Which is the best air pistol on the market to-day? This is the question that I hear the most and the chat lines are loaded with lengthy discussions on the various features of the newest airguns on the market. It’s a little like asking which is the better car, the Ferrari or the Chev. Well, if you want to win a world championship then go buy the Ferrari. On the other hand if you only want to go to pick up a loaf of bread at the corner store then the Chev is best. My first question to the customer is how do you want to use the pistol? If they say that they are Master class, national team or at the Olympic level of course I recommend that they look at the advanced technical features of the pistol….the things that will get points regardless of price, frills, looks or popularity. The overwhelming bulk of my customers, however, are not at that level and acknowledge that they never will be. They just want a good reliable airgun that has some of the nicer features of the new generation of guns. They also want it at affordable prices. There are a few who are hung up on looks alone.

he match airgun manufacturers in central Europe to-day are very competitive businesses and like most businesses, sales are driven largely by promotion. They like to make a big thing out of small changes. Many of these new changes that we see are purely cosmetic or for ease of manufacture but they like to promote them as high tech improvements and of course there is a model name change to go along with it. Having said all that, they do come up with significant changes that do work and will get you points [in theory at least]. These are usually small and subtle changes which ore often overlooked by many new gun buyers. They are also changes that will not really benefit other than the Olympic level shooter.

The best pistol?? Well ask yourself first to what level do you aspire? Then take a look at the various features available and ask yourself do I really need them? If you don’t even know what they are then chances are that you don’t need them. Maybe the following checklist will help you out with a few of the things to consider but before going to it, there are a few cardinal rules in purchasing a world class pistol;

1. Don't buy a spring gun, they just don't hack it.
2. Don't buy a hand-cranker, they wear out quick.
3. Buy CO2 or cylinder-air it really does'nt matter.
4. Don't pay less than US$ 600.00 [new].

If you would prefer to copy the world champions [not a bad idea] here are the pistols of choice used at recent world level competitions, remember shooters at this level have the best available.