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Back To Basics - Iron Sights On An Air Pistol


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I needed an air pistol to carry around in the van to dispatch rats caught in live trap cages. Sometimes the rats are reluctant to go into the trap boxes, but for whatever reason they are less wary of the wire cage traps. Once in they need killing and an a full sized air rifle is too big to wield. And of course I wanted something to plink with too ;)

 

I looked around on the Free-ads sites and ended up with a vintage HW70, probably about 40 years old, complete with Bakelite handle and iron sights, but as tight as a duck's arris and it came from a shooting enthusiast.

 

00003_PISTOLET-WEIHRAUCH-HW-70_zpsen5umi

 

Picked it up yesterday evening and put about fifty pellets through it last night. Feck me, the target looked like a shotgun pattern plate. On skeet choke! :icon_redface:

 

I've never had an air pistol before and the last time I used iron sights was about 1970 :laugh: What a learning curve! I put another 40 or so this afternoon and reduced the grouping considerably just by relaxing my grip. I'd been holding the gun like it was my last tenner. Then it improved a tad more by changing the target colour from black to red as it showed up better against the black iron sights. Been out again this evening and concentrated on relaxing my hold. I'd get three out of five in a small group. Nowhere near the bull, but I'll leave adjusting the sights for when I've managed at least ten shots in the same general area.

 

Any tips would be welcomed :)

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Hold it by the barrel and club them to death with it,sorry couldn't resist,lol

Luckily you don't need to be a marksman to despatch rats!   Never really been a pistol fan myself but for garden targets I'm liking the thought more than I did,something for me and the kids to do,i

Found this and thought it may help??     Really am finding this interesting...

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Luckily you don't need to be a marksman to despatch rats!

 

Never really been a pistol fan myself but for garden targets I'm liking the thought more than I did,something for me and the kids to do,i don't have many tips really but am curious,are you shooting side on to the target one handed or square on two hand American cop on gun range style :laugh:

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Hold it loose.

Don't fight to keep the sights on target, let it float around while you gently squeeze.

Use the sights so you can sit your target on too of them. So you can see the whole target.

 

U.

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Luckily you don't need to be a marksman to despatch rats!

 

Never really been a pistol fan myself but for garden targets I'm liking the thought more than I did,something for me and the kids to do,i don't have many tips really but am curious,are you shooting side on to the target one handed or square on two hand American cop on gun range style :laugh:

I'm shooting one handed. Initially I tried the two handed approach, but as Underdog has suggested it is better held loosely. And, holding it one handed means the pistol is held slightly further away and I can see the rear sight better. When it is held two handed my eyes can't properly focus on it.

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I am long sighted too.

I had to sell my 94 because of it ?.

I never handled a HW70 but on all open sights they need day light either side of the front sight in the rears notch. Kind of don't need the rear in focus then!

A blurred front and your knackered without glasses?

 

U.

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For one handed I think my tips are stand with your feet shoulder width apart,as said hold loosely,and get your other hand on your hip or down by your side,i think as with any shooting be consistent...

 

Might look into getting a pistol now :hmm:

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I managed a few shots this morning before going out on mole patrol.

 

Five shots, left handed, 8 metres........

 

pistol%205%20shots_zps00s4c8vj.jpg

 

The lower shot was the last one of the five and spoiled the grouping. :cray:

 

Then I moved back to 10 metres and fired another five at the same target.

 

pistol%2010%20shots_zpsdkb1k9hc.jpg

 

All over the place so I must have been doing something different that time.

 

Coypu Hunter; I have had a few CO2 rifles in the past: 1077, QS78 & QS79 and I've given them a good try, but they don't suit me or what I want to use the gun for.

 

Thanks to all for the advice so far. :victory:

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