The complexity of hold, straight dope.
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:33 pm
In response to a few PM's. I speak in plane language and as honestly as I can with the straight dope.
This is intended to help all levels, I don't discriminate based on your goals.
As I see it "Hold" is a lot more complex than most of us ever thought. I believe hold or "steadiness" is intertwined with four areas, or hold is the result of these four factors. I will take them on one at a time, they are all equally important.
Pistol Weight: Most shooters when they start out make pistol selection based on many factor, but usually not weight. This can be a mistake. For instance if pistol is too heavy it will cause early fatigue of the arm while on point, too light and the pistol will never settle to an aiming area.
How do you chose. 25 years ago there was very little choice on a very small market for air pistols. You had the FWB Model 2 or the Walther CP 2
(I will talk about pneumatics later on)
Both manufactures offered either full size or junior sized pistols. Today there are at least six top shelf air pistols on the market in a number of different configurations from each manufacturer. Most makers also offer add on weights.
First to find a starting off point for pistol weight, be honest with yourself. If you are a 15 year old boy starting out, buy a junior pistol. If you are 65 years old and getting tired, buy a smaller sized pistol. There is no dishonor in using a shorter length and lighter weight pistol. If the smaller sized pistol is too light and the full sized too heavy- use the short cylinder on a full sized pistol. How do I know what weight to get?
Good question. Try this, with the pistol unloaded hold it by the cylinder and barrel end and point the grip end toward a wall. You should be able to hold it reasonably steady for 8-10 seconds. It's not an exact science, but the weight is the same, just more nose heavy. This simulates pure weight/balance without grip support.
As you develop a better hold and physical strength you can add weight if desired. Too light a pistol will tend to flutter and never settle.
For fine tuning of weight and balance try using lead solder wire wrapped around the barrel or self stick wheel weights from the auto supply. This is good since you can add/subtract weight as needed.
As for the short cylinders and long barrels, I shot this set up for a few years and found it to work well before alloy frames and cylinders came along.
A note on pneumatic air pistols. I don't advocate them for a few reasons. First they require too much body and grip movement to cock as well as energy. With the flip of one finger you can cock a PCP air pistol and not lose hand position on the grip as well as body position.
So picking the right weight pistol will help hold. Better hold will help performance.
Next segment: Grip(hand pressure)
Have fun. PM's welcome if you are shy.
This is intended to help all levels, I don't discriminate based on your goals.
As I see it "Hold" is a lot more complex than most of us ever thought. I believe hold or "steadiness" is intertwined with four areas, or hold is the result of these four factors. I will take them on one at a time, they are all equally important.
Pistol Weight: Most shooters when they start out make pistol selection based on many factor, but usually not weight. This can be a mistake. For instance if pistol is too heavy it will cause early fatigue of the arm while on point, too light and the pistol will never settle to an aiming area.
How do you chose. 25 years ago there was very little choice on a very small market for air pistols. You had the FWB Model 2 or the Walther CP 2
(I will talk about pneumatics later on)
Both manufactures offered either full size or junior sized pistols. Today there are at least six top shelf air pistols on the market in a number of different configurations from each manufacturer. Most makers also offer add on weights.
First to find a starting off point for pistol weight, be honest with yourself. If you are a 15 year old boy starting out, buy a junior pistol. If you are 65 years old and getting tired, buy a smaller sized pistol. There is no dishonor in using a shorter length and lighter weight pistol. If the smaller sized pistol is too light and the full sized too heavy- use the short cylinder on a full sized pistol. How do I know what weight to get?
Good question. Try this, with the pistol unloaded hold it by the cylinder and barrel end and point the grip end toward a wall. You should be able to hold it reasonably steady for 8-10 seconds. It's not an exact science, but the weight is the same, just more nose heavy. This simulates pure weight/balance without grip support.
As you develop a better hold and physical strength you can add weight if desired. Too light a pistol will tend to flutter and never settle.
For fine tuning of weight and balance try using lead solder wire wrapped around the barrel or self stick wheel weights from the auto supply. This is good since you can add/subtract weight as needed.
As for the short cylinders and long barrels, I shot this set up for a few years and found it to work well before alloy frames and cylinders came along.
A note on pneumatic air pistols. I don't advocate them for a few reasons. First they require too much body and grip movement to cock as well as energy. With the flip of one finger you can cock a PCP air pistol and not lose hand position on the grip as well as body position.
So picking the right weight pistol will help hold. Better hold will help performance.
Next segment: Grip(hand pressure)
Have fun. PM's welcome if you are shy.