Nitehawk or *****hawk

[islandgun]

Looking at one of these, foot operated clay trap, was thinking it could be a bit of fun with my 410. Anyone had one or have a better one they would recommend

Edited December 14, 2024 by islandgun

[old'un]

are they made for billy no mates.

[islandgun]

2 hours ago, old'un said:

are they made for billy no mates.

Thats me

[old'un]

14 hours ago, islandgun said:

Thats me

[Genghis]

Be careful, some of these foot launchers appear to be defective.

 

 

[Westley]

I would think carefully before buying anything 'manual' in clay traps. You really do need to have an 'operator' on hand to load the trap for you. Cocking and loading the trap prior to EVERY shot will become a chore and the trap will get less and less use. I would look for a small single stack electric trap, second hand. I speak from experience because when I started shooting, they were ALL manual traps. I soon got fed up trying to use one solo, so it never got used.

[mossy835]

i bet that hurt

[wymberley]

Murphy and Sod combined as ever.

[islandgun]

1 hour ago, Westley said:

I would think carefully before buying anything 'manual' in clay traps. You really do need to have an 'operator' on hand to load the trap for you. Cocking and loading the trap prior to EVERY shot will become a chore and the trap will get less and less use. I would look for a small single stack electric trap, second hand. I speak from experience because when I started shooting, they were ALL manual traps. I soon got fed up trying to use one solo, so it never got used.

Cheers good point, yes will look at those, I do have an old bowman but my son moved a few hundred miles away [probably to get away from the bowman] just thought it might work,as easily portable and accesible for one person to use. 

[wymberley]

50 minutes ago, islandgun said:

Cheers good point, yes will look at those,

Yep, that was a good point by Westley. I had a look but the price put me off. I've got old and am not shooting so much so was toying with something to keep the body working. My oppo is in the same boat but whereas I have arthritis he has Parkinsons. Consequently, something to keep us moving would be no bad thing. Then I tripped over these which are available from just up the road - and at a more acceptable price.

Caldwell Claymore Clay Target Thrower | Shop at SGC

[Westley]

1 hour ago, islandgun said:

Cheers good point, yes will look at those, I do have an old bowman but my son moved a few hundred miles away [probably to get away from the bowman] just thought it might work,as easily portable and accesible for one person to use. 

Yes, the Bowman hand cocked traps could be hard work, the double arm, even more so. However, if you can find a used Bowman pedal trap, they were almost a joy to use, a bit bulky, but easy to use. I did an all day 'have a go' event at a nearby Scout camp nearly 1000 clays through my Bowman pedal trap in the day, however the Scouts were almost fighting each other to have a go on the trap   !    😂😂

[Westley]

Bowman pedal trap on fleabay at £100, Pontefract, Yorks. Looked like it needs a bit of TLC, but all the parts will be available.  Sorry don't do 'links'.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Westley

[islandgun]

53 minutes ago, Westley said:

Bowman pedal trap on fleabay at £100, Pontefract, Yorks. Looked like it needs a bit of TLC, but all the parts will be available.  Sorry don't do 'links'.

Thanks looking now, will need t arrange  a carrier !

[Westley]

If you get that trap, you can learn to shoot sitting down  !  You don't need your hands to operate it.  😉

[RyanMc]

Have one of the nighthawks, only gets used when bored and have some time to hit a few clays over a stubble or whatever's available. But it definitely works well solo and with a mate taking turn about.

[Ultrastu]

I have a very similar one that you pull a string and it releases .advantage  to that is you can set it in different  positions  crossing. away .towards you . And either pull your self or get a mate .they only tend to throw the clay 20 - 25 yds but that's enough depending  on where its positioned. 

Perfect for up to 30 yd .410s .

Edited December 16, 2024 by Ultrastu

[islandgun]

2 hours ago, RyanMc said:

Have one of the nighthawks, only gets used when bored and have some time to hit a few clays over a stubble or whatever's available. But it definitely works well solo and with a mate taking turn about.

Thanks for that

 

52 minutes ago, Ultrastu said:

I have a very similar one that you pull a string and it releases .advantage  to that is you can set it in different  positions  crossing. away .towards you . And either pull your self or get a mate .they only tend to throw the clay 20 - 25 yds but that's enough depending  on where its positioned. 

Perfect for up to 30 yd .410s .

Which one do you have ultra ?

[Ultrastu]

It looks very similar to that to be fair .

And looking at your images .it seems you will be easily be able to add a long string line and do as I do .I'd get that one .I think I paid £30 for mine .its not amazing but works  well enough and can be a bit of fun in the off season .

 

[islandgun]

Well I bought the Nitehawk and its OK, a lot of breakages until you fine tune the release but the last few have been chucked up and away in one piece, Im using a single, moderated yildiz 410 unknown choke, guessing super super full by the miss/hit ratio 😄. Range above the trees 20/25 yds, all going away shots, [just over the trees in photo] using eley subs in 6#. very quiet sounds like a clap, geese feeding 100yds away never bothered. Good fun if you have the space and no problem to neighbours..Has anyone got a sub/low noise recipe using lilgun and cheddites ? 

 

Edited January 25 by islandgun

[offtarget]

2 hours ago, islandgun said:

Well I bought the Nitehawk and its OK, a lot of breakages until you fine tune the release but the last few have been chucked up and away in one piece, Im using a single, moderated yildiz 410 unknown choke, guessing super super full by the miss/hit ratio 😄. Range above the trees 20/25 yds, all going away shots, [just over the trees in photo] using eley subs in 6#. very quiet sounds like a clap, geese feeding 100yds away never bothered. Good fun if you have the space and no problem to neighbours..Has anyone got a sub/low noise recipe using lilgun and cheddites ? 

 

Got the same gun myself, absolutely cracking little thing. I've only used eley 18 #6 and it's very quiet even like that. Would be interested to see how quiet it could get?

[Ultrastu]

Simple equation  .

The quieter the load the shorter the effective range.

I had some bornaghi 24 grm no 7.5 carts in .410  they were so quiet at 50 yds you could hardly hear them .but there effective  range on pigeons was 15 yds max .by contrast my much louder  high pheasant  will drop pigeons at 35 yds  .

All through a yildiz hushpower