air pistol for training

5213 Views 30 Replies 24 Participants Last post by GrizG, 7 mo ago

dave milliron

Discussion Starter · Apr 13, 2013

Based on the continuing 22LR ammo shortage, I am looking into using air pistol for training. Thus saving my stock for later use. Here is the question: what air pistols are a good match to their power burning counterparts? Looks like some Walthers ppk, etc., browning buckmarkair and Gamo P-23 may be a close match. I have not found any clones of pistols in my collection so anything that cclose will work.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
//dm

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

Andyd

· #2 · Apr 13, 2013

If you ever stroll over to the Brian Enos forum, you will find that many of the nation's top shooters are spending a lot of training time with quite sophisticated airsoft guns.

I am old fashioned when it comes to airpistols, I use a Walther LP53 and a Feinwerkbau 65 to work on accuracy.

timberbeast

· #3 · Apr 13, 2013

I have a Daisy/Avanti 747 pellet pistol. It's very good for pistol training and pretty darn accurate at 10 meters. :t

Snap caps and dry firing is also excellent practice...most Olympic shooters do more dry firing than actual firing.

chicharrones

· #4 · Apr 13, 2013 (Edited)

dave milliron said:
Here is the question: what air pistols are a good match to their power burning counterparts? Looks like some Walthers ppk, etc., browning buckmarkair and Gamo P-23 may be a close match. I have not found any clones of pistols in my collection so anything that cclose will work.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
//dm

Like Andyd mentioned, airsoft pistols have basically cornered the market on firearms replicas that work like firearms.

There are a few BB gun replicas out there, but they usually don't have the self cocking blow back feature that airsoft usually has. Although, some BB pistols are now being made that way. Look into the CO2 BB guns if you want a repeater.

Ones I have that replicate (in looks, but not in function) a firearm are the Gamo PT80 (Beretta/Stoeger Cougar), the Gamo V3 (1911 commander), and the Walther PPK (Walther PPK of course). The Walther is the closest replica in function of the bunch.

I also have a friend with a Makarov BB pistol that is a nice replica of a Makarov.

What kind of firearms are you trying to match? Poke around at Pyramyd Air and see if they have what you want.

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chicharrones

· #5 · Apr 13, 2013

I need to add, these BB pistols are not nearly as accurate as their single shot pellet adversaries. They are good for short range "self defense" practice in your garage or for plinking, though.

Kermit1945

· #6 · Apr 13, 2013

Dave, it would help if we knew more about what kind of training you are wanting to accomplish.

chicharrones

· #7 · Apr 13, 2013

I forgot about this website. http://co2airguns.net/Collection/index.htm

It is a pretty cool place to look up old and new CO2 air pistol replicas. There is a short review and shooting test with each one.

gbo455

· #8 · Apr 30, 2013

Don't know if you are looking to mimic any specific handgun that you own or not.

For me, I own a Ruger SR-22, but wasn't crazy about the airpistols that were close in design (ie the Walthers). I wanted something fairly inexpensive and appropriate for use in my basement.

I happend upon a Browning Buck Mark look-alike, made by Umarax. Of course it is not at all like my SR-22, but it sure looks a lot like the famous target pistol for which it is named. It was less than $50, is a break barrel design (one very easy pump and no CO2 to bother with).

It shoots at 320 fps, so it's great for indoors with an appropriate pellet trap. It's also very quiet and remarkably accuarate for a springer. I've just finished going through 1000 pellets and I'm getting the hang of how to handle the gun.

I have to say that the ability to practice frequently at home, working on things like breath and trigger control and follow-through ( a real MUST with a springer), seems to have helped me at the gun range when shooting my Ruger. I guess the practice, even with a non similar pistol, really helps.

Good luck with whatever pistol you choose. It's great fun and should help your marksmanship in the long run.

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CardPuncher

· #9 · Apr 30, 2013

Depending on what type of shooting you do, you might look for an air pistol based on how it shoots rather than what it looks like. Mine is a Crosman 2300s CO2. Can't remember the cost but $200+ and it's very accurate. With a little work it now has a nice trigger. I have shot some that cost more, shoot better and were a joy to handle. If you want one-hole accuracy then you should practice with a pistol that can do it. If you don't care about that you can have a lot of fun shooting for less money but you won't necessarily get the quality you'd have in, for example, a real Browning Buckmark.

Oldgringo

· #10 · Apr 30, 2013

Mrs. Oldgringo's CC is a 638 S&W snubbie. She took to the Crosman 357W like a duck takes to water.

Yeah, yeah, I know the big 357 is not a snubbie; however, the actions, processes and aiming procedures are the same. She's not interested in being a competitor, she and I just want to be comfortable that she can hit the BG's COM if, heaven forbid, she's ever called upon to do so.

YMMV,

kwalityguy

· #11 · May 1, 2013

I recommend going to pyramydair.com. I have 6 co2 guns, 5 from them. Got a S&W45 from either Walmart or something similar. It's an exact replica to the real thing. Shoots pellets or BBs. Then I have three Dan Wesson revolvers, a chrome 2 1/2" barrel, a 4" black, and a 6" chrome. These guys are all metal and shoot BBs that you load into what looks like 38 special bullets. For fun I have an Uzi. Shoots 25 BB magazine loads as fast as you can pull the trigger. There's a way to convert it to full auto that I might do at some point but it voids the warranty. Finally I have a Colt 1911 pellet/BB gun. Also all metal. Weight and feel is exactly like the 45 version. No recoil but very nice. The Dan Wessons were $120 each, the Uzi was $160, the Colt was $200. Hours of cheap fun in my garage. The Colt and S&W can shoot 6 of 8 shots in a 1" diameter at 4 yards. And I'm not the best marksman.

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Oldgringo

· #12 · May 1, 2013

:bthumb: for http://www.pyramydair.com/

Wingshot

· #13 · May 2, 2013

I spent many cold nights in my basement with my Beeman P-17. $40. Ripped the cheapo red dot off and used the surprisingly good irons. Did an o-ring change out, trigger job and ended up with a good, accurate pistol that has helped me develop some good shooting habits that carry over into my Conventional rimfire pistol shooting. Thanks to the ammo shortage, I was able to re-discover a fun past time!

dave milliron

Discussion Starter · #14 · May 2, 2013

I should have checked back sooner. Thanks for the advice and links.

MY interest in air shooting is basic conservation on real ammunition stocks as I used to shoot close to a brick a month and have not had a 22 out for several months. I have not seen any ammo here in the SouthEast other than $9/box this year. Hence the Air pistol training. Looking for the feel and function for plinking. I will look at models recvommended here in this thread as well as the web site ...http://co2airguns.net/Collection/index.htm

This is a great reource for someone looking for a replicar air pistol. I will spend some time finalizing my choice or 2.

For target shooting the Crosman 2300T looks like a good value.

//dm

Talfryn

· #15 · May 20, 2013 (Edited)

If your interested in semi auto training I highly recommend the Gamo PT-85. I picked one up at Wally World for $70 USD. It has a rifled barrel, blowback action, and a 16 round magazine.
It isn't a replica of any particular gun. It has a nice heft to it and fits my hand very well. Single or double action. A slide lock would have been a nice touch, but I guess you can't have it all at this price.
The blowback has a nice kick. The construction is quite good for the money spent.
Performance wise I am getting 2" groupings at ten yards, off hand, using Crosman destroyer pellets. Crosman pointed and Daisy pointed aren't as accurate. Three good mags per cartridge at 70°F. Four at 85°F. I only have one magazine so the CO2 is warming up between loadings. If you shoot through three mags without a rest you will get less shots.
POI is a little left. When I get around to disassembling the gun I am going to look at tightening up the side play in the slide and get the POI centered.
The sights are fixed with white dots. The elevation is correct with the front sight even with the top of the rear. The front dot is higher than the rear dots when sighted. I prefer them to be even.
I have put two 20 cart boxes of CO2 through the gun so far without a problem.
When I bought the gun I also picked up a Crosman airgun holster for $9 USD. It fits the PT-85 perfectly and is made well enough for a carry holster for a firearm.
At .02¢ a shot it will keep me from getting rusty till the 22lr's come back and keep me shooting indoors during the winter.:t
-Tal

Pic from replica airguns. No affiliation.

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windsearcher

· #16 · May 20, 2013

Not perfect but works

For a very similar feel to my "defensive" handguns, I found a S&W M&P style airgun. CO2 powered.

It's not perfect... not blow back operated, and I really need some more mags, but for grip angle and sight picture it works well. Helps a lot with trigger control because the trigger sucks!!

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_510551_-1__?N=4294965779

Fits my S&W holster, and holds about 25 bb's, so it's nice to practice with. No recoil obviously, and no noise, but for target acquisition, sight picture and trigger control it does the job.

ZardozCZ

· #17 · May 24, 2013

Old guy here with old guy toys. I'm finding my Beeman P1 is a good practice analog for my S&W model 41. I'll shoot pellets during commercials or between chapters (I read).

First five

Second five with a flyer (it happens)

Doing this indoors at 7 meters helps with my .22 league shooting at 50 feet. Besides, I just like to shoot! Having an indoor "range" is really great for enhancing skills.

I don't think you'll regret it one bit!

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intense

· #18 · Mar 16, 2014

Talfryn said:
If your interested in semi auto training I highly recommend the Gamo PT-85. I picked one up at Wally World for $70 USD. It has a rifled barrel, blowback action, and a 16 round magazine.
It isn't a replica of any particular gun. It has a nice heft to it and fits my hand very well. Single or double action. A slide lock would have been a nice touch, but I guess you can't have it all at this price.
The blowback has a nice kick. The construction is quite good for the money spent.
Performance wise I am getting 2" groupings at ten yards, off hand, using Crosman destroyer pellets. Crosman pointed and Daisy pointed aren't as accurate. Three good mags per cartridge at 70°F. Four at 85°F. I only have one magazine so the CO2 is warming up between loadings. If you shoot through three mags without a rest you will get less shots.
POI is a little left. When I get around to disassembling the gun I am going to look at tightening up the side play in the slide and get the POI centered.
The sights are fixed with white dots. The elevation is correct with the front sight even with the top of the rear. The front dot is higher than the rear dots when sighted. I prefer them to be even.
I have put two 20 cart boxes of CO2 through the gun so far without a problem.
When I bought the gun I also picked up a Crosman airgun holster for $9 USD. It fits the PT-85 perfectly and is made well enough for a carry holster for a firearm.
At .02¢ a shot it will keep me from getting rusty till the 22lr's come back and keep me shooting indoors during the winter.:t
-Tal

Pic from replica airguns. No affiliation.

Just picked up 2 of these not bad for 70.00 cheap fun

Arrowhead

· #19 · Mar 16, 2014

windsearcher said:
For a very similar feel to my "defensive" handguns, I found a S&W M&P style airgun. CO2 powered.

It's not perfect... not blow back operated, and I really need some more mags, but for grip angle and sight picture it works well. Helps a lot with trigger control because the trigger sucks!!

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_510551_-1__?N=4294965779

Fits my S&W holster, and holds about 25 bb's, so it's nice to practice with. No recoil obviously, and no noise, but for target acquisition, sight picture and trigger control it does the job.

I bought one of these a couple of years ago. I completely agree about the trigger. The sights make up for the awful trigger to some extent as they are very good in my opinion. The thing does feel exactly like my real M&P size wise.
I bought one of the Colt Commander replicas at the same time. It feels like the real thing plus has enough weight to be realistic. Much better trigger than the M&P and I find it to more accurate also. Both will give a lot of shooting per powerlet.

I have a Desert Eagle pellet pistol also. Big, like the real thing, and blow back operated. Trigger isn't bad either. It has a rail and I added a cheap red dot sight and found this thing to be surprisingly accurate. The only drawback is it's appetite for CO2.

I also shoot a Baby Desert Eagle. It mostly compares to the M&P except the trigger is a little better.

They all help to maintain what little skill I have.

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mparker

· #20 · Mar 16, 2014

I like the Beeman P1 (Weihrauch HW 75) and the Baikal IZH 46M. Each covers practice with different types of match target pistols pretty well.

Beeman P1

Baikal IZH 46M

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