Gun Dog Forum

I am looking at buying the cheap $25 one just to use as a training aid for right now. Just curious if any one has had any experience with the one from gun dog supply or lion country supply. Also curious where I could buy a used starters pistol?

Ive got two just in case one messes up.....I'm still using the first one without problem, years now.

They are not nice like the expensive ones but they have worked for me and
I am without complaint.

The main issue with the cheap one's is that they come apart or break in use. Often, the center pin for the cylinder is just screwed in, comes unscrewed, and falls to the ground (where you are not likely to ever find it in the field). One trick is to use a little Loctite on that pin.

Ok thanks for that tip and advice. I am just looking for one to use to train my dog now. If I get another dog later down the road Ill look at buying a better one then if its needed unless this one still works. I did read a few reviews and some stated that they missfire so that has me wondering.

The 25 dollar one i bought from LCS doesn't have a screw in pin its a captured spring and set in the cylinder...just pull the pin(spring loaded) and cylinder swings out.

Ive not had a misfire issue, I just pull the hammer back as i walk in to flush and it always goes off, misfires start when I forget to reload

I bought 4 cheap $65 pistols in 2 years. I bought the $165 one, and I have been using it for 4 years. I have probably put no less than a 1000 rounds through it. I know which one I would buy.

I have the cheap one from LCS and it is an effective pistol for the price. It does misfire from time to time, but simply squeeze the trigger again and it will fire the next round. I would recommend this pistol to someone looking for a cheap one. goodluck, sckwest

Years back I bought a cheapie 22 stater pistol and used it to gun condition about four dogs before it broke.
I got a bit more serious about training and bought a Kimar 209 pistol and it lasted about a thousand rounds before the striker plate broke. I bought another Kimar and it also laste in the neighborhjood of 900 - 1000 shots.

If you are just training one dog, I see no reason why a cheapie $25 starter pistol won't do just fine. You will probably spend more in crimps than the pistol cost. Those cotton pickin' things ain't cheap no mo'.

I have a fairly sturdy 22 training pistol and I shoot #2 ramset loads through it.

RayG

I bought a Kilmer about 4 months ago, it start malfunctioning with less than 50 rounds though it. It still works but is a PIA, about every three shots I have to reseat the primers.

FYI ramset loads dont fit the lsc 25 dollar gun.

I bought the gunex 209. It will outlast my need for it and then will likely sell for close to what I paid. You get what you pay for.

I bought one of the cheap $25 starter pistols many years ago, and it misfired on me all the time... sometimes would only fire one or two rounds per cylinder. Then I went to a Champion starter pistol. It fell apart on me after a few months. After that I bought the NEF starter pistols in .22 and .32, and they have lasted me over 12 years each of hard use. They are expensive, but they go bang every time.