Firebird Targets

Anyone here have experience with these exploding targets? I plan on using them exclusively for flying clays. In the past I haven't had much luck with these low velocity exploding targets for clay use and the only brand that worked great I don't even remember what it was anymore. So, just curious if anyone here has tried them and if they work for what I want to use them for?

Our club was interested in possibly using Firebird. After disappointment of a couple targets not exploding spoke with the president of the company. He said that they are not for trapshooting. The pellets have to hit the striker plate which is the side with the decal. Since the targets are going away from the shooter the pellets would be striking the reverse side, away from, of the striker plate. They would or should work with high targets coming at you such as with some 5 stand targets. The striker plate, in those throws, would be exposed facing the shooter.

When placed on a stationary clay target holder with the striker pointing towards the shooter they do work. Might be something to try for a youth day. They are pricey.

I used a few of the 65Bio's today.. Had the same result as Loxman where the first clay didn't explode due to the striker plate of the Firebird essentially facing "down" inside the clay . I used a fresh Firebird and cut a piece of double sided sticky tape on the next target and taped the Firebird in where the striker plate is facing "up" into the clay target body so when shooting at a target out of a thrower it would in theory expose the striker plate (given I hit the target hard enough) to the pellets/shot.

I can say it worked just fine and exploded as advertised after that change. One thing I did notice, with clays you have to be pretty close ( around 22-25 yards was our shooting distance out of a Do All trap thrower with the spring set light), or the amount of KE in the pellets simply isn't enough to bust through the clay target and cause the striker plate to ignite.

I was also using pheasant loads with 5 shot in them for better performance.

As trapshooters we seem to find a way to make everything work, if you were to take a clay target and punch out the center circle exposing the striker plate, you would have no issues at closer ranges and in theory be able to shoot further distances if you can hit the center of the target... or look like a rookie in front of your friends. LOL

Great product for your pistol and rifle guys, will be testing it out with my bow to see if I can explode a target at 100+ yards.

They make a really cool flash-bang and the sound level is louder than a shotgun blast.


Hope that helps!

Foster Bartholow