g.willikers

Other than airsoft pistols, there hasn't been an effective training tool, until now. Umarex has recently introduced semiauto pellet guns, CO2 powered with blowback action, definite recoil, rifled barrels with skirted .177 lead pellets. Very good accuracy and less than $100. Previous versions of semiauto pellet pistols were just disguised revolvers or bb guns, but Umarex has developed a way to make realistic pistols with skirted pellets. There's a video review of the Berretta Storm version at Pyramydair.com at the video section choice at the top of their main web page. I just got one and am very impressed with it. It's a true acting DA/SA trigger starting with the hammer down, or SA starting with the hammer back. The recoil is at least the same as a .22. The accuracy at 7 yds is way better than my airsoft, too. The only drawback is that the CO2 only lasts approx 40 shots, but they are good ones. Check it out, you won't be wasting your time.

The gurus at our local computer club like this one: http://usa.kaspersky.com/

How about an inexpensive, electric (battery powered) airsoft pistol, and not bother with actually loading the pellets? They're only about $30 and no doubt the trigger could be modified with springs to suit the need. But, if it's noise and recoil causing the problem, the only cure is shooting your real gun more, with focus on recoil control. Use better ear protection, too. Noise does, indeed, cause flinching. Just a thought or two....... or three.

Me too, I would also like to know the answer to this question. The research up to now strongly suggests that the recommended airsoft ARs, suitable for serious practice, are priced nearly as much as .22 versions. That kind of takes the motivation out of getting one. The only reason to choose the airsoft at these prices would be the lack of a nearby range to use the .22, as the airsoft is so handy for home use. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe I'll better stick with my trusty ole' Crosman $50, CO2, pellet revolver for round gun practice. It's been remarkably reliable and accurate. The airsoft just seemed more useful indoors. The pellet gun is kind of powerful and puts holes in stuff that easily stops airsoft. Thanks for the info.

My GI has been doing this for eons. It doesn't really seem to hurt the brass any. I've reloaded the dented brass many, many times ok. There's the added bonus of easy identification of your brass at the range.

thepossible, Thanks for the reply. How bad is the accuracy in yours? My practice distances are all within 7 yds, mostly 5 yds. Is it too poor to be useful at 1/2 sized uspsa targets at those distances?

Ah, it's a cassette deck. Er, whats a cassette deck? That didn't occur to me. Yes, the word "Recording" is there. Thanks, again.

Hello Alex, Tried the program this morning, using the info you supplied about setting the volume of both the mic and the program. Everything worked just fine with one exception. On my Sony Vaio with Vista, after the last shot, when I hit "any key" to get the results, sometimes the program quits. (the Enter key seems to work best). Other times, it works perfectly, giving a read out just like a store bought timer. The difference as to whether it shuts down or not seems to be how long from the last shot to hitting "any key" to get the results. Around ten seconds seems to be the magic number for success. Less causes the shutdown. There's a second window, with two eyeball like things, that opens when the timer starts. It goes away when the results show. Normal?? Something to do with the sound recording, maybe? I'll play with it some more later today. It looks like a winner. Thanks, again.

It worked!! Alex, your last directions did the trick; your program is installed. Tomorrow I'll give it a try with my trusty airsoft pistola. Thanks much, both for the program and your patience. A computer guru I ain't. Good job, Mr. Brown. At this rate, you are going to be very popular around here.

Alex, Thanks for all the effort. I'll try some more. Might actually be gaining on it. If not, there's always the tried and true method.....one thousand one, one thousand two....... I'll report back, probably tomorrow. Thanks again.

A good one. I'm going to use it next range day. Option: add barricades at B and C, engaging targets from different sides of the barricades each run. Thanks Pro2aInPa.

Has anyone tried the WG revolvers yet? The 4" at $120 seems like a good choice, all metal with good reviews. The CO2 power is desirable, especially for indoor use.

Well, I went to the bioacademy web site, downloaded the mcrinstaller file, installed it and everything seemed ok. Installing the setup for the timer program yields a dos command screen saying the .bat file is inflating and asking if the files in the program should be replaced. Eh?? Trying it both ways, yes and no got the same apparent results - a quick blink of the screen and the dos window disappears. Then trying to open the timer program .exe file gets an error of a missing mclmcrrt76.dll. But this file is in the matlab runtime win32 folder. Now what???

So, what am I doing wrong? Your readme file says to download the runtime from http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fil...ller-automation. The zip file that's downloaded from mathlab has two files, mcr_release14_auto....exe and .AU3. When I run the .exe, there's an error saying that the Matlab v7.0 installer was not found in the folder. I assumed this meant it was supposed to be in the zip folder, along with the other two files??? The matlab web site says the MCRInstaller.exe will be installed from this mcr_release14 auto installer. Where is it? Thanks

Idea #1: Having done winter matches both north and south, south is better. Change your zip code. Idea #2: "Drive By" stage, from a heated car, window down, of course. Idea#3: Build a small shack, that can be heated, and shoot from it. A three sided one will do fine. My three cents.

Practicing instinctive style archery, without sights on the bow, will also help develop both point shooting skill and the ability to get the gun on target quickly. Hard focusing on the target and trusting your form, instead of overly relying on sights, will speed things up considerably. The gun (or bow) comes on target and the sights are just there, right where they oughta' be. The hardest part of this is trusting and believing you can do it. My unsolicited advice.

Clay Harvey's "Flash of Red", "Whisper of Black", "Dwelling in Grey".

It's possible to make a small fortune this way............. But, you will have to start with a large one.

There must be a lot of older guys, who were once uspsa competitors but gave it up due to age, fading eyes, arthritic hands and fingers and the like. They might just come back if they could use a pistol caliber carbine. I would. Carbines are lots easier on the old joints and the sights are actually visible.

Just use cardboard boxes, of suitable size, filled with scrunched up newspaper. Paste a paper target to one of the sides and enjoy. If the bbs tend to bounce off the cardboard, cut out a section and paste the paper target over the hole.

If all else fails, there's really good and realistic airguns available these days. Plenty powerful enough and very accurate. CO2 powered Blowback models with recoil can substitute for autoloader .22s. Springer rifles are extremely accurate out to over 50 yds and also recoil realistically. Many choices available for well under $100. Just a thought to carry you over the shortages. No clean up afterwards either.

Have Gun Will Travel: Watch 38 episodes on cbs.com/classics. Still great after all these years. Episode #32 - "The Five Books of Owen Deaver" - the evils of gun control.

Anyone taking bets as to which would happen first in real life - guy shoots himself in the head while somersaulting, or guy gets shot in the butt in the middle of doing it.

My Dillon (Square Deal, not 650) is 22 years old. It's needed just a few parts over all these years and the press did not need to be sent back to the factory for the repairs. They took my word for it and just sent the parts, no charge, not even shipping. Don't know if the other makers will make life as easy for their customers or not. Of course, it requires being able to diagnose the problem and make the repairs, but it's nice not having to be without the unit for weeks. Good stuff, them Dillons.