More Fun With Air Guns

[Jeff Higgins]

A couple of new air pistols have joined the fold since I last reported on my dabbling in them. First up is a Weihrauch HW 40, a single stroke pneumatic in .177 caliber. German made and of very high quality, this thing is a real shooter. It has one of the best triggers I have ever used on any firearm, and accuracy to match. It is almost completely recoiless and noiseless.

Its only downside (for me anyway) is its almost entirely plastic construction. Oh, the mechanism is entirely of steel, but the frame and "slide" are plastic. As a result, it is far lighter than it should be, given its physical size. It kind of feels like a cheap plastic toy. It's a good thing it shoots so well, or I would have a hard time keeping it around.





Next up is the tried and true Benjamin multi-pump HB 22 in .22 caliber. This is a traditional, old school American pumper. By far the most powerful air pistol I own, and probably as inherently accurate as the HW 40. It's exceedingly poor trigger makes it hard to achieve its best accuracy, however. That's going to need some work. On the plus side, it's all metal and the stocks and pump handle are real walnut. Not the best fit and finish, but it costs roughly half what I paid for the Weihrauch or Webley pistols. All in all, a very solid gun that should last several lifetimes. These are, by the way, being discontinued this year (part of the reason I bought one); just no market for the old pumpers anymore.



You shooters should look into something like this. They provide realistic practice, and can quite literally be shot "at home, in your spare time". The ammo goes roughly $7.00 - $14.00 per 500, depending on caliber and pellet type. And there is never an ammo shortage... Give it a try; I guarantee your shooting will improve.

[M.D. Holloway]

If it was good enough for Lewis & Clark its good enough for me! seriously though, it is now a pretty agreed upon fact that they had an air rifle that was in the neighborhood of a .50 cal and could reload pretty quick to the point that by demo'n it to some local natives it was enough to grant passage to any part they wished. I want a .50 air rifle!

[HHI944]

here ya go lubey!
Sam Yang Dragon Claw Air Rifle. Air rifles - PyramydAir.com

[Bill Douglas]

Quite a few of the guys at the pistol club have these. They are really nice to shoot. Hugely accurate and you don't get that "Is this going to blow up in my hand?" feeling you get with a .45. Which of course it's not