Air Pistol Question

[Sactown]

I'm looking to pickup and air pistol for plinking and trying 10m air pistol shooting. I want to keep the cost reasonable. I've been looking at the IZh 46M for about $250. Does anyone have another recommendation or have experience with the 46M? Pre-charged would be nice (I already have a scuba tank from paintball), but are there any lower priced pre-charge pistols? All advice, recommendations, insults, and threats welcome.

 

[JohnKSa]

I've heard good things about the IZH. Check www.straightshooters.com for more information.

 

[Khornet]

If you're thinking about 10m match

The IZH is OK. Not great, but OK for the money. But if you really want to try 10m bullseye, what will happen is that you'll start with the IZH and sooner or later end up with one of the really good ones. They will run you $800-$1400 depending on design and maker. There are just about no good spring-piston guns anymore (I'm talking match pistols here); they're all single-stroke pneumatic or pre-charged compressed air. And they are exquisite, really.

Feinwerkbau, Steyr, Hammerli, Walther, Morini, and many others make superb guns. And they'll last forever with good care, and you can shoot anytime, without a lot of noise, and ammo is cheap. They're worth every penny.

I have a Walther LPM-1, a single stroke pneumatic .177, which I have shot almost daily for 7 years now with no end in sight.

JohnSka could probably comment here. Used guns are out there, and a good bargain. Also check out www.nygord-precision.com. Don Nygord is a champion pistol shooter with good products and advice too. Champion's Choice has good airguns for sale too.

 

[Khornet]

Sactown,

Get over to Nygord Precision RIGHT NOW. He has a used FWB 65 for about $350. This is a spring piston Olympic-grade pistol, which dominated the world before the advent of precharged and single stroke guns. The only reason I don't have one is that I couldn't find one when I was ready to buy. JohnSka has one and loves it. That is a real bargain.

 

[Justin]

I've shot a Feinworkbrau and they're very nice.
For the price you really can't beat the IZH 46M. I've got one, and really dig it. (I really wish I had more time to shoot it though.) Also, be prepared to do some carving on the grip to get it to feel better in your hand.

Here's the best group I've ever shot with it, using el cheapo pellets from WalMart:

As an aside, Erich Buljung the Olympic pistol coach told me that the IZH 46M is a great beginner's pistol for 10 meter competition.

 

[444]

I have a IZh 46M. As was mentioned, it is OK. I am no air pistol competitor, but is is a great gun for indoor practice. For the money, it is a good deal.
If you can get a FWB 65 for $350, I would be all over that. The FWB is a far superior pistol.

 

[JohnKSa]

If you haven't already, jump on that FWB 65...

At that price, you can sell it for a profit if you decide you don't like it.

 

[Futo Inu]

I went over to Nygord, and was all set to have them ship me one of those free pistols, but apparently the "free" pistols are is $995.00 and up.

 

[Old Fuff]

One advantage of the FWB-65 that hasn’t been mentioned is that you can lockout the recoil compensation feature and turn up the trigger-pull to make a firearm’s trainer. Then just as quickly set it back for match air pistol shooting. I have been shooting one since the middle 1970’s and I don’t think they can be worn out.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I like my Tau Brno 7 very much - it costs $300.00 new.

 

[JohnKSa]

I have been shooting one since the middle 1970’s and I don’t think they can be worn out.

Somewhere, I have seen the number of rounds that the basic mechanism is designed for--I can't remember the exact number.

Although the springs and some minor parts may need replacing occasionally, the basic mechanism is rated for millions of shots...

Unlike most airguns which have a synthetic seal, the FWB 65 has a piston/metal compression ring arrangement much like an internal combustion engine. I've never heard of one wearing out.