Author Topic: Using air pistols to hone shooting skills (Read 9318 times))

hebear · « **on:** March 06, 2014, 04:10:17 PM »

I wanted to start this topic because I was wondering how many of us us air pistols to improve our pistol shooting skills. I shoot muzzle loading pistol / revolver pistols competitively in local shoots and Nationally. I found that air pistols are a great way to see that nasty trigger twitch, practice your follow through, stance and diminish hold time. The side effect is I got sucked into air pistols / rifles and enjoy them more than I thought that I would. I have been going down to my muzzle loading club and shooting my air pistols when things are slow but, because of the weather, I have setup a 22 ft range in my garage. I want to see if this practice improves my scores next time I shoot. Last year I have noticed some bad habits in my shooting and I hope this practice will help me get rid of them.

Rboss75 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2014, 04:38:14 PM »

I truly believe any type of shooting improves your shooting skills. I have been a police officer for 30 years. ( just retired) but I did notice that when I became heavily involved in air gunning it did improve my shooting skills at the police range. Unlike firearms Air guns allow you to shoot at home in your basement, garage, backyard, etc etc. So therefore any trigger time is good time.

Nod · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2014, 05:50:45 PM »

What air pistols are you using ? I just bought an LP8. Can't wait for it to get here. I had a Browning 800 but the quality was so poor so I returned it.

hebear · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2014, 07:34:09 PM »

I started with the crosman 1377 then the 2240 and modified it to .177. Now I am getting the Beeman P17 and another 2240 so I can shoot .22. I hope that with the practicing I will be able to move up to the final classification of High Master. I shoot between Master and High Master and would like to get over the hump.

Mr Sasquatch · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2014, 07:44:51 PM »

Quote from: Rboss75 on March 06, 2014, 04:38:14 PM

I truly believe any type of shooting improves your shooting skills.

100% agree. When I stated shooting in USPSA "run-and-gun" pistol matches I incorporated an air pistol in my daily practice routine at home. First I would do a lot of dry-fire drills (drawing, target acquisition., etc..) with my real pistol to get my muscles trained with the proper weight. After that I'd add some trigger time with a CO2 blow-back BB pistol to work on that pesky trigger jerk and follow-up shots. Add to that a few reduced size targets and an iPhone timer, and you can almost replicate an USPSA match in your basement.

seeknulfind · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2019, 09:16:25 AM »

Johnny come lately here... I just joined this forum for this exact reason. Mr Sasquatch, and anyone else with some practical experience, I'd like to know more about how you go about this. I am not a competitive shooter at all. I just like to shoot but I'd like take my shooting up a few notches.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2019, 10:50:16 AM »

There are many replica air pistols on the market, many replicate the actual firearm, I prefer the ones that shoot pellets for the better accuracy you get with pellets.
If you can give some details to the pistols you are using, many can give their opinions and experiences on almost any particular gun. Sig Sauer offers many air powered options of their real guns BTW.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2019, 01:16:22 PM »

I put thousands of rounds through my Crosman 150's over the winter and have improved considerably I think. They're only single shot but they do have decent triggers on them and the one that I used the most is over 60 years old, it sure is a lot of fun especially when I cast my own pellets that are well capable of hole in hole accuracy with the right gun.

45Bravo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2019, 01:21:40 AM »

My personal favorites for practice is a Crosman Mk1, replica of the Ruger Mk1,
and the S&W 78 or 79g, airgun copy of The S&W 41.
The S&W pistols were made by Smith & Wesson, and later sold the tooling to Daisy.

Both pistols are of excellent quality, and very accurate.

Unfortunately, they like the daisy guns are out of production, but can be found on the used market for around $100 for the Crosman, and a little more for the S&W.

Wayne52 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2019, 04:55:39 AM »

I have the hollow point mold coming from NOE in the 30grain BBT's I plan on trying out the hollow points in my pistols with my favorite Crosman 150 when it gets warm enough outside for co2. I'll be after the close up chipmunks and red squirrels with it. I've already shot my 150 out to about 10 yards successfully burying a 19.6 cast pellet far enough into a 4x4 accurately to convince myself they'd be very capable close up.

RobertMcC · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:39:59 AM »

While I tried to use airguns to help my PB shooting. It didn't work for me. I found the weight of the guns were off, the sights are different and the trigger are. Because I wanted to improve my left hand shooting. But Airguns and laser practice didn't improve the actual.

seeknulfind · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2019, 07:33:53 AM »

As far as the pistols I use, one is a Crossman somethingy, the other is a Baretta blowback. The blowback has decent weight and simulates a light pistol to some degree. The Baretta also simulates changing magazines.

My primary interest is a target/scenario setup such as clearing a house or some other active shooting situation. If anyone is doing something like this, I'd love to see their setup. If I build my own, it will need to be an outdoor range at this point.

Andy

HunterWhite · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2019, 08:34:21 AM »

Hebear,
Many people do just that!

If you are shooting black powder, then a co2 revolver might be just for you.

There is a Webly pellet revolver in weathered battlefield, or nickel finish. $150

There is a Colt Peacemaker, but I don't think that the barrel is rifled, about $130.

The John Wayne Colt does have a rifled barrel, also about $150.

The Colt NRA Peacemaker 7.5" CO2 Pellet Revolver says it's rifled, about $130.

The Duke Shootist CO2 Weathered Pellet Revolver, Limited Edition, about $180.

Then there's the Limited Edition Nimschke 7.5" SAA Colt Peacemaker, $550.

There is a Shoefield that looks promising, but I can't find the rifled version of it now.

These are listed on Pyramid Air.

These use a cartridge that's like a 357 but you put a pellet into each one. You can buy extra cartridges to simulate reloading the cylinder.

Most are single action, some are double action.

There are a lot of airsoft listed an Pyramid Air, I don't have any information, nor interest in those.

hth. ( hope this helps )

45Bravo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2019, 10:29:34 AM »

Because of the large interest in air soft world wide, most of the more detailed replicas will be airsoft.

Regular airgun interest world wide is just a drop in a bucket compared to airsoft.

The plastic projectiles appeal to parents as they perceive them to be less dangerous than metal ones.

For house clearing and practical accuracy for those ranges airsoft is fine, and takes less to stop the projectiles than regular bbs.

We have used airsoft for years for force on force training.

And shoot/no shoot scenarios in advanced concealed carry classes.

HunterWhite · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2019, 11:14:31 PM »

Well, I have wanted a peacemaker for years.

I have one on the way.

I'm not usually that weak.

Colt NRA Peacemaker 7.5" CO2 Pellet
Revolver.

The 20% off at Pyramid broke my resistance.

Now don't be asking me any more questions.

HunterWhite · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2019, 11:26:14 PM »

It looks pretty cool!

HunterWhite · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2019, 11:27:37 PM »

Is this an example of enabler backfire?

maraudinglizard · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2019, 11:52:28 PM »

Mine is prettier.

HunterWhite · « **Reply #18 on:** May 15, 2019, 12:22:10 AM »

Ooooh!
That is nice.

If you shoot yours, what pellet does it like?

maraudinglizard · « **Reply #19 on:** May 15, 2019, 12:35:44 AM »

Quote from: HunterWhite on May 15, 2019, 12:22:10 AM

Ooooh!
That is nice.

If you shoot yours, what pellet does it like?

It's the bb version, I won this in one of the GTA raffles a while back, only a 100 were made this way, mine is number 32. I would love to have it in the pellet version to have a matching pair.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=102053.0