Ataman AP16 Compact - wow!

[ctshooter]

I really am a pistol lover at heart. Rifles are fun and accurate, but they just aren't as exciting as the challenge of a nice pistol. Currently my pistol stock consists of the Webley Nemesis .177, Beeman P3 .177, Umarex Beretta .177, Artemis PP750 .177, Edgun Velez .22 and a HW44 .177.

The Ataman AP16 is a pistol I've been looking at for a while. I've heard and read so many mixed reviews, but based on what I read I started to align some of the poor reviews with ignorant users. When the compact came out temptation went higher. Impulse broke me down earlier this week and I purchase a silver Ataman AP16 .22 Compact. 

I was a little concerned about how well it would shoot speed wise, but I am very happy with shooting the JSB 14.3gr pellets around 625fps. I tossed a Leupold 4x Handgun scope on it, sighted it in and wowed myself with how accurate it is. Considering the size is one of the smallest and shortest barrel pistols I've used the fps and accuracy is very impressive. I will say it is quite loud so I'll be looking forward to my DonyyFLs adapter arrival (which has been bouncing around the North East in tracking for the past few days. NY to CT to NJ to CT - argh!).

I love the size of this pistol too. With the stock grip its only 11" long. I did get the wood grip (which is awesome btw - the stock grip might be good if you have small hands, but my large mitts were dwarfing it) with it and that extends the length another ~1.5", but still the most compact PCP pistol I've used. 

More to come over the next few days as I spend some time with the AP16. The Russians make some of the best airguns for sure. 

 

[tsakula]

best pistol on market. congrats my friend

 

[sonny]

I like the looks of that pistol, I'd like to try it with a hologram sight

 

[Long_Gun_Dallas]

Oh, man. Can't say I'm not jealous She looks real sweet 

 

[Vetmx]

I am fortunate enough to have sourced the Ataman silencer for mine but if I didn’t I would have put one of these on it. Made by Rocker1. They weigh nothing and would help keep the pistol nice light and streamlined. I use them on my PP700 and they are great for the price. It is not as jumbo as a Tanto and half the weight.

 

[Vetmx]

Mine even wore a stock briefly and the long tube and barrel. It’s my buddies gun now. He loves it. The long tube and barrel are deadly out to 65yrds with JSB 18’s. As this little fellow found out. He also shoots bumblebees with it. Very accurate pistol. 

 

[mtnGhost]

Congrats!!! That's a nice little pistol

 

[ctshooter]

Vetmx - I have a Huggett Atom I just got for the PP750 so I'll try that out first.

Also, that's a really cool carbine stock - is it custom?

 

[Gerry52]

Not into pistols but THAT one makes me think about it. Nice gun, ENJOY. Seen & heard a lot of good things about Ataman accuracy. 

 

[Yo]

Very fun and accurate pistol to shoot! More fun than my HW44. Mine has a mini Huggett Belita. YO!

 

[Vetmx]

The Atom will do the trick. Stock is custom. Took two tries and one million hours to get it just right. As a carbine its a bit lame but as a pistol it is outstanding. It was the best PCP pistol I ever owned. So close to feeling like a real pistol and not something out of a Mad Max movie.

 

[AirNGasman]

Nice rig! 

Too bad so many of you have to compromise OA length with muzzle devices, just to be able to shoot your guns.

Living on my own 40 acres has me spoiled to hearing exactly what I'm getting, and enjoying shorter, less cumbersome rigs. Like these-

Yeah... I sure feel bad for you guys. But if it makes you feel any better, it took me a lifetime to realize my dream. A long lifetime. Consequently, I don't take it for granted.

You can read more about it, assuming you have a strong constitution-

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/wts-custom-classic-and-otherwise-awesome-air-pistols-book/

 

[ctshooter]

Very fun and accurate pistol to shoot! More fun than my HW44. Mine has a mini Huggett Belita. YO!

Yo - I might have to agree with you there. Give me some time with the AP16 to solidify that. So far my HW44 has been my goto for the sweetest non-10m pistol to shoot - trigger, accuracy, pleasure to shoot. But I've always had a bit of an issue with the grip - I just can't ever get it 100% comfortable - I think my hands are too big and the grip a bit to slim to make it ambi. 

The wood grip for the AP16 fits my hand like a glove and the angle is perfect. I haven't adjusted to the trigger yet, but the HW44 seems to have a more distinct 2nd stage. 

AirNGasman - your pistols are truly one of a kind epic customs along with your achievements. I really wish I could shoot outside, and I may be able to at my next place - but right now I'm renting a house. The yard is a huge, but there's just too many houses around me to find a safe spot for a backstop. I do get 17 yards indoors which at least keep it interesting for pistols. 

 

[Vetmx]

Aaah the vague Russian trigger. I never really liked it, my buddy loves it. Like the Leshiy trigger, it does make you a better shooter if you have nerves of steel. We are spoiled with 2 stage triggers and being able to anticipate the shot. I would like to add, how my pistol came tuned from the factory, there was no gas left in the tank. It was running at max power and shot count.

 

[ctshooter]

I actually love the trigger in my Leshiy. I'll approach the Ataman the same way and see if that changes the mental component of it. I mean it is very light and barely requires any pressure. 

Can't wait for USPS to arrive with the adapter today so I can shoot some more without irritated the family.

 

[ctshooter]

Yay - adapter has arrived. As this is a non-shrouded gun it's putting quite a bit of work on the moderator. I've tried out a few and will list in order of quietness:

• Huggett Atom .177/.22 - Loudest of all, still has quite a crack to it.
• DonnyFL Tatsu .22 - quieter but still has a good pop sound.
• DonnyFL Tanto .22 - pretty darn quiet - probably the best combo of size, weight and quietness.
• DonnyFL Koi .22 - quietest of the group, sound is just a small "thwoop" noise, makes the gun a little front heavy but still manageable.

I like that the adapter threads into the outer barrel and not the inner barrel so there is no worry about barrel sag and different POIs with different moderators. 

 

[Yo]

Coolest thing is you can reload- top off the magazine while it's still loaded in the breech as you shoot it. YO!

 

[ctshooter]

Coolest thing is you can reload- top off the magazine while it's still loaded in the breech as you shoot it. YO!

I didn't think of that, but yes absolutely. I"m cuckoo when it comes to airguns and mags though - I have 6 mags and 2 airtubes. Enough for 42 shots.

 

[ctshooter]

Aaah the vague Russian trigger. I never really liked it, my buddy loves it. Like the Leshiy trigger, it does make you a better shooter if you have nerves of steel. We are spoiled with 2 stage triggers and being able to anticipate the shot. I would like to add, how my pistol came tuned from the factory, there was no gas left in the tank. It was running at max power and shot count.

I was playing with the hammer spring adjustment today. From what I can see mine was set perfectly from the factory. I went up from 625 to about 640 fps and then it started to drop right back down to 623. Max fps with max efficiency. I chrono'd the 15.89gr at 600 fps and the 18.1 at 550fps. The 15.89s appear to be the most efficient JSB pellet fpe wise. 

 

[Vetmx]

And with the long tube and barrel the 18.1’s are best. The nice thing was I never had to touch anything when switching. I think it was an 80fps difference. I just sold everything to my friend for $600. It’s 2 years old, never a leak, never a reg issue. The Ataman silencer on mine knocked the sound down to an acceptable level but it wasn’t quiet. I liked it because it was tiny and no adapters needed. Oh, mine also did well with Walmart Crosman pellets if you can live with a flyer every now and then.