New to pistols, where to start...

[AlexDG]

First off hello

I have decided that I would like to do some 10m air pistol shooting, but there are a few things I would welcome some feeback/comments on.

I will be buying the best pistol I can (I will inevitably upgrade at a later date so I may as well get it out of the way at the outset), which at the moment is, I think, the Steyr LP10.
This leads me onto my first question, is there a standard basis for deciding grip size?

Next, I have a loose background in rifle shooting so I understand some of the principles, but I have never fired a pistol and having self taught myself bad habits in other sports I am keen to avoid doing so again. So, where do I find a coach or is that a fairly forlorn hope? I have had a look around and can't seem to find anything much in this area (though I have read the guides on http://www.targetshooting.ca/ which seem like a good start.

And lastly (should this have been the first question?) does anyone know of any active 10m air pistol groups/clubs in either N. Devon or Cardiff areas?

I'm sure there are plenty more questions floating around inside my head, but fortunately they are just out of range at the moment

Thanks, Alex

[thaijamie]

only my opinion, but would you not be better starting of with a cheaper pistol , to see if you like it.

[Jerry Cornelius]

There's a fair bit of grip information here http://www.edinkillie.co.uk/ecatalog...s-c-23_24.html but the best thing is surely to find a target shooter or two for tips. Have you tried the target shooting section on here?

[cookie]

Hi Alex and welcome to the BBS, Don't buy the best you can afford to start with, try getting a Gamo Compact, HW40, HW45, Beeman P3 etc, you can pick one up on here for less than £100, they are all good starter pistols and if you don't get on with the sport you can stick them back up for sale on here and get your money back.

There is a Pistol Comp being set up in this section starting next month, stick your name down, it will be good practice.

Jason

[SteveR]

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the BBS. I adopted your approach and went straight for the LP10. I haven't regretted it, but I can also see the benefits of going for the lower end for starters. It depends if you are certain your going to stick with it or now.

There are a couple of clubs that do 10M in Devon, I am not sure how far north they are (there are two around the Exeter Area), but if you use the Club Finder on the nsra website it may help. Also worth taking advantage of the upcoming National Shooting Week, as some clubs are running open days.

NSRA
http://www.nsra.co.uk/index.php?opti...obi2&Itemid=94

National Shooting Week
http://www.nationalshootingweek.co.uk/

Not sure if it breaks any rules in posting links to other forums or not, so I have sent you a PM with a couple of additional forums that specialise in 10M etc.

Thanks,

Steve.

[derekm]

I'll second the Gamo Compact to start with, unless you can drop onto a S/H Tau or Aeron for a sensible price.

Take your time and learn to shoot whatever you buy and in the meantime try out some of the "top class" pistols to find which one suits you best.

I have nothing against the Steyr - it's a beautiful piece of engineering, but for me, it's front heavy. Before you spend almost a grand, make sure you are on the right track!

[Prone Shooter]

If you are sure you are serious and I'm assuming you are and will want to compete, then don't bother with the basic and cheap pistols, also steer clear of the CO2 versions if you can.

Try and get hold of a good 2nd user (or more) precharged match pistol such as the Steyr, Walther, Morini, SAM and FBW models with a suitabe size grip. As long as you don't pay over the odds, you will easily get your money back if you subsequently pack it in.

Buying a budget pistol will stop natural progression and you will have a hard time "re-learning" when you do upgrade.

A good quality pistol becomes a part of you and is not something which you feel you have to wrestle with each time you pick it up.

Comfort is crucial, try several and the best place is a club where members will let you have a go with theirs. NSRA hold reasonable stock but will not let you fire one of their pistols from the shop although you would have the advantage of dry-firing which is better than nothing.

Don't buy a pistol that does not have the ability to alter at least either the width of the front post or rear notch. Cant and reach are other helpful adjustments and it goes beyond saying that trigger adjustments are essential.

With regard to coaching, contact the NSRA and ask them to advise you of the area coach for your region. They will then advise you of your nearest club.

Enjoy the sport, its highly addictive, especially when those scores start to shoot up.

Bob

[Skan Man.]

First off hello

I have decided that I would like to do some 10m air pistol shooting, but there are a few things I would welcome some feeback/comments on.

I will be buying the best pistol I can (I will inevitably upgrade at a later date so I may as well get it out of the way at the outset), which at the moment is, I think, the Steyr LP10.
This leads me onto my first question, is there a standard basis for deciding grip size?

Next, I have a loose background in rifle shooting so I understand some of the principles, but I have never fired a pistol and having self taught myself bad habits in other sports I am keen to avoid doing so again. So, where do I find a coach or is that a fairly forlorn hope? I have had a look around and can't seem to find anything much in this area (though I have read the guides on http://www.targetshooting.ca/ which seem like a good start.

And lastly (should this have been the first question?) does anyone know of any active 10m air pistol groups/clubs in either N. Devon or Cardiff areas?

I'm sure there are plenty more questions floating around inside my head, but fortunately they are just out of range at the moment

Thanks, Alex

my mate shoots 10m in swansea its about 40 to 50 mins from cardiff look up shooters of swansea hope it helps

atb dai

[AlexDG]

Some good thought provoking posts, thanks.

I have resisted responding sooner to let this run a little. But a couple of extra bits of info about me my thoughts:

Unless I physically can't handle a pistol I won't be giving this up anytime soon. I have fired air rifles and military weapons in the past, admittedly not competitively, but I know I enjoy shooting (but I don't want to do rifles again).

To start with I will be concentrating on technique and I don't plan to enter any comps until next year. I intend to dry fire as a way of imprinting the basic movements, which I guess rules out some of the options for what to buy.

I have not made any decisions yet, other than I will be using air.

[cookie]

Hi Alex, whatever you decide above all else Enjoy and Have Fun, with out this there really is no point.

Jason

[derekm]

I have not made any decisions yet, other than I will be using air.

Don't pay too much attention to the horror stories about CO2.

They are based on fact, in the case of 25 shot per cartridge rifles, fired fast in cold weather, but I can assure you that with a target pistol, +/- 80 shots per cartridge, fairly slow rate of fire, you will have no problems with velocity changes during a shooting session.

FWIW the world 10m record is, I believe still held by a CO2 pistol.

You have no expense for charging gear and will have plenty of time to decide whether or not to go for air, at a later date and the guns are less expensive.

If ever I change my Alfa, it will most likely be for an older, CO2 version of one of the "big names". I have shot a 95, but my average is high 80s. The problem is me, not the propellant! Just my opinion.

[ikarma70]

hw75 perhaps?