigeons to train pointers. A lot of the training was done with condemned racing pigeons, that were shot on release. Only realy good training for shooting ground birds over pointers. I'm not sure of how acceptable these are now days, but they are easily made with minimum woodwork skill, a few hinges and a couple of springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis F Posted June 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hi, I used a turner richards launcher with great results and can't add to what has already been advised. Other than to re-iterate the use of some support for it. When useing black powder blanks it is quite manageable, but I had some others! The type that are used in captive bolt or Hilti guns and colour coded for power. I found out the hard way useing some high power nitro blanks, and nearly broke my wrist. Our club also used the bird launchers that were quite popular with the field trials clubs. We used homming pigeons to train pointers. A lot of the training was done with condemned racing pigeons, that were shot on release. Only realy good training for shooting ground birds over pointers. I'm not sure of how acceptable these are now days, but they are easily made with minimum woodwork skill, a few hinges and a couple of springs. Wow sounds like these things really pack a punch!! thanks for all that mate! Yeah all the videos I have seen with people using these bird launchers are all being used with pointers and hardily ever spaniels! thanks again for the info! lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PWD Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 Try this site...specialises in dummy launchers etc http://www.litelauncher.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I have been using the pigeon release trap for steadying my springer on a flush, i use the remote control type and is a good bit of kit if you don't have regular access to a rabbit pen. I have a few homing pigeons of my own that i use for this and get the odd condemned one off a few of the pigeon boys round here that they want rid of, just make sure if your using a condemned bired that whoever is doing the shooting hits the ******* thing!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 Err,I`m not yet sure of the answer to this, but is`nt shooting live birds released from traps actually illegal. "Condemned" or otherwise? The correct answer is currently being researched but I believe it is precluded by the Wildlife and Countryside Act and by the original legislation that outlawed live bird trap shooting in the 1920`s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurrasicway Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 I started to use a dummy launcher when my lab started to run in when rough shooting. I borrowed it from an old gamekeeper in the village and it cured him over a about five weeks. Over this time his awareness of distance improved immensely. I gave the launcher back about six months ago and he is still steady but his distance awareness has worsened. I am going to invest in one at the CLA game fair this month. Worth it in my view gauging how good he was with distance judging and awareness and what he has lost. Also good for teaching to be steady to the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted June 25, 2011 Report Share Posted June 25, 2011 Err,I`m not yet sure of the answer to this, but is`nt shooting live birds released from traps actually illegal. "Condemned" or otherwise? The correct answer is currently being researched but I believe it is precluded by the Wildlife and Countryside Act and by the original legislation that outlawed live bird trap shooting in the 1920`s. [/quote Should add that the condermed birds are from out of my mates back vest as we don't like breaking the law! but i do still dizzy pigeod went i wanting her to stop!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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