Published in 
 The Retriever Journal
Aug./Sept  2011

Guns & Ammo

written by Butch Goodwin
       of                     

Northern Flight Retrievers  

Fact is, you simply can't train any breed of gun dog for field work without the sound of gunfire throughout the duration of his training. 

  Most novice trainers begin training their first dog with a .22 pistol that they probably have lying around the house. They run down to the local sporting goods store, buy a box of .22 blanks, and bang away. This is a very dangerous practice. A dog or a person can very easily be killed by a real gun even when loaded with blanks - not to mention that live ammunition could be mistakenly loaded into a real gun, making them especially dangerous. It is very easy to unknowingly point a .22 pistol at a dog sitting at your side or another trainer standing beside you when concentrating on your dog. I'm sure that most readers remember Bruce Lee, whose son was one of several actors killed on movie sets by accidents with real guns loaded with blanks. Don't do it! 

  Blank pistols are built to fire only blanks or shotgun primers. They have 
a solid piece of metal stock for a barrel, and a shortened cylinder to discourage the possibility of loading and firing live ammunition. The safest of the blank pistols are those designed to fire only #209 shotgun primers. And because the primers are a totally different diameter than .22 blanks, the .22 blanks won't load into the cylinder. But beware: Just like full-power .22 blanks, #209 primers are very loud, and - as with all blanks - the concussion and powder residue has to exit somewhere. Think about where the gun is pointing before you pull the trigger. 

When I contacted my friend Steve Snell, who owns Gun Dog Supply in Starkville, Mississippi to ask which models of blank pistols he sells the most, he asked if I would be sure to mention that the use and\or possession of blank pistols (also often called "starter pistols") and blanks may be prohibited or restricted in some jurisdictions and could possibly fall under the same regulations as real guns. Steve says that buyers should check with their local authorities prior to ordering any blank pistols or blank ammunition. 

  Steve pointed out that .22 blanks are available in three different volumes of "loudness," starting with the little "acorn" crimped blanks that are best for acclimating young pups to gunfire. Next, the smokeless crimped blanks, which are somewhat louder and designed for training older dogs that are already familiar with gunfire. The loudest are the .22 short, black powder blanks, which are suitable only for training experienced dogs or shooting at longer distances. (A note: The black powder blanks cause guns to foul and corrode pretty significantly and require more frequent cleaning to keep the gun functioning correctly.) He also suggested that even though #209 shotgun primers are definitely the most economical, they are quite loud and caution should be used when shooting them - especially around young dogs. Stick to the moderate acorn .22 blanks shot in a blank pistol for starting pups. 

  On the subject of guns, Steve said that there are many good blank pistols available that won't clean out your wallet - some as inexpensive as $25. But, as with anything, you get what you pay for. If you are going to train seriously and want something that will last with consistent use, the Viper blank pistol is a good one for the money; and the Alfa, which is available in a model that shoots .22 blanks and also a model that shoots #209 primers, is just about unbeatable. Steve also said that he doesn't sell them yet, but the GunX brand that can be found online shoots #209 primers and is built on the venerable Charter Arms frame. 

  He also suggested taking a look at something new from Zinger Winger the manufacturer of "wingers" bumpers and bird launchers. Zinger Winger has a new "device" called a 209 Pocket Shot. It doesn't look like a gun. In fact, it's made out of nylon material and looks more like a duck call. A #209 primer is loaded into it and a knob pulled back and released to fire a shot. Though they haven't started releasing them to dealers yet, Zinger Winger has it on their website for sale, and it is not real expensive. You might go to their website and take a look at their video of it in action. 

Guns and ammo used in training aren't limited to blank pistols. For long distance shots associated with marking training, or for acclimating a dog to shooting close or "over" his head, as in duck or upland hunting, it's necessary to use a shotgun. The only shotgun blanks available for many years were Winchester Field Trial Poppers, which are loud! And, most sporting goods store clerks looked at you like a deer in the headlights when you asked for shotgun blanks. 

  Recently, some manufacturers have begun developing shotgun blanks that are built specifically with the dog trainer in mind, and are not ear­shattering when fired. Steve Snell suggested the Fiocchi Primer Poppers for shooting anywhere close to a dog, because they are simply primed hulls (shotgun shells with a primer -like the #209 primer for shooting in the blank pistols - but with no additional powder or wadding); or the Days End Pro Pop Blanks, which also are a primed hull with no additional powder or wadding. He suggests using the Fiocchi Shotgun Blanks for shooting at a farther distance from the dog. 

The Alpha 209 pistol for shooting 209 primers - arguably  the best blank pistol on the market. 12-gauge field trial poppers (very loud) and my over-under, dedicated to training. You may consider marking a training-only gun in some fashion so that it's clear that only poppers are to be used.

  Again, Steve was quick to mention that all of these shotgun blanks can be very dangerous. They are being used in a real shotgun, and the concussion and/or wadding travels down the barrel is concentrated wherever the barrel is pointed, So, this leads into the topic of which shotguns are best for dog training. 

  To1 my knowledge, there are no "blank" shotguns, meaning there are no "inert" shotguns that are specifically designed to handle only shotgun blanks. All shotguns used in the field for shooting blanks are real guns, so additional care in handling them is in order. 

  I have always been very concerned about having any live ammunition or real guns of any kind around while I am training, and I am extremely cautious about who shoots live birds for me. But if a dog is going to be trained correctly, it is necessary to shoot shotgun blanks and to shoot live birds. The only way to accomplish all of this is with a real shotgun. 

  Most trainers have their own shotguns for helpers to use that are simple to operate even if the helper isn't a particularly knowledgeable gunner. If you are going to invest in a shotgun for training, forget the semi-autos: A break-open model is the safest whether shooting live ammunition or blanks because, obviously, when the gun's action is broken open, it can't be fired. Unless I am very familiar with and trust the shooter, I prefer that anyone shooting at a training session leave their semi-automatics and even their pump shotguns at home. 

  For training, it is probably smartest to invest in an inexpensive, simple to operate, 12-gauge single-shot. Most poppers and blanks are available only in 12-gauge. If you bought the shotgun 
specifically for training, you might even consider spraying the butt stock 
with orange paint. That way, everyone will know that this is the gun you  expect them to use. Along the same lines, you lessen your chances of setting it down in a field someplace and not being able to find it! 

One more thing as long as we're talking about shooting in training: Don't neglect your ears or your dog's ears. I am deaf to some sounds such as higher-pitched female voices (of course, I guess you could make a good argument as to whether that is really all that bad!), because when I was young, I thought I was pretty much bulletproof. I never wore hearing protection and now I am paying for it. If you're like me and don't particularly like wearing the big earmuffs because they get in the way, stop at the gun counter the next time you are in a sporting goods store and buy a handful of foam earplugs. Keep them handy with your whistles and training gear - you won't regret it - and down the road a ways, you will be happy to hear your grandkids when they talk to you. 

  Also be aware of your dog's hearing. When you shoot anywhere near him, make sure that he is well behind the cone of the muzzle blast from the gun (by the way, the blast from most blank pistols generally comes out the sides 
of the gun). One of my old Chesapeakes many years back was just about as deaf as a post at 12 years old. He picked up birds all over the U.S. and Canada and ran field trials and hunt tests when he was younger. His hearing paid the price. His body still functioned pretty acceptably, but he simply couldn't hear someone standing behind calling him or the high pitch of a whistle anymore .