CO2 Pistol for self-defence?

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Suicidally bad idea unless your only threat is rodents.

OTOH, there are 30 cal air guns in use for hunting in Europe that are available in the U.S. that are lethal.
 
ive seen them up to 50cal. yes your could kill a person with one, but from what ive read they are still classified as firearms as far as carrying them goes, so you might as well carry a regular firearm. also most the high powered airguns ive seen are single shot. the high calibre/power airguns cost as much as a regular sidearm, if not more and they can "leak down" slowly reducing power due to escaped gas. stick with gunpowder ;)
 
You're trying to stop the threat, not kill it. And the CO2 may be able to kill it but I'm betting that it won't stop it.
 
Well strangely enough most CO2 pistols are considered firearms as laws and penalties are considered in Europe.
 
considering CA has pretty lenient laws on them..........

i mean unless you can get em in the eye, its only gonna make someone angry
 
considering CA has pretty lenient laws on them..........
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Better check your penal code. IIRC, in 2003, they were reclassified as firearms. I'll see if I can dig up the section for you.



It appears they correected the problem, either in later legislation, or before final approval of the change. I remember the discussion in my academy class, regarding the wording of this section:
12001. (a)(1) As used in this title, the terms "pistol," "revolver," and "firearm capable of being concealed upon the person" shall apply to and include any device designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any explosion, or other form of combustion, and that has a barrel less than 16 inches in length.

 The portion in bold used to say something along the lines of"any chemical reaction or force"

the laws in CA change seemingly overnight!
 
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In street terms, you are using a gun. The alleged perp may not know it's a CO2, he does know it is a gun.

You have just authorized a maximum violent response by him. Have a nice day.
 
If i take the time to stuff something uncomfortable (guns are comforting, not comfortable) in my pants, or stick it under my arm, or put it next to my manliness, it better serve a purpose other than getting myself hurt.

This would only work for the "I could never shoot someone" crowd, because with them, it doesn't really matter if they have a desert eagle or a super soaker, they aren't going to be willing to use force.
 
ive seen them up to 50cal. yes your could kill a person with one, but from what ive read they are still classified as firearms as far as carrying them goes
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I'm not wanting an argument with you ecos, but I'd sure love to have one with whoever thinks any airgun is a firearm. A "firearm" in the literal sense is something which must be capable of producing "fire".
 
i meant in a legal sense not literal. in many jurisdictions an airgun falls in the same guidelines as a firearm(as fjolnirsson has shown us). thats why i said "they are still classified as firearms as far as carrying them goes " but for everyday usage when someone mentions firearms i dont think airguns.

legally they get away with it by this line (using fjolnirssons example) "shall apply to and include any device designed to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled a projectile by the force of any explosion, or other form of combustion" they would have been better off to leave out "other" for their purposes

now if you look up the term "firearm" in the dictionary you get "A weapon, especially a pistol or rifle, capable of firing a projectile and using an explosive charge as a propellant."

aha but what is an explosion? so we look up explosion "Relating to or having the nature of an explosion.
Tending to explode."
"adj 1: tending or serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst; "an explosive device"; "explosive gas"; "explosive force"; "explosive violence"; "an explosive temper" [ant: nonexplosive] 2: liable to lead to sudden change or violence; "an explosive issue"; "a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation" [syn: volatile] 3: sudden and loud; "an explosive laugh" n : a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck"

notice an explosion is not classified only as a chemical reaction(gunpowder) and a firearm is simply a tool that expels a projectile by explosive means.

so for many people in a legal and literal sense an airgun is classified as a firearm. again as for myself when people talk firearms i dont think bb guns. dictionary examples from dictionary.com
 
now if you look up the term "firearm" in the dictionary you get "A weapon, especially a pistol or rifle, capable of firing a projectile and using an explosive charge as a propellant."
Click to expand...

What does any dictionary say (verbatim) for a pellet gun or CO2 powered gun? If the word "fire" or "fired" is anywhere along any definition, toss out that dictionary and look for another with some sense. You "fire" a firearm, beit a pistol, rifle, shotgun ... but you "shoot" an airgun, CO2 thingamajig kidthingy.

Overall now, any caliber airgun or CO2 thingamajig kidthingy will hurt somewhat, and if you score a really lucky shot, you can possibly kill someone, but don't bet on it just because the overinflated government warning is on the outside of the box saying, "Misuse could result in serious injury or death". If the government had their way with warning labels, my box of Wheaties and Quaker Oats would be next to nuclear waste.

Serious though, what's a projectile with a .177 diameter going to do against anyone who's amped for an all out attack upon you? ... and I don't care what velocity you put behind this pea ... it's still .177 cal. Your ONLY chance is to spray such an attacker in full auto mode.
 
i agree a .177 pellet isnt going to do much unless you are lucky...but what about .22? .30? .50? 2.0" etc...airguns can(and have) been made in many sizes and have killed many large beasts. elk, deer, humans, buffalo, etc have all been killed with airguns. the french and austrians used to equip snipers with airguns that they killed the enemy with. there have been ships equipped with air cannons that shot slugs with a diameter of several inches, they would rip right through the side of an enemies ship. i was a bit suprised when i discovered that they have been in use for hundreds of years as weapons when reading a history of lewis and clark expedition and it mentioned they carried an airgun...i was like "huh??" and i had to do some research on the subject...i was intrigued.

today most people consider airguns as toys due to all the watered down models you find at walmart. can airguns be made lethal? most assuredly. are they efficient for self defense in todays society? nope! thats why i said stick to gunpowder.
 
ecos- We're talking about a CO2 pistol, I can't think of any CO2 pistol that could reliably take down anything over 30 lbs.
 
oops, your right daniel...lost track of the plot there...i started thinking airguns in general not c02. havent come across any high powered c02, all pump guns.

my apologies
 
I have a CO2 pistol that looks identical to a S&W revolver. It will not reliably kill squirrels. My Crosman air rifle will, the pistol will not. I can't imagine using the pistol for anything other than assaulting Coke cans.
 
If you are speaking of the .177/.22 BB/pellet guns, yeah good against the thundering horde of small rodents, soda cans, paper.

Against the 2-legged predator....NOT recommended.
 
If you are going to rely on it for self-defense, get the biggest, heaviest, steel air pistol you can find. Then at least have a heavy thing you can throw at an assailant - more effective than shooting him.
 
ecos- I agree with the intrigue part though...especially after hearing about Lewis & Clark's airgun and the 9mm Chinese rifles that are out there. But that's another thread entirely... :p
 
"strangely enough most CO2 pistols are considered firearms as laws and penalties are considered in Europe"

Exactly the OPPOSITE is the truth! :fire:
 
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