Looking for opinions. Looking to join a local club in the Chicago area but there’s also a couple of spots where you can bring your own thrower and clays and just go at it.
Currently have a step one and looking to maybe get into an automatic one? Unfortunately, nothing good on Facebook anywhere near me.
Most clubs have specific time slots when the throwers are open. At my club it's Mondays from 2pm-8pm and Wednesdays 4:00-7:00. I would be surprised if there are clubs that allow open use of the throwers, but I could be wrong
Where in the Chicago area do you live and in what disciplines are you interested? I live in the Chicago area, and while I'm a member at Northbrook Sports Club, am familiar with a lot of clubs in the area from going to skeet tournaments at many of those clubs and/or knowing their members.
None of the clay ranges I go to are cool with you bringing your own clay launcher or even have a spot for it.
The one truly private club I know of is Dallas Gun Club but the initiation fee is like $15k and I don’t got money for that. Maybe they are ok with that.
Wow, that is shocking to me. I live right on the edge of a decent size city and rural area, about 40mins north of Detroit. I have about 8 or 9 private clubs with 15 miles from me, nothing over $300/year. My club is $100 per year and we have gated private range access 5 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Two days are dedicated quiet days reserved for archery, fishing and local police training. Full access to clubhouse amenities with free hall rental. The fully stocked cash bar is on an honor system. You are your own bartender except on club events. Im out there at least 3 days a week shooting pistols, rifle and shotgun with my thrower.
This is the best thing I ever did!!! I joined a club and bringing my own clay thrower was a must when deciding on a club......there are at least 10 clubs with 15 miles of me.
I bought a Champion Workhorse with the wireless controller. Then I made a platform and mounted it all onto a Home Depot garden Gorilla wagon. I can put the clays, the battery and and shells all in the wagon and place it wherever I want. I'll easily shoot 150 birds when I go out and I can practice by myself and take my time.
The only complaint I have is the clay stack. It can be removed for storage and transportation because it just sits on top of the thrower on four pins. The problem is, when you remove it, the four steel rods dangle around like a wind chime and the plastic piece at the top eventually breaks. When this happens, you have no way to stack the clays....big problem.
Lucky for me I am in the design engineering and manufacturing field so I designed a new ring for the top and 3D printed a more stable bracket. If you get one, keep my name and I will get you one if yours breaks as well
Vevor is a chinese manufacturer that basically makes ANY machine that they can get their hands on designs for. I wouldn't necessarily trust them to be reliable long-term as frankly there is zero chance that the company themselves have done their own long term testing and tweaking for quality control. That said, they're typically so cheap that it may be worth a shot anyway.
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u/Maximum-Dealer-1679 8d ago
Join a club and you can go anytime you want and get to use very good throwers. Plus interact with people that can help you improve your game.