Beeman P3 v Beeman P17

[Alanheal]

I bought two Beeman p17's and the trigger failed on both in the first day. It failed while the gun was loaded and cocked. Opened th handles but the stem valves were frozen and wouldn't budge. Couldn't fix them and returned both. Aside from having defective triggers, they were really tough to pump and they both smelled from a chemical that the package identified as causing cancer.  So much for this Chinese knock off. 

All this motivated me to buy a Beeman P3. It's a totally different experience.  It works smoothly every time. Has no odor at all.  It's much easier to cock than the P17 was. Beautifully accurate and loves inexpensive pellets. Sometimes it pays to go for the real thing.

[airgunrebel]

I bought two P17 and work flawlessly. Even years later still holding original fps. Never had any smell with mine. Just keep it lubed with white lithium grease. Most of the reviews I have seen over the years have been overwhelmingly positive on the P17. Maybe the quality has gone down. I would not know about that.

[Alanheal]

It sounds like you got  your money's worth.  If they lasted for years, they must have been made better back then. Most of the posts nowadays are about different techniques for fixing them.  Some people do entire rebuilds of the trigger.  I'd rather spend time shooting than fixing.

[daveb50]

You cannot even begin to compare the quality of a a $25 pistol to a $240 pistol. Even if they look alike, you obviously get what you pay for. I bought the P17 as a cheap plinker and something to try mods on. Sorry to hear about your experience with the P17's, glad you found something to your liking.

[Airjason]

I bought a P3 about the time they first came out, in 1996. It still works and the velocity is about the same as new, around 420ft/sec.

[airgunrebel]

Actually I can compare. I own about 20 pistols, have had a 46m on down. Do a little research and you can see that the P17 is quite a pistol of quality. I also own a HW 70a and yet like the IZH 53 even more. Quite a difference in price. I have no problem with the P17 trigger, it works fine. I will post a number of links on the comparison after work today. Here is just one. No, it is not MATCH grade accuracy, but then again I am not into that, but for $200.00 less I am quite happy with my P17's still averaging at 400 fps and doing quite well on the target.

http://airgunner.org/?p=614

[jcwit]

Received my P17 last Friday, ya I know still new to it, but, there's that little 3 letter word. 

I've got 200 rounds thru it, I cleaned the barrel first and the first 20/30 rounds shot into a 2 1/2/3 inch group.  It's now settled down and put them into a 1/2 inch all day.  Amazingly some of my best groups are with cheap Chinese pellets sold at flea markets.  This $40 dollar gun outshoots my HW70 pistol.

BTW, no burr on the air inlet hole detected upon checking.

[jcwit]

Got just shy of 1,000 shots down the tube by now.  I lube the piston with a drop or 2 of non detergent 30w motor oil ever 100 to 200 pellets.  No problems whatsoever.