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Thread: Getting into air pistol shooting

  1. #1
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    Getting into air pistol shooting

    Although I have had (and still have) several air pistols in my time I have never ever tried to shoot any of them other than plinking.

    The idea is growing on me to take it up a little more seriously (but still with a view to having fun more than anything else) and maybe join a club.

    Now here is my plea for advice chaps.

    I do NOT like and won't get a PCP pistol. I hated PCP rifles when I had them and I just won't ever go there again.

    Now that means Co2 or spring (of some sort). Most Co2 pistols seem more to be plinkers than anything but that is probably an expression of my own ignorance.

    So what is out there and recommended for a "beginner" air pistol target shooter? Leaving aside my own incompetence what would put pellets reliably in the target zone?

    I did once own a Walther LP53 and I did like that gun quite a lot but I am sure there are many other options.
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  2. #2
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    Alan you are pretty much looking at an old Feinwerkbau 65 or 80.

    There are loads of them still about , mainly in Germany and they can be picked up from this Germany auction site.

    http://translate.google.com/translat...t/&sl=de&tl=en

    Some are buy now options. I have bought guns from this place and others on the continent by bank transfer without any problems. Unfortunately the pound is very weak at the moment, and after March we will have to pay import tax on anything bought from Europe.

    There are also single stroke pneumatic target pistols from Feinwerkbau and Walther but these tend to be very expensive compared to the springers.

    Like you I have never taken to pcp sporting airguns. But pcp match rifles and pistols are a different animal entirely. If I were going back into that kind of thing I would save up for a couple of years and get a Steyr or Morini and a small air tank. I used to have one of the former and had to sell it before moving abroad. It was a brilliant gun to shoot. These things aren't as prone to leaking as the sporting pcps on the market. They are made to a much higher standard.

    I had the top one in silver but if I had the inclination and the money to buy another I would go for the third one down - the compact in black:

    http://airgunbuyer.com/Showproducts....less%20Pistols
    Arthur

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  3. #3
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    Thanks for that advice Arthur and I will check out the auction site.


    The reason I won't go PCP is to do with the whole palaver of dive shops, air bottles and the very real fact that I am very uneasy about very high pressure air. It just gives me the willies.
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    A second hand FAS 604 Mk2 would suit your needs well.
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    I recently saw an Original 6 for £150. These were very capable recoiless spring air pistols.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Inspector 71 View Post
    A second hand FAS 604 Mk2 would suit your needs well.
    It is a PCP is it not?

    Not an option.
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eagleman View Post
    It is a PCP is it not?

    Not an option.
    The FAS Model 604 has always been a single-stroke pneumatic. Mine is over 30 years old, and still performs like it was new. It had new seals in 1990......

  8. #8
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    harvey_s is offline Lost love child of David Niven and Victoria Beckham
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    Tau7 (12g CO2)... My Morini back-up and I certainly don't feel short-changed by it.

  9. #9
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    Bang for your buck, a Lov 21 CO2 pistol would be hard to beat. For about £100, it's accurate, powerful enough to make clean holes in the target and very simple.

    http://i.imgur.com/ddW7Viim.jpg?2

  10. #10
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    I had a Crosman 2300T , co2 powered 177 version of the 2240, steel breech, longer barrel etc as standard.
    It was very accurate, wish I hadn't sold it!

  11. #11
    arnie2b Guest
    Gamo compact (ssp, I did do some minor work on the front sight of mine) or fwb65 at the lower end of the budget scale.
    If someone wants to sell me an original fas 604 at the prices the above can be found at pm me.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by tacfoley View Post
    The FAS Model 604 has always been a single-stroke pneumatic. Mine is over 30 years old, and still performs like it was new. It had new seals in 1990......
    Blimey, now that is what I call reliable!
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by harvey_s View Post
    Tau7 (12g CO2)... My Morini back-up and I certainly don't feel short-changed by it.
    Now the Match version of that looks very interesting indeed.

    Thanks Harv.
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill

  14. #14
    harvey_s's Avatar
    harvey_s is offline Lost love child of David Niven and Victoria Beckham
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eagleman View Post
    Now the Match version of that looks very interesting indeed.

    Thanks Harv.
    I have just the standard version and most of the ones I've seen are the same, but don't be put off by that, they're still very, very good & the match versions are a lot thinner on the ground.
    You'll see about 70 shots at a little under 500fps with match pellets - so enough for competition use as well.

  15. #15
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    Hi there.

    If you want to shoot pistols for fun as well as 'formal' target have a look at The Umarex Boys Club. This is a free to enter club and you can shoot at home if you don't have a cub - all done on the 'net.

    There is a big range of comps you can have a go at - everything from 'formal' target to 'fun' ones. Even vintage pistols and rifles. Link - http://www.umarexboysclub-comps.co.uk/

    I use everything from an FAS 604 (super accurate pistol for the serious stuff) to a Colt 1911 CO2 blowback for Police Pistol plus many others.

    Once a year there is a 'meet' - June, Coventry which is a chance to meet and greet along with plenty of shooting. Small entry fee for this.

    Do give the club a try - it's great fun. Only cost is your ammunition (you print your own targets). Be warned though - some members get bitten by the bug and amass an ever growing collection of pistols and rifles.
    FAS 604, Remington 1911, Colt SAA, HW45, BSA Mercury, Winchester underlever (Walther), SMK QB78

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