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ginoe · Member

Wish me a happy birthday!

Wasn't it PT Barnum that said; “there's a sucker born every minute”

Well then today is my birthday! I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

I am a proud owner of the Beeman P3 single-stroke pnuematic . 177 pistol, purchased brand new for about $240. I've shot over a thousand pellets through it and am quite ecstatic with its operation. When I first handled the pistol, I told myself; “I know where the $240 went, this pistol shoots hard and accurate!” My P3 shoots the Crosman Premier SuperMatch Wadcutter 7.9gr at about 368fps (2.37fpe). The pellets hit what I aim at and is a tack-driver (when I do my part).

Picked up a Beeman P17 aka Marksman 2004 from Walmart today for $40. When I arrived home, before firing the pistol; I cleaned it using the 'goo-gone-soaked-patch-on-a-weed-wacker-line' method until the patches came out clean (the 1st few patches were gunked black). Shooting the same pellets as the P3; Crosman Premier SuperMatch Wadcutter 7.9gr this P17 was faster and harder! 388fps (2.65fpe). I've heard so many bad things about this particular pistol (can't believe EVERYTHING you read on the internet). I still took a chance on the purchase, worse case; I could return it.

I lucked out and got a good one. I was amazed (stunned) that this $40 P17 outperformed my $240 P3. The only difference between the two pistols is that the P17 only has 20 shots fired through it while the P3 has over a 1000 (P3 always been cared for properly).

Now I ask myself again; “where did that $240 go?!”, perhaps I am premature and will have to see how the P17 performs after 1000 shots have gone through it.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Where are all these criticisms of the P17? I would have to disagree with that and say most reviews of it (from legitimate owners) are generally quite positive. The single biggest issue with them is sometimes they come out of the box with a bad seal.

That being said, it is a decent copy of the HW40 (the P3 was a re-branded HW40) and I have seen some "bad reviews"- but they are not typically by people who have actually owned one- but by the types who are offended by a Chinese copy of a German pistol- their negativity is heavily influenced by bias and little first-hand knowledge of the product.

Slavia · Moderator

ginoe · Member

shot the P3 & finished off a tin of 250 pellets (reminded me of driving my friends porsche 911 turbo s cabriolet)
shot the P17 & finished off another tin of 250 pellets (reminded me of driving my other friends z06 corvette)
also shot the .177 umarex ruger mark 1 with about 25 pellets (reminded me of driving my dodge ram 1500 4x4 pickup)

now i know where the $240 went ---> in the P3 trigger

the umarex is boxed up & getting returned tomorrow

i HAVE to remember to shoot the P17 first, then shoot the P3 afterwards and not the other way around, this way i will still like the P17 & fall back in love with the P3

ginoe · Member

I don't have an official trigger pull scale but I have a fish scale.

P17 avg pull was 4.40lbs
P3 avg pull was 0.13lbs

[IMG]<img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b255/ginoe/guns/_AG/eeb63673.jpg" alt="[linked image]">[/IMG]

loudhvx · New Member

I've had two P17's. At first they seemed too good to be true at the price. They shot very hard, and very accurate.

But after less than 100 shots, both started losing power. They chrono'd around 385fps when I got them, but they were soon in the 180 fps range.

I didn't want to take them apart since they were still under warranty, so I just got my money back.

My bad luck, or your good luck? I don't know, but I'm glad you got a good one.