Pistol air guns

sgt.rock said:
That sounds really good. I just want to hear from anyone here that owns a vigilante (there is one at my Can Tire now) if it is decent and if accuracy is ok or barndoor bad. I may pick one up today and try it out. If I like it, I will be looking for an Umarex 586 quickly.
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I have a Vigilante as well as my 586. In single action at 6m standing no rest. I shoot about 1.5" groups (sometimes I am switched on and do 1") with the 586 and about 2" with the Vigilante. I also get better mileage from the Vigilante with about 90 shots per 12gm. Test the waters fwith the Vigilante first to see if you like revolvers. Then move up to the 586/686 if your hooked and want something nicer.

Moe
 
I ended up buying a slightly used vigilante off the EE. Gonna see how it goes. I have about 8 different pellet types to start with. Not expecting anything but hoping to get some decent groups.
 
I am having a custom 2240 built as we speak with a 10" barrel ,walnut grips , brass power adjuster,LPA rear sight and valve tweaks. Still undecided on a front sight muzzle brake style .Will set it up for just under 500fps. As well complete overhaul on a Crosman MK1 ....will see what fps is like before a possible longer barrel replacement.Harold
 
We have used Crosman MKII and 2240 pistols, but prefer Benjamin HB pneumatic pump pistols in .20 (HB-20) and .22 (HB-22) and EB CO2 pistols in .20 (EB-20) and .22 (EB-22)... we have shot hundreds of grouse and hares with these guns and spent countless hours shooting paper and pop cans and clays.
 
It can only be found used, it's expensive and pellet sensitive, but the Drulov DU-10 Condor is nice. It's a repeater pistol, good quality and accurate. The trigger and the grip are adjustable. Well worth the price. If you want a one shot pistol, then the IZH-46m or the Tau-7 are also very nice.
Denis
 
you can never go wrong with any Crosman 22XX platform airgun, currently building my 5th one. It gets addictive and sadly they get used more then my actual guns.
 
Probably a reasonable place to start without spending too much although the Umarex range is better quality.
The 2240 is powerful and LOUD - maybe too loud depending on where your shed is.
 
I'm down to a couple of pistols, a Webley Tempest in .177, and a Crosman 1377. (with pistol grips and a 1399 stock) I've owned few realistic blow-back CO2 models but honestly, my opinion is that...as cool as they are...the gas used to cycle the action digests too much OF it. Between that, and the temptation to let 'em fly, I find the experience of shooting them very unsatisfying.

My Webley Temptest is one of the British ones (they're made in Turkey now I think) I bought new for $165 maybe 23 years ago or so? To me, the best combination balance, size, power, ease of use, etc. I'll never sell mine, and I don't say that about many things I own! :) The 1377 with that stock has really been an amazing gun, got that 31 years ago and have only sent it out for seals 2x. Granted, it doesn't see much use anymore but that gun was a hunter in it's day. I don't think I'd be overly keen using it as a pistol, very much muzzle heavy with that long barrel.

I only have plans to add 1 more air pistol to my collection, and that's a 2240. I had one and like a dummy, sold it. Yes, they're a bit thirsty too in terms of CO2 consumption, but the enjoyment of shooting it far outweighs that factor in my opinion. They go off with quite a thump, are quick to reload, accurate, etc. Balance is very good, they're all business...affordable..and as others have touched on, easy to customize. When I get one again, it may very well stay in it's stock configuration (they NEED nothing) but I may add a steel breech down the road. They're allot of gun for the $ if you ask me.
 
I like the Umarex Steel Storm BB gun.It has a 20 inch barrel and is quite accurate up to 30-50 ft.It shoots single shot or 6 round bursts with 2 c02 cartridges loaded into the handle.The trigger is light and crisp and single action only.I have a Webley Tempest , Crosman 1377,Crosman 2240,Umarex USP,Umarex CP99,and a R8 Umerex Revolver.They are all fun to shoot.The 1377 is the most powerful and accurate, but slowest to reload.My 2240 is customized to 16 inch barrel and steel breech, and custom wood grips . I am going to make a basement range with a gallery of small targets.Wine corks, 12 gauge empty shells, etc.I get my C02 in bulk in boxes of 50 and BB's can be used again.
 
An air pistol is great for practice!

I have a Crosman 1322, similar to the 2240 but you pump it. I just personally just hate the CO2 canisters...
 
I have been thinking of buying an airsoft for shooting in the garage. They have some very good quality ones out there that are very close to your real pistol of preference. I'm looking for a Glock 17 or 19 version.
 
Crosman 1322. You have to pump it but never have to buy C02...and they are accurate as hell, out of the box.

And that's not just 10 feet away...a few people were hitting a Coke can like 60 feet away with almost every shot! They're seriously accurate.

You can buy them at Can Tire, Wally World, Princess Auto, airgun suppliers...easy to find.

Plus tons of mods available if you so desire. They work fine as is too.
 
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Carefully steer clear of the likes of such names as Feinwerkbau, Tau, Drulov, Morini, Hammerli, and such.

I can pretty much attest, that once you shoot a couple different "Quality" air pistols, you will be pretty much ruined. :)

Like shooting any accurate firearm, once you KNOW that the reason the group is the size and shape it is, is because of YOU, not the gun or ammo, your shooting will start to improve a great deal.

I had a CO2 Pardini, that was an awful lot of fun to shoot grasshoppers with!

For a more casual approach to a really decent quality air pistol, look at the used FWB 65 spring guns. Not super expensive, top quality build standard, and no other consumables to deal with.

Cheers
Trev
 
With the 1322 a worthwhile mod is to replace the pump forend with a 2289 fat one to cut down on finger pinching........Harold
 
I have a used Crosman 2289 Backpacker coming by weeks end.They were discontinued for some reason and have a 14" barrel fat forend and detachable stock. basically a beefed up 1322 same internals. Swapping out to a flat top piston and plugging the bleed hole drilled for the Canadian market and changing the hammer spring to a 2240 one should run at just under 500 fps. Will add a steel breach with dovetails for scope mounting. A backup for cold weather if the 2240 carbine balks.I'm sure pumping 10 times to reload in the middle of a flock of grouse will get old real quick.Harold
 
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