My interest/thoughts on replica air pistols

[Antoni]

I like riding my 500cc single-cylinder crappily restored 1955 AJS just for the feel of it. It's far from perfect and by modern standards slow. It still handles better than me.

You make the point abt shooting a pistol for self defence. The accuracy necessary for that purpose is easily simulated by a BB gun. That's probably why reasonable quality BB guns exist on the world market. No point discussing pistol self defence here in the UK other than theoretically - but even then you can't simulate the noise and large recoil from a M1911 .45 auto and the resulting 'shock factor' of having fired it.

A smooth-bore BB gun is fun but in my experience they do not shoot better than me. In a hobby you get a degree of satisfaction based on what effort you've put in. I believe smooth-bore BBs will deliver little satisfaction once some effort has been put in. Others will disagree.

On the other hand, pure speed of shooting at suddenly appearing mechanically-presented large targets might even be fun with a repeating spudgun.

From slow motion video on youtube it can be seen that a blowback CO2 pistol dips down in the hand after firing. A fire-arm pistol most definitely kicks up, with or without a ported barrel. How does that prepare the novice shooter for double-tap or fast firing?

[DAR]

I like riding my 500cc single-cylinder crappily restored 1955 AJS just for the feel of it. It's far from perfect and by modern standards slow. It still handles better than me.

You make the point abt shooting a pistol for self defence. The accuracy necessary for that purpose is easily simulated by a BB gun. That's probably why reasonable quality BB guns exist on the world market. No point discussing pistol self defence here in the UK other than theoretically - but even then you can't simulate the noise and large recoil from a M1911 .45 auto and the resulting 'shock factor' of having fired it.

A smooth-bore BB gun is fun but in my experience they do not shoot better than me. In a hobby you get a degree of satisfaction based on what effort you've put in. I believe smooth-bore BBs will deliver little satisfaction once some effort has been put in. Others will disagree.

On the other hand, pure speed of shooting at suddenly appearing mechanically-presented large targets might even be fun with a repeating spudgun.

From slow motion video on youtube it can be seen that a blowback CO2 pistol dips down in the hand after firing. A fire-arm pistol most definitely kicks up, with or without a ported barrel. How does that prepare the novice shooter for double-tap or fast firing?

Not all dip down. My Sig Sauer P320 M17 Pellet has a slight kick up. It will also shoot sub 1” at 6 yards and 2” at 10 yards.
Please ignore the poor grip as it was only for the video.

https://youtu.be/vm8vHw0MhNw

[Antoni]

Not all dip down. My Sig Sauer P320 M17 Pellet has a slight kick up. It will also shoot sub 1” at 6 yards and 2” at 10 yards.
Please ignore the poor grip as it was only for the video.

Nice conservatory - or are they called orangearies now? Looks like the Sig-Sauer CO2 is a well balanced gun. The Gamo PT85 less so.

Back to the plot, accuracy and relevance of BB repeaters?

[tacfoley]

Nice conservatory - or are they called orangearies now? Looks like the Sig-Sauer CO2 is a well balanced gun. The Gamo PT85 less so.

Back to the plot, accuracy and relevance of BB repeaters?

Uh, 'fun'?

[Antoni]

Uh, 'fun'?

Fair point!

[laverdabru]

Interesting points, Rockhampster. I've got 3 CO2 replicas, 2 revolvers (pellet) & a PO8 BB firer. Love the feel of them, but the disappointing 'phut' when they're fired leaves me cold. The Dan Wesson 8" in particular sometimes can't get the pellets out of the barrel. My Crosman 3576 is more accurate & has never had a misfire. All were bought new.

Some of my older airguns are 70 years old - & don't have issues. The replicas seem to be made of pot/monkey metal, even the junior rifles I own from the '50's are better made with decent metal.

All the best

Bru

[harvey_s]

Sounds like some of the BB gunfighter wannabes are trying to elevate their fun guns beyond the traditional product placement of adolescent playthings...

Sure, some of controls on the replicas might aid gun handling or a particular model - but the actual shooting won't, particularly when the accuracy of them is too poor to highlight the shooters actual deficiencies and firing the real world centrefire equivalent of the BB replicas is such a far more violent event especially with the combat autoloaders.

Years ago Crosman developed a training system using air pistols, but it was a situational tool, designed more to train LEO's when not to pull the trigger.

I think they (or Daisy) also made some sightless rifles to teach 'instinctive' shooting which was quite successful.

So they do have a place as training tools, but just not quite in the way some would like to see them maybe?