Pellet pistol: Your opinions solicited - which of these and why?

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The Hatsan gives you the option of .22 cal pellets which is nice.

I can't really imagine any non-firearm self defense with a single-shot air pistol, though. Mice? Sure. Squirrels? Absolutely. Dogs...maybe, maybe not. Human animals? No way. Point something that looks like a gun at someone in a threatening way and it had better be a) lawful self defense where using a firearm would be justifiable, and b) capable of stopping a real threat.
 
Sam,

Agreed. One well placed shot, even a .177 cal. pellet at 410 fps, is all I will need. If I need a 2nd line of defense - I have my wife - she could talk them to death. ROFL!
 
but there was a break-in about a half mile down the road (1st in this area in over 27 years) - so also possible non-firearm self defense.
Click to expand...

I agree with Sam, no pellet pistol serves as a suitable defensive tool due to the poor power. Modern hunting air rifles can serve in the role, but I'm not aware of a pistol airgun that would.

Look at the cocking strength required before making your decision. The Hatsan has a 58lb cocking strength and you may or may not want to have to put that much effort into charging the pistol.
 
To add to your list, and in that price range, I suggest the Crosman American Classic. It is, in fact, a classic air pistol design and is noted for it's accuracy.

Of your list, I like the Hatsun too, soley because of the ability to shoot .22, but it's been my observation that those are harder to find locally than .177, so it's up to you.
 
HSO,

Also agreed. I really like the Hatsan ... EXCEPT for that 58# effort (... and it is at the upper limit of my price range). My Beeman RS1 pellet rifle has a 30# breakbarrel effort, so with an 11" barrel - it will be a struggle. The Benjamin has a better muzzle velocity, but the Hatsan has the best accuracy. (Oh - the CO2, Multi-pump, and PCP pistols were already taken out of the equation for various reasons ... including price.)

If I hit the lottery, I'll get one of each!
 
TimboKhan,

Thank you for the input. I order online from PyramydAir, so no problem getting something they carry - I saw the "modern" http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Modern_Classic_Crosman_1377C_Air_Pistol/2854#

Again, it is a multi-pump. Although, it has some good features (weight, muzzle velocity and long barrel length for accuracy). I'll keep that as a possible fifth if I can eliminate one of the other four from the mix.

My neighbor (avid hunter, my age), and two sons-in-law (also hunters) all lean toward the Hatsan (but that my be in part because, if I go - the kids will inherit it! ROFLMAO! )
 
Did anybody notice that the Benjamin appeared to have an accessory that made cocking easier? I thought it was an airgun suppressor at first, but then realized that it had to be a cocking shroud. I would be concerned that risk of such gizmos is that you can end up prying the end of the barrel "down" while the thing prys "up" against another part of the barrel. That would make me a little nervous about bending the barrel over time.

OTOH, if there was a device that actually bore on the pivot you'd avoid that sort of concern.
 
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Again, thanks for the feedback. You've caused me to take a closer look at my selections -

I'm dropping the IZH 53M, Hatsan and Benjamin from the mix. The Beeman is looking more and more like a "fun" choice, but ...

I'm now leaning toward the Browning 800 .22 cal. http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Browning_800_Express/1857 which I had not considered mainly due to the price.

It is more than I actually want to spend, but it has a lower cocking effort than the Hatsan, with a lighter trigger. It has a shorter barrel, but reviews for it are overall very positive, same for the accuracy, and the recoil (reading only - wish there were someplace nearby these things could be tried before purchase! LOL) seems to be as good or better.

It'll take me a bit longer to save up for it, but I think I will be happier with this one.

Again - thanks so much for taking the time to look these over and provide your expertise.

-Dave
 
I'd get the Crosman in .177, though the .22 looks like a good bet as well. My old Crosman now belongs to my dad, and must have thousands of pellets through it. He can still get ten pumps in it, even with his arthitis. It will shoot a Beeman Superdome pellet all the way through a quail at 15 yards. Rabbits drop pretty quick, too.

My brother has one that came with an accessory stock that turns it into a pretty handy carbine. I've never scoped one of these, though I think it might be worth doing.
 
In the early 90's, I went through an airgun phase because there were no ranges near where I lived nor places to shoot, so in order to get some indoor or backyard trigger time I bought a Webley Tempest (still made in England and imported by Beeman), and a Beeman P1 Magnum, both in .177. They both still look, and work like new, and are a lot of fun to shoot. The P1 is more accurate, but the Tempest is no slouch, and I actually enjoy shooting that a bit more.

Pyramid now sells the Webley Tempest, but it is made in Turkey which does make some good firearms so that wouldn't stop me from getting one. They are a bit more pricey than the others though. They have both .177, and .22 versions.

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Webley_Tempest_Air_Pistol/5
 
Thanks to all for the feedback.

I bit the bullet (pardon the pun) - proud owner of a new Benjamin Marauder
.22 cal PCP rifle (max. 1,00 fps) and a Browning 800 Express .22 cal break/barrel pistol (max. 600 fps) Both use the same pellets

Yes, w a y more than I wanted to spend, but these (properly taken care of) will last me the rest of my life and I can pass them down to my sons-in-law (or grandkids if there are any ... newly-weds). Online reviews from over a dozen different sites list both as 4.5 out of 5, easy to use, very quiet, very accurate (wish I was! LOL).

Oh, and I did take advantage of the Moving Sale, made the purchase at 10 PM 09/20 -10% off, went with a bundle on the rifle - got the combo trigger locks, cases, pellets (buy 4 pay for 3) - AND FREE SHIPPING! Cost avoided about $150.
 
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Air

Benjamin Marauder pistol.....hands down choice for the pistol. Eight shot magazine, .22 caliber pellets available in weights from 14 to 28 grain. The fourteens go 700 fps. The 28s will make six plus.
Very accurate.
The rifle is even hotter. Did the pump come with your package or as an extra?
Pete

PS - air pistol for SD = NOT.
 
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Discussions of air guns as self defense is not going to fly. I understand that there are air guns that would hurt, and even kill, a human. However, even remotely suggesting that an air gun is good for SD is bad advice.
 
Never ever !

NEVER point an airgun at a bad guy! They usually carry LETHAL weapons and you are likely to place you and your family in GRAVE danger!
I woukd go with a fun Air Pistol first, A multi-shot BB or Pellet CO2 , possibly a clone of a real hand gun you like.
Later I'd consider a more sophisticated single shot (or several as they are addictive!).
I started with 2 and now have 26 different air Pistols! They;re relativelly cheap, ammo too and the fun factor is high. You can shoot them almost anywhere indoors or out.
JMHO BPDave
 
>>>NOTE: Sorry, I originally wrote P3 but meant P17. The P3 is the German version and 5-6 times the price<<<

My vote of those would be the Beeman P17 hands down. You might think how good could a $40 gun be right? Surprise, it's outstanding! I'd pay three or more times that for this gun, but $40 is a steal. I got mine for $36 with a 10% off code, and free ship with my larger order. My only wish is I should've bought two. I plan on buying one, maybe two more with my next order.
Some claim it has a flaw than needs to be addressed before you shoot, a seam in the cylinder that damages the O-ring causing it to leak, but mine was perfect. It has the full power claimed, not an exaggerated velocity number like most guns. It shoots heavy pellets very well too. I tuned mine but it didn't need much. The hardest mod was cosmetic, I didn't like the chrome trigger, hammer, and safety so I sanded the chrome off them and blued them, now it looks as good as it shoots. I also did a trigger job to shorten and lighten the pull, which most all guns need imo.
The gun is good looking, compact, well balanced, light weight, easy to cock, well made with surprising quality considering the price. It's very accurate too, more accurate than the other guns in your list, more accurate than most any pistol. It's also very quiet, those other guns are rather loud and annoying sounding. Recoil is almost non-existent, the other guns recoil hard.
The other guns are also very long, it says the Hatsan is twice as long! More of a small rifle than a pistol. That's something to consider, especially if you want to carry it in your front pocket like I do.
My favorite pistol for the past 25 years has been the Webley Tempest which is close to $300, but now I prefer the P17.

If you want more power I'd buy the Crosman 1377 or 1322, it's as powerful or more so than the other guns on your list, and more accurate. It also has a big following with plenty of mods to boost power even further if you want.
That's my 2cents
 
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Another endorsement for the Beeman P3.

I bought one years ago when they were sold as the Marksman 2004 for $40, (I think Beeman bought that company out).

It has been a very accurate and reliable air pistol. I use it for practice because it has the size and the feel of a full size polymer framed pistol.

It is also a fun camp gun for causal target practice and plinking at crackers.

Great value for $40.
 
I went to buy the Beeman P-17 (with a hard case, trigger lock, Red dot scope and 1,250 ct .177 pointed pellets) this morning at PyramydAir -

cashed in my Bulls-eye bucks (they're offering 3x the value this week ! Wooo-Hooo!!!) -

... you have to WAIT until you get the physical plastic gift card in the mail! Seriously? Not even sending you an e-mail with the information? This IS the 21st century.

I am soooooo bummed out!

ROFLMAO. Hope there'll be a better sale coming up soon.
 
Craftsman, I like the P17. You may want to rethink which one you get though, I don't think that that red dot is all that good, and unless they changed it, the one that doesn't have the red dot has a better set of open sights, a decent set of fiber optic sights instead of the crappy ones on the set with the red dot.


Also, to beat a dead horse here, do not think that something in this power level will be an acceptable means of self defense. Given my experience, I doubt it will do anything other than put an eye out. I highly doubt it would penetrate into the skull either through an eye or through the temple. So even a perfectly placed shot would not stop an attacker, even if you could manage it under stress.
 
ChaoSS,

Thanks for the reply.

I did get the "Gift Card" ("Bulls-eye bucks" electronically - BUT, the deal was "This order's equivalent Bulls-eye bucks will be tripled", not (as it Looks on the website) "you'll get 3x the value of your cashed in" ones. 8-( Caveat emptor!!!

The Beeman P-17 kit is not available until Dec 20, so I went with the standard P-17, and got the UTG Electronic Dot site (which I'm not using on the pistol, but will mount on the dual caliber Beeman RX-2 (the scope that came with that rifle is on the Benji Marauder .22). Looking forward to getting the Beeman pistol.

I've already decided (thanks all for your input) that the airgun is NOT a good choice for defense against a home invader - so I'll just stick to a bedside knife thrown down the hall, against any break-ins. Its about the same distance that I'm sticking into an 8" diameter target in practice anyway! ROFL! However, it DID give me an excuse with the better half, to start this collection - AND I have had the chance to share it with at least five other people already! (converted a few firearm enthusiasts over to the "dark side" ... they were duly impressed by the Texas boys using their .50 cal airguns to take out feral hogs! ... and my hunting sons-in-law love shooting the airguns in my back yard )

Anyway - Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, everyone.
 
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