Hammerli Free Pistol opinions........

eureka283

eureka283

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Hello Gents,

I'm a fan of the Hammerli 100 series free pistols (particularly the Model 103).

They seem to be a rare bird to find, for a pistol that's been out of production for 60 years or so.

Does anyone have one, and shot it regularly? What are your opinions of it? The 103 is a class act.

I once shot a TOZ 35 on a regular basis in the late 70s and 80s, and it was a beauty. But for quality,
fit, and finish, I'm looking favourably toward a Hammerli.

Your opinions, please.

Cheers,

Bill

Hammerli 103.jpg
 

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Free pistols aren't that common in Canada.
- There are not that many free pistol either.
- And like ISSF rifle shooters, they are the ones most likely to butcher a pistol to make them fit... Grips are considered consumables. And lets not talk about the files/solder coming out because the sights are not quite to their liking.
- Finding one for sale will be a challenge, so will it be finding one unmolested.
- You best bet is probably to ask around. They are probably sitting in the back of some "older" shooters safe.

A (older) friend had a left-handed 102. It was nice enough pistol. And while shooting a match left-handed was fun (to do once). I passed on it.
- Don't have a clue about parts availability for the older guns... Like firing pins and/or grips.

Personally, I'm happy with the TOZ-35...
TGJ6n0Z.jpg

and in my list of tings to do, there is a IJ-1 that needs a look over :confused:


This been said, if you do come across Hammerli, and the price is right... go crazy :)
 
Oddly enough, I shoot left-handed (left eye master), but shot my TOZ right-handed in the last century. Is that lefty Hammerli 102 still around?

I recognised the main body of your TOZ, but with new grips. There's a place in the States that sells TOZ parts, but having an original
spare parts box in the old case would be quite beneficial.

What's an IJ-1? I also shot an IZH-46M spring-loaded air pistol. I had grips made (left-handed), but I grew tired wrestling with that cocking lever.
Rink in Germany make nice grips, but they're at least a couple hundred Canuck bucks.

Cheers,

Bill
 
I have the Hammerli 150 with after market LH medium Morini grips. It's a fine shooting firearm with a few quirks. Cocking the action takes so much effort you wonder if this action is maxing out the tensile strength of the cocking handle.

Strange feeling but true. However the dry fire mechanism is pretty darn good.

As a leftie only because eye dominance it's strange reaching over the gun with your weak hand for reloading and cocking.
Otherwise it's Hammerli accurate!
Until Free Pistol was Olympic trashed(!?) the 150 was thier banner symbol of FP.
This killed the oldest sanctioned shooting sport within the Olympics. 1897.

WTF
 
Couldn't tell you where that 102 is nowadays, the owner passed away over a decade ago :(
- Cheers to Bob, who was still active in our bullseye league well into his 90s
:cheers:



The IJ-1 (IJEVSK/Izhevsk)

RtVtIET.jpg



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wXYQm7m.jpg



As for the TOZ, the grips are from Dennis Marschalko (a Hungarian guy, living in the UK)
 
Yes Brutus, the Free Pistol (50 metres) event was killed by the Olympic Committee in 2018. It is, however, still an official event in the World Shooting Championships. The last WSC match held in Korea in 2018, was won by an Indian (Mitharwal), who also won silver in the 10 metre Air Pistol. At the Commonwealth Games in 2018, he won a Bronze in both 50 metre Free Pistol and in 10 metre Air Pistol. Sadly, no Canadians had ever placed in the top three in the Olympic 50 metre Free Pistol, in the 1896-2016 period.
Cheers,

Bill
 
eureka283 said:
Yes Brutus, the Free Pistol (50 metres) event was killed by the Olympic Committee in 2018. It is, however, still an official event in the World Shooting Championships. The last WSC match held in Korea in 2018, was won by an Indian (Mitharwal), who also won silver in the 10 metre Air Pistol. At the Commonwealth Games in 2018, he won a Bronze in both 50 metre Free Pistol and in 10 metre Air Pistol. Sadly, no Canadians had ever placed in the top three in the Olympic 50 metre Free Pistol, in the 1896-2016 period.
Cheers,

Bill
Click to expand...

I would love to shoot Free pistol again, was using a Morini and it was the best pistol sport event for me.
Unfortunately it seem like there are not a lot of range in Canada that have the setup for Free pistol.
 
Times have changed in the Free Pistol world, and not for the better. We F.P. shooters are a dying breed (literally). Finding a 50 metre range is difficult. I think that Barrie Gun Club might have an outdoor one, but that's the wrong province for me.

As a few have said to me, there are free pistols collecting dust in old collector's safes. We'll find them when those shooters "move on".

Perhaps 10 metre air pistol shoots will survive.

Cheers,

Bill
 
sillymike said:
Ever since we moved out of the city, I have yet to bump on another FP shooter at the range.
- While in Montreal, we used to have a informal winter-league on Sunday mornings with 5-8 active shooters.
Click to expand...

I would say that range in Montreal was the only dedicated 50 meter range in all of Central/Eastern Canada.
When I was in NS never heard of any FP match. Indoors or outdoors, NS, NB, PEI, NFLD.
 
Drulov is definitely accurate, But it's ergonomics leave a lot to be desired. My left wrist hurt for a week after a 60 round match from turning the bolt with my left hand.
 
diopter said:
Drulov is definitely accurate, But it's ergonomics leave a lot to be desired. My left wrist hurt for a week after a 60 round match from turning the bolt with my left hand.
Click to expand...

I can see this being one issue indeed. The operation of the bolt is one area that could be supported by wooden grips but via design it's a no show.
I am not sure if Rink or Morini even builds a semi custom grip for the Drulov?
 
Brutus said:
I can see this being one issue indeed. The operation of the bolt is one area that could be supported by wooden grips but via design it's a no show.
I am not sure if Rink or Morini even builds a semi custom grip for the Drulov?
Click to expand...

Never seen one but I heard Marchal in Czechoslovakia did, but no longer.
I still need to get a quote from Precision Target Pistol Grips in the US. They 3d print their grips and can do a wood filament.

Drulov-75-left.jpg


Drulov-75-right.jpg


Note bolt is missing so hard to judge clearance.
 
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We have 50m ranges in Ontario. Grenville is one of them - use it to shoot Free Pistol and the 50m muzzleloading revolver (Donald Malsen) MLAIC event.

I miss shooting FP competitively as it is the most humbling and most rewarding pistol discipline. It is also the very best teacher of pistol marksmanship technique - if one can improve FP scores by 10 points one likely has seen a corresponding and larger jump in other pistol scores like Standard and Sport pistol.

I still keep my Hammerli 150 tuned up - don't shoot it as often as I would like but it is a wonderful pistol. My CM84E sits in the vault untouched. Lovely pistol but just not quite the right ergonomics for me with respect to grip angle. I do much better with the extreme rake angle of the Hammerli 150.

The comment about the Hammerli 150 loading lever forces are accurate in that it does take some effort to close the breech; this is because the chamber is quite tight and because, with most cartridges, the bullet is actually seating into the rifling slightly. This combination of design features is what makes this pistol produce stunning groups even with mediocre ammunition. I haven't Ransom-rested this pistol but have done so with my Morini CH84E. With anything other than the cheapest cr@p ammo (I mean CHEAP junk) it would print groups well within the 10-ring. Good ammo, like my vintage Eley Tenex, would print around 3/8" at 50m. A lot of rifles won't do that!
Interestingly there is a move afoot to bring a 50m single shot event to the MLAIC muzzleloader matches - it seems there are lots of FP shooters who miss competing at 50m. I count myself in their number.
 
diopter said:
Never seen one but I heard Marchal in Czechoslovakia did, but no longer.
Click to expand...

No, Dennis is no longer making target grip. Something happened to the equipment he was using (around 2012) and he hasn't replaced it. That's too bad, because I really liked his stuff.
- The 3d printed grip is interesting. For a reason or another, I'd want one in some funky color!
 
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