Sidearms & Scatterguns Air pistol advice -- looking for a high-grade target practice pistol. Any shooters?

[sirhrmechanic]

So last week, I was at a small gunshop in Indiana. They had a really nice Feinwerkbau pistol in a case. That got me interested (once again) in picking up a very high-end air pistol for quiet practice.

Not looking for a low-end. Not looking for a Co2 or a 'tank charge' but for a single stroke pneumatic.

Any serious air pistol shooters here? I've been looking at some FWB's, Baikal's, Hammerli's. but air pistols are a world into themselves. And some of the older ones can be priced well, but can require major service/maintenance (I assume seals??) and may be not the bargain they seem to be.

So who knows about good air pistols and what advice can you share?

Thanks in advance,

Sirhr

 

[...]

not much of a pistol shooter......but ide avoid the Baikals ( unless you can get them for a good price)......i messed around with the IZH46....and the thing feel absolutely Soviet.....very blocky and poor fit and finish...

 

[mjb]

I've been looking at a FAS 6004. It's an Italian 10m air pistol that seems very accurate but doesn't need the gas or anything but quality pellets. I've seen it for $368.

 

[steve123]

Airguns of Arizona had FWB rebuild kits for my 300 and my 601 rifles so I recommend them. A friend has a 103 SSP pistol and it's typical top of the line quality as well.

Haven't shot the Pardini yet.

I shot a FAS 6004 MK2 last weekend and it is well the worth the price. I had no complaints.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I had not looked at a FAS>.. but I am off to do that!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

MJB and Steve:

After doing a ton of research on everything from FWB's (I don't like the tank fill) right across the board... I order an FAS. And went with the target, not the match. Only because the Match Grip didn't seem to be worth the extra $100+ and that seems to be the only difference. Bought 2500 pellets at the same time! Whole thing out the door, including shipping, for about $400. Which is less than a used and (probably in need of rebuild) FWB. And since I am not headed for the Olympics any time soon, but want a highly accurate and quiet target pistol for my porch and indoors, this is perfect!

Thanks guys! I did not even have an FAS on my list to look at. But a visit to Airguns of AZ and some videos by Airgun Depot (where the reviews are superlative) and I put in my order!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[steve123]

You're welcome!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Good call Steve... the air pistol got here Friday from Airguns of Arizona. Right on time. I ended up with the match grips, because the standard grips were out of stock and they didn't know when they'd have more.

Bought several hundred match pellets at the same time.

After sighting it in, which took about 15 shots (it was way low and to the left), this is my first 5 shot group at 10 meters. Offhand, two handed. Unsupported. That's a .40 sitting next to their business card which I used as an impromptu target.

Very happy and impressed. Nice little plinker. Needs better sights. I am going to start by putting some color on them. The lack of contrast does not help.

Busenhalter-6 was just 100 feet away and she didn't even hear me shoot it. Going to be a nice indoor shooter, too.

Thanks for the advice and input everyone!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Maser]

I know you already got your pistol, but in the future you should give one of these a try. They look pretty fun and might pick one up for myself!
http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Umarex_Trevox_Air_Pistol/4355

 

[sirhrmechanic]

^^^ I looked at those, but wanted to go with something that took away my excuses. And these are low power, super quiet and match accurate.

But I am wishing I had bought a good air pistol years ago... I shot them constantly as a kid. It was how I learned to shoot a handgun. But it had been something like 35 years since I shot one. Shot 200 rounds this afternoon... cost me 5 bucks. And I really concentrated on my fundamentals. Off to eBay to order a good pellet trap for indoors. And lots of 10M targets.

BTW, the Feinwerkbau that I saw out in Indiana (I called back a week later and it was gone) sold for $150. For a Feinwerkbau. I KNEW I should have asked the price.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[jim10801]

I have a couple of FWB Model 65's. One with target grips and the other has sporter grips. These are 'old' technology recoiless spring piston 10 meter target pistols that ruled that area of the sport for many, many years. Granted, seals need replacing every couple of decades. And clean samples of them cost $400 up to the sky's the limit. But take care of them and 100 years from now they will still be stacking .177 pellets on targets or taking out bumble bees in the backyard.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Agree, Jim.

So I am getting into a routine of shooting 50 pellets a night. Great practice. Right in my living room. This 10M pistol doesn't even disturb the cats. They don't even look up.

Bought this little gem off eBay for peanuts. Along with a ton of targets. Canadian company makes/sells them. It's about a 4" square pellet trap. When I first got it I thought it was not in the box... too small. For some reason, I was expecting a 12" square pellet trap. Then it occurred to me that I am shooting 10M. If I can't keep every shot in a quarter... much less a 4" x 4" trap, I might as well just buy a shotgun and shoot lawnmowers or something. I think the trap and 1000 targets cost me about $40. Brilliant!

One of the best shooting investments ever. Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[steve123]

Well good for you Sirhr, glad you like the pistol!

That's what people don't understand, (usually the goofballs that call them BB guns) and you're right, a good airgun is the best training aide there is. If you don't do it already, you'll be outshooting all your friends soon - trigger time with no recoil upset so you can learn from every error in fundamentals. As you've noticed, follow through makes all the difference.

SSP rifle now??? Love my FWB601. Shooting 9mm hulls at 20Y is fun too.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

^^^ Well, I already outshoot all my friends. And before I retired... all my ex-department. And all my former LE colleagues in the county. But nothing wrong with getting better!

It's also hard to be humble when you're so good!

But the best part is that I am shooting every day. And as civilization encroaches on Schloss Nitrocellulose, every time I shoot here, the PD get calls from whiny twats complaining... which I could care less about the complaints. But they have to do an incident report, it's a PITA, etc. etc. etc.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[steve123]

Friggin whiny twats! They always gotta try to screw up a good thing.

Good job with your shooting man! They don't stand a chance now.

 

[sandwarrior]

There's always the Walther LP53... Not too expensive if you don't get the one from the movie.
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