munstyman wrote:Having seen adverse ( dogs showing discomfort ) reactions to shotgun blanks I strongly advise not using them, they are very loud and the `bang' is wrong. I go from pistol ( stop to shot training ) then straight to `real life' shooting over the dog with no real issues.
Yes, the black powder numbers are rather earthquake-ish in their percussion - the poppers as described by gundogguy not so much, and the homemade (reloaded) version even less. Still, we use them, even the "least explosive" of them to get a dog's attention at a distance for memory marks - because in addition to hearing the blast the dogs can also see the long gun used to "shoot" the duck or pheasant when the mark is thrown, and that registers with them more (such method being used in our trials and tests) than would firing a blank pistol.
Back to the OP's original question. I would happily recommend the single shot gizmo over a revolver type starting pistol. In a couple of years you will have forgotten how much you paid for it, and when I bought mine it came with a lifetime warranty.
The revolver type primer pistol I use is double action and will rapid fire without fail. The grips are blaze orange which make it easier to find if dropped. It has a ring connected to the frame of the grip allowing a cord to be attached. I paid about $200.00 dollars for it. Good investment. It is an Alfa 209 primer pistol. Purchased from Gun Dog Supply on line. 22 blanks being more expensive make a primer pistol cheaper in the long haul.
crackerd wrote:Related question: Are you lot allowed to have a "realistic" starter or blank pistol, say a Webley revolver? Or must your training pistols be clearly seen as "toy guns?"
You should see the old girl I have. Looks like it may have been a functioning .22 pistol at one point but the barrel has been plugged.
"If you train a young dog for momentum, precision will arrive. If you train for precision, demanding perfection, momentum will depart." - Rex Carr
