Free Pistol

[WildBill]

This is my Hammerli Model 105 Free Pistol. It's a single shot .22LR, with 18 inch octogon barrel, adjustable grip, and 4 oz set trigger.

[speedsix]

...you got my hopes up...should have known you were Hammerliin' to us...is it really more accurate than, say, a Ruger Standard or S&W 17???

[WildBill]

...you got my hopes up...should have known you were Hammerliin' to us...is it really more accurate than, say, a Ruger Standard or S&W 17???

I knew someone would bite.
The group on the target that came with it is one ragged hole.

[speedsix]

...any powder burns on it???

...hope you got a better deal than this: http://www.larrysguns.com/Products/Hamm ... m_307.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WildBill]

...any powder burns on it???

...hope you got a better deal than this: http://www.larrysguns.com/Products/Hamm ... m_307.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You are a skeptic aren't you.

I was inspired to post this by doc540 as a response to his finally got a REAL target pistol thread.

Here is the story of my Free Pistol:

I have had this pistol for a long time, but it has less than 100 rounds of ammo through it. It was purchased new in the mid-60s. At that time there was only one Hammerli importer in the U.S. and my dad bought it as a birthday present for my mom. I don't remember the price, but it was very expensive in 1960s dollars.

My mom didn't shoot it much. She liked to shoot her High Standard, Colt 1911 and Colt Python. She gave me the Hammerli and some other guns before she passed away.

At the time my dad purchased it, this pistol was the choice of Olympic shooters in the Free Pistol class. Several years later some shooters modified the Hammerili trigger with a battery-operated electronic trigger that was like a remote shutter release on a camera. There were some complaints about this from the Olympic committee, so I think that the modification was made "illegal".

The action is quite unique for a small bore pistol. There is a lever that you can see on the pictures, protruding from the bottom of the grip. This lever actuates a ramp that moves down so you can load a cartridge into the chamber. Moving the lever in the opposite direction moves up the ramp and locks the bolt.

This pistol has a set trigger. Prior to shooting you have to press the cocking lever to set the trigger. This is one trigger that you do not squeeze. You just have to touch it and it will go off. There were several holes in the ceiling of the indoor range to attest to this fact.

[C-dub]

That thing is wild looking. I have no idea when I will be back down to Houston, but if it's still available, when I do, I just might get it from you.

[MoJo]

International free pistol, the ultimate handgun competition where the winner is determined not by score but by how many Xs they shot if you dropped one point you were out of the running. That's an awesome gun Wild Bill.

[C-dub]

That thing is wild looking. I have no idea when I will be back down to Houston, but if it's still available, when I do, I just might get it from you.

I decided to look this thing up.



I completely misunderstood your post. I thought this was a pistol you were giving away.

[WildBill]

The problem with owning a pistol like that, is people will have unreal expectations concerning your shooting abilities.

After they watch me shoot, their expectations are much lower.

[fenster]

too many years ago, I shot on my collegiate pistol team. coach said that for a newer shooter, the full-on free pistol hurt more than it helped. after sufficient time and experience, you could reap the benefits of a real free pistol.

I ran one of those for a while, but eventually switched to this as my issued free pistol:


the free pistol section of a match was an odd thing. 2 hrs (as I recall. it's been a while) to shoot 60 shots. 10/target. it was a very zen experience. no one talks to each other. you take a shot, 2 if you're in a zone, then clear your weapon, put it on the bench and clear your mind for another shot. you would think those minutes would creep by, but with the proper level of focus, that time became very fluid. I was often surprised when I did a time check at how quickly it moved.

nice piece there. now we need pics of some quarter-sized 50-ft groups.

[WildBill]

now we need pics of some quarter-sized 50-ft groups.

That's a relief. I thought you were going to ask for some 50 meter groups.