Beeman P17 177 pistol - Do you like yours? Thoughts.

[243winxb]

Currently looking for something to shoot in the basement during quarantine.
Do you like yours?
Any problems?
At 28 pounds to cock seems like a lot. How many shots till your tired?

This model seems not to be availabe till later this month(April 2020) Why? Everyone buying them?

Best place to buy?

I do have some experence back in the 70s. Was a Beeman dealer and shot the Feinwerkbau 65 & Beeman HW 70 .

Thank You.

 

[MedWheeler]

You remind me that I even have one. I bought it for myself for Christmas (2018) and forgot about it. Never even unpacked it.

I'll have to make sure it joins the other air guns that are likely to come out soon under our SAH order here, too.

 

[Kookla]

Have read that they are excellent buys for the money, though somwmay have issues with tearing seals.

Pyramyd Air had a series of blog articles on it.

That link also goes through resealing them.

I have a HW75, which is very similar in operation to the p17. It takes a little time to get used to the process of pumping the lever, but I found a way where it's easier for me. Loading pellets takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it's fine.

I recently ordered a used Beeman P3, which the P17 is an unauthorized clone of. Should be here next week.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I recently ordered a used Beeman P3, which the P17 is an unauthorized clone of. Should be here next week.

More info on the P17 being an unauthorized clone if you have it please.

 

[Kookla]

More info on the P17 being an unauthorized clone if you have it please.

Another article on pyramydair's blog mentions it. Mentioned again here.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

First link above says the Chinese bought Beeman; "
Why are they both Beemans?
There is a more fundamental question to be asked first. What gives the Chinese the right to not only call their air pistol a Beeman P17, but to put that name on its molded top half? The answer is simple — they bought the company! The Beeman company is owned by Chinese proprietors — Industry Brand of Shanghai. Read about it in Part 2 of “A brief history of Beeman and Air Rifle Headquarters”.

2nd link makes it a bit less clear, but if they own Beeman I guess they get to make things with their name on it. Now, maybe they own the name but not the model they are making? I'm not sure. I ask mostly as I see respectable companies selling the P17 and didn't think they would do so if it was a knock off. Does leave me to wonder though.

Sorry for the thread drift.

 

[Kookla]

No worries. The links aren't in order- the second link goes to part 1, the first to part 2.

The P3 ia made in Germany by Weirauch, Beeman imported it and rebranded it here as the Beeman P17. I think the P17 was originally sold as a Marksman? Regardless, the Beeman P17 is supposed to be a really good bargain.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Concur, the P17 is a great buy for the money. QC is iffy at times, however, at the price point one can not expect a $400 pistol. We have 3-4 of them in the fam, had one fail but the rest are going strong.

Air Venturi has a nice pistol out now in the $200 range that is worth a look also.

 

[243winxb]

I know this has me wondering whats going on? https://airgunner.org/?p=614

Two very similar pellet pistols. Both are single stroke pneumatics, both have rifled steel barrels, both are recoilless, both have a rail you can mount a scope or red dot sight on, and both have adjustable sights as well. They look very similar, too. But the P3, on top, retails for $270, and the P17, for under $50. What gives?

I will try the P17, when it becomes available.

 

[OcelotZ3]

Funny to see this.

For the first time in a few years, I shot my P17 in my garage today. Very accurate. Still can't believe how cheap I got it for (< $28).

 

[243winxb]

I shot my P17

Where was it made?

 

[OcelotZ3]

Where was it made?

China

Had to open it up to find that, not marked on the outside.

 

[Kookla]

Concur, the P17 is a great buy for the money. QC is iffy at times, however, at the price point one can not expect a $400 pistol. We have 3-4 of them in the fam, had one fail but the rest are going strong.

Air Venturi has a nice pistol out now in the $200 range that is worth a look also.

In one of the links I put above, there's instructions on how to fix the 2.most common issue with the P17.

 

[Kookla]

One thing I like about single stroke pneumatics is that the power source is self contained. Shooting them is slower and more deliberate than when I shoot my rimfire pistols.

 

[PWGUNNY]

I discovered the Beeman P17 about 5 months ago. I was so impressed with it, I bought 2 more, and one for my neighbor. It is tough to cock. You will tend to blister your hand if you shoot too much. I took an elastic cotton wristband, made a thumbhole, and slip that over my left hand to relieve that issue while cocking. It is a little awkward loading the pellet, but that gets easier with practice. That's the bad stuff, the good stuff is its a very accurate shooter. No need for CO2, and its an inexpensive gun. I've bought mine from Pyramid Air(best customer service!) and also found one local at Walmart. I also recommend the 7.4gr Wadcutters from Crosman. These are easier to load into the gun and leave a crisp hole in the target. This air pistol has greatly improved my real pistol target shooting accuracy.

 

[Viper1357]

For the money you can't beat it. It's accurate, fairly powerful, and has some nice sights, dove tail rail, etc. I really like mine for target shooting, plinking and just plain practicing.

 

[Kookla]

I got my P3 in today. Only had time for about 10 shots beforw dinner. If the P17 is anything like it, you'll be happy. Will write more later.

 

[Kookla]

Shot the P3 a bit more last night in my basement range. Pumping compared to the HW75 and Beeman P2- seems a little more effort is required. There's plastic molding on the top of the "slide" mimicking the grooves to dissipate heat, useless on this and slighty irritating. I may sand those down.

It's taking me a little getting used to the hammer being used to open the pumping arm rather than being an actual hammer as on the HW75 and P2. Same with disengaging the auto safety, but I can get used to that.

Shooting it, it's solid. I have no way of proving this, but the lock time feels faster on the P3 than the other two, maybe the hammer drop is further on the others? On my first outing I was shooting it better than my other two
That could be a fluke, so will shoot more as I can.

So far, I'm pleased with it.

 

[Viper1357]

I got my P3 in today. Only had time for about 10 shots beforw dinner. If the P17 is anything like it, you'll be happy. Will write more later.

I'd be inclined to believe the P3 is more refined and a much higher level of quality overall.

 

[Kookla]

I'd be inclined to believe the P3 is more refined and a much higher level of quality overall.

Probably. Have read that performance is close though. Don't have a P17 to compare it to.

 

[243winxb]

Have something to shoot till i find a P17.

Grandsons have/had a Remington Vantage 177 air rifle. I borrowed it.

Gives me lots of exercise , cocking it for 30 shots in a session.

 

[Ernie Bass]

Have two of them and shooting them for years. Go to any Airgun Forum and there is much appreciation for these guns. One of the finer Chinese knockoffs that have come around. They have always gathered very good reviews. There use to be good info on tearning one down and replacing the seal, but I doubt you have to do that. One of the best ways that was mentioned by many to preserve the gun was to use Lithium greast on the barrel which I have been doing. Do a little research on these airguns and you should find a lot of info.
I shoot a lot of airguns for training and Point and shoot skills. Many really nice ones. Above 70 degrees and there are many nice CO2 you can train with. I train frequently with them. Here is just one of my favorites. A little pricey but great quality. The Walther CP88. Used in Europe by many for Iron plate shooting. Also a great low cost gun is the Makarov. Inexpensive but good quality. Do not get the one with the blowback. I have mine for over 10 yrs and still has the same FPS when checked each year with a chrony. Also the PPKS is great for indoors in the garage. The latter are BB guns, the Walther Pellet with rifled barrel.
The Walther has superb quality, runs around $250
The MaK around $75.00



The Makarov is close to other small barrel micro guns.

 

[jackinil]

I like the accuracy of my P17 but I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and as a result it's hard to load.

 

[MedWheeler]

243winxb writes:

Gives me lots of exercise , cocking it for 30 shots in a session.

Make sure you switch off hands, so you don't end up with only one Popeye-arm..!

 

[Kookla]

I like the accuracy of my P17 but I have arthritis in my hands and fingers and as a result it's hard to load.

Years ago Crosman had a model called the backpacker, built on their 13xx frame. Had the easiest loading gate, it swung/rolled out- very accessible.

I discovered the Beeman P17 about 5 months ago. I was so impressed with it, I bought 2 more, and one for my neighbor. It is tough to cock. You will tend to blister your hand if you shoot too much. I took an elastic cotton wristband, made a thumbhole, and slip that over my left hand to relieve that issue while cocking. It is a little awkward loading the pellet, but that gets easier with practice. That's the bad stuff, the good stuff is its a very accurate shooter. No need for CO2, and its an inexpensive gun. I've bought mine from Pyramid Air(best customer service!) and also found one local at Walmart. I also recommend the 7.4gr Wadcutters from Crosman. These are easier to load into the gun and leave a crisp hole in the target. This air pistol has greatly improved my real pistol target shooting accuracy.

For my P3, I put three small strips of electrical tape in layers over the top of the slide where I place my hand to help smooth out the sharp edges when pumping the lever. Works pretty good.