TargetTalk

Can air pistols like the FWB 65, IZH 46M, Daisy 747, etc. have their triggers weighed without discharging air? I know that air pistols that can be dry fired, like the Morini and Steyr are no problem, but what about these others?

The IzH-46 is easy . just flip open the pellet gate all the way then close it again and you are ready to go. fwb-65 as a springer does not have dry fire capability. I have not a 747 so another user may contribute here

The SSP's will not sustain damage and are ok to discharge empty if the trigger cannot be set with out pressurising, but I'm old enough to remember testing with 65's and other spring guns, the best practice, obviously with the gun checked as empty, was to put your finger over the end of the barrel so that the piston and spring did not overspeed, not sure if the H&S police would like that now. I can also remember 65's just being fired dry as well during trigger setting by FWB service people and can't remember any having problems.
Best regards
Robin

On the 747, the "bolt" can be cycled without operating the pump handle. This will allow dry fire without releasing air.

Take Care,
Ed Hall
Air Force Shooting Homepage
Bullseye (and International) Competition Things

This is one reason why some of the "more fragile" air pistol designs might not be suitable for ISSF competitions.

The last sentance of rule 8.4.1.6.2 is quite clear, "When testing air or gas actuated pistols, the propellant charge should be activated."

I know that some people might be concerned about damaging their pistols but don't blame the Equipment Control Officer. The rule is specific and you know what's going to happen, or should do, when entering a competition.

Thanks for the responses. I suppose I'll make sure to have some felt cleaning pellets available for those who would rather have their springer pistols shot with that, rather than empty. Looks like the Izzy and Daisy should be no problem.

Maybe make a box tall enough to hold the AP and weight with a phone book secured to the top. Then you can load a pellet and let it fire into the phone book if the trigger is too light. That is something that I will be constructing one of these days, to set the weight on my old spring match APs.

I hope you guys are joking? felt pellets whizzing about?
For the first 15 years of my shooting career we all used nothing but 65's, they were used at every championship. It will do no harm to have the odd dry fire, or just put your finger over the end of the barrel.
Best regards
Robin

You going to mount that phonebook on the ceiling? 'cause the pistol has to be held vertical when the weight is hanged on the trigger, see the rulebook...

No
The phone book would be secured to the top of the box.

Imagine a box open on the SIDE.
The box in that position is tall enough to hold the AP pointing UP and the weight hanging from the trigger + extra room to do the lift.
Secured to the TOP inside of the box is a 1" thick phone book.

A bit clumsy but it "should" do the job.

RobinC,
On the 65, the sledge will unlock to slide backwards when it fires. How do hold your finger over the muzzle on the 65? Do you wrap your hand over the muzzle/front sight, or just put your finger on the muzzle and let the sledge release and the muzzle move away from your finger?

RobinC wrote: or just put your finger over the end of the barrel.

You have got to be joking!!!
Guess thats safer than pressing it against your temple.

You grab the barrel of the FWB65 like a hammer with the muzzle up and your thumb tightly over the end of the barrel. When you touch it off nothing moves.

Sounds hairy, but I've seen it done. The FWB 65 is rarely seen at major matches any more, so it's kind of moot. It is only the spring-piston guns that need (?) this treatment. All the others may be discharged without a pellet without fear of damage.

Safety first wrote:

RobinC wrote: or just put your finger over the end of the barrel.

You have got to be joking!!!
Guess thats safer than pressing it against your temple.

I'm with 'Safety first'
Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a pellet back out of a finger...

(edit note: oops! picked up the wrong name from the quote)

I wish I'd never answered this now!!

To check trigger on 65

I stated and I repeat "obviously with the gun checked as empty" That means with no pellet in it!!!!

Hold the pistol vertical muzzle up, finger or thumb over end of muzzle, steady pistol grip with other hand and lift weight, jerk weight to discharge.
Or the same but don't bother with the finger or thumb over the end as it will do no harm to the pistol.
When we all shot 65's, this is how it was done at all levels including the world championships.
Best regards
Robin

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get a pellet back out of a finger..."

That's why you keep the power level up. That way you get a complete pass through.

RobinC wrote: "obviously with the gun checked as empty"

I appreciate thats how it was done at the time, but it doesnt make it right.

There would be hundreds, if not thousands of dead shooters and their friends/spouses/children over the years who had checked to make sure the rifle/pistol was empty before doing something foolish.
And we haven't even talked about the possibility of introducing air into the bloodstream.

I think it is irresponsible to make the recomendation and safety statement that you do.