Sig Sauer Super Target Part 3

Sig Sauer Super Target Part 3

A Sig P210 influence and a classic single shot pneumatic

By Dennis Adler

The Sig Sauer ASP Super Target and Air Venturi V10 are two extremes in entry-level, single stroke pneumatics for 10-meter shooting. The Air Venturi V10 has a competition-based, oiled walnut grip design that cradles the shooting hand with an adjustable palm shelf, thumb rest, and a rough tree bark like wood finish that provides excellent gripping texture. The angle of the V10’s grip helps align the pistol for a proper one-handed shooting stance, which is mandatory in 10-meter competition. The Sig has a P210-based walnut grip and backstrap contour that is suitable for ambidextrous shooting and a two-handed hold.

There is a line between target pistols and 10-meter competition pistols that separates them into two different classes. I might use, as an example, IPSC shooting competitions, where you have classes for Standard Division, which is comprised of single action semi-autos with target sights, or the Classic Division, which is production guns like the CZ75/CZ SP01 Shadow, Glock 17, H&K USP or SIG Sauer P226/X-Five (which coincidentally are all made as comparable blowback action CO2 models), while at the other extreme you have the Open Division, which allows custom guns described by IPSC as “…quite expensive, extremely well-crafted competition pistols in the ‘Formula 1’ Division with single-action triggers, extended 170 mm magazines with capacities up to 28 rounds, illuminated dot sights and compensator systems.” The 9mm Tanfoglio Gold Custom would be considered tame compared to some of these guns, but among blowback action CO2 pistols is the leading gun. So, looking at single shot pneumatics in the same way, guns such as the new Sig Sauer ASP Super Target and older guns like the HW 75, are entry-level competition pellet pistols that would be comparable to the IPSC Standard Division; i.e., target pistols built for accuracy. The more dedicated 10-meter target models, like the FAS 6004 and Air Venturi V10, with grips based on 10-meter pistol styles, are still entry-level but one step up (some Beeman models fall into this group as well). From there you go into PCP (precharged pneumatic) single shot competition pistols that would be commensurate to Open Division guns in IPSC.

In closer detail the grip design and angle very closely match the 9mm Sig Sauer P210 Target model. The backstrap curve and flair of the grip fit nicely into the hand supporting the little finger and providing a tight meld to the palm of the hand. It is what a target pistol grip should be.

In the comments section of Part 2, Chuckles gave a very good explanation of the intended differences between the Super Target, FAS 6400 and Air Venturi V10 that really sums up target shooting vs. 10-Meter shooting “…First off 10 Meter is an Olympic event… single shot, open sighting, standing, one handed. 10M only, timed, special grips, PCP. Target shooting, in general, allows bench rested, sitting, two handed, sights, i.e. red dots, lasers, scopes, and varying distances, etc, etc. FAS 6004 and Sig Super Target [are] both considered entry-level for 10 meter competition by their manufactures…” And that puts the fine point on why Sig’s ASP Super Target could be used for 10-meter practice while not being a dedicated 10-meter competition design like the Air Venturi V10, for example.

A 10-meter pistol grip is essentially going to lock the shooting hand in place. This is ideal for shooting one-handed. Left handed shooters have to order the gun with left hand grips. There are no ambidextrous grips in a 10-meter pistol configuration.

It really comes down to how accurate the gun will be at the same distance you would shoot a dedicated 10-meter pistol. The Sig allows for a variety of shooting disciplines to be practiced and we will shoot it at varying distances including 10 meters. First, there needs to be an evaluation and comparison between the new Super Target and at least one other single shot pneumatic in its class. Since I have tested the Weihrauch HW 75 (the most expensive of the group at $459.99), FAS 6004, and the Air Venturi V10 ($269.99), I have a lot of velocity and accuracy references to use for comparison.

Splitting the difference, the Weihrauch HW 75 has an ambidextrous pistol grip with a flared palm shelf. Also note the HW 75’s manual thumb safety. As a true hammer-fired target pistol you actually cock the gun to fire it. The over-lever handle (slide) release is the large lever on the right rear. The HW 75 is a single shot competition target pistol suitable for multiple ranges out to 10 meters.

Sig claims a velocity of 400 fps and I believe it will take alloy pellets to reach that number, so I will begin with using Sig Sauer Match Ballistic 5.25 gr. alloy wadcutters, followed by H&N Sport Match Green 5.25 alloy wadcutters, and then move on to 7.0 gr. Meisterkugeln lead wadcutters to see what the Super Target can do on leaded fuel.

The new Sig Sauer ASP Super Target does much the same as the HW 75, by combining aspects of both a dedicated 10-meter pistol with a target pistol but less dramatically than the Weihrauch. The velocity tests were shot with Sig Sauer 5.25 gr. Match Ballistic alloy pellets, H&N Sport Match Green 5.25 gr. alloy pellets and my personal favorite for target pistols, RWS Meisterkugeln Professional Line 7.0 gr. lead wadcutters.

There is one absolute caveat with 10-Meter target pistols; there is no automatically engaged or manual safety. Once the over-lever handle is closed and locks down, the Super Target is ready to fire. This is the same as the Air Venturi V10 and FAS 6400. The HW 75 is one exception, it has a manual safety, so the Sig is more like a traditional 10-meter pistol is that respect, and with a very light, short trigger pull set by the factory.

Velocity results

Starting off with Sig Match Ballistic and one pump of the over-lever handle, this is a single pump pneumatic, so following instructions, one complete pump with the pellet inserted at the extreme open angle before closing the action. Average velocity for the 5.25 gr. Sig alloy wadcutters was 385 fps with a high of 387 fps, a low of 382 fps and a standard deviation for 10 shots of 3 fps. Next up are the H&N Sport Match Green 5.25 gr. alloy wadcutters. The H&N averaged 385 fps, with a high of 387 fps, a low of 382 fps but a lower standard deviation of only 1 fps with 10 shots clocking 387 fps, 382 fps, 382 fps, 386 fps, 384 fps, 384 fps, 386 fps, 387 fps, 386 fps, and 384 fps. With the expectation of lower velocity from the 7.0 gr. Meisterkugeln lead wadcutters, they clocked 349 fps average, with a high of 358 fps, a low of 345 fps, and a standard deviation for 10 shots of 5 fps. But at 21 feet shooting through the chronograph screens, the Meisterkugeln paired with the Sig delivered the best 10-shot target out of the three pellet tests, with 8 out of 10 in one ragged bullseye hole measuring 0.437 inches and a total spread of 0.875 inches.

Although the lead wadcutters don’t have the velocity of the lighter weight 5.25 gr. alloy pellets, the Super Target shooting from 21 feet through the chronograph screens put eight of 10 shots inside the bullseye and 10. I had two flyers, the worst going high and left in the 8-ring at 10 o’clock (which was followed by a terrible moan as it was shot 10!), and still had a spread of 0.875 inches.

When I shot the FAS 6400, it failed to fire alloy pellets enough times that I eliminated alloy pellets from the test, so there are no velocity comparisons with the Sig Match Ballistic. With Meisterkugeln, the FAS averaged 355 fps, just slightly faster than the Sig did today. The Air Venturi V10 sent 7.0 gr. lead wadcutters downrange at an average of 363 fps, so an average of 14 fps faster than the Super Target. The big difference is with Sig Match Ballistic Alloy wadcutters which averaged 400 fps with the V10, so, the Sig is averaging around 15 fps less on alloy. When I reviewed the HW 75, it had shot lead wadcutters at an average velocity of 344 fps, while lightweight alloy pellets hit an average of 362 fps. So, it is the slowest with lead or alloy pellets in this comparison, puting the Super Target in the middle.

Next week we will wrap up with the Super Target shooting at 10 meters off hand and from the benchrest.