Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by S. Bourgeois : Loving this stapler!

I bought this stapler to replace a PowerShot - the kind with the forward motion stapling action. I did not care at all for the supposedly more efficient backwards configuration of the PowerShot. It felt awkward and unnatural, and I often ended up using both hands to fire the thing! So I opted to go back to the traditional design that allows you to press down with the palm of you hand like this one.

It feels well made in the hand, and has worked exceptionally well in the few household jobs for which I've used it so far. I like the high/low setting that allows you to power through hard wood, but also use it on lighter materials without destroying them. The low setting also allows you to drive staples only about halfway into wood. Using this setting along with the cable guide (a small flip down guide that positions cables between the staple points) makes it perfect for tacking up cables and wires without pinching or penetrating them. This was something that required a fair amount of finesse with my earlier staple guns, and I would invariably end up driving one side of the staple through the wire at least once! The built in wire guide is a great feature that pretty much ends this problem, and is one I didn't expect.

Contrary to an earlier review, I had no problem finding staples and brads for this gun at my local department store. Stanley and Arrow both make "ammo" for this stapler, and it uses fairly common sizes. I kind of expected it to have some starter staples included which it did not, but this wasn't a big deal for me since I could pick some up right up the road.

So far I'm happy with the purchase and have no complaints yet.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by D. Africk "I disapprove of what you say, but ... : Reliable, lightweight, easy reloading

I use this at work for stapling insulation, plastic sheeting, radiant barriers, etc., and have used thousands of staples with it. I only recall one jam ever, which was easy to clear. This stapler is also lightweight and very quick and easy to reload. Like any stapler I've used it takes a lot of force to squeeze the handle, and after stapling all day my hand does get tired, but this one seems easier to use than others. The construction feels very solid and it seems very durable. I highly recommend this if you want a reliable, lightweight, and easy to load stapler.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by Charles Dobson : Heavy Duty Stapler

I've used it on two projects using a total of about 150 staples. When using half inch staples into poplar wood they didn't always go all the way in. However when I adjusted the strength of the pull I had no problem (see lever at back of stapler. This is a cool feature.) I used five sixteenth staples on my second project and had no problems using the low setting. I had no problems with jamming on either project. I gave it four stars for now as I've only used it on two projects and can't speak to durability.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by P. Elliott : IMHO: Underated By Reviews

I've had my Sharp Shooter Plus for a short time but after more than 2000 staples it has not jammed. If you use the manufacture recommended staples and brads you may not have a jamming problem. The manufacture recommends Stanley TRA 700 series or Arrow T50 staples.

You can easily adjust the force of the brad nailer/staple gun with high/low adjustments. It also accomodates brads

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by Sunny California "SunnyCal" : Pretty Good at the price point.

I used it to staple some upholstry and it worked great. I would recommend this product.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by Trishicat "Trish" : Does the job

I bought this staple gun to reupholster a couple of kitchen stools. Pros: the staple gun never jammed and did not hurt my hand while using it. Cons: The staples never seemed to go far enough into the wood and I had to use a hammer to bang many of the staples in further. But for the price, I am happy with my purchase.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by Avid Reader : Smooth reliable operation

This stapler is well-designed and well-constructed. All hand contact areas are covered with black rubber material for comfortable use. The stapler's operation is smooth, and the handle is a "low stroke" design which reduces hand fatigue. I found it easy to pull, and was able to fire the stapler by squeezing using just two fingers. The stapler's body is made of "Aircraft Aluminum", so it is strong but lighter than the classic steel-bodied stapler.

Near the front of the stapler there is a "staple size / reload" window, which lets you see what size staples are currently loaded (1/4", 3/8", 1/2" or 6mm, 10mm, 14mm) and whether the stapler is almost empty.

At the front of the stapler there is a thumb wheel which flips the wire guide "cable tracker" down, or up and out of sight. This is a U-shaped piece of metal that protrudes about 1/8" downward from the front of the stapler. It is useful when stapling wires or cables. It shows where the staple's points will emerge (so you don't pierce the wire), and it keeps the front of the stapler from crushing the wire.

At the base of the stapler's handle there is a simple wire handle lock. Squeeze the handle closed, and then engage the handle lock. This is useful for storage, especially if you want to return the stapler to its original hard-plastic packaging.

At the rear of the stapler there is a switch to control the "High-Low Power" feature. You'll need to experiment to determine which setting is best.

I used this stapler for a challenging upholstery project. It smoothly drove 100+ staples into hard oak, without a single jam. I used Stanley-brand staples TRA04T 1/4-inch and TRA06T 3/8-inch; this stapler can also use Arrow-brand staples.

If you are stapling into hardwood, and the staple isn't going all the way in, it might be the fault of the staples rather than the stapler! Consider what size staple you are using. If you are stapling through one layer of thin material, then you should be using 1/4-inch staples, not 3/8-inch staples. In this situation, a 3/8-inch staple won't drive completely into the hard wood and its legs will buckle instead. But a 1/4-inch staple is relatively stiffer and will drive perfectly. If you are stapling through two layers of thicker material, then 3/8-inch staples are the better choice. Staples are inexpensive (but see below), so buy a variety of sizes and experiment to determine which size is best for your project.

If the staple is not quite all the way in, you can finish it off by tapping it with a hammer. But observe carefully -- if the staple is protruding a lot, its legs will buckle and the hammer will flatten the staple rather than driving it. In this case you'll need to remove and redo this staple. A staple remover comes in handy.

One note of caution -- staples are available for purchase here, but as of this writing they are available only from third-party sellers, so their shipping will exceed the price of the staples themselves.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by John Crossett "JoJo Monkey" : Great stapler and brad nailer

This is a solid entry level staple/brad nail gun. It is easy to use and great for the toolbox or around the house.

I used it to weatherproof my windows with plastic and trim board, this gun went through the trim board with brad nails with no problem in the high setting.

It was easy to handle, easy to load and easy to squeeze the handle. Overall I am pleased with this staple gun.

I would recommend this product to others.

Stanley TR250 SharpShooter Plus Heavy Duty Staple/Brad Nail Gun
Review by Aurora V.2 : Great value

I needed a cheap staple gun for one project - recovering some cat scratching posts. This worked great. It took some strength to squeeze the trigger, but my daddy taught me to be tough. :O)