I like both classic air pistols that are more consistently accurate than CO2 clones and some of today's replicas. Blatting a tin can placed up to 20 yards away with a 1950s Crosman 150 or even the humble Webley Junior can be incredibly satisfying when more shots connect than miss but then so can blasting a tin can to bits 10 yards away with a Baikal Makarov.

I think air pistol designers have always tried to emulate popular firearms, for example the Browning inspired shape of the straight grip Webley Mark 1 (I have a 1920s review that comments on the modern semi auto profile of the Webley), the P08 shaped Haenel air pistols, Tell 3 and even the 1911 inspired HW45 or pocket auto LP 210. I agree it is a shame that today's designers tend to ignore singe shot consistency as i would love a proper spring powered air pistol within the body of something like a Mauser C96 or P08.

John