More Air gun questions

[bratch]

I've read the air gun thread twice now and it has left me with a few more questions.

I'm wanting to get in some more trigger time. I'd like to get trigger control work as well as presentation first shot work.

1) Are the Airsoft guns precise enough to actually help with accuracy? The ones I've played with have been all over the place
2) In air pistols: what are the advantages of air and spring powered?
3) What are good 1911 clones to look into to get the most realistic work?

Kinda seems to me like getting an Airsoft to do presentation/ first shot and a pellet pistol for trigger control. However I'd prefer to just go with one if I could.

What are your thoughts?

 

[sendtoscott]

I dunno, but the Walther CP-99 looks really tempting for backyard target practice. It seems to have the same physical dimensions as the P99 (len, weight, etc) and can go single/double action.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

The nicest air pistol I've ever seen happens to be a Colt (by brand name) 1911 model. Colt had them made in Germany. It is CO2 powered, all metal construction, and a VERY nice piece. I don't know if they are still available. I bought one a year or two ago and haven't fired it -- I keep it NIB just to be able to say I have a genuine Colt BB gun.

I bought mine from www.sportsmansguide.com

 

[crazyXgerman]

see if you find something you like here: http://www.generationairsoft.com/ARM_gbb.htm#WA

western arms are generally considered high-quality airsoft guns and they have a good selection of 1911 models.

spring guns are usually the cheapest ones. gas blowback guns are common for good quality airsoft guns.

as far as accuracy goes, airsoft shoots a relatively light 6mm pellet at 300fps (give or take, depending on the gun). on short distances (4-5 yards) they are reasonably accurate and should work fine for what you want.

 

[Mikul]

Airsoft is okay for accuracy. If you want to get some trigger time INDOORS (because the wind knocks the pellets around) and keep the distance under 30 feet, ANY airsoft pistol will do just find for you. The gas guns are less annoying, but more expensive. I have heard that some of the high-end airsoft rifles are accurate out to 50 yards. Even if that's true, they're talking about $400 Airsoft rifles.

Air powered pellet guns are the most accurate because you're working from a fixed pressure. The match quality air rifles all work from compressed air. You can fill them from a tank, compressor, or even a type of bicycle pump. They also have the advantage of a quick followup shot. The spring guns are slow on the followup and some of the springs are pretty hard to pull. You're going to build muscle if you shoot them a lot. Accuracy with spring guns is pretty good. My pneumatic (not really a Spring Gun) Benjamin Sheridan will pop cans at 50 yards without a problem.

 

[Sparks]

An IZH-46 would be what you're looking for. It's a single-stroke pneumatic air pistol designed for ISSF 10m air pistol shooting, and it costs around $250 or so.

 

[RyanM]

I've got one of the old CO2 powered Auto-Ordinance 1911's. They don't appear to be sold anywhere anymore.

It was accurate enough that I could shoot several dozen pellets into a 2" ragged hole, from 7 yards. At 25 yards, though, group size increased to more like 2 feet, due to wind. Recoil was just barely enough to be noticable.

It was a bit too powerful for its construction. That thing was able to shoot pellets through about 8 layers of bath towel at close range, and shot through most other backstops I tried, including some airsoft target holder things. Not good for shooting people. The main problem is the plastic is a bit too soft. Especially the slide. The slide lock lever has really taken a toll on the slide lock notch; a dab of epoxy would fix it right up, but I'm lazy. At least I have somehow managed to avoid putting any "idiot marks" in it, despite the soft plastic!

Functional similarity to a 1911 is okay. The slide doesn't move as far back, and all the springs are weaker. The trigger is something like 2.5 lbs., as a result. The thumb safety works, but the grip safety doesn't, for some reason. It also appears to jam if you limp-wrist it. Every time my dad (a very non-gun guy) tries shooting it, the slide locks back every other shot; I'm assuming it's his technique.

I'd probably recommend one, if they were still made, and if you were willing to do some epoxy touch-ups every once in awhile. Actually, I might be willing to sell mine, if you really want it.

 

[boofus]

Didn't someone from Japan win a couple IDPA or IPSC championships here in the states with only airsoft practice in his homeland? No real handguns are allowed to be owned by private citizens there. I saw that in an article in the NRA American Rifleman a while back I think.

 

[tulsamal]

You can learn everything you need to know about airguns from Beeman. They've been doing it successfully for a long time now. Lots to read on the website. Go there and request a paper catalog. Lots of great general information; not just a product list.

http://www.beeman.com/

You could always get a P1 if you just want something with the grip size and angle of a 1911. And those suckers are accurate and darn powerful!

http://www.beeman.com/p1.htm

The two stage trigger is adjustable from the 28 ounce factory setting. The wide trigger blade has a serrated surface that makes the trigger pull feel extra light and gives a smooth, controlled feel to the unit. The incredible trigger is constantly one of the things that people comment on being one of the best features of the gun.

Finally, we carefully and deliberately designed the dimensions of the grip and trigger area so that it is possible to fit any .45 Auto grips on the P1. Shooters can thus maintain the feel of their firearm while training inexpensively with the P1. The rearward expanding mainspring adds to the effectiveness as a firearm trainer as the modest recoil goes into the hand, like a firearm. Shooters can be confident this air pistol will present a reliable measure of their marksmanship skills while training with a P1.

The Beeman P1 air pistol is available in .177 caliber, or the popular .20 caliber. The larger .20 caliber pellets are much less sensitive to wind drift (even indoor convection currents) and provide a greater impact than .177 caliber.

I prefer .20 caliber myself in high powered airguns. Like my Beeman HW97k. Very sweet gun with a 4x12 scope mounted on it.

http://www.beeman.com/hw97.htm

Gregg

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've had good success with the good folks at: http://www.pilkguns.com