Air pistols are a fantastic option for anyone interested in shooting. Easy to carry while still packing a punch, and often cheaper than air rifles, a pistol has everything most recreational shooters will need.

Whether you’re using your air pistol for hunting, target practice or competitive shooting, there are some fundamentals that can help keep your shots on target. From technique to repetition and more, follow these and you won’t go far wrong!

Choose the Right Air Pistol

First things first, it pays to make sure your air pistol is up to scratch! That doesn’t mean buying the most expensive one in the shop, but it does mean understanding what features are going to suit you best.

Just as with air rifles, there are different styles of air pistols you can choose from, such as:

  • – CO2 Air Pistols – The most common style, offering fairly consistent performance.
  • – PCP Air Pistols – More expensive than CO2, but can also offer more power and consistency.
  • – Manual Cocking Air Pistols – Usually less accurate but also cheaper so can be good for beginners.

Beyond the style, there are other factors to consider, such as the firing style (automatic, single shot etc.) and ammunition, all which can have an impact on your final shot.

If you’re not sure which air pistol is right for you, it can be a good idea to visit a local firing range. If you show an interest in the sport, there will usually be people who will let you have a few shots with different pistols so you can gauge what might suit you best in terms of style, shape, weight and more.

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Learn Good Technique

It goes without saying, but the accuracy of your shot is as much down to you as it is your kit.

There’s a reason many of the best Olympic shooters look the same when firing – there are techniques that are proven to work.

There are three key aspects to pistol shooting technique that will help you maximise your accuracy, particularly when it comes to target practice (although many will also apply to things like hunting).

Grip

Having the right grip is important in all shooting, but particularly for pistols. Because of their size and weight, the slightest deviation can throw off your shot.

The key is to have a grip with even points of contact that gravitate as close towards the pistol’s centre of gravity as possible – this is usually just under the trigger. Your grip should be steady, with minimal muscle force, and with fingers balanced in parallel with the barrel.

Any tension or imbalance can lead to the firing motion causing the barrel to tilt slightly and lose your accuracy.

Stance

The Olympic pistol shooting stance is legendary at this point. However cool it looks, there’s a reason for every part.

Basically, the pistol shooting stance works to minimise movement as much as possible. Having your feet shoulder-width apart and your legs relaxed (not locked or tense) allows you to stay still. It’s also recommended to anchor your non-shooting hand in a pocket or your waistband to avoid it swinging and throwing off the shot.

The only parts of your body that need to be locked when firing are your shooting elbow or wrist. Locking these reduces how much the power of the shot will tilt the gun before the pellet has left the chamber.

Breathing

Often underestimated by beginners, breathing can have a huge impact on the quality of your final shot.

Breathing is crucial to shooting; hold your breath for too long, and your muscles will get weaker, causing you to shake when you fire. However, breathing naturally causes your body to move, so you need to control it.

Different shooters all have different techniques, but it’s generally recommended to get in your firing position and then start slowing your breathing. Then, during a slow exhale, hold your breath for a moment before firing.

Some will exhale completely before holding their breath, while others will stop breathing during the exhale. Find what feels most comfortable to you, but make sure you don’t hold your breath for too long, otherwise your accuracy will dip.

A hand holding an air pistol in a firing stance

Repeat Your Routine

The easiest way to get better at anything is practice, practice, practice. Shooting is no different; the more often you shoot, the better you will become.

The most important thing is that you’re doing quality practice. You don’t want to be getting into a routine with a bad stance and grip that’s destined to send your shots off target, otherwise, you’ll need to unlearn what you did before. Make sure your technique is on point more often than not, and then just keep refining it.

The more often you repeat your routine while shooting, the better you’ll be at listening to your body’s signals. You’ll notice if you need a few extra breaths or if your grip feels off. With more practice and confidence, you’ll know exactly when to fire, and your shots will hit the target with much more frequency.

Join a Club

We’ve spoken about it plenty of times already here but it’s worth repeating. If you want to improve your accuracy, there are few better things to do than join a shooting club.

Whether you’re just starting or are an experienced shooter looking to improve, shooting ranges are the place to be. This is where you can learn techniques from others and explore different equipment and accessories that could make all the difference.

With the internet, it’s possible to learn some techniques and approaches by yourself. However, it’s no substitute for being stood at a range and getting specific, personalised advice that could take your shooting to the next level.

Consider Accessories

If you’ve done all the above, another thing to consider could be investing in different air pistol accessories that can help improve the quality of your shot. Here are some things to consider:

Ultimately, becoming a crack air pistol shot takes the right equipment and plenty of practice. Whether you’re hunting vermin or shooting targets, we hope these techniques will help you get the most out of your favourite air pistols.