Is my air pistol good enough?

[DannyT]

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.

[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.

[jjjohn]

The Beeman p17 is a cracking pistol
and unless Ive been repeatedly unlucky the HW 40's Ive had (at least 5) have honestly not
been anywhere as good as the Beeman.

I wont go on about it as this isnt the threat ,
but must say you wont go far wrong with the p17.
The lower on in pic.

https://i.ibb.co/MxXWkHVn/20210608-173247.jpg

[DannyT]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies so far, I haven’t heard of either of those, so will check them out.

I forgot to mention, I’ll be looking to practice using them for iron sights shooting, so it’s good that they seem to have adjustable iron sights.

Thanks.

Danny.

[roryah]

I have a very nice AP20 Pro in sales section...

[DannyT]

I have a very nice AP20 Pro in sales section...

I’m left handed 😉

[DannyT]

Hi All,


Any thoughts on the HW75? Seems to be quite highly recommended.

I’m planning on using a pistol just for iron sight practice at 25m.

I don’t expect to get amazing groups at this distance but it’s more for practice and training in the garden, as I can’t shoot my section one .22 pistol in the garden, unfortunately.

Thanks.

[Modski66]

One thing to consider is that with the rearward travelling spring pistols like the Tempest and the Weihrauch HW45, the muzzle dips down during firing, which is the opposite of a powder burner. You are still getting the challenge of holding a pistol on target that is reacting in the hand, it's just different.

[DannyT]

One thing to consider is that with the rearward travelling spring pistols like the Tempest and the Weihrauch HW45, the muzzle dips down during firing, which is the opposite of a powder burner. You are still getting the challenge of holding a pistol on target that is reacting in the hand, it's just different.

Thanks for the info, I don’t think this will be a problem as the same principles of good marksmanship apply: stance, grip, sight picture, follow through etc.

Good to know though.

[Shed tuner]

I'd go with an SSP too... Beeman p17, HW40, Gamo compact. HW75 is nice but a bit more expensive.
Or if PCP the pp750 I just bought seems decent for similar money, but you'll need a pump or tank.

Springers; the HW45 is a great option IMHO, but like the tempest, the recoil is "backwards".

You could always start with the tempest and see what everyone else is using over the first few weeks. The gun club won't really care what you are using, so long as you are safe.

[DannyT]

I'd go with an SSP too... Beeman p17, HW40, Gamo compact. HW75 is nice but a bit more expensive.
Or if PCP the pp750 I just bought seems decent for similar money, but you'll need a pump or tank.

Springers; the HW45 is a great option IMHO, but like the tempest, the recoil is "backwards".

You could always start with the tempest and see what everyone else is using over the first few weeks. The gun club won't really care what you are using, so long as you are safe.

Thanks for the advice, good idea.

[DannyT]

Found a bit of time to try the tempest out at 25m today.

I was happy with the results, 3 out of four shots were in the 10 ring, on a DP2 target, which is used for gallery rifle shooting when using a pistol.

So it seems the tempest is good enough to give me practice with iron sights, developing skills that I can then transfer to the gallery rifle discipline, in the comfort of my back yard, with a lot less expense.

[Shed tuner]

good outcome. So long as the trigger is predictable, it should be fine to hone your technique... an unprdictable trigger may encourage snatching at it...

[hwtyger]

I shot 47 ex 50 with a Tempest one handed at 10m. So itll do the job. Just more difficult.

[rapidresponse1]

i had the tempest great little pistol