Starter pistol question
 

Hi all;
I'm in the market for a new starter pistol for dog training. I currently have in inexpensive one that takes .22 crimped blanks, but it is starting to show a lot of wear. I would like to get another starter pistol, but .22 blanks now are running around $13/100 in my area. I was thinking about getting one of those starter pistols that shoot 209 shotshell primers (I reload, so I usually have a bunch on hand) instead. Can anyone tell me if the report of a 209 primer in one of these pistols is similar to that of a .22 blank? Thanks in advance....

I think the 209 primer 'pistol' would be fine, judging from the report when I fired 209s only in the M-L. I would think you would also want to ease the dog into gunfire anyway so a little softer would be the way to go. I had to start with a pellet gun on my previous lab. I use blanks in a Ruger sp 101 22 now if needed.