Entry level target pump pistol? (sub-$300)

[OahuDave]

Aloha All,

Looking for recommendations for a sub-$300 entry level pistol that I can use for 10m shooting. Prefer pump, so as not to have to keep co2 on hand. Also teaching my 8 year old and he has had a little trouble with the rifles so something he could possibly shoot as well. We only have indoor area to shoot so 10m is the max distance we can shoot in.

Mahalo in advance for all recommendations!

Dave

[lizzie]

Well, if you really want to go under the 300 dollar mark,   and have a decent shooting pump pistol, the Crosman 1377 is the ticket imo. It's accurate compared to other inexpensive pistols, and according to lots of the guys here, can be modified in many ways. It seems to be a very popular buy around here. I have one, and although I don't shoot it much, I love it.

[RedFeather]

Whatever you get, be sure your boy's hands can accomodate the grip geometry.  Sometimes you can put cut down, reduced stocks on pistols but you still have the index finger reach to consider.  There are some fine shooting pump pistols in your price range but several (like the Beeman P series) tend to be large, partly due to mimicking guns like the 1911.  Even though you say CO2 is out, you might want to take a look at the Crosman pistols based on their CO2 platform.  They can be had from the custom shop with nice triggers and you can compete with them, yourself, if you have a mind to.  The 1377 is a very good pistol but will require trigger work to make it competitive.  They aren't too light, either.  Another consideration for young arms.  What you want to concentrate on is a good trigger and sights.  Best to start them off right.

[OahuDave]

Well, if you really want to go under the 300 dollar mark,   and have a decent shooting pump pistol, the Crosman 1377 is the ticket imo. It's accurate compared to other inexpensive pistols, and according to lots of the guys here, can be modified in many ways. It seems to be a very popular buy around here. I have one, and although I don't shoot it much, I love it.

Well...I would rather not be limited, but...I need to just get a pistol that will work enough to have some fun with and still be accurate enough to not be frustrating. I just want to be able to hit targets sufficiently and once I decide to stick with this I will look for better equipment. I tend to go overboard from the start on all my hobbies and I burn out quickly, so just want to get in without spending too much right now.

I will check out the 1377.

Mahalo,
Dave

[OahuDave]

Whatever you get, be sure your boy's hands can accomodate the grip geometry.  Sometimes you can put cut down, reduced stocks on pistols but you still have the index finger reach to consider.  There are some fine shooting pump pistols in your price range but several (like the Beeman P series) tend to be large, partly due to mimicking guns like the 1911.  Even though you say CO2 is out, you might want to take a look at the Crosman pistols based on their CO2 platform.  They can be had from the custom shop with nice triggers and you can compete with them, yourself, if you have a mind to.  The 1377 is a very good pistol but will require trigger work to make it competitive.  They aren't too light, either.  Another consideration for young arms.  What you want to concentrate on is a good trigger and sights.  Best to start them off right.

Good point on my son being able to handle it. I know when I was 8 I was shooting rifles without too much trouble, but he really cannot handle them that well. At least not unsupported, and he cannot pump or cock them either. That is fine for now since I am really teaching him safety and some basics about shooting now.

I will check out the CO2 from Crosman and see what they have. I just don't like the idea of buying cartridge after cartridge. I remember going through those like crazy when I was young and I always ran out when I was enjoying myself.

I really do not like the replicate guns like the 1911 look-a-likes. Those do not appeal to me at all. I want something that looks like a pellet pistol personally. There was a Gamo (I believe that's the name) that just look like a target pistol and was about $200.

Was looking at this for pump:


Maybe this for CO2:


I have always just shot the junky guns from the sporting good stores. I would love to check out a really nice pistol/rifle some day, but there are no air gun clubs here in Hawaii that I have found. I really want to get my son comfortable enough with these and some higher powered rifles before introducing .22 rimfire. I have a nice 10/22 rifle waiting for him and a S&W 622 pistol as well that I love shooting.

Mahalo,
Dave

[OahuDave]

This one gets good reviews:

Diana RWS LP8

[OahuDave]

The more I research the more I realize I need a trainer gun for my son and a better one for me. So I guess I am looking for recommendations on a trainer as well. Thanks again for all the information and any suggestions.

Dave

[Addictedtoair]

Two nice entry level air pistols are the Daisy Avanti 717, @ $159.99, and the Daisy Avanti 747, @ $199.95, single pump, pneumatics at Pyramyd Air.


Brett

[ac12]

I suggest the Daisy 747 or the cheaper 717.  The difference is the 747 had an adjustable trigger and a better barrel.
I have a 747.  The only "problem" that I have w the Daisy is the grip is a slippery plastic.  With the muzzle heavy balance, the pistol wants to rotate and slip in my sweaty hand.  I fixed that problem w a small square of plastic non-skid from Ace Hardware put on the backstrap of the grip.

I would stay away from a spring pistol like the LP8.  The recoil and vibration of a spring pistol will make it harder to shoot accurately than a SSP or CO2 pistol which has ZERO recoil and vibration.

IMHO the Crossman 2300T, is set up as a left-handed pistol.  With the bolt on the right side, if you are right-handed you have to reach over the pistol w the left hand or swap hands to load.  That is an awkward motion.  But it is an interesting pistol that I think I will get, one of these days.

Where are you in Hawaii?  There are a bunch of airgun guys there, but most are rifle shooters.  I do know that a 10m AP group used to meet at the McKinley High School range.  I shot with them once.  When I go over, I sometimes bring my 10m AP with me, but it can be such a hassle w TSA.

I don't know of a decent AP with a small grip.  
I have not handled one, but the pix of the Crossman 2300T looks like it might fit him.

BTW for your son, take a look at the following ARs that I think will fit him.
- Daisy 953, SSP, 12" length of pull (LoP), but a bit heavy, better shot off a rest unless he is strong enough to hold it.  This is my favorite casual rifle.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-powerline-953-targetpro?m=585
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-powerline-953-targetpro-target-sights?m=2610
- IZH 60/61, spring powered, easily adjustable stock for LoP, small grip and short trigger reach, plus it "looks cool."  It has a REALLY NICE trigger.  Min LoP is about 12".
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/izh-60-air-rifle?m=75
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/izh-61-multi-shot-air-rifle?m=76

BTW, the links to Pyramid Air is only to show the gun, I have no idea if their prices are competitive or not.

[BenjiHunter]

Aloha, Dave.
I would go for the Crosman 1377.
It's very light. Perfect for a 8 year old.

[OahuDave]

Two nice entry level air pistols are the Daisy Avanti 717, @ $159.99, and the Daisy Avanti 747, @ $199.95, single pump, pneumatics at Pyramyd Air.

Mahalo Brett. I was checking those out as well. It is SO hard to know what is good online. I figure I am going to take all the advice here, do as much Googling as I can and then just choose one and enjoy it as much as I can.

Dave

[OahuDave]

I suggest the Daisy 747 or the cheaper 717.  The difference is the 747 had an adjustable trigger and a better barrel.
I have a 747.  The only "problem" that I have w the Daisy is the grip is a slippery plastic.  With the muzzle heavy balance, the pistol wants to rotate and slip in my sweaty hand.  I fixed that problem w a small square of plastic non-skid from Ace Hardware put on the backstrap of the grip.

Good info on the gun. That looks like a definite contendor, the 747. That and the Gamo are to my liking so far.

I would stay away from a spring pistol like the LP8.  The recoil and vibration of a spring pistol will make it harder to shoot accurately than a SSP or CO2 pistol which has ZERO recoil and vibration.

Ah, ok. I had no idea about that. I am not really liking the Nitro rifle, has a kick that makes accuracy harder. I need to remmeber the differences between these guns and the compression mechanisms. Thanks.

Where are you in Hawaii?  There are a bunch of airgun guys there, but most are rifle shooters.  I do know that a 10m AP group used to meet at the McKinley High School range.  I shot with them once.  When I go over, I sometimes bring my 10m AP with me, but it can be such a hassle w TSA.

I am in Central Oahu in Mililani. I would really like to find some people to shoot with here. The rifles I picked up are junk, but still fun to shoot with. I would like to check out some of the nice rifles/pistols so I know what to look forward to in the future. As much as I used to like to shoot rimfire I will get more use out of AGs and would like to get nicer ones in the future.

BTW for your son, take a look at the following ARs that I think will fit him.
- Daisy 953, SSP, 12" length of pull (LoP), but a bit heavy, better shot off a rest unless he is strong enough to hold it.  This is my favorite casual rifle.
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-powerline-953-targetpro?m=585
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/daisy-powerline-953-targetpro-target-sights?m=2610
- IZH 60/61, spring powered, easily adjustable stock for LoP, small grip and short trigger reach, plus it "looks cool."  It has a REALLY NICE trigger.  Min LoP is about 12".
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/izh-60-air-rifle?m=75
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/izh-61-multi-shot-air-rifle?m=76

BTW, the links to Pyramid Air is only to show the gun, I have no idea if their prices are competitive or not.

Many thanks. Will check those out now.

Mahalo for all the info,
Dave

[OahuDave]

Aloha, Dave.
I would go for the Crosman 1377.
It's very light. Perfect for a 8 year old.

I like that it is cheap too for him to at least get used to. I am wondering if a CO2 for him might be better as he is not very strong. So many choices!!!

[OahuDave]

Adding this to the shopping cart now probably for both my son and I to shoot. Wish I had known the difference between spring and SSP before I bought the Nitro. Oh well.



EDIT: Ouch! Maybe not. They want over $100 to ship it here to Hawaii. That is the MAJOR drawback here.

[BenjiHunter]

Aloha, Dave.
I would go for the Crosman 1377.
It's very light. Perfect for a 8 year old.

I like that it is cheap too for him to at least get used to. I am wondering if a CO2 for him might be better as he is not very strong. So many choices!!!

They are very easy to pump.

[OahuDave]

I ended up order a 1377, 2240 and a 2300S. I figure those will be fun for my son and I to shoot and will last us a long time. After researching the CO2 option that really sounded like a good way to go. No pumping, but still will have the 1377 to use too.

Thanks again for all the tips and info! I will post up once we get it and shoot with it. We look forward to shooting in some of the weekly matches.
Dave

[ac12]

Yeah shipping to HI is a bummer.
In the past UPS only did blue (air), not the cheaper brown (despite that they could put a container on Matson and ship it over).

There are a few freight forwarders will consolidate and freight forward to HI.  You have the stuff shipped to them on the west coast, they fill a container and ship the container, then in HI either you go pick it up or they deliver locally (can't remember the details).

Good luck in the shooting w your son.
Get a BOX of co2 cartridges.  Nothing worse than running out and all the local stores are OUT  :-(

[althawk]

Worth considering: (the first couple pistols you might only get used for around $300 if you're extremely lucky. The rest can either be found new or used under $300, esp. the models discontinued in the last few years.) FYI if you see an IZH 46 around $300... someone'll have probably already seen it before ya and made an offer to buy it.

FAS 604

http://home.comcast.net/~fc60net/FAS/FAS_604_Rebuild.pdf
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzle.de%2FN3%2FDruckluft%2FFAS_AP_604%2Ffas_ap_604.html&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=Translate

IZH 46 Match Pistol


Beeman P11 / P1 / Weihrauch 45 (SPRINGERS)


http://my.tbaytel.net/coopers/HW45Review/review.html

Weihrauch 75


----------------------------------------Under this line $40-$300-----------------------------

Webley Nemesis


Gamo AF10 / PR 15 / PR 45 / Compact



Daisy 717/747


Beeman P3/ Weihrauch HW 40 / Beeman P17 / HDS9 / WMN Mod. S 9



http://my.tbaytel.net/coopers/HW40Review/review.html

[althawk]

Multipumpers:


Webley Alecto/ Webley Alecto Ultra


Crosman Benjamin HB17/ nickle plated HB17 / HB22



Crosman 1377/1377B/1322

[althawk]

You could also try Walmart, they do have free shipping to store... if you do in-store pickup.
Course it might be different in hawaii, or maybe not?
They've got some decent basic airguns, once you ignore the junk.

Walmart #2126-Mililani
95-550 Lanikuhana Ave
Mililani, HI 96789
(808) 623-6744

http://www.walmart.com/cp/Pellet-Guns/1080384?showAll=true

oddly walmarts site isn't letting me select this for purchase:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Beeman-Deluxe-Air-Pistol/17217811
But if i change my store location to continental U.S. (from hawaii) it does let me buy it at $39.99... weird, cause only a few weeks ago you could order it. Seems like its in-store only, but in limited stores.

Beeman P17 (SSP)
But while set in above store, site did let me 'order' these:

Crosman 2100 (.177, multipump) Crosman 1077 (CO2)
Ruger Explorer (SPRINGER) Crosman Raven (SPRINGER)
Blue Streak (.20,multipump) Benji 392 (.22,multipump)

I'm a big fan of the Beeman p17 ssp. Its cheap to buy. Cheap to fix. If only it didn't go thru pellets so quickly.