One of the guns wanted ads led to the need for comments about very high accuracy .22 handguns including free pistols. Here is a slightly modified posting of one of the comments, in case anyone is interested. If not, I can delete this later.
If you want very high accuracy, there is very little difference in accuracy out to 50 meters between the free pistols, and the best of the semi-autos like the 208 and AW 93, and practically none compared to the SAKO. Beyond 50 M, the free pistols are better due to the long barrels and ability to use HV ammunition.
Among the free pistols, the Steyr is the best for accuracy and probably for durablity, but is expensive ($2300-2800) and the high sights require a modified shooting technique. It also can not be used in the regulated shilouette competitions due to the design.
The Pfuff was a specific design for small hands, is almost as accurate as the Steyr, and very durable. Generally around $1200. Some are 12" barrels, some 10, occasionally 8"
The Hammerli 160 is very good, lighter than the others, and is very popular. Around $2000.
The Hammerli 150 is very accurate, heavier, and uses a tapered barrel for vibration suppression. This is a very good design, also very accurate. About $1200-1600 depending on specific gun.
The Hammerli 120 uses the same barrel ldesign as the 150 but has a weaver dovetail standard, and is the only FP that uses a Colt 1911 or military grip angle. It also can accept a shoulder stock, with appropriate ATF permits. The trigger is not as refined as on the 150-160 or other guns, but has a wide range of adjustment, is simple, and very good. The barrel position is quite high due to the grip and use of a luger finger lockup, rather than a falling or rotating block, reducing accuracy in actual use compared to the other guns. Price varies, but usually is in the $600-800 range.
Any of these guns however is about as accurate as the average Anschutz target rifle, with the Steyr better than most of them. Specifically 0.15 MOA for the Steyr, about .2 to .25 for the others, with the Pfuff often below 0.2 MOA.
One basic item in accuracy with the Steyr is having the barrel at the level of the index finger. The grips must be adjusted to provide this, for the gun to be accurate in actual luse.
Some like the TOZ35. I don't recommend those due to the high rate of parts failure and wear, and the basic accuracy is less than the Hammerli, Steyr, and Pfuff guns. The 35M is very slightly lower quality. However, the prices for either may merit considering these, as they can be quite low in price and are very good guns, when they work. A NIB TOZ usually needs to be refined and adjusted before it can be used with accuracy, as well. Many, however, recommend them very highly and view the TOZ-35 or 35-M as the ideal olympic and competition pistol.
Some like the new Morini. The test targets however always are poor compared to the guns above. The Morini are favored in FP competition now, but whether that is advertising rather than quality has been a matter of discussion.
If you stumble across one, the old Arminius Model 2 free pistols also were excellent and very easy to use due to the light weight. However only a few were made (I think 4) and they don't appear frequently.
In looking at the test targets, the Steyr, Pfuff, Morini, and TOZ test data compare readily to one another. The Hammerli test targets do not, because they are done with a massive barrel clamp that causes major changes in the shooting characteristics of the gun, and greatly increases the test target accuracy.
As to use of these guns, it varies. Some use them strictly for personal target shooting, some for competition, some for hunting. In Europe especially, the Hammerli, Steyr, and Pfuff free pistols were used as compact rifles to 100M in intelligence work. Due to the shorter barrels, the high accuracy semi-autos like the Hammerli 208, Walther GSP, and Feinwerkbau AW93 generally are useful only to 50M distance with high accuracy. The GSP with a 10" barrel is the exception.
Please note, many of these pistols are classified as assault weapons in towns or states with specific bans on assault weapons guns. Among the high accuracy semi-auto handguns, generally only the Walther GSP and OSP have been classified as assault weapons, as well as the newer Pardini and Morini developments from that gun.
If you want very high accuracy, there is very little difference in accuracy out to 50 meters between the free pistols, and the best of the semi-autos like the 208 and AW 93, and practically none compared to the SAKO. Beyond 50 M, the free pistols are better due to the long barrels and ability to use HV ammunition.
Among the free pistols, the Steyr is the best for accuracy and probably for durablity, but is expensive ($2300-2800) and the high sights require a modified shooting technique. It also can not be used in the regulated shilouette competitions due to the design.
The Pfuff was a specific design for small hands, is almost as accurate as the Steyr, and very durable. Generally around $1200. Some are 12" barrels, some 10, occasionally 8"
The Hammerli 160 is very good, lighter than the others, and is very popular. Around $2000.
The Hammerli 150 is very accurate, heavier, and uses a tapered barrel for vibration suppression. This is a very good design, also very accurate. About $1200-1600 depending on specific gun.
The Hammerli 120 uses the same barrel ldesign as the 150 but has a weaver dovetail standard, and is the only FP that uses a Colt 1911 or military grip angle. It also can accept a shoulder stock, with appropriate ATF permits. The trigger is not as refined as on the 150-160 or other guns, but has a wide range of adjustment, is simple, and very good. The barrel position is quite high due to the grip and use of a luger finger lockup, rather than a falling or rotating block, reducing accuracy in actual use compared to the other guns. Price varies, but usually is in the $600-800 range.
Any of these guns however is about as accurate as the average Anschutz target rifle, with the Steyr better than most of them. Specifically 0.15 MOA for the Steyr, about .2 to .25 for the others, with the Pfuff often below 0.2 MOA.
One basic item in accuracy with the Steyr is having the barrel at the level of the index finger. The grips must be adjusted to provide this, for the gun to be accurate in actual luse.
Some like the TOZ35. I don't recommend those due to the high rate of parts failure and wear, and the basic accuracy is less than the Hammerli, Steyr, and Pfuff guns. The 35M is very slightly lower quality. However, the prices for either may merit considering these, as they can be quite low in price and are very good guns, when they work. A NIB TOZ usually needs to be refined and adjusted before it can be used with accuracy, as well. Many, however, recommend them very highly and view the TOZ-35 or 35-M as the ideal olympic and competition pistol.
Some like the new Morini. The test targets however always are poor compared to the guns above. The Morini are favored in FP competition now, but whether that is advertising rather than quality has been a matter of discussion.
If you stumble across one, the old Arminius Model 2 free pistols also were excellent and very easy to use due to the light weight. However only a few were made (I think 4) and they don't appear frequently.
In looking at the test targets, the Steyr, Pfuff, Morini, and TOZ test data compare readily to one another. The Hammerli test targets do not, because they are done with a massive barrel clamp that causes major changes in the shooting characteristics of the gun, and greatly increases the test target accuracy.
As to use of these guns, it varies. Some use them strictly for personal target shooting, some for competition, some for hunting. In Europe especially, the Hammerli, Steyr, and Pfuff free pistols were used as compact rifles to 100M in intelligence work. Due to the shorter barrels, the high accuracy semi-autos like the Hammerli 208, Walther GSP, and Feinwerkbau AW93 generally are useful only to 50M distance with high accuracy. The GSP with a 10" barrel is the exception.
Please note, many of these pistols are classified as assault weapons in towns or states with specific bans on assault weapons guns. Among the high accuracy semi-auto handguns, generally only the Walther GSP and OSP have been classified as assault weapons, as well as the newer Pardini and Morini developments from that gun.
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