Some interesting competition air pistols.
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:16 pm
Been trying to get out to our club range for a few days, now, but our stormy, rainy weather won't let up. Maybe, tomorrow.
In the meantime, just for fun, though I would share some of my full blown 10 meter competition air pistols with you. 10 meter air pistol competition is an Olympic event and is shot with one hand, standing position, unsupported - meaning you can't brace your arm against your body in any way. For my fun shooting, though, I do use two hands, now and then. It's also an iron sights, only event. It's also one of the most difficult of all shooting competitions of any kind. 10 meter air pistol has been an Olympic event since the 80s and no one has ever shot a perfect score in any sanctioned event, not just the Olympics (40 or 60 shots to a match). Never, not even close.
Here's my two 10 meter competition pistols.
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The top gun is a Steyr LP-10. It has the distinction of being a model with more Olympic gold medals to its credit than any air pistol in history. It has so many adjustments to it that I'll just say that nearly every part on this magnificent air pistol is adjustable. This is PCP air pistol, by the way. I have a special pump to go with it. 50 pumps gives me about 150 shots at 500 fps.
The bottom gun is the Baikal IZH 46M, lovingly called the Izzy by its owners and sometimes jokingly called that Russian ag implement, too, due to it large and somewhat ungainly size and the fact that it is made in Russia. This one is a single stroke pneumatic, via the pump under the grip and trigger guard. I have a red dot on it in this pic, but if I actually competed, that would be illegal. Iron sights, only for competition.
Both of these guns really are more accurate than anyone who shoots them, even Olympic medalists. Both pistols can literally put every shot into one clean hole at 10 meters, with the Steyr having an edge in consistency due to its superb quality and precision build.
So, ready to buy one of these? Uh, not so fast.
First the Steyr. The LP-10 has been replaced with a more modern version of the LP, but even in it's day the LP-10 was an extraordinarily expensive gun, costing well over $2000. Even if you could afford one, though, Steyr would NOT sell you one unless you could document that you were an actual competitor in sanctioned events. That's right, you had to prove that you could shoot at a level worthy of the gun! So, how did I get mine? I was lucky enough to buy one used at an estate sale from an elderly gentleman who had been shooting air pistol, competitively and I got it for a fraction of what the gun is worth.
Next, the Izzy. Remember all the politics some years, back, with all the sanctions with Russia? Yup, impossible now to import an Izzy into this country and that's a shame, because the Izzy has made it possible for many shooters to get into 10 meter air pistol at a more affordable price. How did I get mine? Bought it used from our very own Texas Gun Runner, right here on the forum.
Care for a challenge? As superb as both of these pistols are, try shooting air pistol at ten meters and shoot a great score. I can usually manage 5 in the 10 ring for a 50, once a winter, shooting all winter, with the Steyr and that's with two hands, standing, not one hand. Of course, that's beginner stuff compared to the real thing, doing it on a smaller bull for 40 or 60 shots using only one hand. Still one heck of a thrill when I can manage this much, though.
In the meantime, just for fun, though I would share some of my full blown 10 meter competition air pistols with you. 10 meter air pistol competition is an Olympic event and is shot with one hand, standing position, unsupported - meaning you can't brace your arm against your body in any way. For my fun shooting, though, I do use two hands, now and then. It's also an iron sights, only event. It's also one of the most difficult of all shooting competitions of any kind. 10 meter air pistol has been an Olympic event since the 80s and no one has ever shot a perfect score in any sanctioned event, not just the Olympics (40 or 60 shots to a match). Never, not even close.
Here's my two 10 meter competition pistols.
best free image hosting
The top gun is a Steyr LP-10. It has the distinction of being a model with more Olympic gold medals to its credit than any air pistol in history. It has so many adjustments to it that I'll just say that nearly every part on this magnificent air pistol is adjustable. This is PCP air pistol, by the way. I have a special pump to go with it. 50 pumps gives me about 150 shots at 500 fps.
The bottom gun is the Baikal IZH 46M, lovingly called the Izzy by its owners and sometimes jokingly called that Russian ag implement, too, due to it large and somewhat ungainly size and the fact that it is made in Russia. This one is a single stroke pneumatic, via the pump under the grip and trigger guard. I have a red dot on it in this pic, but if I actually competed, that would be illegal. Iron sights, only for competition.
Both of these guns really are more accurate than anyone who shoots them, even Olympic medalists. Both pistols can literally put every shot into one clean hole at 10 meters, with the Steyr having an edge in consistency due to its superb quality and precision build.
So, ready to buy one of these? Uh, not so fast.
First the Steyr. The LP-10 has been replaced with a more modern version of the LP, but even in it's day the LP-10 was an extraordinarily expensive gun, costing well over $2000. Even if you could afford one, though, Steyr would NOT sell you one unless you could document that you were an actual competitor in sanctioned events. That's right, you had to prove that you could shoot at a level worthy of the gun! So, how did I get mine? I was lucky enough to buy one used at an estate sale from an elderly gentleman who had been shooting air pistol, competitively and I got it for a fraction of what the gun is worth.
Next, the Izzy. Remember all the politics some years, back, with all the sanctions with Russia? Yup, impossible now to import an Izzy into this country and that's a shame, because the Izzy has made it possible for many shooters to get into 10 meter air pistol at a more affordable price. How did I get mine? Bought it used from our very own Texas Gun Runner, right here on the forum.
Care for a challenge? As superb as both of these pistols are, try shooting air pistol at ten meters and shoot a great score. I can usually manage 5 in the 10 ring for a 50, once a winter, shooting all winter, with the Steyr and that's with two hands, standing, not one hand. Of course, that's beginner stuff compared to the real thing, doing it on a smaller bull for 40 or 60 shots using only one hand. Still one heck of a thrill when I can manage this much, though.