Custom air pistols?

[johnniet]

Is there anyone out there who makes custom air pistols?
The idea would be to have one made with the same body, weight and balance as a favorite real pistol. More practice that way!

 

[craigz]

Have you thought about a .22 conversion? I think it would provide a more realistic training experience.

 

[johnniet]

I'm all for .22 conversions too, but that still means going to the range to practice.
And it's not clear to me that it's so much more realistic. The .22 conversion will have some recoil, but much less. Trigger pull should be closer of course. But the basics of picking the spot, lining up the gun, and squeezing without changing muzzle direction should be the same.

 

[tonyccw]

And it's not clear to me that it's so much more realistic. The .22 conversion will have some recoil, but much less. Trigger pull should be closer of course. But the basics of picking the spot, lining up the gun, and squeezing without changing muzzle direction should be the same.

Unless you go with a CO2 system, it'll be a single shot. One reason why I prefer .22 conversions for pistol training.

 

[craigz]

There's more to pistol training than presenting, aiming, and pulling the trigger. The process of loading and charging the weapon is important too, as well as that of clearing jams, and all are more realistic with a .22 than an air pistol. You're certainly right about the air gun being better for home practice, but unless you find one that's the exact size as your carry gun, with the same controls, and most importantly, the same weight, I question how much real training benefit you'll derive from it. You'll still have a lot of fun, though, no question.

 

[kamkazmoto]

Try some of the gas guns at http://www.airsoft.com/ The more expensive ones have a recoiling slide and magazines to simulate mag changes.

 

[johnniet]

You're certainly right about the air gun being better for home practice, but unless you find one that's the exact size as your carry gun, with the same controls, and most importantly, the same weight, I question how much real training benefit you'll derive from it.

That is exactly what I have in mind to do.
But it sounds like there's no well-known supplier for such things.

Obviously, the idea is not to do away with range practice altogether--just to get a lot more practice with aiming and shooting.

 

[UnknownVT]

Might want to try asking this over at

AirGun Forum -
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537

There are custom airgun makers including a famous knifemaker
Gary Barnes who used to be active there.....

there was even a recent post about him -

John Whiscombe, Gary Barnes, Tim McMurray

--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/

 

[JB in SC]

I have used the FWB 65 (was available from Beeman's) for practice. It is a mechanically cocked pistol.

The compressed air guns are great but require a SCUBA type tank (or a hand pump) to charge. The CO2 guns are safer to fill, but do vary in weight as shots are fired.

In reality, it's all about trigger control and sight picture. The more one shoots correctly, the better one becomes.