I've been around nearly all of the commercial grade machines, and a lot of the personal use types, and the best I have ever seen for practice by one's self is no longer made. It is a Comet, and was made in California. It will lock down in an infinite number of presentations, or you can unlock it and it will move a little for the next bird so you never know exactly what the presentation wil be. But the reason I say it is the best for use alone is that it doesn't cock until you push the button. It has a wireless remote that you can clip on your shirt pocket. I hold the shotgun by the pistol grip in an upward position, press the button with my left, the machine cocks and throws in about three seconds. This gives me time to put my other hand on the gun and even premount if I want to.
If you can get a trap with a programmable delay built into the wireless remote I would highly recommend you do so.
SRH
P.S. The other thing about the old Comet that makes it a superior personal trap is safety. By not cocking itself automatically, as all others I am aware of do, there is never an accident waiting to happen with it. Regardless of how careful you are around the others, unless you throw it without allowing it to recock, it is sitting there waiting for you to make a mistake and hurt you, bad. I was told that Rick Hemingway, who owns Backwoods Quail Club, host site of the Fall Southern S x S, had an accident recently while loading a Promatic machine he supplied at the NWTF Turkey Shoot last month. He was struck in the jaw by the arm when it came around and required emergency treatment. He is recovering well, I understand, but just a reminder to all that these things are not toys, and can maim you in a split second.
Last edited by Stan; 09/29/15 06:58 AM.