Picking Gun Trouble

[SeCToR9]

Hi everyone,

When I first started picking, I did the right thing and bought a simple 5 piece pick set from southord, and I practiced, practiced, and practiced. I was able to open many different master padlocks, and even my shilage deadbolt on my front door.

After practicing for about a month or so, I decided to start looking into pick guns. I was looking for something a little more speedy. I finally purchased a Brockage BPG-10 (Good? Bad?). I practiced with it for a couple days and finally opened my first lock, a Schilage dead bolt. I felt confident that having opened my first lock with it would give me a better feel for it.

WRONG.

Its been four days and not yet have I opened another lock. I cant seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong.

If anyone can give me some strategy or instructions that would be VERY much appriciated.

~THANKS

[Chrispy]

There is a thread about this exact issue somewhere in here. Try searching for 'pick and gun and trouble'. That might bring it up.

Keep your hand still and release tension more often than usual.

[marshall]

hi SeCToR9, i have same pick gun,it took a couple of weeks to get pretty good with.but now opening 5 & 6 pin locks with great success on locks i have at home. try and make sure your pick needle isnt pushed too far into lock (not rubbing or hitting off the sides or back of keyway) as this will take the 'snap' motion from it. try to have your pick horizontal and in line with all pins so your hitting all together,the ammount of pressure i use on tension bar is really only enough to stop it bouncing when the gun strikes(barely touching)and the tension wheel on gun turned up full. you may find it easier to strip lock and start at 3 pins as i did,it really helped me to feel what i needed to be feeling,then added pins 4 & 5 when confidend,take your time and practice,practice,practice it will come to you. here is a guide on re pinning if your not sure about it,Re-pinning a cylinder lock - A guide by illusion(its in FAQs AND GENERAL INFORMATION)
hope this is of some help to you,thanks marshall.

[SeCToR9]

Hey thanks for the post marshall Ill try your advice and tell you how it goes.


Ive also been told that your not supposed to put pressure on the Tension Wrench until like... a half second after you start clicking. is this true?

[Shrub]

The tension isnt too important when excerted but personally i find its easier and more effective if you do it that way, click the gun and at the same time sort of bounce the wrench, the quicker you can do this process one after the other gives you more of a chance opening the lock, click the gun as fast as you can and get used to bouncing the tension wrench in between each click and youll find it suddenly gets in time with more practise and the locks will start opening.

[SeCToR9]

I was also wondering just how many clicks it should take. Like, If I pass a certian number should I just release tension and just start over?




p.s. I really appriciate this. (sorry im a noob to pick guns )

[Shrub]

Well if you are bouncing the tension you are basically letting off the tension every click i think this is the best way to go about it, a constant tension isnt the best thing for a noob but as i say its not greatly important but rather the way you use the gun.

[marshall]

hi SeCToR9,to try to explain a bit better, put pick into keyway before tension bar(you dont want any tension to start),then put in tension bar(put your index finger just above opposite end of bar,maybe just 1mm)give the gun a click,and you'l feel the tension bar 'bounce' up and touch your finger due to the click, now you rest your finger on the tension bar so its touching but with no weight or pressure on it) if you click the gun,you will feel the bar bounce into your finger again like before,but with no gap. if you keep the pressure right just like that when you knock all the pins past the shearline the usual 'bounce' back is a different feel,thats when you would give a bit of pressure on the tension bar to turn. you can try more or less tension with every strike to find what feels right for you,its hard to explain but once you know what your feeling for its much easier, if you have the lock in a vice,if you watch when the pick is striking the pins you may even see the lock turn a little as pins are set. if you have no luck after a few strikes,it may help to remove pick,and wiggle tension bar side to side in lock(to reset any pins that might be binding) and start again,hopefully this will help,marshall

[SeCToR9]

Thanks marshal, I just picked a Weiser dead bolt (Though I cant seem to get it again) but it will come with practice.

[Mr. Lock Pick]

well put lockpicking aside for a day or 2 then go back to it. it helps me/

[CVScam]

I have only played with a picking gun a few times but on two of the locks the cylinder was a LOT harder to turn, am I damaging the pins or the cylinder using a pick gun?

[marshall]

hi CVScam,i have noticed that different locks harder/easier to turn,but i think this is more to do with the fit of the barrel in the lock,not you, and yes i would say that repeated striking with the pick gun(especially with us newbies learning and giving the pins a real battering)does damage the pins and the keyway,which is why it would be better to have locks purely for practice,and it wont matter if they get damaged or broken. when you learn how to use the gun properly,i dont think it would damage or harm any lock that you had to open(not for fun,but maybe at a job or call out)as it should only be a click or 2 to open,hope this helps,marshall.

[SeCToR9]

HAHA! I just picked my first Yale dead bolt! I got it preety quick, too (maybe 7 clicks) Thanks alot guys, especially you, marshall

[marshall]

thanks SeCToR9,glad to help,if your ever stuck with anything,SOMEONE here will know the answers. have a good one,marshall.