by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
Morini 162MI 10-meter match pistol.
This report covers:
- The trigger
- Velocity
- H&N Finale Match Pistol pellets
- Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets
- Qiang Yuan Olympic
- RWS R10 Match Pistol pellets
- Test
Today we get the Morini 162MI 10-meter match pistol into action and test the velocity with a wide range of target pellets. The manual says the gun was set at the factory to shoot at between 492 and 508 f.p.s., so we shall see. Because this is an air pistol, I will mostly use the lighter pellets from each manufacturer, when there is more than one weight to choose from.
The triggers
Before we get to that, however, a reader mentioned that he wanted to examine the trigger. Here you go!
This is the trigger with the pistol grip removed. Yes, that plate covers the internal parts, but the schematic below should help with that.
And here is a schematic of the trigger parts. Notice the bushings that act as bearings for the pins. It’s not unlike the plates of a fine watch that use rubies as bearings for the ends of the pins that hold the gears and wheels.
Ten-meter pistol triggers don’t look very impressive. It’s only when you use them that your admiration grows.
Velocities
I will be testing the pistol with a range of target pellets that spans the weight spectrum. One of those I will test is the Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellet that costs as much as any world-class target pellet. At $35 for 500, they had better be super-accurate, and the Morini is the beginning of a prolonged test to which I will subject them. Sig — if you have really made an accurate lead-free target pellet, I will become your head cheerleader! The price is unimportant, because winners will pay.
On the other hand, if this pellet doesn’t pan out in the tests I plan to conduct, I will not hold back my criticism. We don’t need any more snake oil in attractive packages.
H&N Finale Match Pistol pelletss
First up were H&N Finale Match Pistol pellets with 4.50mm heads. These averaged 515 f.p.s. in the Morini. The low was 501 and the high was 522 f.p.s., so a 21 f.p.s. spread. That’s a large spread from a regulated airgun like the Morini. I expected better. I doubt this pellet will be good, though at only 10 meters it may not make a difference.
Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pelletss
Next up were the Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellets that were so surprising in the test of the Sig MPX. In case you forgot, these pellets outshot all other pellets in that gun. In the Morini these 5.25-grain wadcutters averaged 607 f.p.s. I’m sure the folks at Morini never imagined shooting alloy pellets in their pistol, but I intend to!
The spread went from a low of 601 to a high of 613 f.p.s., so that is about half the size of the Finale Match Pistol pellet velocity spread. That bodes well for this pellet, though the real proof will be on paper.
Qiang Yuan Olympics
Next I tried some Qiang Yuan Olympic pellets. You may remember that these pellets tested very well against the best premium pellets in both the FWB 300S and in the Crosman Challenger PCP. At 8.2 grains, this is a medium-to-heavyweight pellet for a target wadcutter.
This pellet averaged 489 f.p.s. in the Morini. The low was 486 and the high was 492 f.p.s., so just 6 f.p.s. separated the top and bottom velocities. That demonstrates the extreme uniformity of the pellet, plus it bodes well for accuracy.
RWS R10 Match Pistol pelletss
The last pellet I tested was a 7-grain RWS R10 Match Pistol pellet. This wadcutter averaged 530 f.p.s. in the Morini with a low of 528 f.p.s. and a high of 535 f.p.s. Just 7 f.p.s. separate the high from the low. Look for this pellet to give the Qiang Yuan a run for the money!
Those are all the pellets I chronographed, but I may try some additional target pellets in the accuracy test. It wasn’t lost on me that the test target was shot with JSB Match pellets with a 4.49mm head. I don’t have any target pellets of that head size on hand, but I’ll see if I can get some for the accuracy test. I will also see if I can sort some from 4.50mm tins with the Pelletgage.
Results
The Morini is right where it’s supposed to be, power-wise, and it’s on the high side at that. I’m getting used to the trigger, so I should be able to do well in the accuracy test that’s still to come. I will shoot off a bag rest, as I am in no way up to the standard that I need to be to hold the gun free. But privately I might shoot a group or two offhand — just to see where I am personally.
Owning my FWB Model 2 has sharpened my shooting skills a bit and made me ready for this test. I’ve gotten used to perfect triggers again and I have found it easy to get into the perfect stance. What I don’t have is the stamina to shoot 60 shots in a row.
But having the Model 2 and the Morini together lets me make some comparisons. I am finding the Morini grip uncomfortable — believe it or not. If I owned the gun I would have to shape the top strap of the grip a little to take some pressure off my wrist. I expect to have to do that with most target grips, but this is the first Morini grip I’ve ever found that was less than ideal at the start.
Anyway, I am enjoying this test thoroughly! I can’t wait to test the FWB P44 and see if it is as nice as I remember the earlier FWB PCP target pistols being.
B.B.,
I am quite certain you will like the FWB P44 better than the Morini, it has almost no muzzle flip and will fit your hand like a glove. If you get the opportunity, try the Steyr LP10.
Kevin C.,
From your remark it sounds as if you have some experience with these type of air pistols.
Tell me, do you find it hard to shoot other types much and then find yourself comparing them to these and find the others wanting? I myself find that once I become used to shooting an air pistol that if I miss it is my fault, to shoot anything less.
RidgeRunner,
Even though I own several first tier match air pistols, I thoroughly enjoy my collection. Variety is the spice of life. I know each and every one of their capabilities and weaknesses. I have the same admiration and feeling as you do when shooting a super accurate air pistol with superb engineering, finish, and trigger action. They are definitely keepers!
Kevin,
I would never turn down a chance to shoot a 10-meter pistol! 😉
B.B.
B.B.,
Thanks for the trigger schematic. The bushings were the first thing that jumped out at me. The PA site mentions ball bearings, which the schematic failed to illustrate. I see that grip sizes are an option at quite a high price but appears to come with large as a std. offer. I have big hands and I could not imagine carving one of these beauties up for a better fit.
On the PA site, it mentions “Length of Sight Line” and list it as 12.2″ to 13.8″. Can you please explain exactly what that is/or means.
Thanks, Chris
Chris,
Those are some mighty pretty grips, but if you are competing, you will carve or fill to fit. There are very few grips that are left untouched. It is not that uncommon for a set of grips to be moved to a new pistol when the person “upgrades”.
As for the length of sight line, if you look back on part one under the sights section you will see a picture and an explanation about such.
I am warning you Chris to stay away from these things. Once you shoot one of these air pistols you will be comparing everything else to it. If you miss with one of these things, it is your fault.
Chris,
It is the distance between the front and rear sight. As I showed in Part 1, the front sight has three positions.
B.B,.
B.B.,
Thanks. I obviously need to pay better attention. You not only explained it, but had a very clear picture to illustrate it. That is not a pistol feature that I had ever seen before. In my defense, the time when I look at the day’s article is 2-3AM, working on that first cup of coffee.
I may need to modify my “rule” of (no post before the first cup of coffee), to also include, (no reading blogs until first cup of coffee). Yea,….good luck on me following that,……this is #1 on the am go to list,…which more than not,…is the only thing on the list.
Thanks for being there,…. Chris
BB,
Just get the FWB P44.
I am pulling for the R10 Match! I shoot the 4.49mm in my Izzy.
BB
Why do you hope the alloy pellets work?
There not economic. Good ecology wise I suppose. But shooting wise. Why alloy?
Although maybe it would be cool looking to have some green or red or blue or even purple anodized tin of pellets setting on your shooting table. 🙂
GF1,
It has to be from an economic standpoint. At their cost, no one but 10 meter shooters would buy them and if they are not worth a doodly…
Eventually the governments of the world will ban lead pellets and it would be nice to have a decent alternative before that happens.
RR
Hmm I wonder what will happen with firearm shooters if they ban lead. What kind of bullets would they have to shoot?
Frangibles are the future but I think in order to get desirable results some heavy metal will be required in the mix.
Reb
Wonder what firearm acurracy would be like? And distances that can be shot at.
There is some kind of bullet filled with powder. The spin of the bullet distributes the powder evenly and leads to outstanding accuracy. And the whole thing disintegrates on impact so that people can shoot high caliber pistols at metal targets only a few feet away. But the ammo costs a ton.
Matt61
That’s the frangible rounds I mentioned earlier.
GM is using powdered metal technology in their connecting rods on some engines
Reb
GM has been doing that for a while.
Yeah,That’s what I was talking about
Many will still shoot lead. Some laws are best ignored.
Mike
Mike
True until you run out and they don’t make it from lead anymore.
That is true. Did I mention that I have a LOT of lead?
Mike
Mike
🙂
Gunfun1,
Currently the most popular metals seem to be copper for expanding bullets and bronze for solids, at least for centerfire rifles. Expanding bullets are usually some form of hollow point and some have a plastic cap in the point. They can be quite accurate but as always it depends on the individual firearm.
Paul in Liberty County
Paul
Ain’t the copper a jacket? The core is lead right? Then some have the polymer tips also.
What if no lead was allowed in a bullet. Then what could they use as the core? That’s what I was wondering.
Gunfun1
Check out Barnes bullets. They say their solids are “Machined from homogenous copper/zinc alloy”
Of course, they are probably expensive…
Mike U
Mike U
I will check them out. Thanks.
The Barnes TSX is a lead free, expanding bullet. Essentially it is all jacket and no core. Just the copper alloy.
Paul in Liberty County
Paul
Thanks for the info on the bullet.
GF1,
Because some states (California) and some organizations (JROTC) are mandating lead-free pellets for matches. That is killing any competitive match, since lead-free pellets cannot keep up with top lead pellets.
If one could compete with lead, I would become its head cheerleader, because that is the wave of the future.
B.B.
GF1,
If one (lead free pellet) could compete with lead, I would…
B.B.
BB
Ok gotcha now.
BB
“If one could compete with lead, I would become its head cheerleader, because that is the wave of the future.”
Did you mean in your first sentence. If one could compete with lead (free), I would become it’s head cheerleader,
That’s what I thought you said above in the report.
If a lead free pellet cou compete with lead…
🙂
Air rifles and genders.
Okay, Im in my early 40’s and Im now at the point that I start to give some air rifles names.
I CONSIDER MY hw 80, lgv comp ultra and the fwb 600 as males…I did not give them names (yet).
But the lg55 and the lg55T are defenately of feminin gender. The tyro part of the stock reminded me of the perectly shaped butt of a girl who was in the same school class as me 25 years ago. So I named the tyro Marije.
But my lovely wife did not agree with that:-) My wife doesnt know Marije in person, but she knows that the Levi trousers fitted her body perfectly. So my wife vetoed the Marije name.
Okay……. both the Lg55 rifles have a prominent place in the livingroom…… so I cannot complain….. just gotta find a new name that does the tyro just.
Hahah
I feel more attached to my guns than ever in an individual way that one might call love. But I have never felt the impulse to name them for some reason. Possibly it’s because I can’t think of a good name. The only gun name I even know of is the one for a flintlock rifle, Old Sure Shot, in the Western novel, The Big Sky. Quaint, but I haven’t been moved to imitate it.
Matt61
You are not the only one to name your favorite possessions. I have a Century Arms International long gun that has a Mauser action and is 7.62X39 caliber. It is a sweet gun to shoot. I call it ET because it is “out of this world” in accuracy as well as being a gift from Edie and Tom. My truck is a Toyota Tundra that is light beige in color. It has the nickname “Goldie” which was also my nickname half a century ago when I was a young college student. I won’t go into other names I have been called 😉
Bob
I have a Winchester Model 1897 12 ga. Shotgun that I call “The Barn Gun”, This is because it looks like it was kept in a old barn for about 30 years> 🙂
Mike
10-4 on the Tundra. It’s the best truck I ever owned. Mine is Black as night.
Mike
How about Bubbles?
🙂
Reb,
Im sorry mate…… “bubbels” doesnt cut it 🙂
Gunfun1, Google HGC plastics.
Reb
Just got through looking at it. Now if the ammo makers will try it out. Wonder what the powder flash would do to the back of the bullet?
But that might just be a good alternative to lead for a pellet to be made out of. Wonder what the cost of the material would be.
Plastic is their favourite cost cutter but they’re used to it being lighter tha the metal it’s designed to replace, the cost of shipping will rise.
I think pellets would be a great place for them to start with that type technology in High Gravity Compounds.
Reb
I have to say I agree.
GF1
This may give an idea on cost
http://clarkarmory.com/products/polycase-9mm-inceptor-arx-ammunition?variant=880246567
http://bearingarms.com/time-come-plastic-ammunition/
Someone is sure to make some pellets.
Jim
Jim
Thanks for the links. Very cool stuff there.
And something I could use when I purchase a 9mm pistol. Speaking of that. There was no place to reply on yesterday’s blog when you left the comment about the shooting range and renting some guns to try out before I make a decision on buying one. I left you a reply at the bottom of the blog yesterday so don’t know if you seen it.
But thanks that is what I’m going to do. We have a indoor range by the house that rents firearm to shoot there. So I am going to try some out first. Good idea.
GF1:
I had missed your reply yesterday but just got through reading it. I’ve also had the problem of the reply button being missing.
Being able to try different rental guns led me to change the 9MM I ended up buying from the one i originally intended to buy. Also, since a range doesn’t have time to clean guns or do preventive maintenance, it let me try guns in somewhat adverse condition. It let me get a good feel for the reliability of the gun. I shot the rentals first with the cheapest 9mm I could find. Narrowed the list down then shot them again with my intended carry ammo. Or maybe, I should say that my daughter and I did this because the gun was intended to be hers.
Checkout shootingthebull410’s youtube channel. He has a great series of video tests with various 9mm ammo from a 2” barrel.
Jim
Jim
That is a good point about shooting the firearms that haven’t been cleaned.
And I will check out the videos.
Also what tends to happen on the reply button is when a comment is posted and people are talking and replying to the same comment. The thread as its called runs out of room. So there will be no reply button. Usually I will reply to that person in another spot and say go to the bottom. But you had no other replies yesterday. So I just went to the bottom and replied and hoped you would see it.
Look at that straight trigger. That’s moving me towards replacing my CZ 75 SP-01 curved trigger. Why would anyone want a curved trigger since, if it is not customized, it is less likely to fit someone than a straight trigger? Given all the ingenuity of the SP-01, I don’t think the designers were stupid. I wonder if the trigger was designed around combat use. A curved blade would maybe keep your finger from slipping up under stress. And the creepy trigger might help prevent an accidental discharge. I don’t know.
Matt61
Matt61
The Marauders have a straight trigger. The 2240’s and 1322/77’s have curved triggers.
I by far like the straight trigger better. It seems to me I can feel the trigger better.
GF1,
“By far”,….interesting. Do you know why you think that, other than you think you can “feel” the trigger better? Never shot a straight trigger, even though it does have a slight curve.
On the bolt switch from R to L, How easy is that? PA offers this for 25$,…but you know I am “going in” no matter what, so I just thought I would ask.
Checked out both PA videos on the product sight. First time. I have settled on the M-rod and did not even need to do that. The first video said that it is regulated. Mmmmm….first I heard that. Perhaps a “twist” on the term regulated?
Chris USA
The bolt switch is very easy on the Marauder. You can do it yourself being that I know your a tinker like me. 🙂
And the straight trigger seems to have a smoother transition as the shot finally releases. To me anyway.
A flat trigger also discouraging wrapping your finger around the curved triggers, I got one with my 2400kt and it makes a big difference!
Reb
Yep.
Chris USA
They said the Marauder is regulated.
Never heard that before.
When I get time I will check out the video’s at lunch time tonight at work.
Will let you know what I see.
GF1,
Thanks and thanks. Yea, let me know what you see, l might have got it wrong, but I think not. I figured you would know.
Out’a here,….Zzzzz,…..3am comes early,…. Chris
Chris USA
Will do.
Chris USA
Watched the Marauder videos on the PA site and didn’t hear anything about regulated.
GF1,
At 4:29 into video, chrony testing, the shooter says, “…the Marauder’s (regulator) is doing a fine job of metering out the air with each shot”.
Chris USA
There was at least 4 Marauder videos on the PA website.
Write down word for word what the video title was that you watched. Then post it here so I know witch one it is. Then I will check it out. Make sure you do because I want to watch it.
GF1.
Go to the Marauder product page (syn., no scope) and click on the top video. The second one is only 30 sec.. All full size M-rod options seem to have the same video. 4:29 min. in.
Chris USA
Ok and will check it out in a bit.
Chris
I went to the Crosman website and downloaded the parts diagram . There is no regulator .
twotalon
Chris USA
Wow just watched the video. And yes right around the 4:29 mark he does say the regulator is doing a fine job.
I have to say that’s wrong. He should say the Marauders (valve) is doing a fine job. Maybe PA should edit that video.
I will look at a diagram later to verify if it doescor doesn’t. Every one I have had does (not) have a regulator.
GF1,
I figured there was not as I would have heard that before then. Still, I thought I would put the question out there. I figured it was just misspoken and he just meant the valve assy. in general. Thanks,…..I ain’t going nuts after all. 😉
Chris USA
Yep.
I found a good article on frangible rounds by Shooting sports Illustrated.
You should Google it too.
I found it through a search for “frangible accuracy”.
Reb
Is this it? Pretty cool.
http://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2011/3/25/frangible-ammo/
Yep, That’s the one!
🙂
Is the next air gun show the Arkansas Show (27-28 April)? Does anyone have a schedule for other U.S. air gun shows?
Also, I’m looking for anyone within 100 miles or so of St. Louis that would like to get together to shoot. Sadly, I live in suburbia and can’t host. I do have a couple field targets if anyone is interested in doing some informal field target. Willing to buy some more targets if needed.
Motorman
St. Louis, MO
Hi sir , I’m great fan of you why wouldn’t I ? Ultimately you are “God father”of air guns .i’ve seen all most all American airgunner episodes with round table discussions . Beside of all this my question is related to above Morini pistol but little bit different and related to Styer pistol too . So my question is ..can Morini pistol’s (162 mi with manual trigger ) grip be used with Styer LP 10 mechanism?
Sumit Meena,
Welcome to the blog.
Morini can make a grip for the Steyr LP10, but I doubt if the grips will interchange between the two guns.
B.B.
Millions thanks sir for you valuable response on this ..as I have been asked that can Morini (162mi) existing pistol grip be used for Steyr LP10 pistol after making few changes? I’m still not agree with this possibility and your response gives strength to my understanding and I also investigated few things about the part which holds the grip is different for both pistol in contex of length,adjustment and position w.r.t pistol design so not possible at all but it’s incomplete until God father confirmes the same