TargetTalk

Bit of background, or ... how can the poster know so little? ...

I'm a 52 year old newbie to 10 M air pistol. I've found time over the past months to send several thousand pellets hurling in the approximate direction of a black circle printed on paper, when I should have been appreciating the golden age of television in which we live. I'm pleased when most of the holes are in the black circle, and all the shots have become holes. I've been using a Weihrauch HW40 which I now know to be pistola non grata according to ISSF Official Statutes Rule and Regs 8.4.1.3(a).

I'd like to road trip to Anniston for a monthly match. Questions:

1) As already mentioned, the pistol I've been using (selected because it seemed to offer a good trigger and accuracy at a good price, I wasn't thinking about 8.4.1.3(a) when I added it to my cart!) is illegal. I've had the opportunity to briefly try an IZH 46M and a FWB 65, and boy does that longer sight radius magnify my wobbles! I read with interest a TT thread on this topic, the takeaway of which I'd sum up as "for non experts, a shorter sight radius may get better results." At this point, for me, I suspect this is true.

So as I consider getting a bona fide 10 M pistol, what would you recommend? I note that a Steyr "compact" has a 266 mm sight radius (seems to be adjustable, I guess because the front blade slides?),whereas my HW40 sight radius measures about 7.25" or 184 mm. So even the "compact" would seem to be a big "wobble perception increase" over what I'm accustomed to. Maybe the solution is in adjusting the width of the rear notch?

Though I don't find a sight radius of a FAS 6004 (looks kinda like my HW40 with target grips), its overall length (sights seems to be placed at the ends in pics) is 9.88 inches or 251 mm.

Maybe this is much ado about nothing, and I should just pick a real 10 M pistol (but a "compact" I'm thinking), and get accustomed to the greater wobble that comes with a more finely tuned tool ...

2) You made it through the 4 paragraph Q1? Aside from pistol and pellets, what should the newbie bring to a match? Not "what would a pro take to a match," but, what are the basics, if anything beyond pistol and pellets?

3) Related to (1), is the Anniston range a place where one might try out different pistols as rentals or whatever? To the best of my knowledge, there are no regular gatherings of folks who shoot 10 M pistol near me, and you don't find Steyrs or FWBs at my local sporting goods store. I feel the need to try different pistols rather than simply add one to a cart online. If not in Anniston, could this be accomplished at Pilkguns which appears to be a couple of of hours from Anniston?

Thanks for your thoughts,
Richard

"Maybe this is much ado about nothing"

I have tried both short and long site radii....it didn't matter (still playing with this). If you're not buying a new gun, then you'll take what you can find.

To start to play with the big boys, you can probably find a FWB65 cheap. They are still highly competitive, no matter what the "gotta-haves" say here.

Q2 Glasses. At your age these will be necessary. Don't take "shooting glasses" lightly. Don't bother with extraneous crap.

Q3 See if you can try other competitors guns.

Richard.
You will find Air Pistol shooters to be very good about sharing their experiences with you. If you come up to somebody and ask tbem if you could pick it up and see how it feels, most will be happy to do that. I wouldn't get too hung up on sight length, Id be more concerned about how it fits you. Its about preferences, and if I may be so bold, you havent shot enough different pistols to really have any...... I bought a brand new PCP gun. Its not a Steyr, Iove it. Would I love a Steyr more, Im not sure. BUT my pistol is a perfect fit in my hand and we communicate well. Lets talk about second hand PCP or CO2 guns for a minute....... LOTS of safe queens out there, after you hang around a bit, you will start running across them. Not a bad way to go if tbey were well cared for. If I did it again, Id buy another new gun from a dealer and grow with it. Go to Anniston with what you have, tell tbem you would like to sboot, they will hook you up. The truth is tbat mere mortals cannot outshoot any of tbe higb end offerings by any of tbe major companys, so find something tbat fits you like a glove and shoot it a lot....... Lastly, the people I shoot with are like Gentlemen Drug Dealers, they will loan you things, belp you out and get you hooked. Enjoy the ride....

Hello-

Here is the answer to questions about pistols available (get there early)-
https://hardairmagazine.com/news/pardin ... ublic-use/

Perry also had IZH-46m's and Hammerli AP20's for rent, last I heard, no idea about Anniston.. Perhaps call Anniston-

"CMP MARKSMANSHIP CENTER SOUTH, ANNISTON, AL
Please direct any questions you have to Matt Carroll at mcarroll@thecmp.org or 256-835-8455 ext 415."

Kind regards,
m1963

You may also want to ask how strictly they enforce the pistol regs. They may not let you break any national records or win any prizes with it, but most places will let you shoot a (slightly) out of spec pistol if you are just starting.

Where are you? We have once or twice a month air pistol matches on electronic targets at Ole Mill Range Complex in Griffin Georgia. Sunday mornings.

Qualifications and a finals shoot off no matter how many enter. Relaxed and informal. You could shoot pellets with a straw or a slingshot with us as long as you don't tear up the range equipment.

PM me and we can put you on our text list.

Oh yeah, buy a handfull of these and a roll of frosted Scotch tape to see what works to get the front sight in focus:

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/elvex- ... magnifier/

Low cost and clear.

(use the tape on your non-aiming eye lens as an occluder, if you need one.)

Thanks for your thoughts.

Definitely agree that I don't have the experience to have developed preferences, and I recognize that practically all improvement will (hopefully) come as a result of practice, not a purchase. I'll keep an eye on the buy sell board.

Those safety glasses look sharp ... I'll pick up a +2 (have been wearing my readers).

I'm in central TX, so I'm afraid Griffin GA would be tough on any Sunday, but thanks!

I find my readers far too strong. Go ahead and spend the bucks for a pair of prescription glasses EXACTLY suited to what you're doing. Readers won't cure your astigmatism. The matte tape over the non-shooting eye is a great idea, too.

Update: I have on loan (potentially long-term) a FWB 65. It seems to shoot fine, and I expect to swap out the sport grips for target grips soon (thanks to VladB).

I just read a Nygord brief article on glasses/optics to get the gist of what one is trying to achieve in this realm. Between that article and Rover's comment re: my +2 reading glasses, I figure what I should do is walk into the local pharmacy and visit the reading glasses stand. Hold a stick or something which approximates a front sight out while swapping glasses looking for the minimum 'plus' that brings my "front sight" into focus. Use those instead of my current readers.

Does this sound about right? Is a slightly less blurry target (I understand it will always be somewhat blurred, but have wondered what it would have looked like to my 20 year old eyes) my hoped for result with this change?

Bump topic.

CMP is four weeks out! (16 March).