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blucavvy · New Member

how effective can it be? how many fps does the pistol have to be? and what's the most effective type of pellet for this?

i'm talking like a bedside pistol, not a "walk around the streets with it in your pocket" pistol.

i know it sounds stupid, but i also know i can't be the only one who's ever thought of it before. so i wanna hear it from the experts.... Smile

AirGunEric · Site Admin

It is stupid, and is likely to get you killed long before it becomes useful for "self defense".

Just being direct here- it is a bad idea, plain and simple. Do a search on the forum here for "self defense" and see what pops up to get more details as to the "why's" on this.

justsayno · Member

WhitleyStu · Veteran Member

Using my IZH 46M with 7gr pellet you are talking 3.2 FPE compared to 284 FPE with a FNP USG .45 acp shooting a 200gr bullet (using my own chrono results for both). That's a big difference in knock down power...

Slavia · Moderator

oddtodd · Silver Status Member

I keep a Desert Eagle .50 cal in my bedside safe. An air pistol will only get you killed.

donec · Senior Member

The biggest draw back to using an air gun for self defense is the lack of power. The average airgun for hunting can kill a mouse/rat or a rabbit but they would not slow down an angry human but would probably just make them more angry, let alone a human on drugs which sometimes a .38 powder burner will not stop. Now they make some high powered high caliber air rifles for hunting large game but they are expensive and slower to fire than a powder burner and I am not sure if even one of them could stop a human without a very accurate shot.

So like the others have said it is a bad idea unless you think you could stop an intruder by stabbing them with a plastic straw instead of a large hunting knife.

I guess you could use a airrifle as a club. That would work better than shooting someone with the average air gun.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I notice the original poster has not come back after his initial post- perhaps he didn't really want an answer (?)

donec · Senior Member

Or he might have thought hey I didn't come here to be attacked. When I read the replies to the post I kind of felt sorry for the OP. That is why I tried to give some reasoning to why it is a bad idea just in case they were serious about their question and completely new to airguns.

Also they may have read the replies without logging in and decided not to reply.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Could be- but it's hard not to jump on a really really bad idea with a firm "don't do it". In this case- I think direct was the way to go- if I've learned one thing- if someone is genuinely looking for an answer- the simpler and more direct it is, the better off they'll be- especially if it could be a potentially life-threatening activity.

"Can I shoot myself in the eye with a BB and not go blind?"

"NO."

"Would it be wise to eat lead pellets?"

"Absolutely not."

and so on...

ZipSnipe · Veteran Member

Guess the real question is" if someone shot ya in the face with a .177 pellet traveling at 600 to 700 fpm, would you still want to break into their house?

rug38 · New Member

if someone shot me with a pellet that would be reason for me to pull my 9mm and return the favor

Mark5043 · Silver Status Member

Go with a .357 Mag,and 125gr. semi-jacketed hollow points....There's always plenty of air behind that combination... Razz

AirGunEric · Site Admin

radar · Silver Status Member

Pot of boiling water probably would be more effective than an air pistol unless perhaps it were a high capacity full-auto.