Beeman P1 Reviews

Pyramyd's return Policy. I reviewed a .22 cal. Beeman P-1 that regrettably failed a day after my submission. I received a full refund and incurred no shipping cost. Another refurbished P-1 in .177 cal was available and I purchased it. It had some small silver specks on the finish of one side that were easily remedied and the finish now looks perfect. The trigger of this one is smooth, light and predictable. I know exactly when the let off will occur. The movement of the cocking mechanism is also much smoother. The sights are very good, adjust easily and reliably but solid, without play, and are well centered in adjustment.This pistol and the premium barrel, has the quality to show off real accuracy potential of both the ammo and the shooter. Through the process of testing this pistol, I realized there were tendencies I had that were detrimental to proper shot placement and grouping potential. When I learned to correct this, my accuracy results became much more consistent.

The category of these comments. The accuracy was spectacular with the best quality ammo. Range was 25 feet / 5 shots. Sitting at benchrest; pistol held in rested hand;, not on rest. Alloy pellets: H&N FTT Green 5.56 gr. domed - Group: .473"; Velocity: 667 fps. H&N Baracuda Green 6.64 gr. domed - Group: .620"; Velocity 577 fps. Lead Pellets: RWS Meisterkugeln 7.0 gr WC - Group: .430"; Velocity: 596 fps. Air Arms Falcon 7.3 gr domed - Group .578" (4 shots touching closely); Velocity: 558 fps. H&N Finale Match Light 7.87 gr. WC, 4.50 mm - Group: .548"; Velocity: 528 fps JSB Match Middle Weight 8.02 gr. WC - Group: .498", Velocity: 540 fps. Economy Priced Pellets: For those who do not want to pay for the higher priced ammo, (is there anyone who bought this pistol who now wants to pinch pennies?) here are two of the top performing standard ammo selections: H&N Excite Econ II 7.5 gr. WC: Group: .675". Velocity: 557 fps Benjamin 7.9 gr. HP: Group: .637"; Velocity: 531 fps

Dieseling is a common occurrence.When this happens, velocity was shown to drop up to 100 fps, and group size can increase dramatically.The report at firing becomes much louder. It is also persistent, and I was able to stop it by blowing compressed air into the exhaust port and flush it out. After doing this, the pistol settled down and began shooting consistently with good accuracy. I also noted that when changing ammo, the first 5 or so shots with it were sometimes inconsistent but would settle in, both in shot placement and grouping. I believe this may be due to the bore having some residual material from the previous pellets that are of a different compound. After several shots with the new ammo, the residue wears away and the new pellet settles in. I tested 59 different pellets, both top quality and standard grade. This pistol was sensitive to pellet quality. The performance being directly related to consistency of weight and sizing. Lesser quality ammo varied in fit and velocity.

This review is for a refurbished .22 caliber P-1.The finish is unblemished, satin black, that is of better appearance than shown in the pictures of the product. It is flawless in its operation and performance. The velocities I have measured are near the factory specification of 460 fps; this pistol gave an average of 456 fps for the RWS Hobby 11.9 gr WC. Other pellets tested: H&N Sport FTT Green 9.57 gr Dome - 503 fps; Predator GTO 11.75 gr Dome - 447 fps; Norma S-Target Match 14.0 gr Dome - 424 fps. These were the most consistent performers of the 12 pellets tried. They all grouped better than I expected, yielding the following 5 shot groups (I sat benched and held the pistol in my hands, not on a rest): RWS 11.9 gr. - .667"; H&N Sport 9.57 gr - .592"; Predator GTO 11.75 gr - .340"; Norma S-Target Match 14.0 gr. -.464". Measurements are C to C of the spread. I also did some shooting standing, two hand hold, 15 yards to target, ( 2" diameter pellet tins) Same pellets - 60% hits.

I did change one thing, not as a fault of the product, but as a preference. I replaced the grip panels with a set of Nighthawk Custom AlumaGrips 1911 Government Commander. The basic finish was black with the Nighthawk Logo. They are expensive but hey, look what I bought them for! I am not suggesting that this be the factory standard. Each to his own preference.

Not all pellets tested so well as these four, or showed the tendency for consistency. Not every group was as small as those listed, but hundreds of shots fired showed these results were not flukes, and these four pellets stood out as the most reliable in my pistol. These pellets all shot to the same point of impact, which is why I selected them for my P-1. That being said, it took a lot of shooting, experimentation and patience to learn the tendencies and characteristics of how this pistol reacted to variations of hold. Subtle changes produce different results in the point of impact from shot to shot. When placed in a rest it would shoot much higher than if held in the hands. If you buy this pistol, be prepared for that challenge.You will have to work to find what is needed to get satisfactory results - it simply requires much more consistency than a pump, PCP or CO2 platform. I did not adjust the trigger, but if it were needed, the proper Allen wrench is included. Sights are great.

Trigger is excellent. Ability to dry fire is a bonus. Weihrauch quality is excellent and the gun is not pellet picky

Placement of the safety is awkward

excellent gun.. my go to garage gun

Easier to stroke than the p17. No effort is required to close the gun like the p17 the whole stroke for cocking the piston is upon opening. I don't love slamming my scoped p17 closed.

Tru glow open sights. Or at least some dot setup that's just my opinion.

You can put any 1911 grips on it. There is no clearance required on the underside of your grips, as would be required on a CO2 1911. These are landmarks, I'm sure not many workers are required to run the tooling to pop these out but they are well designed and rugged.

Great Solid Pistol with Great smooth Trigger !

Nothing

Bought this Refurbished and is Better than my first P1 that was New ! If you see Refurbished just buy it ,you can't lose anything. Mine have alway arrived in New Condition and never a problem !Thanks again to PA for another Great Refurbished Air Gun !

Looks good feels good in the hands and sighted in with 5 shots at 14 yards open sights free handed the recoil feels like a real gun when I shot this pistol I put a 4x4target on a box and all 5shots was on the targetI read this pistol has to be broke in if that is true I cant wait this pistol is well made it cost a little bit but you can tell what you have when you hold it easy to operate easy to load easy to sight in cant go wrong with JSB pellets

Nothing

I have bought many guns from pyramid air, and this is my first review pyramid air is the best people to deal with and purchase guns from. They will help you in any kind away you need I recommend them for all your air gun purchases.

Very nice refurbished one that looks almost new! Fires well and I've clocked it at similar fps to Pyramid's test shown in their $10 for 10 shot test!

Nothing

Well made pistol, worth the money!

Great gun. Very accurate. Looks Great Looks like a real firearm. Suggest shoot in a inclosed backyard or a makeshift indoor range.

It is a perfect air pistol.

Have extra breech o'rings they do get cut and cause a lot of problems.
I was ready to send my gun in for repair but I discovered my o'ring was cut and missing a small section.
Keep the hammer greased and the barrel will click smoothly.

Quality made pistol in every way! Yes its expensive but if you've had enough of the cheap Chinese junk then take the plunge you wont regret it. This pistol is dead on I only raised the sight a little bit after 200 or 300 rounds, was all over the place before that, don't know if it was me or the gun. Feels awesome in the hand, sweet trigger, balanced, looks good, not hard to cock once you get your routine down. All metal construction (including the trigger and sights) none of that fiber optic junk, real wood grips.

A better manual would be nice but I'm sure i can get what ever info i might need from the internet I'm just old and like real paper manuals.

I shoot indoors mostly in the winter at 10m. Ive gone through just under three tins of pellets of various brands so it's just now getting broke in, then i will start experimenting with different brands of pellets and see if one is better than the other. The FPS is right around 400 to 430 with different weights The speed is coming up as the spring gets settled in but I don't know if I will get to the rated 460, with a super light pellet it probably would be there now. Shooting 14 to 18 gn. I bought this P-1 instead of the HW 75 because it has more power and I wanted .22 caliber. I like springers they allow for no slack in your shooting technique.

Quality on par with almost any firearm. I really like the nostalgic 1911 look & feel. Very powerful & accurate. My P1 is in .22 and shoots well with the RWS Hobby 12 gr. ammo. Even low power yields a decent 3 1/2 ft lbs and is noticeably quieter.

A bit loud for me in high power producing 5+ ft lbs. Low power is quiet and smooth.

Sights are very good and the trigger is excellent. It is adjustable but was just fine for me as-is from the factory (probably 2 1/2 or 3 lb pull).

Excellent fit and finish. An accurate, hard hitting, high quality pistol that's built like a tank. Lots of aftermarket grip options. Crisp 2 stage adjustable trigger. I've read much about this gun over the years, and now that I finally have one, I see that all the positive reviews are true. This is a great gun.

The odd sized 14mm dovetail limits your optics options. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

The pistol takes a bit of getting used to, and is very hold sensitive, but once mastered, it's a great shooting gun. The grip frame is indeed identical to a 1911A1, which opens up a ton of aftermarket grip options. I've read that the .22 version only has one power setting. Mine is a .22 and it does come with the dual power settings. The trigger is adjustable, but I found the factory setting to be perfect. If you're planning to mount a scope or red dot sight, you need to know that the milled dovetail is 14mm, which limits your optics options. The spring piston system is unusual in that it doesn't recoil forward like most springers. The firearm-like rearward recoil and familiar 1911 feel makes this gun a great trainer. Cocking effort started out quite stiff, but 200 rounds in the gun is breaking in nicely and the cocking cycle has become noticeably smoother and lighter. It's a pricey pistol, but the fit, finish, and overall build quality are outstanding. It's well worth the money.

This was my 5th P1 pistol in the last 15 years! Sold them all ! This was a Refurbished P1 and out shoots all the others ! Accurate & Super Smooth Trigger! And a lot cheaper than a New one !

P1 feels sturdy and solid with an all metal built, also has excellent power for a pump pistol...fun to shot.

Wish it had different grips available to purchase, everyone has different size hands and different grips make the fire arm much more comfortable to hold when firing.

exellent purchase, the only better is the P11

I love the weight and fell of the gun.

fiber-optic sight would be an excellent option, if possible. If you are not careful you can pinch the o-ring that seals the barrel when loading (pellet not all the way in or shifts when closing the breach). This can result in a loss of pressure to the barrel.

The looks and feel of the P1 is very similar to shooting my Ruger 1911 9mm. The bigest different is the cost to shoot. My practice time is everyday now instead of once a month. I could not be happier with the purchase of the Beeman P1.

Nothing, this is a German made pistol, what's to change.

The lighter crosman 7.4 DESTROYER shot very well thru my BEEMAN P1.

It is accurate. Firing from a rest using Beeman pointed 8.53 Grain pellets at 20 feet the groups are about an inch. The fit and finish of the pistol is excellent. It is a bargain. I was able to get a refurnished pistol. It is as good as new, perhaps better.

It is a little difficult to load the pistol using a speed loader.

This is probably my best air weapon, on par with its equally aged RWS Model 36 Rifle, both in .177. It has been serviced once since the early 1990s for a new main spring by Beeman when it was in Huntington Beach, CA. It is sturdy, precise and consistently consistent.

How does one improve on perfection? This project of Robert Beeman and Weirauch lives up to its reputation, "The Holy Grail of air pistols." I can think of nothing requiring change that would not unbalance the total package that is the P-1.

I had read complaints of some who blow out their breech seal. I learned a long, long time ago, that that occurs if the pellet chosen is too tight to the bore. I shot RWS Super Mags for years (when they were 9.5 grains) and had to purchase a pellet sizer to reduce their diameter a few thousands of an inch. To much obturation/friction at the breech WILL dump the high pressure air by blowing out the small O ring seal.

Also, after tens of thousands of shots, the pistol exceedingly gradually became dangerous. It did so by becoming hair-triggered. I suspect it self-polished to the point of danger. The solution was to ADD pressure by adjusting the trigger resistance per the instructions. Problem solved!

This is an heirloom piece for the serious air gun enthusiast. It will outlast its first and may several owners. It is worth the price of admission.

Man, I agonized over buying this gun. It was so much money, and after reading every review I was concerned about whether I would like it, be able to hit anything with it, etc. I shouldn't have worried. My P3 and S&W 586 Co2 are gathering dust, as this thing is super fun to shoot, very accurate, packs a punch and is easy to learn to shoot well if you dedicate a few (fun) sessions to "learning" it, like you would with any airgun or firearm. Great trigger, and I prefer the solid sights my gun came with to the fiber optics, but to each his own. You won't be able to put this gun down, and will want to show your friends and get a little competition going, perhaps. While I am confident that you will not regret buying it, if for some crazy reason you do, resale prices are always high on this gun...but I'm keeping mine, thanks!

On my gun, the rear sight adjustment screw would move a bit under recoil over time. I sighted the gun in for 10 meters and put a tiny bit of Purple Locktite (weakest kind) on the threads of the adjustment screw UNDER the slide where the screw come through it. Problem solved...but as an alternative, I could have just taken a picture of the screw's position and checked it before each shooting session, so whatever solution the shooter prefers, this is easily managed.

My particular gun is .177 and loves the RWS R 10 Match pellets in the 7.0 grain weight. I am stocking up on these as opportunity allows. Although it's nifty, I find I never really use the low power setting, and the point of impact is significantly different. However, it is nice to know that is an option if I ever need it in future shooting situations, but I would have to sight it in as such.

I bought my Beeman P-1 directly from Beeman back in 1985. It cost $180 C.O.D. It's still a great pistol and I shoot it regularly. I've got a couple of friends who ask, from time to time, if I'm willing to sell it. The answer is always no. It's an heirloom that will stay in the family. It's stamped "Made in W. Germany" and it's one of the first 2500 shipped to the U.S., based on the serial number. It's a .177 caliber.

Nothing. However, I wish it had the fiber-optic sights that the current models have. It has regular iron sights. My eyesight isn't as good as it was 36 years ago. I haven't put on optics on it, because it wouldn't fit in the Uncle Mike's holster I purchased back then.

The only thing I've done to it was replace the mainspring around 1995. I loaned it to a brother-in-law to dispatch pests on his property. He knew how to take care of it, but apparently his wife cocked it once and left it that way. When it was returned months later, it was unloaded, but still cocked. Beeman charged $100 to repair it and ship it back. It doesn't get loaned out anymore.

I bought one in 1990 and it was stolen last year in a burglary. I replaced it with another one just like the one that was stolen because there is nothing else that even comes close. Great trigger and it has power enough to close the deal on smallish vermin. I like the sights better than the fiber optic sights that come on the HW45.

1. Just find out what ammo it likes and practice.
2. Join the NRA to support their education and competition programs and join Gun Owners of America (GOA) to defend our right to keep and bear arms.
3. We need to buy a second P1. Its never fun to have to wait your turn.