just received a Brockhage BPG-10 pick gun

[Squelchtone]

I just received a Brockhage BPG-10 pick gun it seems to be well made and has a lifetime warranty. It opened four out of five locks I put it to excluding the Chinese Tru-Bolt 1 1/2 that at this very moment sits on my kitchen table sneering at me and which will meet her emanate demise Monday when my sparrows master switch picks arrive. All said I am very impressed so far with the gun only having it a couple days is not a competent review though so I will save that for another time. I really just wanted to share some observations with the brethren in regards to my new acquisition.Ok feature this fellas I was going hard on a lock that the pick gun had opened with ease a few times before well I couldn't get it opened now. So I try to pick it sure its super simple to spp easier then before it was assaulted with the gun. I notice that there is almost no tension or very little tension in the springs. I gut the lock and the springs are smashed to one third the size of the normal size. This is bad very bad or is it? If I were a locksmith in the field this could be good very good. First of all on a hard lock with strong springs or a seized pin the lock gun could open the lock but even if it fails you could have compressed the springs to where its an easy rake or spp. In summing up I think smashing springs is a better alternative to drilling the core but I wouldn't go hard on a lock with a gun unless you have extra springs or you are prepared to change out a clients springs in the field. What appears to be a liability at first glance (smashed Springs) could actually be an asset when applied to the correct situation
That's all I got brothers peace

[Squelchtone]

[EDIT moved from Ask Beginner Hobby Lockpicking Questions Here to Lock Pick Guns. also, please try to break up the wall of text into some paragraphs, it's otherwise difficult to read -Squelchtone]

[deolslyfox]

Pick guns, snappers and even manual picking can potentially damage a lock. There is a "general admonishment" to "never pick a lock you are going to use".

I just about killed the springs on an old Master #3 while learning overlifting.

By the time I was done you could shake the lock and hear the pins rattle. But that might be normal for Master locks. .

Set the tension as light as you can and still get results. That will help reduce damage. (If your gun has a tension adjustment).

Let us know how you like it after you've run it awhile. Thanks.

[rs4ever]

I have a chinese Pick gun that has the same profile as this and the Southord version.

It works, and I am able to open quite a few locks and all my locks at my house. Problem is that the screws tend to fall out quite a bit.
If I tighten the screws too much the pick will not snap, too loose it'll come out.

Will this be a better buy?

How would this compare to the Southord version? Southord has a 30% 7/4 sale till the end of the month.. so it's a significant savings over the Brockhage version.

[billdeserthills]

I have a chinese Pick gun that has the same profile as this and the Southord version.

It works, and I am able to open quite a few locks and all my locks at my house. Problem is that the screws tend to fall out quite a bit.
If I tighten the screws too much the pick will not snap, too loose it'll come out.

Will this be a better buy?

How would this compare to the Southord version? Southord has a 30% 7/4 sale till the end of the month.. so it's a significant savings over the Brockhage version.

Why not spend $4 on a tube of blue locktite? It sounds like you already know which screws need to be tightened and such

[rs4ever]

I have a chinese Pick gun that has the same profile as this and the Southord version.

It works, and I am able to open quite a few locks and all my locks at my house. Problem is that the screws tend to fall out quite a bit.
If I tighten the screws too much the pick will not snap, too loose it'll come out.

Will this be a better buy?

How would this compare to the Southord version? Southord has a 30% 7/4 sale till the end of the month.. so it's a significant savings over the Brockhage version.

Why not spend $4 on a tube of blue locktite? It sounds like you already know which screws need to be tightened and such

Right... lockite will work. I don't really trust the quality of the Chinese version since the tension screw does not stay put, goes all over the place. Probably better off getting something that will not fall apart. I'll probably keep this one as a spare.

Finally picked up the brockhage semi-automatic pick gun! Thanks for your inputs!