I should add that in the world of guns, I strongly lean toward tried and true timeless classics. So if there's a such thing in the pellet pistol category, that's what I'd lean to. As an example, I ended up buying 300s for my pellet rifle.

 

The el cheapo Beeman P17 continues to impress me. It is a copy of the Weihrauch HW40 PCA for an 8th of the cost and yet it shoots fantastically!

 

I'll google them, thank you

 

What do you want to use the gun for? A Crosman 1377 or 1322 might be good for general plinking, varmint and target shooting, since you can control velocity by the number of pumps.

 

Thats what I had, and if I can't land on anything else I may go back to it.

 

I just sold here on the TP a near mint FWB 65, essentially the handgun version of the 300S. I also just sold a TAU 7 Jr CO2 match pellet pistol. I would recommend either of those. You should probably check out the TP more often.

 

Ok I'm stumped... what's the TP? That pistol does look beautiful. Any idea where my best bet finding one is?

 

TP = Trading Post
The FWB 65 has achieved near cult status, with some of the pristine examples bringing $1500 to $2000. I sold mine way too low, but I got more than I paid. It went to a good home in NY. No idea where to find another one.

 

Any of the Feinwerkbau (FWB) single stroke pneumatics would certainly be in the “Timeless Classic” category. Starting with the model 100, then the 102 and finally the 103. Hard to find but well worth the effort when you do. Check them out with Google.
I much prefer them to the “Springers”.

 

The Crossman 2240XL co2 $115 they are great very accurate

 

It depends upon what you want to do with it and how powerful you need. The HW 45 looks a lot like a Colt 1911, on steroids and is a spring air that has a unique feature in that you can cock it at two different power levels. Spring jump/recoil bothers some people and takes a bit of a learning curve to shoot well. The HW75 is a big single stroke pneumatic, no springs,or recoil to deal with, big, heavy , hard to cock, and accurate. I have a Air Venuri AV 46m a pure 10 M target pistol, expensive, single stroke pneumatic, weird looking but easy to cock and accurate beyond belief. Next step is PCP types, but that requires a pump, manual or an electric compressor and I never wanted to get into that. CO2 is ok, but at end of one of the little cartridges life power drops off rather quickly. Honestly I wish I had bought one of the FWB 65 or 100 models back in the day when they were making them, I did some looking and got some Daisy 777 target pistol, and rebuilt them. The made 3 versions, a 717 747 and the 777, first was real basic, the second had a better barrel and adjustable trigger, and the last has the better barrel a milled steel cocking lever vs stamped, an adjustable trigger and a fantastic all steel adjustable sight. Sight on the first two is plastic and adjustable, but the steel one is really good, even the width of the notch is infinetly adjustable via a little screw. Rebuild is rather easy, a few o rings and they have a foam wiper which I replaced with some split teflon rings, kinda compare to rings in an internal combustion engine, but several to hold a couple of drops of oil to keep the compression cylinder oiled.

 

I have a Diana LP8 that constantly impresses me with its accuracy. it’s big and heavy, but function is spot on.

 

Crosman 177 & 22 Cal..Pump action.... Can't beat them for Accurate Pellet Handgun.

 

Thanks guys, now I'm barkin' up a 65 to go with my 300s. No luck funding any 100 series but I'll keep a look out.

I'm going to follow up on some of others you guys posted too. I have a 10 year old and he likes going after vermin.

 

The Beeman P17 gets my vote if you want something that is entirely self contained. Very accurate and inexpensive. Added a grip sleeve on mine. Great for target shooting but may be a little under powered for hunting vermin.

 

We still don't have any real idea of what you want to do with your pellet pistol. Different uses call for different power levels (which was why I suggested multi-pump pistols above) and a pistol that meets accuracy requirements for short range target shooting might be completely inappropriate for your son going after vermin. Please give us additional information, which might well obviate some of the suggestions that have been made so far, as is obvious in GuitarmanNick's post.

 

The reality is that the pistol wont be used much. When we use it, it'll be very occasional. Probably hunt a gopher or vole once in a while, but the most it'll be used for will be to shoot flies off of sticky paper for fun.

 

Love my 65 but wish it were easier to put a micro dot on it. Has that super nice trigger that is easy to put on a higher setting. I put it there to be closer to the 1 3/4# triggers on my .22 target pistols. I also enjoy the 300 as well and scored the rare Junior version that fits me better. Its also lighter scoped at 9.5#'s.

I just shot my 65 and it weighs 3# 1.5oz so pretty close to my target .22's. The higher selected trigger weight is 2 1/2#'s. I thought it was closer to 2 because it breaks so clean.

Those Crosman's are super nice if you don't mind the pumping. I think there are trigger kits but I did mine using some good instructions a long time ago and it came out great.

 

Since you are aware of the FWB 65s and FWB 300s..... There is no reall sence in going backwards. I recently held some nice FWBs, Pardini and a couple of Styers. As I recall, his Styer appeared to be the easiest to scope and red dot.
Personally, I scope all of my guns for nothing else accuracy testing. Below is a no smith mount I designed and had made for a MAS 45 bolt action .22LR.
I would pick the pistol that you really want and simply overcome whatever obstacle you have to scope her. I recently bought a 300 that is in really nice condition. It does however need a new internal piston buffer. It's easy to determine..... open the cocking lever all of the way and put a small, thin object into the transfer port. If it feels waxy or yeilds, then you also need a new buffer. Mine felt like I was penatrating a soft eraser. :-( Regards and good luck.

 

For CO2 I'd recommend Diana Airbug. Very accurate and cartridge changes are easy.
In pump a Crosman 1377 or 1322. Variable power and some nice aftermarket upgrades. Both pretty good out of the box.
Both can also be upgraded or bought as a rifle configuration too. For the Diana, look for a Chaser. Same pistol as the airbug but with an accesory stock and comes with both pistol & carbine length barrels as well as a moderator.
I also have a few break barrel pistols, a Browning Buckmark (optic ready and easy to cock but weak power) and an Umarex Trevox (good power but really large for a pistol and a really bad trigger).

 

Fiddy, since you like nice things, or you wouldn't have the 300S, stick with FWB and you will never be sorry. Get obsessive about searching, wherever you can think of. They are out there. Don't give up until you get a nice FWB 65 that is fully functional. They are a bit complex, so if something does not seem right, be hesitant, or you could spend a lot of time trying to find somebody competent to fix it. What is complex is the no-recoil system, and of course the precision trigger mechanism itself. This is a very fine instrument.

Of course, if something is "almost" right, you may be able to get it for a song, and spend some time tracking down parts. I bought a beautiful 300 (not 300S) for $180 at a gun show because somebody died before he got a couple missing parts for it. It took me awhile, but I finally got it fixed. Having both a 300 and 300S is something I would not have thought possible. Nice accidents happen sometimes.

I also have a 300S which I bought new, same with my 124 Sport rifle, and a FWB 65 which I bought in 1975 when Daisy was the importer. I bought it with the FWB black leather-covered hard carrying case which, I imagine, is almost impossible to find these days. Probably worth more than most air pistols. Here's what it looks like, when you are searching for an F65.

Final testimonial: In almost 50 years, I have never had anything break on an FWB air gun. They are all single hole shooters. Triggers are superb. Squirrels despise them. You feel good, just looking at them and handling them. The pistols have steel piston rings, just like a car. The Germans at FWB know what they are doing. No "woke" clowns running Quality Control. What's not to like?

 

Very informative video on the evolution of recoiless air pistols.

 

I would've loved to watch this. But even w/my volume @100% only wispers.

 

The FWB 65 is def a winner. Another really sweet spring piston pistol that's well made, accurate, and a joy to cock and shoot is the HW70. It's not super heavy or bulky and can be fired on handed. You can shoot it all day without getting tired. It shoots .177 pellets at around 350fps. It's not a magnum, but super accurate and fun.

 

Since the OP indicated that his son likes to shoot pests around the property and the FWB 65 only shoots 350 fps, I would say it is a very poor choice; only extremely well-placed head shots are likely to kill and even those might be questionable, depending on the specific pest. Most people agree that at least 400-450 fps is required for humane kills and even those require precise pellet placement. Accuracy with low velocity is fine if one is plinking or shooting only targets but shooting pests/game requires much higher velocities.

 

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Very similar to the original case my Model 100 came in,

 

My F65 is certainly not "350 FPS". It is around 450. But that is still marginal for shooting any larger pest. For those, including squirrels, I stay with my PCP rifles, in the 850 to 1200 FPS range. The FWB 124 Sport springer is in that range, and will do the job nicely and accurately, but PCP guns require less arm power.

 

Yes, important to use the right tool for the job so we are not wounding critters. All of my good ones are target velocity and while my FWB 300jr is a little over 600fps with 7.33gr Falcons, my best tool is the old Benjamin Racine pump in .177 and .22. Tough to use anything outside the house as it illegal to shoot by city ordinance. Always dreamed of having a nice size Quonset hut command center with TV so you could shoot at mice on the run with the pellet guns.

 

Gwelo, thanks so much for that video, which I finally got around to looking at. And thanks for the pic of your FWB 100, which was demonstrated in the video. I did not even know that the model existed. FWB still seems to be the leader in top end precision air arms. I think it is sad that so few American shooters even know that ultimate accuracy is only to be had with such target arms. I guess they associate "air" guns with such things as the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun, my first also.

No U.S. manufacturer has, in the past, been motivated to get into this market in a serious way. But it is encouraging that they are finally discovering PCP. Perhaps the ever-increasing pressure on firearms will motivate more people to take a closer look at what Europeans already know about.

 

LOL, I swear, I've spent more Money on everything 'shooting Sports' over the past several months, since I've joined these forums, That I have over the past 10 years. Seems every time I log on, I see something 'Ohhhh, I want one (at least) of those!!'

 

Robert
I am completely with you on this one. Was completely happy to have settled on my Marlin 39a rifle and Mountie with a Kimber 82G that shoots Lites out. With the help of my local friend Jon (met here on RFC) and the daily visits, between guns, scopes and ammos it's enough I would not want to tally up the damage. It was all justifiable due to the below market acquisitions. Since I no longer shoot many critters, targets beware!

 

You might look a Pyramyd Air. Good source for air guns!