Need suggestion for a plinking pellet pistol

[nitinmehra20]

So I bought a Hammerli Nova but realized that it is too loud for backyard shooting Hence, I am back in the market looking for a good pellet shooter for plinking in an around a 100 bucks...

Any suggestions?

[daveshoot]

Well, l love the 1377 and it is way under your budget. It needs a few little mods but they are easy things. If you don't mind a multi-pump and a small amount of noise, it's a good one to consider.

A bargain low-powered pistol that will be very low noise is the Baikal IZH-53, for about $56. This is a springer pistol and does not develop a lot of energy (I haven't explored what might be done to improve that) but it is well made and very accurate. It is a large handgun (with no safety) but not excessively heavy, and good quality. People in the next room wouldn't know you were shooting it. I am surprised these don't get more discussion- good pistols at an amazing price. Anyone considering one of the "Westlake" or similar Chinese 19.95 pistols ought to get one of these instead.

My other favorites are over your budget. The closest would be a used P3, or HW40. They can be found in classifieds for $125-150. They are marvelous, with excellent triggers. There is a cheap clone, the P17, that I had terrible luck with, but some people like them. The P3 is still my favorite hand airgun. I have a P5 and HW45, but will generally grab the P3 for a quick fix.

A used P5 can also be found in the $150 range. Don't believe the 700 fps nonsense; I don't think it would even do that with PBA pellets. They are nicely made but I hate the safety, and the ergonomics aren't as nice as the P3. They have a lot of torque and recoil on firing but have nice barrels.

[TCups]

The 1377 is a good choice, though I confess I have never owned one.

IMO, any CO2 powered pistola is going to have a pretty good "bark" for back yard suburban shooting.  My favorite plinking air pistols are the single pump pneumatics.  The Beeman P3 and the IZH-46m are both excellent choices for single pumpers, but both are above your stated budget. 

If I were only going to have one air pistol, it would be the IZH-46m, though.  It is the most accurate air pistol for the money, has a great trigger, is very quiet, indoors or out, and can take you to a level of target shooting that will only be exceeded by pistols in the $1000 and higher range. 

[Brutuz]

How about a 2300 from the crosman custom shop 

[nitinmehra20]

Well, l love the 1377 and it is way under your budget. It needs a few little mods but they are easy things. If you don't mind a multi-pump and a small amount of noise, it's a good one to consider.

A bargain low-powered pistol that will be very low noise is the Baikal IZH-53, for about $56. This is a springer pistol and does not develop a lot of energy (I haven't explored what might be done to improve that) but it is well made and very accurate. It is a large handgun (with no safety) but not excessively heavy, and good quality. People in the next room wouldn't know you were shooting it. I am surprised these don't get more discussion- good pistols at an amazing price. Anyone considering one of the "Westlake" or similar Chinese 19.95 pistols ought to get one of these instead.

My other favorites are over your budget. The closest would be a used P3, or HW40. They can be found in classifieds for $125-150. They are marvelous, with excellent triggers. There is a cheap clone, the P17, that I had terrible luck with, but some people like them. The P3 is still my favorite hand airgun. I have a P5 and HW45, but will generally grab the P3 for a quick fix.

A used P5 can also be found in the $150 range. Don't believe the 700 fps nonsense; I don't think it would even do that with PBA pellets. They are nicely made but I hate the safety, and the ergonomics aren't as nice as the P3. They have a lot of torque and recoil on firing but have nice barrels.

Thanks for the detailed info. HW40 looks promising but a little over my budget. But i can still stretch and go for it.

The 1377 is a good choice, though I confess I have never owned one.

IMO, any CO2 powered pistola is going to have a pretty good "bark" for back yard suburban shooting.  My favorite plinking air pistols are the single pump pneumatics.  The Beeman P3 and the IZH-46m are both excellent choices for single pumpers, but both are above your stated budget. 

If I were only going to have one air pistol, it would be the IZH-46m, though.  It is the most accurate air pistol for the money, has a great trigger, is very quiet, indoors or out, and can take you to a level of target shooting that will only be exceeded by pistols in the $1000 and higher range. 

I would loooooooooooooooooooove to buy IZH-46M But way too pricey for me Wish I could find one used for cheaper

How about a 2300 from the crosman custom shop 

Custom looks great... but is it worth the price over the regular crossman? Or is it just more gimmicky?

[nitinmehra20]

Any feedback on the Avanti 717 or Gamo Compact air pistol?

[daveshoot]

Geez, I forgot the Avanti- I have the 747. After I was forced to put left-handed grips on it for mommy, I don't get to shoot it much anymore 

It was very accurate. Fit and finish were a little disappointing for the higher dollars on the 747 model, but I guess most of that dollar difference was for the barrel. It is bigger than P3 and not as nice in the hand, but still a pleasing pistol to shoot. Noise shouldn't be a problem. It was not as powerful as the P3 as I recall, but i don't have chrony data handy here.

I would totally agree with Tommy about the IZH46M but that is a real stretch from your budget. I have never been disappointed with an IZH product for the money, including a shotgun I used to own.

[Cptjbud]

CO2s are great fun but a bit noisy for my backyard and nosy neighbors.  I'm an advocate for the Beeman/Marksman p17 - clone of the P3..  A couple of quirks to check if you get one, making sure a nut is tight and filing the rough edge off the hole where the air enters the cylinder (single stroke pneumatic) - if need be..  Pistol is super accurate and has the best trigger I've pulled.. Very quiet too and around 400fps.  Returned 2 due to air leaks until I read about the couple fixes.  After the 10min fix, it's lasted me a couple years so far and a few hundred pellets. $36 at Pyramid

[airgunandy]

I put a 1377 barrel on my 2240 and a power adjuster. Adjuster isn't for more power, but less. With adjuster at full power it shoots 7.8 Crosman pellets about 530 and is loud. Turned back it shoots around 500 and is very quiet.

[Remo]

I tried the Gamo Compact and ended up returning it when it failed to cock.  In the brief time I used it, I found it to be accurate and pleasant to shoot, but the trigger is marginal and takes some getting used to.  After the gun failed, I replaced it with a P-3 and haven't looked back since.

Eric

[cfxlongshot]

I would go with either the Marksman/Beeman P3 clone or the crossman 357.  The first one is super accurate and is quiet but the crossman 357 is CO2 and is a whole lot of fun to shoot and can be a bit loud with a new CO2 cartridge.  I get about 60 shots per cartiridge before 10 accuracy really goes off the scale.  The Marksman is a single shot and can take its toll after about 50 shots or so.

[lillysdad621]

also, you dont necessarily need a 747, as its cheaper sibling will do just fine. as per numbers, the 7x7 series pistol will out shoot in fps the mighty p3. The p3 shoots 402 fps with rws hobbies (7.0 gr). A WELL ADJUSTED 7x7 shoots an average of 409 fps with JSB RS 7.3gr. Both run two 20 shot strings back to back and then average. I did replace grips on mine for ambi wood furniture, and i am using a b square mount to attach a 2x20 pistol scope. very accurate gun, sturdy, reliable and consistent...

[nitinmehra20]

also, you dont necessarily need a 747, as its cheaper sibling will do just fine. as per numbers, the 7x7 series pistol will out shoot in fps the mighty p3. The p3 shoots 402 fps with rws hobbies (7.0 gr). A WELL ADJUSTED 7x7 shoots an average of 409 fps with JSB RS 7.3gr. Both run two 20 shot strings back to back and then average. I did replace grips on mine for ambi wood furniture, and i am using a b square mount to attach a 2x20 pistol scope. very accurate gun, sturdy, reliable and consistent...

Thanks!! I think i will go with the 717

[nitinmehra20]

Can someone recommend a pellet trap for both the pistol and the rifle

[nitinmehra20]

Is it even safe to use a pellet trap with a springer?

[sjfrockerdude]

It should be perfectly safe to use.
If you are concerned with noise, there are plans on the web to build a simple and cheap silent pellet trap with some duct seal and 2x4's.

[daveshoot]

Duct seal is hard to beat. Some scrap 2x4 and a piece of plywood backer, and you're in business. It ain't cheap but it lasts forever.

This is the stuff: http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Heating-Venting-Cooling-HVAC-Parts-Accessories/Gardner-Bender/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg1Zapt7Zmi/R-100212441/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

There are other compounds in pails- you don't want them. Sometimes you can find a 5 lb brick of the good stuff, although not at Home Depot.

The Avanti will barely dent it, but it will stop and hold the pellets. It will stop .22s screaming at 1000 fps. After a while it loads up, and you can pick out giant wads of lead.

[sjfrockerdude]

Yep I tried plumbers putty at one time, I wouldn't recommend it unless you like seeing chunks fly off it every shot.
But that's what I get for shooting a magnum springer at it