Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:50 pm Post subject: Dummy Launcher
May I pick more experienced minds? I am thinking of getting a dummy launcher, my throwing skills are very suspect to say the least! Can anyone point me in the right direction, something simple that will launch canvas dummies, we are only in the early stages so nothing too ambitious. Also, are they very noisy, am I likely to upset the neighbours? How much would I expect to pay? I have googled various sites but find I am confused by so many versions. Thanks in anticipation. Sue.MM
The launchers are noisey, as they are supposed to simulate the blast of a shot gun.
The other thing is, unless you use a stock the hand held ones really hurt your wrist.
I have seen here http://www.contendergundogs.co.uk/dummies.html that Natasha at contender offers these with no recoil, which sounds ideal. You may want to email or pm Natasha to ask about them. Natasha name on here is contender.
I use the ones from quest, but be warned the recoil is something else, and I would not use it without a stock, so be warned.
You will be limited to what you can use unless you will be using it on private land (and unless you have a massive garden, your back garden won't count as a neighbour could see). Unfortunately, the hand-held ones are the only ones that won't get you in trouble with the law as anything that resembles a gun falls foul of the Firearms act. I use a handheld with a stock and it's fine, although as Ian says, can be painful on the wrists without the stock.
I have a Quest launcher and use it on private land. I don't use a stock and I have to say when the first few times I tried it my wrist was aching for days... BUT then my trainer showed me a really good technique - almost like you're hitting a backhand in tennis, using the 'hinge' of your elbow to cushion the blast and following through with the recoil. Now I can fire it quite happily with the strongest red blanks without any aches or pains. So it can be done without a stock but probably not recommended.
This link has some more info on where you can and can't use launchers.
I dont know if its because i have a different sort that most, I think my one of a DDT super pro,, imported from USA when the dollar rate was good,
Anyway,, with my little finger pushed up to the recoil pad which is 2 inches thick and using the natural shock absorber of your elbow like others have mentioned, I have never felt any pain or excessive recoil at all,
Kaz the other half and she is dinky will fire reds all day using that method without a problem
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BUT then my trainer showed me a really good technique - almost like you're hitting a backhand in tennis, using the 'hinge' of your elbow to cushion the blast and following through with the recoil. Now I can fire it quite happily with the strongest red blanks without any aches or pains. 
So it can be done without a stock but probably not recommended.
