The 9 mm RK Alternative Starters Is

The 9 mm RK Alternative Starters – Is the unavailability and poor & inconsistent quality of Winchester. 22 black powder blanks got you down? Read On!

The 9 mm RK alternative • 3 years ago, Winchester. 22 caliber short blanks became VERY scarce, and the price for them doubled. • Winchester made a new production lot of these blanks two years ago, outsourcing the production to many different places and only manufacturing 25% of the amount of this product that had been made previously. • Since. 22 caliber blanks could no longer be exported either to Canada or Mexico due to their handgun restrictions of that size ammunition, Winchester made a business decision to cut dramatically the volume of production. • They focused their marketing of this item to dog trainers and did not really care about Track & Field starters’ need. • This was terrible timing for T&F starters when. 32 caliber shells were being priced at over $50 a box!

The 9 mm RK alternative • In my experience starting at track events in Europe, I luckily became familiar with using 9 mm starter’s revolvers. I was lucky to use several brands, and also discovered that the price of the blanks was incredibly reasonable at $15 -$16 USD compared to the $50 USD that they were getting for. 32 caliber blanks here in the USA. • At that point (2012), I vowed I would investigate obtaining both a 9 mm starter’s revolver as well as blank cartridges if they were available to me here in the US. • I have friends who are active in Western “reenactments” in Arizona and when I queried them they told me that their Colt. 45 replica revolvers were actually. 380 (9 mm) revolvers using 9 mm RK (also called. 380 short rimmed revolver) crimped blanks that had lots of flash and smoke. • In April of 2012 I purchased two 9 mm “replica” pistols and 500 rounds (10 boxes) of Umarex 9 mm blanks at $14 per box. I used both the entire outdoor season when I was not using the last of my “stash” of. 22 blanks

The 9 mm RK alternative • Well, we all know that during the next four years the price of. 22 blanks doubled – IF YOU COULD FIND A SOURCE FOR THEM! • People were trying all kinds of alternatives – nail gun blanks, . 22 long blanks, noise blanks, 6 mm acorn crimps, etc. Inevitably there were problems like “not loud enough”, “no smoke for hand timers”, “the spent shells jam up the cylinder in my gun!”, etc. • Me? I just bought more 9 mm blanks and had no issues. • I actually bought a third 9 mm blank revolver and actually used it at the state meet in Vestal.

2015 – 2017 Indoor Seasons “Was that a. 22 blank you fired? Or was it just the dog farting? ”

The 9 mm RK alternative • 2015 -- The new “batch” of Winchester. 22 black powder blanks were now finally available! • They were in a new package and featured on that package was the word “TRAINING” to show that these were designed to be the best possible blanks to use when training your dog to be the ultimate “bird dog” come the hunting season! • Track & Field starters were so relieved! – UNTIL: • “On Your Marks”. “Set”, -- pooooof! • And it kept happening. – Again, and again!! • It was frustrating to the Starters, the athletes, and to timers (both FAT and hand timers)

The 9 mm RK alternative • So – I used a 9 mm indoors to make sure the starts were heard and that FAT picked up the signal • It was louder than the old 22’s, but not all that much louder. So I started experimenting with different blank ammo brands to see if we could get an optimum “bang for the buck” and like the 22’s of the old days be usable both indoors and out. • This (2016 -17) season the. 22 that Winchester packaged seem to be even worse and are creating real issues. • People are asking me about the 9 mm RK alternative – about where they can get the ammo the pistols, etc. • SO – here’s what I know that might help you decide on this

Starter Pistols in 9 mm RK Varieties, brands, etc.

Here are some the “brands” you will find if you search online • • Viper (Austria) Kimar (Italy – manufactured by Ciappa Firearms) Olympia (Italy) Zoraki (Turkey – manufactured by Atak Arms, Ltd) Stalker (the same pistol as Zoraki, but “top firing” rather than “front firing”) RG (Germany) Bruni (Italy) Umarex / Walther (Germany)

My Experience • I have used Umarex, Kimar, Zoraki, RG, Viper, and the Stalker brands • Folks who have used these brands have rated them as well. • Umarex had a wonderful Smith & Wesson replica pistol that was very sturdy, but they have discontinued production • Kimar”s “Competitive” front firing pistol works, but it has a tough trigger pull and needs constant cleaning to have the cylinder turn freely when cocking in single action. • The feedback on “Viper” pistols is that it is difficult to get spent blanks out of the cylinder and that they are prone to “sticking” when they should be fluid

My Experience (continued) • My Umarex still works after 4 years, but I keep it for use in championship events only • I have two Zoraki R 1 “front firing” pistols that are very sturdy, reliable, easy to keep clean, and have yet to fail me • I have another “Stalker” R 1 pistol as well. It is the same gun as the Zoraki, but the report emits from the top of the barrel, rather than the front of the barrel. • Both the Zoraki R 1 and the Stalker R 1 come in several metallic finishes and are very reasonably priced.

Stalker R 1 (top) & Zoraki R 1 (bottom) – both 2. 5” barrel. Built on a Smith & Wesson frame style and mechanics. Fiocchi blanks ($15) and Max Tech ($15. 75) banks in boxes of 50 rounds in each box.

The “Stalker” R 1 – This is a “TOP-firing” pistol where the escaping report comes out of a hole on the top of the barrel, just like the popular “Alfa Sport”. 22 caliber starter pistols that have been around a few years.

This is the hole where the report of flash & gasses escapes on the top of the barrel. “Top firing” pistols will always have a louder report because of the small hole the gasses are escaping from, Wear good ear protection!

The Zoraki R 1 is what is commonly called an “alarm gun” or “gas gun” in Europe. It actually comes with a screw-in attachment for firing flares. The report is sent through a venting system in the barrel and comes out the front of the barrel as it would were it an actual pistol. Thus, a “front-firing” blank pistol.

If you look in the cylinder, you can see that the size of the hole on the opposite end is diminished significantly so that no “live” ammunition of any sort would fit. It is designed to just leave enough space for the crimped end of the blank shell can expand upon being activated. The emitted gasses are shot into the venting tubes of the barrel.

In the “front-firing” blank pistol, the report escapes at the tip of the vented barrel. Note that the holes on the cylinder are smaller than the barrel size. Live ammunition will not work in the pistol – only 9 mm RK (. 380 rimmed revolver) crimped short blanks will fit.

Inside the barrel are a series of pins to help vent the gasses as well as to make it difficult to fire any other possible projectiles. The end of the barrel is threaded for the use of a flare launching attachment.

This is a Kimar “Competitive” front-firing 9 mm RK pistol. It looks shiny & works all right, but it only takes 5 rounds, has a very tough trigger pull, and gets dirty quickly.

Where do I get these pistols? How do I find the blank ammo?

sharpimport. com • You can order online or over the phone • They are nearby in Bucks County, PA, so delivery is pretty quick • Click on “Blank Firing Guns” and scroll down to click on “Blank Firing Revolvers” • The Zoraki R 1 comes in a variety of finishes and the most expensive is $86. 25 and the least expensive the basic black at $77. 50 • The “Stalker” R 1 has the same finish varieties priced between $72. 50 and $79. 95

Blanks for these pistols • • The blank cartridges MUST be for revolvers only! It is called 9 mm RK It is also sometimes called “. 380 short rimmed revolver” DO NOT buy 9 mm PAK or Luger – they will only fit in semi-automatic clips and will not fit in revolvers!! • Do not just ask for 9 mm or. 380 without specifying for a revolver because they will sell you blanks that will only fit in a semi-auto magazine.

These are what the blank cartridges look like. Sometimes they come in cylinder boxes like these made by MAXXTech in Bosnia-Herzogovina. Some manufacturers put them in cardboard boxes. MAXXTech shells have some magnesium in their formula and the flash is significantly bright. MAXXTech are sold at sharpimport. com for $15. 49 per box of 50

Another brand you will find widely available on-line are Walther. They come in plastic disk containers of 50 rounds per disk. There is not much smoke in these, but there is a significant flash and the report is very loud – especially when fired in a “top-firing” starters pistol. Price ranges seen on line: $14 -$22 for a disk of 50.

FIOCCHI blanks are made in Italy. These are a favorite of Western/Civil War reenactment folks because they contain pyrodex in their formula and create a good flame flash along with a trail of smoke. It is ideal for when you have a crew of hand timers. The report is not as harsh as with some of the others and is easier on your ears. Available at ableammo. com, cheaperthandirt. com, and atlanticwallblanks. com I have seen them as low as $14/box (50 rounds) and as high as $20/box

I Hope this helps!