ZZ birds - Helice

[Ranger Roberts]

So I was reading a thread started by berettashotgun and he mentioned ZZ birds. A few years back a friend of mine was in Italy and told me about ZZ birds and how it is popular in Europe, but I never gave it much thought. After reading berettashotguns thread it motivated me to do a little research on them. Man I want to try ZZ birds! Have any of you guys tried them and if so, how did you like it?

It doesn't seem like there are any places in PA that has them, so I have a few questions about the equipment. Are the "propellers" reusable? Are they metal or plastic of some sort? Are the things in the center of the propellers clay or are they reusable as well? Also, has anyone ever seen one of the throwers for sale? I spent some time on google looking for the equipment for sale and came up with nothing.

Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[oneounceload]

ZZ's (now properly called Helice) is the toughest shotgun target game there is outside of actual live box pigeons. It is NOT cheap to shoot, but it will challenge you completely. The two main areas where they have leagues are in TX and CA. The International competition is typically in Portugal or Spain (as are the live pigeon shoots that are now kept hush-hush).

Sage Hill in Reno used to have a set up as did Capital City in Carson City, but my understanding is that both locations no longer offer it. Once you try it though - especially if you like a tough shooting challenge - you won't want to shoot anything else...............

The propellers and the Witness caps CAN be reused if not destroyed from the first go round. We reused those not too badly damaged - but for practice only. Tournaments were only new targets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L4k9R1pAyc

These look great because you do not need someone to reload inbetween shots

 

[AJumbo]

I discovered right off that the only way to get clean breaks with budget ammo was to use a full choke. Once I started using my pet reload that runs north of 1250 fps, improved cylinder was fine.

 

[Tom Held]

ZZ in PA

I've heard that Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in allentown is putting in a ZZ ring this spring. A couple of times I've seen 25 straight in live bird shoots but never in ZZ.

 

[oneounceload]

World Helice was won by a young English kid (as in a junior teenager) who ran 20 straight

 

[eastbank]

i would love to try that. the young shooters have the eyes and reflexes for all the clay games if the they have the will to keep at it,we have some very good young shooter, but some drift away when the cars,girls and other things get in the way. eastbank.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I've heard that Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in allentown is putting in a ZZ ring this spring. A couple of times I've seen 25 straight in live bird shoots but never in ZZ.

I hope so! I live about 35 minutes from there. That is one of the best Sporting Clay places I've ever been to.

 

[PJSprog]

Anyone know of a range in the Midwestern US (I'm in the St. Louis area) doing this? Looks like a blast.

 

[Tom Held]

midwest zz

I've looked around the St.Louis and surrounding Illinois shooting clubs, even down to the complex at Sparta and cannot find a place that has a zz ring. I believe there is a bunker trap near the Cabelas store. I know of one live pigeon ring in Missour that has zz but very very private.

 

[oneounceload]

They MIGHT do it at Northbrook, but that is a private club that is open to the public for tournaments. I do not know if they offer it