Air pistol for plinking and practice?

[Andrew Rothman]

I am wondering whether it would be a good idea or even just fun to get an air pistol/pellet pistol.

Anyone have one? Pump? CO2? Spring?

Are they toys, or legitimate training tools?

And if they're toys, are they fun ones?

Matt

 

[Tamara]

I'm of the opinion that trigger time is trigger time and sight alignment is sight alignment.

Using my roommate's Russkie air pistol has, I think, helped my shooting. A lot of folks use airsoft copies of their real guns for force-on-force training. Air pistols definitely have their uses.

 

[ddc]

I think they are a great training tool as well as just being a lot of fun in their own right.

I have two; a target model from Gamo and a plinker from Beeman.

You can use them indoors safely and not bother most people as long as they are not in the same room. They do have a bit of a bark so you might have to choose your time appropriately depending on the other members of your household.

I picked up both of mine from http://www.airgunexpress.com

That would be a good website to visit; a lot of info there....

 

[Penforhire]

An accurate air pistol is definitely a legit training tool. My .177 Beeman P3 is accurate enough at 10 meters (better than I am), which incidentally gives some Olympic competitors to compare to, and I can use it in my back yard without neighbor complaints. Muzzle energy is low enough to not worry about penetrations, only ricochets. Single stroke pneumatic is reliable and easy for an average adult to cycle. Ammo is cheap. Trigger is fantastic (light & crisp).

 

[stevesmith7]

Skip the airsofts unless you're just looking for a toy. I have two and they're just not good enought for my tastes. I do have a Gamo Compact that makes for great at home target practice.

Steve

 

[synoptic]

the airsofts, while not always the most accurate, do have their advantages. You can shoot them inside, at your friends (wearing safety equipment of course) and their a lot of fun. They also help with your shooting. They help to get rid of flinching and overcompensating for recoil

 

[jdege]

The spring-powered AirSofts are of no use at all.

The electric AirSofts are fine for paint-ball-style games.

But if you're looking for something to practice firearms handing with, you need a green gas AirSoft.

They aren't exactly inexpensive.

 

[Futo Inu]

Get a Crosman 1008. 8-shot semi-auto, CO2. .177 pellet. Looks like a S&W auto. Iron sights are drift adjustable, and I've gotten repeatable 7/16" TEN-shot groups at 10 yards, rested. Very nice. You get about 8 clips (64 shots) of fire from one CO2 cartridge. Mostly a toy or practice piece, but a few pigeons have gone down to it.

 

[thebaldguy]

I've had bad luck with CO2 pistols, but Crosman makes a nice pump up pistol (model 1377) that's pretty accurate. They are great for practice and fun to shoot.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Well, I picked up a $25 spring airsoft model (some no-name brand). It is pretty accurate at across-the-room distances, which is all I was hoping for. It is of very similar size, shape and controls to my carry gun.

Spent an hour tonight just perforating paper.

It is surprisingly realistic in weight and shape. I felt I gained something from practicing drawing from my CCW holster and sighting rapidly.

The ammo is about a penny a round, and can be "reloaded!"

I actually built a cardboard box target holder/BB catcher. When I'm done shooting, I just tilt the box and pour the BBs into a jar for reuse. I'll post pics if anyone cares.

Thanks for all the advice -- I may go back and get the $50 pump-up (umm... I forget the brand. Starts with B, not Beeman... grrrr) for more accuracy and keep this one for training use.

Matt

 

[C.R.Sam]

As above re pellet pistols.

Worked with a shooter that was competing in both sport pistol and air pistol. (ISU)

The training time on each seemed to reinforce the other. And no problem competing with both at same matches. And winning.

I also like good target air rifle for training. Had 10 meter range in house. Air a lot easier on things and ventalation for small bore is pricy to run.

Ear protection still a good idea.

Sam

 

[timbo]

Well, when I was young I saved up for a .177 pump pistol and my mom bought it for me. I thought it would be tons of fun but in reality you couldn't hit much with it. So in my experience air pistols stink, perhaps it was just mine though. I got a pump rifle when I was older and that was a whole lot more accurate. I'd highly recommend an air rifle to anyone who wants some practice but doesn't want to go to an actual firearm for it. Old cans of beer make for fun target practice too!

 

[Brian Dale]

Any more recommendations of particular models of air/CO2 pistols and rifles for practice shooting?

Criteria =
1. accurate enough to tell how well I'm performing (need not be Olympic-grade; better than a Red Ryder)
2. not terrifically expensive
3. size, weight and shape similar to (but need not be identical to) real carry pistols (including revolvers) or rifles
4. Fun!

I remember an article by Peter Hathaway Capstick about "mini-sniping" with Running Boar-type (expensive) air or CO2 rifles; he wrote that it was great fun. Ah - found a copy of it. It was in Guns & Ammo, October, 1984, and reprinted in his book Last Horizons, if I have the right reference. There's a VERY SLOW-TO-LOAD version with tiny print at:

http://groups.msn.com/GrandIsleFT/minisniping.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

Thanks!

 

[Justin]

BIG fan of practicing with an air pistol. For the price, the Baikal IZH 46M is about the best bang for the buck. Accurate enough to compete with if you like, but not so terribly expensive that it'll break the bank.

Back in my days of being an unemployed bum I shot .22 bullseye twice a week and practiced with an air pistol almost daily, and could see a definate improvement in my bullseye shooting from all the air pistol practice.

Airgun Express has all the stuff to get set up so that you can practice in your house.

 

[444]

I agree with those that said that shooting an air pistol is definitely good practice to build your shooting fundamentals. Like anything else, I am a believer in buying good stuff, or at least decent stuff. I have a Beeman P1 airgun. The grip frame is the same as a 1911 and can use 1911 grips. I also own a Baikal IZH 46M which is a very accurate handgun. Finally I bought a cheap BB pistol that mimics a Walther PPK. It isn't very accurate and the trigger is always on "double action", but it is fun because it is semi-auto.

I am giving serious thought to investing in a good Airsoft gun. I don't know much about Airsoft so some of what I am going to say is my take on the subject. The thing that Airsoft seems to have on pellet and BB guns is that the Airsoft guns appear to be the real thing. Other than weight, they handle just like the real thing. I am thinking about an AR15 airsoft gun. From what I have seen, these guns are very close to a real AR. They have flat top recievers, rail systems etc. So, you can mount real AR accessories on them, making a training tool very similar to your main "go-to" carbine. You can add an Aimpoint, you can add a tac light, you can use a vertical foregrip, you can add a tac sling, etc. It seems to me that you can greatly enhance what used to be your dry practice. I believe you can do mag changes etc. In addition, you can set up your own shoot houses, just like the ones at the big name shooting schools. You get together with one of your friends and place targets in various parts of the house. With one person not knowing the target positions, you can then give them a senario and have them clear the house, rescue the hostages, or whatever. You don't need a special shoot house, you can use your own houses, yards, garages, or whatever. Then of course you can increase the realism by using the Airsoft guns for force on force training. If you maintain a serious, mature attitude, you can gain valuable insight.
Buying an Airsoft handgun that is a clone of your primary defense handgun would provide the same benefits. It would seem that you can use your regular holster etc.
I am not looking for an extreme tackdriver for target shooting. I am looking for something to use for at home tactical training.

 

[code3]

another vote for AIRSOFT... it is really close to the real thing.really heavy and feel exactly like the real thing... it is much better than CO2 gun because it has blowback (recoil).... Airsoft is a really expensive sport..i spent around $700 on it already....

here is a few good pix of the airsoft guns..
http://springer.airsoftretreat.com/gallery/Glock19x2/
http://www.freewebs.com/xuniverse/1classicarmym15a4carbine.htm
http://springer.airsoftretreat.com/gallery/glock19/

here is a good place to buy it from...
http://airsoftmarine.net/sales/forsale_gas.htm

 

[Dilettante]

On the trigger pull, do any of these actually feel like the gun they're supposed to imitate?
Obviously recoil will be much less--I'm talking about the trigger pull itself (for dry fire).

 

[powderific]

I have a Webly & Scott Tempest spring pistol pellet pistol that i have found to be quite accurate and a real joy to shoot. I highly reccomend spring piston pistols because your only real cost after that is pellets, very convenient and cheap as well.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Got a C02 Sig Sauer lookalike and a 22 caliber bullet trap. Good for rainy days.