Walther LP53. Mine was made in the 1950s.
Part 1
Part 2
Fixing the Walther LP53 James Bond airgun
Part 3
This report includes:
- The test
- The trigger
- H&N Excite Plinking
- Qiang Yuan Training
- JSB S100 wadcutter
- RWS R10
- H&N Finale Match High Speed
- Discussion
- Summary
Today we begin seeing how accurate this Walther LP 53 is. I think there will be more accuracy testing coming, but we shall see.
The test
I shot the pistol off a sandbag rest at 10 meters. I held the grip with two hands. I wore reading glasses with a +1.25 correction to see the sights. I deep-seated every pellet with a ballpoint pen because the velocity was in the low 300s with most pellets.
I shot ten pellets at the first target and then five at all the rest because I wanted to test more pellets.
Today’s test is another example of shooting an airgun about which nothing is known. Because it’s a Walther I did not sight in at a closer distance. I just started shooting at ten meters and trusted it to be on target, which it was.
The trigger
The trigger on the LP53 is single-stage (???). That seems odd on a target pistol, but the pull is smooth and the release is fine.
H&N Excite Plinking
First to be tested was the H&N Excite Plinking pellet. Ten of them went into a 2.364-inch / 60.05mm group at ten meters. The second shot went wide right and I believe the other nine shots that made a 1.667-inch / 42.34mm group is more representative of what this pellet will do. Even at that, though, the Excite is not the pellet for this pistol.
Ten H&N Excite wadcutters made a 2.364-inch group at 10 meters but I believe the nine that are more centered are a better representation of this pellet in this pistol. They measure 1.667-inches between centers.
Shooting ten of each pellet will take too much time and I want to test more pellets today so from this point on I shot only five shots per pellet.
I did adjust the rear sight up 6 clicks after seeing this group.
Qiang Yuan Training
The next pellet I shot was the Qiang Yuan Training wadcutter. Five went into 1.077-inches / 27.36mm at 10 meters. This is more like what I remember the LP53 doing.
The LP53 put five Qiang Yuan Training wadcutters into a 1.077-inch group at 10 meters.
Now that I knew how the pistol was doing I became comfortable with it.
JSB S100 wadcutter
The JSB S100 wadcutter was the next pellet I tested. Five of them went into 1.016-inches / 25.8mm at 10 meters. It’s the smallest group of the test. This is a pellet to use with this pistol, though I only have a very few of them remaining.
The JSB S100 wadcutter put five into 1.016-inches at ten meters.
RWS R10
The fourth pellet tested was the RWS R10 7.7 grain pellet that’s no longer available. Five of them went into a 1.719-inch / 43.66mm group at 10 meters. I know it looks bad but I really liked this pellet for some reason and if I test again I think I’ll try it again.
The LP53 put five RWS R10 wadcutters into 1.719-inches at 10 meters.
H&N Finale Match High Speed
The pistol put five H&N Finale Match High Speed wadcutters into a 1.367-inch / 34.72mm group at 10 meters.
Five Finale Match High Speed pellets made a 1.367-inch group at 10 meters.
Discussion
The LP 53 is reasonably accurate—about like the Beeman P1. Walther says it recoils but it’s really more like a jolt when it fires.
The front sight I have attached is too thin for good target work and the rear sight is just a Vee notch. LP53s did come with interchangeable sight elements but unfortunately mine has none with it.
Summary
Shooting this pistol is like eating peanuts—it’s hard to stop. The cocking aid that Ian McKee made makes it so comfortable to shoot. I had fun with this test and I want to do it again soon.
Tom,
Good to see that the LP53 is a fun gun. Not up to match standards but most would be happy enough with its accuracy. Maybe for groups bigger than an inch you could have a soda can silhouette on the side for comparison? I’m beginning to miss the dime.
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I do have a Coke can picture I can use as a target. Good idea!
BB
Tom,
Nice observation regarding breakbarrels and their tendency to droop in this YouTube video. It does require the person to take the rifle apart and be judicious in filing down that area.
https://youtu.be/NWQrC5GdlzQ?si=_NlGJQ3_6pHY_Xd_
Siraniko
Siraniko,
I did watch the video. Interesting.
BB
BB,
If you ever get the chance to shoot a Ruger Mk IV pellet pistol have at it. I really like the way the barrel breaks open. For extended periods of shooting, it’s much easier on the hands. Instead of hinging at the breach it pivots further down the barrel. You actually push up on the breach with your thumb as you cock it downward removing some of the force applied to your fingers. Nothing like it out there.
Bob,
I’ll try to get one to test. Problem is, they sell out fast!
BB
BB,
A silver version of the Mk IV is out there, someplace? Been trying to find one since it came out. Umarex cant even tell me where to get one. Pathetic.
Bob,
isn’t the Ruger Mk IV more or less the same as the Browning Buck Mark URX? Both by Umarex. They do look like fun shooters. I hope BB gets to try one out.
If it is in fact the same as the Browning, here is his review on that one:
https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012/08/brownings-buck-mark-urx-pellet-pistol-part-3/
Doc
Bob M,
It is so much fun to shoot, it is not very powerfull but accurate. I made it a bit heavier, the trigger needs some modification – at the end it is a great plinker with accuracy.
B.B.
Yes, by all means shoot it again or some more.
-Y
My Predom Lucznik was about that accurate. Maybe the Polish did not do such a bad job of copying it. It was geegobs cheaper (read far more affordable).
What many people do not realize is how far airgun competition has come. It is not just competition shooters, the entire airgun industry has improved in some ways. The accuracy of airguns made today was just a dream in the early 1900s.
Better pellets, different twist rates, better controlled air supplies, et cetera have all contributed to the accuracy that we see these days. All of this is not free though. If you want to play, you have to pay.
Back in the early 1900s, the average Joe could not afford to buy my BSA. A group of folks would get together, form a club and buy ONE BSA. They would take turns shooting it. Some folks still do this.
This practice is not just limited to very expensive airguns. Just down the road from me is the BRSS (Blue Ridge Sailplane Society). They have one or two “club” sailplanes.
Hey, that gives me an idea. Since I have a decent shooting bench and range, maybe I could form a club and buy some of these real expensive airguns? Nah. That would mean I would have to be more sociable.
Speaking of airguns, the 11th Annual North Carolina Airgun Show is this Friday and Saturday in Newton, North Carolina. I do not wish to scare any of you off, but I will be there and have my own table. I might even have a couple of the “old gals” there for you to drool over. No, they will not be for sale, but there will be a couple of airguns there you can buy. There will also be some pretty neat stuff there which can be had.
Just so you know, it will take you most of the day to look at all of the airguns that will be for sale there. Wear some good walking shoes.
https://www.tmacsairgunservice.com/
“That would mean I would have to be more sociable.” FM feels your trepidation, but having met you, believe you are more of a “choose your friends carefully” kinda guy and nothing wrong with that. Regardless, hope to spend some sociable time with you at the NC Airgun Show.
Remember, the difference between your friends and your family is – you get to choose your friends.
FM,
That is so true. You will be welcome at my table. If I am real lucky, I may be able to say hello to some other readers. You never know.
Look forward to seeing you there. Perhaps our tables will be adjacent or close. I haven’t gotten any paperwork from Tony so hope no problem when I show up. I will have a few Dianas, HW’s and an FWB for sale with other fine collectibles.
Fred formerly of the Demokratik Peeples Republik of NJ now happily in GA
RR,
Now I have to buy one, thank you…
You almost HAVE to have a Predom Lucznik in YOUR collection, Tomek!
I would love to know more about any other airguns made in Poland…maybe you have one that can take out Russian drones?
BB, Doc Holiday,
Just reread the Blog on the Browning Buck Mark URX by Umarex also. It certainly seems to be identical in operation to the Ruger Mk IV. It probably shoots the same as well.
Nice shooting BB. I am glad you got that cool pistol back into good condition. By the way, which James Bond girl did you choose to be there with you for the tests? 😉
Elmer,
At my age I was lucky to have a female cat!
BB
Ah, but we can still dream can’t we? You know I think that Julie Newmar (who played Cat Woman in the Batman TV series in the sixties) would have been a great James Bond girl. Sadly, she never appeared in any of the James Bond movies.
Elmer,
Yes, but she would have been taller than James.
BB
B.B.,
Maybe if she was in high heels; only Daniel Craig at 5’10 (178cm) was shorter than Julie.
All the rest of the Bond actor were at least 6’+.
Julie was my first Hollywood/TV crush as a Teenager ;^)
shootski
LOL! Good one, B.B.! 🙂
Here’s some news for you SigAir ASP20 fans:
https://ebay.us/m/6ehZ04
To me, this pistol is a bucket list airgun. I will own one someday, even if I need to only shoot it inside the proverbial barn.
It’s a new month. Time to exercise my own ASP20’s gas spring.l
Roamin Greco,
Did both of mine today. LabRadar confirmed both Gas Springs are still healthy and my target that i can still shoot ;^)
The weld on the top to the rear of the breach/break of that eBay SIG ASP20 looks odd to me when compared to my two SIG airguns?
What do you think?
shootski
On the topic of gas springs…… Here I go off topic.
I think we can consider the pressure stabilizing piston idea in the Umarex Origin to be a gas spring. I have owned two Origins four years now and really enjoy them . Origins are not regulated but have a pressurized piston that pushes back on the pressure in the air tube, idea being that it keeps the pressure somewhat regulated. Booth of mine shoot very consistently , the curve normally associated with non regulated PCP rifles is flattened a good bit. To the best of my knowledge no one else in the industry is doing this nor has anyone else done it commercially. Thoughts ?
Even more off topic. JTS has just launched another PPPPC , JTS AirStryke PCP Air Rifle. The last thing I need right now is another PCP rifle , this one is intriguing.
I dealt with Travis when I had my troubles with the DAR gen 2 and he was very helpful, same thing with the JTS Airacuda Max. Seems like Travis left DAR for JTS and JTS PCP’s may be refined DAR guns ? At it’s price point the JTS airstrike will be fun to watch. I want to eventually get a PCP with sights but nice sights not glowy thingies. On a side note the DAR gen 3 has been discontinued but the guys in Ontario, Cali in DAR customer service have bee very good to me. They sent my more o-rings(mainly for reference as they are “gooey”) my pressure gauge housing had an internal scratch that would not allow it to seal and they sent me a nice used one, also sent me a poppet to have as a spare.
Just had to update. As of my last post I thought DAR had shipped me a poppet. Yesterday I received a entire poppet valve assembly in the mail. DAR gets a lot of bad press but at least in my experience they have been great.