Why not try an Air Pistol?

Eric300 · Mar 22, 2020

6string said:
Amazing! Never had much luck past 30 yards or so.
The world of airguns is getting huge. I see there are even large bore airguns made for hunting, etc.

Jim

I've owned a few different RWS, Beman, Webley Scott, and a few other air rifles of different models/calibers over the years. All break-barrel 'Springers.' From around $400.00 to $1000.00, and none of them were much to speak of in the accuracy department. This Air Arms Pro Sport, however, is amazingly accurate for a 'Springer.' At 10 meters it's just silly. It cost a pretty penny, but, well worth every cent!

dougb1946 · Mar 22, 2020

No reason to ever under rate air guns.

The Girandoni air rifle was in service with the Austrian army from 1780 to around 1815. Many references to the Girandoni air rifles mention lethal combat ranges of 125 to 150 yards and some extend that range considerably. The advantages of a high rate of fire, no smoke from propellants, and low muzzle report granted it acceptance. It did have problems and was eventually removed from service for several reasons decades after introduction. There was also a version sold to civilians after it was removed from military service. While the detachable air reservoir was capable of around 30 shots, it took nearly 1,500 strokes of a hand pump to fill those reservoirs. Later, a wagon-mounted pump was provided. The reservoirs, made from hammered sheet iron held together with rivets and sealed by brazing, proved very difficult to manufacture using the techniques of the period and were always in short supply.

Lewis and Clark carried one and used it to impress the indigenous peoples of an area with its rate of fire and accuracy. probably never mentioned they only had one nor they had to pump it 1500 times to reload.

andyinlz · Mar 22, 2020

This past week's Gun Stories with Joe Mantegna was all about air guns.

Some go back to the 1600s.

Outdoor Channel.

Look for it---very interesting!

Jimmyjones · Mar 22, 2020

Great post!

I was given a Czech .177 target pistol (CVP?) for Christmas when I was 12. That's what I learned open sights on.
Shot it regularly for close to 30 years, then sold it at a yard sale prior to moving to CO

Love to have another, for the reason stated, I can shot it the house!

CH4 · Mar 22, 2020

Cuz there’s nothing like the smell of gun powder on a warm, summer morning.

6string · Mar 22, 2020

Jimmyjones said:
Great post!

I was given a Czech .177 target pistol (CVP?) for Christmas when I was 12. That's what I learned open sights on.
Shot it regularly for close to 30 years, then sold it at a yard sale prior to moving to CO

Love to have another, for the reason stated, I can shot it the house!

My Dad gave me a Crosman air rifle when I was 9 so I could practice smallbore rifle fundamentals at home.
I had a friend whose family escaped from the former Soviet bloc Czechoslovakia. The father was always riding me about what a "piece of junk" (he didn't say "junk", though...) my Crosman was. Finally, he let me try his Czech match grade air rifle, and I understood his point.

Jim

6string · Mar 22, 2020

cmansguns said:
We have always been a shooting family, 9 kids (all grown now) and 13 grandchildren.

Most all grew up with various BB guns.

Currently with all local ranges closed, ammo having literally flown off the shelves, and grandkids all home because local schools are closed...…..we have gone back to shooting airguns (pistol and rifle) in my backyard.

The pistol is a Daisy Powerline 415, shoots 21 .177 cal Steel Airgun shot at 495 fps. it is CO2 powered, and 1, 12 gram cylinder lasts between 4 and 5 reloads (84 to 105 shots). It is a fun gun for all, adults and kids alike. With a box of Daisy 12 gram cylinders, container of 1000 steel shot, a pack of Dirty Bird targets, the pistol itself...I don't have more than $100 in it all, and again even the 10 and 12 year olds like it, once they demonstrate safe gun handling abilities.

I like to crank off several loads too.....keeps one in decent shape when the other options are closed.

The rifle is a Ruger AirHawk, break barrel (spring action), Model 2244001, came with really great open sights, and a Ruger 4 x 32 scope. Shoots .177 cal round nose pellets' (or varmint polymer tipped...more $ but deadly on squirrels) at 1000 fps.

Same deal as the pistol, only my wooden target frame with heavy old cardboard boxes for backer is set back to about 100-125 feet. The rifle does have an audible "crack" similar to a 22 rimfire rifle.

Can't recall exact prices but again probably less than $150 in this whole rig too.

Anyway I'm not even trying for competitive hardware, just out for fun and practice and the above are it for legal choices where I reside.

Question for the OP: What are the materials of your pellet trap?
Is that putty of some kind so you can pick out the lead pellets after shooting? My doubled old cardboard boxes stop most all and they are all over the ground and very few get into the woods and trees behind my fence line, but I was just wondering what your trap is made out of.

Hi Charlie,

Great reply! Lots of great info.

My pellet trap is made of heavy oak, with a high intensity desk light. The backing material is duct seal. It stops the pellets very quickly. They stick right in, with just the skirts sticking out. On the left, attached with a magnet, is a little probe tool which quickly pulls out the pellets, where they pile up at the bottom.
The duct seal is very soft so it also absorbs most of the impact sound.
Jim

series guy · Mar 22, 2020

I bought this old Diana pistol missing the rear sight at a flea market for $40. It's fun for outdoor plinking. Our gun club started an air rifle league about 5 years ago. I got lucky and found a used Diana Model 48 for a good price and enjoyed shooting that for a couple of years. Then I got really lucky and bought a non functional Diana Model 75 from a friend really cheap. I installed new seals and have won our air gun league with it every year since. Air guns are a lot of fun.

tndrfttom · Mar 22, 2020

I had a couple of precision air rifles in the 70s and 80s but none now. I never owned a precision air pistol and just have a Webley now. It will sure build up your wrist strength cocking it!

crsides · Mar 22, 2020

Back when I had no neighbors behind me, the kids and I used to shoot off the back deck. Great fun. Ended up with a HW77 Weihrauch rifle and a FWB 65 pistol. I honestly don't know where they are now. If they have not be fired in 30 yrs, is there some maintenance that needs to be done before firing again?

Thanks for starting this thread Jim.

SentryFe · Mar 23, 2020

Huge air gun fan have had many pcp and spring guns. Pcp guns gave way to suppressed 22lr. But i still have HW97 paul watts tuned, R1 PW tuned, R7 PW tuned.

6string · Mar 23, 2020

crsides said:
Back when I had no neighbors behind me, the kids and I used to shoot off the back deck. Great fun. Ended up with a HW77 Weihrauch rifle and a FWB 65 pistol. I honestly don't know where they are now. If they have not be fired in 30 yrs, is there some maintenance that needs to be done before firing again?

Thanks for starting this thread Jim.

Hi Charlie,
Check them and see if they fire. If not, the usual suspects are the seals. Typically an easy fix.

Jim

andyinlz · Mar 23, 2020

Love My Crosman Mark I Target

Gift from a now-deceased cousin when I was a teenager.

Needs new seals....any recommendations to do the work?

Andyd · Mar 23, 2020

JayFramer said:
I would, but every one I’ve tried (including single stroke pneumatics) are too loud for apartment use.

If you own a home, sure, but it’s not a possibility for apartment people.

The noise is rising with velocity. I lived in a condo and shot my FWB65 at 10 meters and never had anybody noticing it. I also shot an Anschutz 275 repeater there for fun but the Weihrauch HW35E was way too noisy and dented my steel traps.

6string · Mar 23, 2020

andyinlz said:
Gift from a now-deceased cousin when I was a teenager.

Needs new seals....any recommendations to do the work?

There's a guy who works on these, under the website
airgunsmith.com
He also sells a seal kit if you want to do it yourself.
If you look around online, you'll find lots of info on types of seals for airguns. It's not difficult to put together your own set of seals very inexpensively.

If you visit the Crosman website, you can download a manual and parts diagram.

Jim

rkittine · Mar 23, 2020

I have owned K Frame Look-Alike CO2 pistols from Crossman for years. I bought a .22 rim fire bullet trap, which I use in the house with a sheet if plywood behind it to protect my walls. I probably good shoot some BB or CB Caps that I have too, but .177 and .22 Pellets seem to be easy to get.

Bob

JJEH · Mar 23, 2020

I only have an air rifle (Ruger Umarex) an it's fun. Need to add a pistol, agreed!

Ruger Umarex AirHawk

JayFramer · Mar 23, 2020

What is the most quiet air pistol for apartment use?

VictorLouis · Mar 25, 2020

crsides said:
...HW77 Weihrauch rifle and a FWB 65 pistol. ...., is there some maintenance that needs to be done... before firing again?

.

Jim, that rifle is so good it's still produced and sold today. The FWB has a serious cult following, also. BOTH primo airguns. At that age, they very well may have leather seals, I am not savvy enough on either to be sure. , BUT...this won't hurt, even if they're synthetic.

You have to cock each one open to expose the tiny air transfer port. With a can of Ballistol, and it's red straw attached, put a short spritz at each of the four cardinal points of the compass, or clock-face. Let that internal 'puddle' soak into that leather seal by resting them with the muzzle skyward for several hours. Then, try a pellet or two to release the spring tension. Prepare for a sloshy dishcharge, and maybe some extra noise. Then, rest them muzzle down for a day, to let any excess drain. Swab out the bores, and try shooting them again.

andyinlz said:
Needs new seals....any recommendations to do the work?

http://bakerairguns.com/ knows those backwards and forwards, also.

VictorLouis · Mar 25, 2020

JayFramer said:
What is the most quiet air pistol for apartment use?

This thing brings a value far out of proportion to its cheap price. Single-stroke pump to cock, automatic safety, and great trigger and sights. WalMart often has them, as well as most any big-box sporting goods chain. If somehow you think this is too loud, then you would need one of those tunnel boxes to shoot through like described by a poster above.

Beeman P17 Pellet Pistol | Airgun Depot

Why not try an Air Pistol?

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