How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle

Posted by: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor

How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/18/13 09:58 PM


Introducing the 1779 PCP Repeating Girandoni Air Rifle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girandoni_Air_Rifle
Posted by: jzmtl

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/19/13 06:13 AM

This came up a while ago on airgun forums, the conclusion is that its performance number is quite well padded to say the least.

It only charges to 800 psi with its modest sized air tank, yet claims can shoot 40 rounds before losing much muzzle velocity which is comparable to .45 acp. In comparison a modern .45 air rifles that charges to 3k psi and shoot much slower (650 fps) can only manage 6 or so full power shots.
Posted by: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/19/13 04:46 PM


Quote:
It only charges to 800 psi with its modest sized air tank, yet claims can shoot 40 rounds before losing much muzzle velocity which is comparable to .45 acp. In comparison a modern .45 air rifles that charges to 3k psi and shoot much slower (650 fps) can only manage 6 or so full power shots.


I would suspect that the Girandoni Air Rifle would probably get 5-6 useful shots of a 140 grain ball at around 400-500fps perhaps 70-100 ftlbs (enough to quite lethal from 0-100 yards) As the PCP chamber bottle was essentially unregulated there would be a good deal of variance of the exit muzzle velocity and consequently the ballistic drop would drop and drop. The carry of 2 additional bottles would cover the 20 round magazine. The rifle being the very first repeater would have been quite a rapid fire rifle compared to the much more powerful muskets of the day. Accuracy would probably have been quite good out to 100 yards when drop compensation is taking into account, hence the special training required for the rifle.

As a survival hunting rifle (where conventional ammunition is very short supply) I suspect it would be useful even today considering the 240 year old design. (100 years before smokeless propellants)

More modern rifles would be preferred though such as the Daystate Wolverine being exceptionally accurate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysvz378Ttjw
Posted by: jzmtl

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/19/13 06:16 PM

Originally Posted By: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor


More modern rifles would be preferred though such as the Daystate Wolverine being exceptionally accurate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysvz378Ttjw


And expensive! I don't think most people are willing to drop 3K on an air rifle, especially in North America where powder burners are readily available for less.

What would be fun is to remake the Girandoni with modern parts and ammo, yet still retain the same exterior appearance.

Posted by: Ian

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/19/13 09:43 PM

Don't forget Sherlock Holmes was shot at with an air rifle.

To quote Wikipedia:

"In "The Empty House", Holmes states that Moriarty had commissioned a powerful air gun from a blind German mechanic (Mr. von Herder), which was used by his employee Colonel Sebastian Moran. It closely resembled a cane, allowing for easy concealment, was capable of firing revolver bullets at long range, and made very little noise when fired, making it ideal for sniping."

The Empty House was written about 1904.
Posted by: Pete

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/19/13 09:56 PM

one of many smart decisions made by Lewis and Clark.

Pete2
Posted by: dougwalkabout

Re: How the West was won - with an Austrian Air Rifle - 06/20/13 02:09 AM

Originally Posted By: Ian
Don't forget Sherlock Holmes was shot at with an air rifle.


To quote memory: a wax bust of Sherlock Holmes was shot at ...

(Let the nerd wars begin! laugh )