Though not quite the chameleon a Thompson Center Contender is, the Ataman AP16 is probably the closest thing to it in the air pistol universe.
The little Huma Mini moderator goes well on the AP Compact, almost looks good, and knocks the report down enough to no longer bark my ears when shooting from my covered back porch. So I put probably the smallest 2-7X pistol scope ever produced on it, a Thompson Center. Seems 'fitting' in more ways than one, considering the earlier Contender analogy.
This is the most powerful and accurate air pistol rig that can be assembled in a (relatively) small and light package. It consistently averages 1/2" five-shot groups at 25 yards, and 1" at 50 with 15.9 grain JSBs at 620 FPS/13.6 foot-pounds. Charged to 270 BAR, a sixteen-shot power- band exhibits an ES of 6 FPS, and SD of 2!
Although my newly acquired LD is very cool and fun to shoot, a session with it followed by another with the AP16 lends poignant perspective on how much magnum air pistols have evolved. With the same 15.9 JSBs, at 95 degrees the LD returns a 20 shot power-band from a 12 gram Co2 cartridge, averaging 545 FPS/10.5 foot-pounds with an ES of 13, and SD of 3.6. Still VERY impressive, especially considering it is just as accurate as the AP16 Compact it dwarfs.
I'm smitten!
The little Huma Mini moderator goes well on the AP Compact, almost looks good, and knocks the report down enough to no longer bark my ears when shooting from my covered back porch. So I put probably the smallest 2-7X pistol scope ever produced on it, a Thompson Center. Seems 'fitting' in more ways than one, considering the earlier Contender analogy.
This is the most powerful and accurate air pistol rig that can be assembled in a (relatively) small and light package. It consistently averages 1/2" five-shot groups at 25 yards, and 1" at 50 with 15.9 grain JSBs at 620 FPS/13.6 foot-pounds. Charged to 270 BAR, a sixteen-shot power- band exhibits an ES of 6 FPS, and SD of 2!
Although my newly acquired LD is very cool and fun to shoot, a session with it followed by another with the AP16 lends poignant perspective on how much magnum air pistols have evolved. With the same 15.9 JSBs, at 95 degrees the LD returns a 20 shot power-band from a 12 gram Co2 cartridge, averaging 545 FPS/10.5 foot-pounds with an ES of 13, and SD of 3.6. Still VERY impressive, especially considering it is just as accurate as the AP16 Compact it dwarfs.
I'm smitten!
