This is a discussion on my newest handgun within the Pistols & Revolvers forums, part of the Pistol & Revolver Forum category; I've recently rediscovered the subtle pleasure of shooting airguns - not the least of which is the ability to have a pistol range in my ...
I've recently rediscovered the subtle pleasure of shooting airguns - not the least of which is the ability to have a pistol range in my basement. My first handgun was a Crosman Model 600 CO2 .22 semi-auto. I've had it about 45 years and it shoots as good as it ever did. It costs about .04/shot, so it makes for a lot of good cheap practice. The world has several hundred fewer starlings and crows in it due to this fun little plinker.
But the real champ is a Model 1377 .177 that I just got. If I do my part, it does its part. I use 3/4" stick-on dots on 4"x6" file cards as targets. Does that ever force concentration and trigger control. At 7 yards the dot is about 1/3 the width of the front sight.
These were from 7 yards using a high stool as a rest and a rifle style hold (the gun itself is quite long) - 10 shots.
Nice shooting Argyle. I have an old Benjamin 22 cal. pellet rifle that my grandpa gave me years ago. I use to shoot it a lot but too much sentimental value to shoot now.
argyle: It's all your fault. I was innocently reading the forum when I saw your post and thought, "What's a Crosman 1377?" Next thing you know, I'm reading all about airguns and picking up a 1377 at Dick's (I had a bunch of credit so it cost me next to nothing). My wife is looking at me like I've lost my mind, but come to think of it, she looks at me like that a lot.
I haven't shot it yet, are you getting that accuracy with a stock 1377? It sounds like the 1377 is the 10-22 of airguns, with all the available mods and upgrades for it. I think I'll keep it stock for a while, at least until I see how much I enjoy pumping. Speaking of pumping, how many pumps do you use for basement plinking? Not 10, I hope. Also need to rig up some kind of pellet trap.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to some cheap fun in the basement. But it's still all your fault.
argyle: It's all your fault. I was innocently reading the forum when I saw your post and thought, "What's a Crosman 1377?" Next thing you know, I'm reading all about airguns and picking up a 1377 at Dick's (I had a bunch of credit so it cost me next to nothing). My wife is looking at me like I've lost my mind, but come to think of it, she looks at me like that a lot.
I haven't shot it yet, are you getting that accuracy with a stock 1377? It sounds like the 1377 is the 10-22 of airguns, with all the available mods and upgrades for it. I think I'll keep it stock for a while, at least until I see how much I enjoy pumping. Speaking of pumping, how many pumps do you use for basement plinking? Not 10, I hope. Also need to rig up some kind of pellet trap.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to some cheap fun in the basement. But it's still all your fault.
You can thank me later.
Yes, the gun is perfectly stock - I took it out of the packaging, opened a can of pellets, and started pumping and shooting. I do use a full 10 pumps, but that is just because I am compulsive. The gun is supposed to give you 600 fps at 10 pumps, and since I am working on accuracy and trigger discipline I want it to shoot as flat and accurately as possible. I have developed a rhythm of it. I take the gun in my left hand, muzzle up, set the handle on my left leg, and pump with my right hand. For the first 100 shots or so the pumping action is quite stiff, but it breaks in after a while. Ten pumps isn't as bad as it sounds, but you can use fewer if you want - you'll just get lower velocity and it won't shoot as flat. The biggest thing is to use the same number every time so you can develop consistency.
For a bullet trap I use a cardboard box about 2'x2' that I filled with stacked newspapers. I have a sheet of particle board behind the box in case I get really wild. For shooting I sit on a 5 gal bucket and use an old kitchen stool as a rest. I hold the gun like a rifle, extending my left arm completely and supporting the front of the barrel.
One of the first things you will want to do is flip the rear sight - just loosen the screw and rotate it 180° to use the peep sight. The slotted sight is useless because there is way too much air around the front sight. Even with the peep, it still looks like you are gazing into a 55 gal drum.
In many respects this is the most fun gun I own, because I can head to the basement any time I have 10 minutes and sharpen my eye. 500 pellets cost from $9-$15 depending on brand, and I can't see any advantages to the more expensive ones. Get some felt cleaning pellets and run one through the gun with a bit of cleaning solution every few hundred rounds to keep the bore clean. So far it has taught me more about trigger discipline than any gun I have ever owned. I can certainly see the tiniest little jerk, and get the instant feedback of a hole outside the dot.
My favorite Christmas movie, A CHRISTMAS STORY, 1983
Best quote
Ralphie: I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!
Mrs. Parker: No, you'll shoot your eye out.
Ralphie: [Ralphie is shoved down the slide, but he stops himself and climbs back up] No! No! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Santa Claus: You'll shoot your eye out, kid.
I use a IZH46M primarily. 10 meters the same a Olympic shooters shoot. It is a wonderful training aid for bullseye. There are Air pistol competitions usually State run, and postal matches. I also have a Crossman Skannaker CO2 pistol with a Anschutz barrel. It is wonderfully accurate. I am contemplating selling it soon as I receive it back. It is out for a complete reseal job now. If anyone is interested, contact me.
Thanks for the reminder. Got out my inherited Crossman 766 American Classic. Still have some chipmunk rounds and wadcutters. My 15 YO daughter who never fired a gun is hooked, except everything is covered with snow now so we'll have to wait for a thaw.
In the meantime I'll just have to take my BT380 with me to the range.
Has anyone tried airsoft guns in this "basement format"? I have never shot an airsoft pistol but thought it might help with trigger control as well. What do you think?
airsoft guns, at least the cheaper ones, have zero accuracy. you'll never know if your improved trigger control is working or not. Get a quality air pistol - $70 to $300 - best training aid you'll ever buy.
Here's my Walther CP Sport. It shoots .177 pellets and is CO2 powered. A Very accurate pistol and a lot of fun in the basement, especially this time of year.
Iowegan, I've got the same. It's a fun pistol. I bought a $20 Fobus paddle holster for it (for the P99). The holster needed a bit more width, but wasn't hard to modify.
I keep an IZH-61 for informal plinking. It's a really cool design and a fantastic value. AND it's a 5-shot repeater. Incredibly accurate for a $100 gun and fast enough to punch clean holes in paper. Moving up from that we've got some Euroguns.
If you want to fall in love all over again, set aside about $200-$400 and buy yourself the best fit wood & steel German-made air rifle that fits you. Just about anything imported by Beeman (that's not sold at Dick's) in the $250+ range.
Then feed it quality pellets.
Here are a few of my current-production best picks (nothing over 1000fps - pellets destablize):
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