These are arguably the same gun underneath but feel completely different.

I shoot air rifles quite a lot. Over the last 3 years I've averaged 30 shots a day, which isn't a ton but it’s still a fair bit of shooting on average.

I don't, however, shoot my air pistols nearly enough and believe it or not air pistols can be harsh task masters at times so I am fairly happy with these 11-12 yard targets after not running either of these for a long time.





I think we all know I love to shoot and own "real guns" but man there is a joy to any kind of airgun shooting that really brings it's own "zen" to the table so to speak.

Take care, shoot safe,
Chris

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cslinger,

That's very good, cslinger. Offhand, no less!

Thirty shots a day over three years? Dayum!

I guess practice DOES pay off!

Any years ago, I used to do a 10 Meter Postal Match, with other shooters across the country.

It was before Al Gore invented the Internet, so we actually mailed in our targets each week.

One more for the evening as long as I am shooting the air pistols I might as well pull out the "BIG IRON"

HW45 in .22. I am SUPER HAPPY with this as the HW45s recoil a little bit like a trebuchet and have about the same lock time I only dropped 3 out of the black. Been a good air pistol day especially considering how long its been with them.

quote:

That's very good, cslinger. Offhand, no less!

Appreciate the kind words but I fall more on the luck side of the number line than the skill side. .

Well done, Sir!

I’d never seen any of those three pistols before. All look great! Thanks for posting. Are the air pistols CO₂ powered?

Single shot, like the .22 CO₂ Crosman I had as a boy?

First 2 are SSP or single shot pneumatic. You crack them open, load a single pellet and on the closing stroke you are compressing air into a cylinder. Think any of those multi pump BB or pellet guns you had or saw as a kid only with one pump. These are basically recoil less, although they do exhibit a tad bit of muzzle flip.

The HW45 is a spring piston gun. You crack it open the same way but as you are swinging the top open you are compressing a spring and piston. So the “Work” is opposite of the first two. The first two you work on close this you work on open.

Because it is a spring piston it recoils a lot. Not in the way a .44 magnum does of course but basically you have the following to contend with.
-a spring pushes a big piston forward on trigger pull. The feel is not unlike an open bolt SMG here.
-The piston bottoms out and bounces back
-During this process it is vibrating every which way.
-Meanwhile the pellet is in the barrel for a comparative eternity to a firearm.
So it can be quite a challenge to learn to shoot these and continue to do so well. They need a very light hold and very good follow through.

All three have amazing triggers.

HW45 at full cock or half cock?

Full cock I’ve never had any luck with half cock. The pellet always lands high for me on half cock. I don’t think I’ve used half cock more than a half dozen times.

But, that's why I inquired.

They're very consistent POI's at the low velocity vs. high velocity.

One might set the adjustable sights for the ~380FPS significantly higher impact point (but maybe lesser 2-way recoil) for indoor target shooting,

or for the full cock ~600fps significantly lower
impact point for varmints and/or reactive plinking targets.

Might be something worth trying. I’ve just never pursued the lower setting on my 45’s. Not sure why as I am not a MOREPOWAAAAA airgun guy. I think some of it goes back to a long time ago hearing that the low power setting is harder on the piston seal or some such.

That is impressive.

My 25 yard scoped rifle from bench doesn't always look that good.

RichardC,

So I grabbed my other HW45 in .177 and spent some time with it at low power. I have always had a hard time with this gun. I have to say you are dead on correct I was/it was more consistent than when I have traditionally shot it. It was at the very least a bit easier. I realize some reduced recoil is at play but its more than that, the tool did absolutely shoot more consistently.....and I mean the gun NOT ME. .

So here is a target that I was messing with on low. Took me 9 shots or so to find my POA (I am just using "Kentucky windage" at this point) but once I found my point of aim I was able to fairly easily drop shots in more consistently. I pretty much lit up the center once I found my groove. I may continue with this to see if can tighten up a bit.

At any rate this HW45 SS has traditionally been a bit more difficult for me and it definitely was a bit easier. Thanks much for the tip.

Chris

cslinger, Happy-to-help.

The FAS is great. Too bad it's hard to find. I had to get mine on the secondary market.