Beeman P17

[webman]

This may seem to be a strange question, but has anyone tried to reduce the power of a Beeman P17 or similar precharged pistol ? My wrists aren't as good as they were (Arthur Ittus) and the last bit of the compression stroke is hard work and painful. I thought about drilling an extra pivot hole in the piston shaft, slightly nearer to the piston head. This should increase the volume and reduce the pressure of compressed air in the valve system. Any thoughts on this?

[Markmelesky]

This may seem to be a strange question, but has anyone tried to reduce the power of a Beeman P17 or similar precharged pistol ? My wrists aren't as good as they were (Arthur Ittus) and the last bit of the compression stroke is hard work and painful. I thought about drilling an extra pivot hole in the piston shaft, slightly nearer to the piston head. This should increase the volume and reduce the pressure of compressed air in the valve system. Any thoughts on this?

Maybe a HW 45......The action is in the other direction and it has two powers. Don't know about that P17 Idea. Maybe try your thought and see....Those things are stupid cheap....So if you wreck it ......

[3legs]

I have an HW45 and 75. The 45 even on full power is easier to cock. I agree a 45 on the half power setting is probably a good option

[webman]

I decided not to try moving the piston pivot hole. Instead I drilled a 2mm hole in the top of the cylinder, 4.5cm from the front end and carefully smoothed out the inside of the hole. The piston then only compresses air after it passes this hole. The cocking stroke is now much easier and the power doesn't seem to be much less. Accuracy is the same, and the pistol still knocks over cans at 12 metres. If I want to go back to the full power setting, all I need to do is cover the 2mm hole with some self-adhesive aluminium tape.

[averageplinker]

An interesting and good way of solving your problem. Thanks for sharing.

[TonyL]

I decided not to try moving the piston pivot hole. Instead I drilled a 2mm hole in the top of the cylinder, 4.5cm from the front end and carefully smoothed out the inside of the hole. The piston then only compresses air after it passes this hole. The cocking stroke is now much easier and the power doesn't seem to be much less. Accuracy is the same, and the pistol still knocks over cans at 12 metres. If I want to go back to the full power setting, all I need to do is cover the 2mm hole with some self-adhesive aluminium tape.

Sorry; I hadn't seen the thread earlier.

Looking at the earlier posts this was what I was going to suggest (but never tried it).

Sounds like an excellent and satisfactory solution to your issue and will make it much more usable.

Well done.

[TonyL]

And there's been a quite interesting mini-series going on on the PyramydAirBlog on the P17 for those interested.

[Chewy]

And there's been a quite interesting mini-series going on on the PyramydAirBlog on the P17 for those interested.

Any chance of a link? My Google-fu is failing me.

[Geezer]

Any chance of a link? My Google-fu is failing me.

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2019...pistol-part-5/

Here you go.

[TonyL]

Cheers for that, Geezer.

I'm hopeless with these computery things and unable to do links.

Incidentally, there's what looks to be a nice and realistically priced HW40 in the Sales Section currently.

[Chewy]

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2019...pistol-part-5/

Here you go.

Cheers! 😁