Bump Keys or Pick Gun

[jpapos]

HI Everyone,

I am trying to decide between sparrow bump keys or a sparrow pick gun. If you had to choose one which would you buy? A friend of mine has some apartments and when they move in sometimes they change the locks. When they leave they sometimes don't give back the keys. This happened once and he had to call a lock smith. I

figured next time we could use either a bump key or pick gun to open the door. I also plan on learning to pick but until then this might be a good idea.

Thanks J

[capt.dunc]

not used the sparrows kit, but either way both tools/techniques require practice and your location and types of locks will be an important consideration

[spandexwarrior]

If your friend owns the apartments, maybe he should just keep a copy of the key like every other landlord on the planet.

-Brian

[rontgens]

I'd just drill the locks as they need replacing anyway if the tenants have changed them and kept the only working keys. Yes you could gain access by picking or bumping but why use a non destructive method if you need to change the locks.

Bump keys or snap gun...I'd choose neither, sorry if that sounds douchebaggery but your last suggestion that you want to learn how to pick sounds like a better/cheaper option and will learn you how to pick more locks and hopefully gain you a hobby that will get you hooked more than bump keys or a pick gun will.

I'd get a small set of maybe 5 commonly used picks similar to this set http://www.southord.com/Lock-Picking-To ... S-05L.html or this http://www.sparrowslockpicks.com/kick_start_p/s-0.htm

Or you could try making your own picks, many threads on here show you how and you can make some really cheap.

[Warbs87]

I have both and use the pick gun for anything weiser/kwikset but cant get it to work for anything schlage. The bump keys i can open a schlage very quickly but not a weiser. I couldn't go with just 1.

[freshie101]

Bump keys would be a good choice, you can inventorize your bump keys to record down which brand/model of doors they open.

They are easy to use (very user friendly), quick. Which is what you should be looking for.

[jk2k5]

I have also had problems with the guns working on schlage and other industrial dead bolts. I have found the ones I have been successful with I had to hold the gun at a slight angle to get into the key way and actually strike the pins. Everything so far has surrounded around picking vs snap pick guns but how well do the electric guns work compared to the snap type.

[Divinorum]

I have also had problems with the guns working on schlage and other industrial dead bolts. I have found the ones I have been successful with I had to hold the gun at a slight angle to get into the key way and actually strike the pins. Everything so far has surrounded around picking vs snap pick guns but how well do the electric guns work compared to the snap type.

I personally have had better results with the snap gun. It could be that I have not had much practice with the electric gun though. The snap gun was easier to pick up on for me. I'm curious what others experiences have been.

[Sublimis]

I personally like bumping locks, The only draw back is you need a bump key for every lock you want open. With a snap gun you do not.

[critmass235]

i like homemade snappers(after seeing ray's). when i was buy some used locks at a shop , my snapper worked just as quick his pickgun .i made mine from windshield wipers. its a cheaper way to try it out first. see what works best for you

[mat22420]

pick guns better by far bump keys suck tryed them failed and picking easyer

[deralian]

I made a snapper and had minimal luck with it. A friend of mine has an hpc manual pick gun, didn't have any luck using it. I know any kind of lock opening requires practice but I was very surprised I couldn't open a single lock with the pick gun. I had more success bumping locks than using a gun. So it really all depends on the person

[billdeserthills]

I made a snapper and had minimal luck with it. A friend of mine has an hpc manual pick gun, didn't have any luck using it. I know any kind of lock opening requires practice but I was very surprised I couldn't open a single lock with the pick gun. I had more success bumping locks than using a gun. So it really all depends on the person

Pick gun only works when you hit every pin at the same time, the practice involves holding your wrist at the proper angle to ensure this is happening.
Lots of times I'll click my pick gun a few times and then use a diamond or a hook and just run it in the lock & then it'll open

[jaytongret]

I just picked up sparrows pick gun I am pleased with it as an option for my tool kit, I also work as a lockout specialist. I will be adding bypass tools and bump keys to my set as well. I just felt that the pick gun would be more useful overall, my pick bag has a sparrows comp pick set, wd40, pick gun and a plug spinner at the moment.