Introduction

Although the UK Government banned 0.22 and full-bore cartridge handguns in 1997 there still remain many challenging opportunities to participate in target pistol shooting activities and competitions at all levels with air pistols.

Air pistol shooting is an Olympic sport and is the ideal discipline to start developing pistol shooting skills…although it might take a while to become skilled enough to be selected to shoot for your country!

Even if your ambitions do not include Olympic shooting, or for your Country or County, MTSC offers in-house competitions and participates in other locally and regionally run leagues.  There are thus quite extensive opportunities to enjoy a very absorbing activity at any level you choose.

Club Activities

We practice and compete in the Olympic discipline of 10metre shooting under NSRA and ISSF rules, in County, Regional, Local and Club Competitions using a permanently set up, purpose built, four lane, indoor range with returning targets.

Additionally, and increasingly since the handgun ban, 20yd pistol shooting continues to become more and more popular as shooters appreciate that air pistols can easily perform well at this longer distance. This is conducted outside within the 25mt range at MTSC.

Some of us have competed in the Hendon League 10 metre air pistol competitions, and last year in the competition ending December 2010, three of us were respectively first in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions of that competition.

Currently we are competing in the Hendon League, NSRA and NSRA/ELEY competitions, Cumbria and Northumbria Target Shooting Associations competitions, and in the Berkshire County competition.

Other forms of pistol shooting are also available at MTSC ranging from short range multi-shot pistols and air soft equipment to American Civil War replica muzzle loading revolvers, normally shot at 25 and 50mts. Although we hope to gain approval to shoot this latter type within MTSC members currently have to go to an approved full-bore range such as Bisley.

Coaching

Full pistol coaching is available through Club Instructors and for those who show real expertise, some of our members can offer a wealth of knowledge and experience in shooting for Great Britain Internationally and at Commonwealth Games level.

Pistols

Precision air pistol target shooting is mainly carried out using 0.177 pellets.  There is a large selection of guns available, the following photographs showing a few.

The first is from the real old days when 0.22 shooting was in vogue and is an “Original” 0.22 air pistol made by Meyer and Grammelspacher.  Cocked by using the barrel and having a heavy piston which was released on firing, it suffers from the inertia and momentum effects of the piston traversing the cylinder.

The second are two versions of a newer 0.177 “Original”.  This features twin pistons which travel in opposite directions thus canceling out the effect of the momentum of the moving piston.  The gun is cocked by the barrel being levered downwards.  M&G later made an improved version whose barrel was fixed and had side lever action.

The third photo is of a Feinwerbau Model 80.  This also is no longer made and is a collector’s item.  To reduce the disturbance caused by the single piston traversing when the trigger is pulled, this gun’s barrel is mounted on rails.  The gun is cocked by a side mounted lever, thus avoiding inaccuracies which could occur in guns such as the “Original” shown above due to the barrel position being slightly variable as the gun wears.

The fourth shown is a Gamo PR45 – this particular model is probably no longer available, but similar models are still available.   The cocking arrangement compresses air into a cylinder, and when the trigger is pulled the air is released through the barrel without any piston motion, thus avoiding inertia effects. This is the cheapest so far, originally retailing at around £60.

The fifth is a Walther LP300XT Protouch and is the most expensive shown here at around £1000.  In this type of gun the air is pre-compressed and stored in the removable cylinder.  The air is released with no moving parts.  There are holes in the upper surface of the barrel to allow air release to counter the tendency for the gun to lift on firing.