Free: Contests & Raffles.
The reason there are so many Ruger upgrades is because they're necessary.
If you like close ranging dogs that you don't have to train much, then by all means, go with a springer. Its pretty easy to put one down and kill lots of birds over them. However, if your like me and are kind of lazy, then get a big running pointing dog. I prefer a dog to do the hunting, not me. I don't like to walk within 30 yards of every piece of cover I can find.
Im not saying there is no training required, but a springers naturaly trait is to flush birds. They do it naturally. A pointer will point naturally as well, but it takes a lot more training to get one to hold a bird. A pointing dog busting birds at 100 yards is a really big problem. A springer busting birds at 30 yards is pure shooting enjoyment. Thats all I was trying to say. Its the exact reason some guys with pointing dogs don't like them to run more then 30-40 yards. An untrained pointing dog will bust lots of birds, its not a problem if they are close ranging dogs and you can shoot over them, but pointing dogs tend to run a lot bigger then flushing and retrieveing dogs. As far as blasting a bird from 15 feet, well thats the nice thing about a good pointing dog. Shots are easier and you don't lose nearly as many birds.