FAQ’s
Q: Who is Sure Start Starting Blanks?
A: Sure Start starting blanks is a one man company committed to providing exceptional quality starting blanks at a reasonable price.
Q: When did Sure Start Starting Blanks begin?
A: Officially not until Spring 2024. But the founder, Terry Straub, spent a decade of research and informal surveys of colleagues (Athletic Directors), Track Officials and Track Coaches. But it wasn’t until a Home track meet in 2022 that 6 out of the first 9 blanks were “duds” out of a new box that forged his commitment to do it better.
Q: Who is Sure Start Starting Blanks founder, Terry Straub?
A: A veteran of the elite US Army 2nd / 75th Airborne-Rangers. The experience of heavy weapons in light infantry gave Mr. Straub a wide background of guns and ammunition. Plus, over 20 years as an Activities’ Director (Athletic Director plus Cheerleading, Band, Indoor Ensembles, etc.) flamed his passion of helping young people develop towards becoming responsible, young adults.
Q: Why Sure Start Starting Blanks and Track & Field?
A: Understanding Terry Straub’s passion and strong believe that extra-curricular activities can and should be an extension of the classroom. What better activity that reaches a wide range of Student-Athletes’ abilities and interest for both Boys and Girls than – Track & Field.
Q: Why Sure Start Starting Blanks to the rescue?
A: It appears that 10 years or more ago, national manufacturers began eliminating production (for whatever reasons) of the traditional .32 starting blank. Therefore, creating a shortage of starting blanks and if you could find them, a cost of over $100 per box of 50.
Q: Is Sure Start Start Blanks a simple solution?
A: Finding .32 casings, once fired are not available in significant quantity. The most common pistol casing available for re-loading is 9mm (.38). Now, find a 9mm revolver made in the United States. It didn’t exist. Out of necessity, I found a .380 revolver made by Bruna Bruni, Milan (Italy). Plus, the added benefit was that it’s ORANGE. A great asset to safety concerns on school campuses and community facilities.
Q: Where are Sure Start Starting Blanks made?
A: Sure Start starting blanks’ components are sourced throughout the US. The once-fired, cleaned and polished brass comes from the low humidity of the desert West. Primers come from the BADLANDS of South Dakota. I doubt any commercial manufacturer still uses black powder. Rather black powder “substitute” which is a lot more stable and safer. We obtain our powder from the Great Plains in Kansas.
Q: How does Sure Start Starting Blanks provide “more SMOKE, bigger BANG”?
A: The slightly larger casing than the .32 and the ‘crimp’ closure allows for more powder. But don’t just trust me, see for yourself. This video clearly shows more SMOKE and the decibel meter proves a bigger BANG.
Q: Why does Sure Start Starting Blanks use “moon clips”?
A: The once-fired casings used to create Sure Start starting blanks are ACP (rimless casings). Without the moon clips the blanks would move to far into the cylinder and would not fire. Our moon clip is proprietary to Sure Start made exclusively for the Bruni blank revolver.
Q: Are Sure Start Starting Blanks “moon clips” easy to load/unload?
A: Moon clips are 2-3 times quicker to load / unload than the traditional .32. In the demonstration video, our senior official with arthritis shows how easy it is to load a moon clip, then load the starter’s pistol. He did this for the first time without practice.
I would encourage you to purchase 10 additional moon clips (5 for $20). This way you can pre-load 15 (5 from your initial purchase) moon clips in your office where it is warm and dry. Then, take the loaded clips to your track meet. Each stainless steel moon clip should last over 100 uses (the most we have tested).
The revolver’s “extraction pin” will remove the moon clip and all 5 blanks at one time. To remove the spent blanks from the moon clip, I use a “thumb screwdriver” – what else can it be used for.
Q: Why does Sure Start Starting Blanks not use .380 revolver casings?
A: The same reason why we choose not to use .32 to re-load – simply the unavailability of used casings.
Q: How can Sure Start offer such high-quality starting blanks so inexpensively?
A: Sure Start Blanks made the long-term commitment to make blanks using the most up to date automated re-loading equipment. Sure Start uses two new Dillon Presses each fitted with Dillon Automation DA3000 control unit. Process can produce 2,000 blanks per hour.
