I am looking at finally taking the plunge and buying a big time launcher.  Just wanted to hear what pro's/con's for either the Bumper Boy or Thunder units...... or maybe something I don't know about.

Thanks, Martin

None of the above If i was to do it all over again i would toss the bumper throwers and get guns up wingers as i am doing now. remote control, just takes a little time to reload them, The thunderbirds are not worth what the sell for IMO as i fight to keep them from jamming sometimes.

Would tend to agree,

I have a four shooter, and a max 5000 (which I haven't used yet ;-( ) Want to start getting wingers instead....

BUt if time is an issue, I like my four shooter qute a bit

Would tend to agree,

I have a four shooter, and a max 5000 (which I haven't used yet ;-( ) Want to start getting wingers instead....

BUt if time is an issue, I like my four shooter qute a bit

Would tend to agree,

I have a four shooter, and a max 5000 (which I haven't used yet ;-( ) Want to start getting wingers instead....

BUt if time is an issue, I like my four shooter qute a bit

I am a huge fan of the bb 4 shooters. I have two and would love to add a third or a 2 shooter to the mix. Convenient, reliable functioning and placement, easy to put out and load, all run off one remote. I have one that is 3 years old with the "old model" servo placement. It still works great and has never had a replacement part. Sometimes when the battery gets low it will run one or more of the servo's backward but I just need to charge it and re-program - works fine. If you are working in a lot of "green" and need the bumpers to smell more like ducks, then just put a nasty well used duck in a trash bag with the bumpers and "marinate". The ropes will wick up the duck blood and reek enough that even I can sniff them out in cover.

The older Etchmark (?) version of the Max 5000 had problems that I understand are greatly removed in the new product. I wasn't a fan of these when I trained with people who had the older model. I have trained with people who have the newer one and it is really much more consistent, gas doesn't leak. You do have to buy a certain type of gas container and since I don't own one I have no idea how available this is. Also, you have to hit a button to charge the system, then another to launch. The bumpers are hollow plastic (I won't use the some of the terms I have heard for them stemming from the shape). The unit is nearly $1000 then you have to buy electronics separately.

I still use wingers in the mix but, honestly I think for someone like you and I, Martin, training a couple of dogs - The Bumper Boy's are "all that and a bag of chips". They greatly increase what I can accomplish in limited time.

Martin,

I have both gunners up wingers and an 8-shooter bumper boy. Bumper boys are great if you have a bunch of dogs to run, but you are limited to only one mark or one location. I like they way they work, consistent, good high arcing marks, etc... On the other hand if you shop around you can find two or three wingers with electronics for about the same price and now you have the option of putting all three at one location and not reloading as often (plus you can throw anything you want, ducks, bumpers), or running a double or triple from different locations for the advanced dogs.

Cost of operation is something to think about also. I can't speak for thunder launchers, but bumper boy bumpers are not cheap. Seems like I go through a couple each year at the tune of $20 each from B.B.

Good luck,
Travis

"strassert",
I am totally converted to wingers.



,

You can't go wrong with wingers and dogs need to have birds occasionally. The bb's for me are way more efficient with limited training time and are great teaching tools for dogs with the multiple launch options. Again, I do use wingers but primarily bb's.

This is like discussing whether a Remington 870 is better than a nice auto. Both do the job in different ways.

If you start out with wingers you will always have them and always use them. They are a good investment, they throw ducks and are pretty reliable. They take up more room than the BB's even broken down flat, are more bulky to take into the field, and are more conspicuous when I am training in some of my "suburban" training grounds. And they are "single shots". They are essentially what is used in tests, and like the test I belive should have a blind put up in front of them (more stuff to drag into the field but it has value).

You can pick up used wingers for a decent price. It is darn near imposible to find a used BB that doesnt esentially sell immediately and for nearly the price of a new one. That probably says something. You could likely pick up two wingers and electronics for the price of a new 4 shooter. A good set up for me early was a couple of wingers . Then added a 4 shooter, then another 4 shooter (using the wingers together for one bird of a tripple).

Like anything else, think about where you want to end up and consider the first purchases the start of building your training gear.

At this time I have 4-Dogtra bird launchers w/ advanced sound (not a huge fan, but ok for some applications) to this I think for now the 2-4shooters would be ideal w/ time restraints etc. This set-up would allow me to get a little creative w/ trip's and adjustable throws. Maybe Ill get lucky and be back in the midwest in a couple years. Thanks for all the suggestions... Martin

Hey KEV... you wouldn't want to sell any of those BB's you don't use would you??? I'm sure shipping to GA would be CHEAP!!!

As much as I would love a couple wingers with electronics, I cannot afford them. So I do use two BB 2 shooters and I get done what I need to get done. Employ my son for winger action every now and then

Id go with wingers, they are just more versatile, you can also add PL and QL launchers from dogtra that run off of the same electronics. I use these to throw the short bird in a triple and also for upland work. I went the opposite of Bruce, moving from BB to wingers as I train in town most of the time. While they are more visible, you can run them without the .209 primer giving you more stealthy training in the more "sensitive" areas. The BB are nice, and I had very few issues with mine. The thunders are also nice, I had a used one that worked perfectly after the gas regulator was fixed by the guy I bought it from. The FT guys I train with occasionally love them.......they are LOUD and that was the only reason I sold it. I primarily train in town and it sounds like you set off a howitzer. Cops almost always showed up when I used it.

I have three thunder 500's. Have sent them all back at least once some twice. When they work they are nice. I don't think I have ever had all three working at the same time. Not acceptable in my opinion. Have spent too much time troubleshooting them. Company cannot explain failures and in some cases cannot solve them. They are way overpriced for what they are. $950 without electronics.

Advantages when they work is setup time and not having to rely on humans for everything. Teaching concepts requires tosses in the right place at the right time EVERY TIME. The dogs do like the shot. These are not the silver bullet. For a person that trains by themselves they will allow you to teach many concepts with just you and your dog. You can setup and teach even though the marks all land in the same location. The advantage is that you can move 360 degrees around them giving your dog a different picture with each mark. Kind of nice. Can give a dog five marks in a matter of minutes showing them a completely different setup with each mark.

Trade offs for everything.

Gary

PRG