Let's talk about bb " parlor pistols "

[bantam5s]

I'm talking about low powered spring bb pistols intended for indoor shooting at 10 feet.
Sometimes I like to do a little shooting while I'm sitting in my recliner watching a movie,  and the indoor bb pistols are perfect for this.
I currently have 3 and will soon have 2 vintage Daisy's Target special BB pistols as well.

All 3 of these are essentially just rechambered airsoft guns ( I've owned the original airsoft versions of all of them ), and each one was only $15 at Walmart.

They're all decent shooters too, but the daisy 340 is like holding onto a 2×4 and is almost never used because of that.

[lillysdad621]

I love the idea of parlor airguns!!! i have 2 daisy 188s, one tuned and one stock, and the tuned one will do about 1.5 inch groups at 10 yards or 1 in at 20 ft. lovely trigger now, and super quiet. I also own a LOJ push barrel pistol that shoots BB, pellets or darts. Is a 1939 model i believe, copy of the german made Dolla MK 2, made by anschutz between 1929 and 1939. Cool little chrome pea shooter. Ill post a pic tomorrow. Also im in the process of resealing a daisy target .177 i just picked up a couple of months ago... cool little piece. and last but not least, i have a marksman 1010 all metal pistol, in great shape but i have never been able to shoot it accurately enough to trust it indoors.

[bantam5s]

I love the idea of parlor airguns!!! i have 2 daisy 188s, one tuned and one stock, and the tuned one will do about 1.5 inch groups at 10 yards or 1 in at 20 ft. lovely trigger now, and super quiet. I also own a LOJ push barrel pistol that shoots BB, pellets or darts. Is a 1939 model i believe, copy of the german made Dolla MK 2, made by anschutz between 1929 and 1939. Cool little chrome pea shooter. Ill post a pic tomorrow. Also im in the process of resealing a daisy target .177 i just picked up a couple of months ago... cool little piece. and last but not least, i have a marksman 1010 all metal pistol, in great shape but i have never been able to shoot it accurately enough to trust it indoors.

I have a 1010 too, but they can't hit the broad side of a barn.
When I was a kid I had this extended barrel version with a fiber optic front sight, that one with it's longer barrel wasn't any more accurate.

I also have an umarex DX17 which operates like a marksman but shoots way better, I only use pellets in if though so I didn't count it.

[buellm2]

I have a couple Bullseye rubber band catapult guns from the late 60s.  They are astonishingly accurate at 10 feet.  I haven't shot them in decades because I've heard that the plastic shot carrier deteriorates and breaks.  The rubber band you see in the picture is an original rubber band that came with the gun.   It was still pretty rubberbandish but I haven't looked at it for a few years.   I believe they were first sold in the 1930s and marketed as "parlor pistols". They're another thing that I should probably get rid of.   

I also have a couple of those Marksman BB repeater pistols.    They look more realistic than the Bullseye but aren't in the same universe for accuracy.

[bantam5s]

I've always wanted to check out one of those Bullseye pistols, but I don't really see them on Ebay plus like you said the plastic shot carriers are known to be brittle.
It's the kind of thing that I'd have to find for next to nothing at a yardsale to justify,  because the likelihood that I'd be able to shoot it is extremely low.
I remember Tom gaylord writing about them
and mentioning that a grandson of the guy who made the originals or something happened to have a bunch of the metal shot carriers and sent him some.


Something I have been thinking about lately is the ability for somebody to 3d print a reproduction,  most likely it would be firing airsoft BB's though.
It could be done to fire the same fine birdshot , but it's just obvious that they'd choose airsoft as the ammo.

[buellm2]

I gotta find that grandson.   Maybe he still has some metal shot carriers.

[bantam5s]

I just received the daisy no.177 and JC Higgins 1925 in today.


The JC Higgins 1925 shot great from the get go ( these guns are rated for 150fps ).
And the accuracy is very adequate for 10 feet in my living room as intended.


The standard Daisy 177 needed a good flush and thorough blasting with compressed air to free the piston from the gunked up old oil that was slowing it down, but it has picked up.
It doesn't shoot as hard as the JC Higgins and isn't as accurate,  but I believe it'll probably wake up some more.

I really like how extremely quiet these pistols are.

[SpringerGuy]

I bought a few parlor pistols for the same reason.  People review these very poorly after they buy the most inexpensive spring pistol.  I collect spring pistols so even if the pistol is weak I still need it for the my collection and I shoot all of them too.  The marksmen 1010 has special place in my heart since I have owned a 1010 since the 1970s.  A $5 yard sale buy. Don t have the Daisy model and will not because of your grip description thks for that. 

The fact there is no noise when firing these is another added plus in my opinion.

Still need the Crosman 1911 spring gun.  Also, trying to upgrade my parlor pistols from all plastic.  Made an offer on a Gaggenau but the seller has not accepted. 

Randy

[bantam5s]

I bought a few parlor pistols for the same reason.  People review these very poorly after they buy the most inexpensive spring pistol.  I collect spring pistols so even if the pistol is weak I still need it for the my collection and I shoot all of them too.  The marksmen 1010 has special place in my heart since I have owned a 1010 since the 1970s.  A $5 yard sale buy. Don t have the Daisy model and will not because of your grip description thks for that. 

The fact there is no noise when firing these is another added plus in my opinion.

Still need the Crosman 1911 spring gun.  Also, trying to upgrade my parlor pistols from all plastic.  Made an offer on a Gaggenau but the seller has not accepted. 

Randy

I didn't know Crosman had that one, it looks like it might essentially be the same as the Bear river I have.
It even comes with the same sticky target, those are really an airsoft target and the steel BB's will eventually crack the back of it.

Yes that daisy 340 has an extremely fat grip, people with bigger hands may be fine with it but I'm not.

I currently own an older marksman 1010, but it barely shoots.
My first air pistol was a marksman 2002 which is a 1010 with extended barrel and fiber optic front sight.
I also have a daisy powerline 201 around somewhere, it operates the same as the marksman 1010 and was $14 at Walmart about 12 years ago.
 that one shoots just as bad as the marksman,  I can't even hit a can at 10' with it.

Are all marksman pistols terrible shooters ?

[SpringerGuy]

David,

I think calling those air pistols Marksmen, is a stretch.  It's misinformation or at least mis-use of the word.  Fine American Marksmen everywhere take excception. I will have to dig out my 1010 and watch the bbs fly to the target.  I love bbs, and bb guns.  I have a number of strong springers to shoot, but I find myself plinking with the odd ball bb pistols most often. Such as: Healthways' Western Spring Pistol (The only pistol that compresses air by stretching the spring rather than compressing it) Healthways' Topscore, Hy-score 803(5-in-1 model) I have all the barrels and shot bbs thru it. 

In the last few years, airgun (AGs) collecting became my primary hobby; I am really very serious about my Hy-score air pistol collecting.  AG shooting - I am not so serious about anymore.  I shoot all the AGs in my collection. I should have said I try to shoot all the AGs - I broke some . . .  LOL.

Are you a shooter, a collector, or both?   Do you collect or shoot a particular maker of AGs? Thanks for starting the parlor pistol thread. I appreciate other people's opinions. 

Randy

[bantam5s]

I'm a shooter, I accumulate airguns but not anything I won't enjoy shooting.

[buellm2]

I have two of those Marksman BB pistols which I have ignored for a while.   So I pulled them out for a quick test fire.   They both shoot harder than I remembered although small mammals have nothing to fear.   I dismissed their accuracy potential without ever having shot a group on a paper target.   Maybe on the next warmish day, I'll try them out from my deck shooting platform.   I don't dare to first try indoors.  Unlikely that I'll be using one for 10M competition.  I like the resemblance to a 1911.

[Motorhead]

While up close Pistol shooting is very challenging, as a safety issue I never do so with BB's  as they bounce back / ricochet !!
A few years ago I made up a "Parlor" type Bell Target for use with 10m pellet shooters.
Using light & fragile wad cutters they splatter flat & fall or go into the target hole for score ( A bell ding )

SAFETY GLASSES being worn is a MUST DO !!!!!!!

[SpringerGuy]

Based on this thread's discussion, I am going to shoot my Daisy Targeteer.  It was advestised as a parlor pistol.  I have never shoot my Targeteer.  So it is time to load up 4# shot and give it a whirl.  My Daisy 188 and Bulleye are both shoot regularly.  Keep looking at Daisy 25 pump BB as another fun BB gallery gun for the family outings.  The 25 pump seems easier than the Daisy RR lever.

 Any thoughts from the more experience members about a Daisy 25 vs RR?


I am I right about the 25 being more fun due to rapid follow-up shots?  I need help rationalizing buying another AG -- I really need. 

Randy   

[SpringerGuy]

Ernie

I noticed 2nd entry on your airgun list "Daisy Quick Skill (had it since the 1960s)".  After I read the US Army used these to train troops I been searching for boxed one.  Great story about Daisy's development of trainers for our troops.   I worked as a gunsmith in the Army so air guns connected to our military interest me. 

Randy

[buellm2]

Ernie

I noticed 2nd entry on your airgun list "Daisy Quick Skill (had it since the 1960s)".  After I read the US Army used these to train troops I been searching for boxed one.  Great story about Daisy's development of trainers for our troops.   I worked as a gunsmith in the Army so air guns connected to our military interest me. 

Randy

My father was an infantry heavy weapons company armourer in WW2 and Korea so he was always committed to my brother and I having experience with a wide variety of military weapons including the oddball Daisy.   My brother and I developed some skill at consistently hitting cans tossed into the air while shooting the Quick Skill.   We never got to the level of being able to hit tossed coins with any regularity.  I still shoot the old Quick skill occasionally although it's pretty down on power these days.

[bantam5s]

Based on this thread's discussion, I am going to shoot my Daisy Targeteer.  It was advestised as a parlor pistol.  I have never shoot my Targeteer.  So it is time to load up 4# shot and give it a whirl.  My Daisy 188 and Bulleye are both shoot regularly.  Keep looking at Daisy 25 pump BB as another fun BB gallery gun for the family outings.  The 25 pump seems easier than the Daisy RR lever.

 Any thoughts from the more experience members about a Daisy 25 vs RR?


I am I right about the 25 being more fun due to rapid follow-up shots?  I need help rationalizing buying another AG -- I really need. 

Randy

More fun is subjective, but the model 25 is absolutely a ton of fun and you should get one.

Btw let us know how that 118 targeteer shoots.
I probably won't ever get one due to the difference in ammo, but my thoughts on the matter could eventually change.

[bantam5s]

While up close Pistol shooting is very challenging, as a safety issue I never do so with BB's  as they bounce back / ricochet !!
A few years ago I made up a "Parlor" type Bell Target for use with 10m pellet shooters.
Using light & fragile wad cutters they splatter flat & fall or go into the target hole for score ( A bell ding )

SAFETY GLASSES being worn is a MUST DO !!!!!!!

That's why you need the right kind of target/ backstop.
I initially made this a few weeks back for my 499b


But have used it for all my indoor bb shooters.
For the parlor pistols I have a 1" foam ball hanging on a piece of paracord,  or a 500ct pellet tin sized plate made of 1/2" neoprene cardboard and duct tape.
I can hang either in the box and shoot them ricochet free, an occasional bb will bounce out a little and end up on the floor but most just fall into the box.

[lillysdad621]

the original targeteers shot that .118 shot or i believe it was #4 shotgun shot (same) so they are readily available. The problem is that they are so small that it strictly makes it an indoor gun. trying to shoot that at say10 to 15 ft is an undertaking. hence the creation of the one that shoot .177 BB. not very powerful (150 to 175 fps is avg) but that is plenty for 10 ft targeting.
As far as the 1010 marksman goes, mine is not that good with BBs (6 in at 10 ft), not that much better with pellets (3.5 to 4 in), but it does ok with darts. Also i learned that the pellets and the darts have to be sat with the little tool that the gun comes with ( i didnt know it came with one LOL), so i made a sitting tool and the groups got better (cant sit BBs).

[bantam5s]

the original targeteers shot that .118 shot or i believe it was #4 shotgun shot (same) so they are readily available. The problem is that they are so small that it strictly makes it an indoor gun. trying to shoot that at say10 to 15 ft is an undertaking. hence the creation of the one that shoot .177 BB. not very powerful (150 to 175 fps is avg) but that is plenty for 10 ft targeting.
As far as the 1010 marksman goes, mine is not that good with BBs (6 in at 10 ft), not that much better with pellets (3.5 to 4 in), but it does ok with darts. Also i learned that the pellets and the darts have to be sat with the little tool that the gun comes with ( i didnt know it came with one LOL), so i made a sitting tool and the groups got better (cant sit BBs).

Being an indoor only gun is not a problem in my book because that's what this thread is all about, not just the pistols themselves in general but about shooting those pistols indoors at close range as intended.
I have really gotten into parlor gun plinking lately,  because we've had a lot of bad weather this month and plinking with these parlor pistols at 10' has entertains me far more than punching paper.

As far as I know the no.177 target special is rated for 150FPS, and I'm told they very commonly don't make that.
I wouldn't doubt it if my JC Higgins makes 150, but I know my standard Daisy doesn't make 150.
It seems to be gradually picking up and isn't too much lower but it's still a fairly noticeable difference.