Caldwell spins up a new shotgun target 
By Sam Talbot 

Recently, I wrote extensively in The Report about every type of target used in shotgun shooting over the years. I painstakingly went through over 150 years of history, starting with live pigeons, then glass balls, and then finally the development of the modern ‘clay’ pigeon. Well, imagine my surprise when I was suddenly introduced to the ‘ClayCopter’ – a very new and unique form of shotgun target. 

The ClayCopter is a hand-held device, roughly the size of a large, bulky power drill. It uses its own special targets that are disc-shaped, with the same orange colour and width as a clay pigeon, but instead of being solid, it has slightly angled and twisted spokes. When placed in the ClayCopter launcher, the targets are spun up to 15,000 RPM before being launched out and into the air. 

The target then flies off spinning vertically in arc, with a slight and unpredictable wobble. That wobble adds a level of challenge that should keep shooters on their toes. Since the target flies vertically rather than horizontally, like a traditional clay pigeon, shooters get more surface to aim at, and visibility should never be an issue. That said, targets can travel up to 100 metres and I’m told under the right conditions (tailwind) they can reach 200 metres. Additionally, the subtle rise and upward trajectory of the target may also catch some shooters off guard, plus if things are too easy, you can load two targets at once and shoot simultaneous pairs. 

The launcher has a removable and rechargeable battery, with a single charge launching about 300 targets. Like some modern clays, the targets are biodegradable, but surprisingly, they are also durable enough to survive hitting the ground and can be reused. I bounced one off concrete like a basketball and even travelled with one in my backpack, and it was completely fine. 

While the handheld device may not be ideal for competitions, it could be a better choice for casual shoots when compared to older-style traps. All things considered, the ClayCopter is probably safer and far easier than a piece of string attached to a rusty trap that threatens to come out of the ground each time you pull it. 

One criticism might be that it’s just too easy for some shooters. It’s not safe for the launcher to be used in front of the line, unlike a remote trap, so that removes a layer of versatility that other clay launchers have. While it’s a great novelty and a lot of fun, it’s not a replacement for the traditional shotgun disciplines. 

At the time of writing, the Caldwell ClayCopter is starting to become more easily available in Australia, so it may become more commonplace quite soon. The ClayCopter costs around the $450 mark and a pack of 50 targets is about $40.