Gun Dog Forum

Its time place an order for some training supplies, and I'm thinking of getting a starting pistol. I'm looking at something on the lower end of the price line, but still want a little quality. Any thoughts on features I should be looking for: Blanks, primers, etc. would be appreciated. I would also want to know what is required in hunt tests and trials. If this has been discussed previously direct me to the thread please.

I know you said lower on the price list, but I bought 2 cheapies and burned through 59.99 before I bought my GunX. I'll never buy another one.

I always got 209 guns. Cheaper shells and realistic shot instead of a crack. Work your dogs up to a 209 and it will never be an issue.

For the cheapies I would look at the Kimar. Heavy, only holds 5 shells.

I used one of those cheapie italian jobs for 3.5 seasons and put probably a thousand rounds or more through it before it puked.

We use an OLYMPIC MODEL 38 , 8 SHOT STARTER PISTOL and it uses a 209 shotgun primer..it was 90 bucks and weve used it for 8 years..we can get 150 primers for 10 bucks....ruth

I use the Kimar 209 and never had an issue. Going on 4 years and I shot it a ton. It fires cheep 209 and you can get them at almost any sporting good store unlike .22 blanks.

Just don't leave it in your training box in the shed like I did last year. when I got the box out, I found my starter's pistol had a bit of surface rust. cleaning wasn't much fun that time.
Any of those mentioned above. I got mine at Sportman's Warehouse for 159.00 and it has been a good buy.

I like the Kimar as well. I am not sure why there would be an issue with only having 5 shots but OK. I train on wild birds year round and when I am running pups I pop off a shot anytime a bird gets up whether the pup points it or not and have used my pistol extensively in the last 2 years and it has never failed to work. It is very heavy duty and works great.

I'd stay away from the cheapies. I have had a number of them, different ones, and the earmark of them is that they have parts that come off. And those are always the parts required to keep using the pistol. Most common is whatever mechanism allows the cylinder to rotate, either the pin will come apart, or there will be a little spring in there somewhere and it will fall out. I have never made it through a year with one of those. I use the old H&R .32, I load the empties with new primers and use that for training. The thing is over 30 years old and still ticking.

5 shots is a pain when you are reloading a lot more in a competition setting. Try loading any of those shells in cold weather with gloves on while your dog is doing who knows what.

Then you will understand and appreicate the ability to hold more shells.

Wow. That is really a lot of finds for any dog in a 35 to 60 minute trial.
My starter pistol holds 6 and I have never had to reload during a trial.

I wish I could find a used NEF.

Anyone ever use one of the Alfa pistols that they sell at gundogsupply?

Does the Kimar index the cylinder under the hammer? I had a pistol and it wouldn't index...so you had to always watch that the blank/cylinder was in the correct position to fire (hope that makes sense).

Guess your dog isn't that good....

Purelly a JOKE.

I have had several runs with more than 5 finds. Derby, Gundog, hunt test. I also use the gun to condition horses to gunfire.

It does happen, and enough to be annoying.

If you are looking at the Alpha and have the jack to spend on that - do yourself a favor and get the GunX. There is no comparison.

Buckeye_V wrote:Guess your dog isn't that good....

Purelly a JOKE.

I have had several runs with more than 5 finds. Derby, Gundog, hunt test. I also use the gun to condition horses to gunfire.

It does happen, and enough to be annoying.

If you are looking at the Alpha and have the jack to spend on that - do yourself a favor and get the GunX. There is no comparison.

Done...call Gun X and tell them they owe you a commission! Thanks.

Buckeye_V wrote:Guess your dog isn't that good....

Purelly a JOKE.

I have had several runs with more than 5 finds. Derby, Gundog, hunt test. I also use the gun to condition horses to gunfire.

It does happen, and enough to be annoying.

If you are looking at the Alpha and have the jack to spend on that - do yourself a favor and get the GunX. There is no comparison.

Yea, yea, yea. But then I run with Britts so my sense of humor is not as well defined as someone who runs with V's.

I've just never seen anyone run out of caps during a trial. I guess we space the birds out a bit more here in the big, wide, west. Running in ohio must be like running in our bird fields.

I ran in NE at Fort Robinson and half way through I had 5 finds before he blew up.... I still had a lot of cover left. Is that wide open enough?

I'm surprised a britt person even had a sense of humor

In all seriousness, I did my homework on the last blank gun purchase and you all should too if you are going to spend $200 for a piece. I really like my money. So does my wife

I have a NEF that hold .22 cal blanks. Only problem is that some trials mandate the larger cal.
And by the way, it holds 10 rounds.

I have capacity envy

Don't, it's the one I left in the training box that got surface rust.

Those of you looking for NEF (Wilson's Sporting Goods)used to be DUNNS in Grand Junction Tenn. still advertises them in 32 cal. for $149.95.

I have the GUN X bought it when first came out $189 free SH & Lifetime Warranty

gun X!! I burned through a few 60$ pistols till I bought the Gun X and their is no comparison

The Gun X is Stainless Steel so rust shouldn't ever be a problem.

What cheap pistols are you having problems with? $60 - $80 is what I was hoping to spend but if I have to go up I will.

Nike any pistol in that range you will evently have a problem with,just depends when.The Kimar will probably last aslong as any of the cheap ones & is being advertised for $54.I gave about $75 for mine from Bass Pro when i bought it.Has had between 250 & 300 rounds thru it,will take $45 for it shipped but for 9 more you can get a new one.

What 209 primers are those with a gun x using? I believe I read the Winchester primers won't work?

I have shot Winchesters out of it because I just had about 50 left & before they said they wouldn't work.Haven't used any others yet but will go to something else.
The problen I see with the Wins are they swell when fired & can be hard to push out if you fired many without & good cleaning,might take a little effort to get them out.

Mine is a solid black Olympic BBM 8 Shot. Shoots .22 blanks. Has worked wonderfully for training.

I am using the Gun X in 32 caliber with inserts made by Gary Ansell (see Cover Dog Message Board Trading Post) that take 209 primers. I did find I had to take down Gary's inserts a little with emery paper to get them to fit in the Gun X. The Winchester 209 primers are a problem, they were swelling to the point the gun won't cycle. So I would recommend using an alternative 209 primer. I also have the NEF in 22 caliber and use #2 nail gun charges. However, a few field trials require 32 cal. or larger. In that case, I take out the inserts of the Gun X and use 32 blanks.

Like the other posters, I started with the cheaper models and they broke down in short order. If you find an NEF, buy a replacement pin at the same time, as they tend to fall out. You can hold them in with an O-ring that goes around the barrel and pin.

Solon

I use Federal or CCI 209's. Never had an issue.

I can't find a Gun X listed anywhere. Has anyone bought one recently that can give me a store to check with?
David

+1 I could find it on only one web site.

Hmmmm website down or gone.
Here is a Phone # 203-922-0472 www.gunxusa.com is being updated

Google GunX a couple dog supply sites come up one of them DogsAfield

Bingo on that Dogs Afield site. Free shipping, I've got one on the way.
Thanks
David

I found a used NEF six shot, 22 cal., any opinions? What would be a fair price?

You better check with those sites that sell them. Some do not have the ones with lanyard rings and some do not transfer the lifetime warranty.

You're not going to find one in a store anywhere. Too much "middle" to worry about.

nikegundog wrote:I found a used NEF six shot, 22 cal., any opinions? What would be a fair price?

They retailed for $170, I think. BUT - supply and demand. Considering they're so hard to come by, I wouldn't be surprised if he's charging a premium.

Are you sure it's a 6-shot? I thought all of the 22 NEF models were 9 shot. Mine is.

I ordered from Dogs Afield as well. Should be here tomorrow.

What trials still require a .32? I thought a lot of the AF trials went to the .209, even the championships?

I'm just curious. Thanks guys.

John

That was my understanding John. I've heard some pretty loud 209's.

I have a .32 NEF with the inserts for the primers. I'm having such a problem with the inserts, that I'm considering selling the blank gun for a gun that is strictly .209 primers as most of the championships and such just require the primers. I'd hate to get rid of the NEF only to find out that I need it for the .32s.

That's why I was asking...

We have the Alpha 209 and like it (but we're newbee's). If anyone is around Lee's Summit MO this weekend, we are having a field trial and your more than welcome to come and try it out.

Carla

Carla, what's a typical range and retrieving ability of a vizsla. Can you reel them in to 50 yards, or do they always run big?

nikegundog wrote:Carla, what's a typical range and retrieving ability of a vizsla. Can you reel them in to 50 yards, or do they always run big?

Depends on the lines. There are some closer working lines and some bigger running lines. Just depends on the backgrounds, as you well know.

Gun X in hand....very nice.

Got my Gun X from Dogs Afield yesterday and discovered it did not have a lanyard. I called the Gun X office and spoke to a very customer service oriented guy who told me if I would send him the pistol, he would install the lanyard for $25.00 and would pay the shipping to get it back to me. I didn't know you could even buy the pistol without something as important as a lanyard ring but the GunX people made me happy.
David

You'd like to think that for $200 bones...they'd ALL have the lanyard ring.

See my previous posts. You have to be careful when buying the GunX from other non-GunX sources. However, the GunX guys is awesome to deal with.

Buckeye_V wrote:See my previous posts. You have to be careful when buying the GunX from other non-GunX sources. However, the GunX guys is awesome to deal with.

The lanyard is $25 xtra on the gunx site as well....you choose...with or without....it's not as if dogsafield was misleading in any way(?)

The lanyard should be included for the price.

Dogs Afield had the GUNX before anyone else had them available to the public.I ordered mine before they were even available & had to wait about a month.$189 total warranty & Shipping free & the lanyard ring was $20 extra at the time.

nikegundog wrote:I found a used NEF six shot, 22 cal., any opinions? What would be a fair price?

I don't know if this will help you out but I paid $80 for a new 22 cal. NEF about fifteen years ago. Also saw a used one at a gun show selling for $120 last year which I am now kicking myself for not buying it.

I have been using 22 cal. stud loads for years without any problems and they come in a variety of strengths/loudnesses. I buy mine at a local Farm & Fleet store and cost around $3 for a box of 100.

When I ordered Dogs Afield never offered the lanyard version.

I can't believe that folks are complaining about the best blank gun ever built at $225. We are the same guys who plunk down $5-600 for a GPS devise to find our dogs (or so we won't get lost), pay $40K for a new truck, etc. and this guy is asking a fair price for piece of engineering that is better than anything currently or ever on the market. Yes, better than the NEF. The cylinder cannot be lost in the field becuase of a dropped pin.

Anyhow, y'all can quibble about the samll stuff. I'll continue to love mine.

Buckeye_V wrote:When I ordered Dogs Afield never offered the lanyard version.

I can't believe that folks are complaining about the best blank gun ever built at $225. We are the same guys who plunk down $5-600 for a GPS devise to find our dogs (or so we won't get lost), pay $40K for a new truck, etc. and this guy is asking a fair price for piece of engineering that is better than anything currently or ever on the market. Yes, better than the NEF. The cylinder cannot be lost in the field becuase of a dropped pin.

Anyhow, y'all can quibble about the samll stuff. I'll continue to love mine.

Considering every other starting pistol in that price range has one, I would expect it. It just seems like an awfully basic feature to have left off. It's like buying a 50K car and finding out it doesn't have cruise control. Sure, you can live without it and it's not a huge deal, but at that price, you shouldn't have to.