Customer Reviews

Do-All Outdoors Backyard Clayhawk 3/4 Cock Trap

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I initally purchased this unit so I had something to throw trap with when I did not want to go to a regular range. This seemed like a good choice.

Taking it out of the box, was nothing exciting. It took about an hour to put together for the first time. There are some included tools, but I found I needed a second wrench to hold the bolt, while I used the other to tighten the nut.

Once I got it put together, I had no issues with the construction. Everything seemed to be welded or bolted together well.

When I took it out to use, it operated very well. My 14 year old son, who is learning to shoot trap, was the primary operator. He had no problems getting cocked, loading the clays and releasing. One of the other reviewers mentions trying some cord to the operating handle - this would have been a good idea had I seen it before I used it.

It threw consistantly and operated without problem. I put two boxes of clays through it with no malfunctions.

With a little experimentation, I also found you can load two clays if you stack them and loosen the holding spring to accommodate two clays. It throws them in the same direction with a couple of degrees of separation, making for a nice two clay throw. If you load two clays one in front of the other, it will also work, but there will be a much wider separation, making for a much more challenging shot.

Overall, a good buy. We will have to see how it holds up in the long run.

Obviously made in China (where most things are made now). You can tell the cast iron/steel area where the pivot mounts meet are just stamped out quickly, but it does do the job. Assembly does require a bit of thinking and reading the really bare instruction manual (look at the pictures more to get an idea of where things go).

Make sure you keep the included tools taped to the unit so you can change the angles on the pivot points while in the field. You'll be tremendously frustrated otherwise. If you expect to change things on the fly, you won't be doing this with this unit. It's a nut/bolt set up so the torque involved won't allow wingnuts (IMO). It's a powder coated steel frame, but I woudln't expect it to hold up in rain for long.

If you're too lazy to throw by hand, this is the unit for you.

Unpacking the thrower and seeing it for the first time was a bit disappointing.
The mechanism for holding the thrower in the 3/4 position is nothing more than a crude gear with a spring and a pawl. It was frozen in place by paint and what appeared to be rust.
After a through cleaning and greasing I mounted it to a stand.
It throws about 55-60 yards.
We threw 3 cases of white flyers with it and the only problem encountered was the pivot bolt works its way loose after 20-30 throws. I ended up putting in a longer bolt and a lock nut.
Also you will want to tie a string onto the pull lever because the vibration is very hard on the hands of the person doing the releasing.

It is much easier to cock than a regular thrower, you simply pull it into the throw position.

A good product at very competitive price. Assembly was a little difficult. Do-All telephone support was excellent in their assistance.

Ordered and received within 4 days. Installed the trap on my portable trap rig as a second trap thrower. The assembly instructions were fair at best, but assembly was easy and took about 15 minutes. After assembled and mounted it was very easy to use and threw targets 70+ yards. I will most likely purchase another in the near future.

Added two of these traps to our private sporting clays course. Very smooth operation. Consistently throws birds to same spot and distance. Above average performace for a home based shooting experience.

I was warned by other buyers about the poor directions but assembly as they said was somewhat intuitive. The on-line video really helped as they said. Had a blast shooting today using the new machine. It is really easy and quick to reload and has lots of throwing power. Soft wet ground made it seem like the metal anchors would not hold it in place but they did. I still may construct some beefier hold downs. All in all, a great value for the money. The shipping box was a little flimsy (and broken open at delivery) but all the parts were intact and it arrived quickly. I would buy another in a New York minute!

works well. Thrown a couple hundred so far.
Instructions are bad. took time to look at picture to figure out tripod assembly.

I bought a Clayhawk Trap locally. It was totally unassembled. It takes about 45 minutes to put together. They provide a box wrench and an allen wrench along with the box of parts. I had to use two of my own tools as well. I needed a 14mm open end wrench and a pair of pliers from my own tool box. The assembly instructions are incomplete and not all of the parts that are included are mentioned in the instructions. After everything was assembled it turned out that the trap still would not work. The aluminum throwing arm was about ¼ on an inch too long and because of this the release mechanism, or trigger, was not able to release the throwing arm. We used a saw to shorten the aluminum throwing arm and that did the trick.
The box does not even mention that the unit is not assembled. It would be appropriate to call this a kit or a weekend project. Do NOT buy this product, it is a cheap Chinese import and in my experience it was not easy to assemble or and it was nearly impossible to make it work.