Is my air pistol good enough?

[ashf9999]

Hi All,

I’m looking to join the air section of my local gun club. I shoot on the gallery rifle section, so section one firearms (pistol, rifle, revolver).

I want to get some air time in to practice my pistol skills, to be able to transfer to section one pistols.

I currently have a .177 Webley tempest and I wondered if that would be enough? Or would I be better getting a different type of air pistol?

If you think there’s a better option for an air pistol it would be good to know.

Be nice to get something with around a 1.5-2lb trigger, nice and crisp and consistent, as this would match my rimfire pistol.

Thanks,
Danny.

Hi Danny. As you know the Tempest is an ‘interesting’ air pistol in terms of firing characteristics, but it’s more suitable for reactive targets than paper ones. But it is more lively than a compressed air one. But no air pistol will mimic an LBR or muzzle-loaders.

If you want to start off with a paper-puncher, the initially something like a reasonable pneumatic like a Gamo Compact or Webley Alecto are certainly capable for most informal club use. You should be able to pick either up in decent second-hand condition for, say, £120-£150 (or a little bit more), and neither of them need CO2 capsules or an air cylinder. They will feel comparatively ‘dead’ to shoot over any powder burner. That’s where, strangely, the Tempest can help a little.

I’m sure others will also have suitable suggestions. See if other club members have anything you can try.

By the way, I’d keep the Tempest if you can. They’re a classic.