Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

A place to discuss and share pictures, reviews, of your pistols.
Post Reply
Certus
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter
Posts:430
Joined:Sun May 12, 2013 9:34 am
Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by Certus » Mon Jul 18, 2016 2:52 pm

I picked up this Smith & Wesson 78G at the recent Imperial meeting at Bisley and have just given it a test fire to see how it performs.

The 78G is based on the old Smith & Wesson 41 .22 LR pistol I can remember shooting before the breech loading pistol ban in 1995. Although single shot, the weight, balance and even the recoil characteristics seem similar to the live firing pistol. The pistol has a nice trigger and fully adjustable sights, so it should be capable of accurate results at around the usual 10 metre range limitation. Power also seems to be quite high and is apparently adjustable via a screw under the muzzle. First indications are that around 40 full power shots are available from a 12grm Co2 capsule, followed by a rapid drop in muzzle velocity for the next 3 or 4 discharges. Incidentally, the pistol was produced in both .22 (78G) and .177 (79G) calibres between 1970 -1978.

Image

Image

Regards

Brian

User avatar
pmh
Site Admin
Posts:1826
Joined:Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:07 pm

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by pmh » Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:24 pm

Good find.

I've always liked this pistol, and have fired both the airgun version and the .22lr version.

It's a great pity that such guns aren't made anymore.

I welcome the recent military range issued by Umarex, but they are far from the quality they should be.

I suppose everything is made to a price these days.

Kind regards,



Phil
M0KPH
I now have so many airguns I've had to make a list, which is >>HERE<<
>>North Manchester Target Club<<

User avatar
zunmik
Pistoleer
Pistoleer
Posts:741
Joined:Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:22 pm

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by zunmik » Wed Jul 20, 2016 4:00 pm

I've owned & shot the 79G in comps a great pistol, mike.
WALTHER LP3],Etc[/b], G0JVB ex G6MUI.

ejackyou
Posts:3
Joined:Wed Aug 24, 2016 2:38 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by ejackyou » Wed Sep 07, 2016 1:26 am

Very nice pistol!
I know where I can get my hands on one, should do?

Certus
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter
Posts:430
Joined:Sun May 12, 2013 9:34 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by Certus » Wed Sep 07, 2016 11:37 am

ejackyou wrote:Very nice pistol!
I know where I can get my hands on one, should do?
Hello,

Don't hesitate and grab one if you still have the opportunity to do so.

Iv'e owned the 78G for a few months now and it has fully lived up to my earlier impressions. A very nice handling and accurate pistol which would have made a very useful trainer for the .22 live firing model it replicated.

I have since put mine through the chronograph using Hobby pellets and found muzzle velocity to be within 5 fps over a five shot string with muzzle energy of 5.1 ft/lbs at the minimum setting and 5.6 ft/lbs at the high end, so a very powerful pistol.

I always leave mine at the lower power setting for fear of approaching the 6 ft/lb legal limit on a hot day.

Regards,

Brian

RWS
Posts:7
Joined:Thu Sep 08, 2016 11:11 am

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by RWS » Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:50 pm

Brian these are great pistols a very nice to shoot. :D

gingernut
Plinker
Plinker
Posts:61
Joined:Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:52 pm

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by gingernut » Fri Oct 07, 2016 9:29 am

Dare I say reliable too?

johnbaz
Plinker
Plinker
Posts:78
Joined:Sun Dec 01, 2013 5:29 pm

Re: Smith & Wesson 78G Pistol

Post by johnbaz » Sat Oct 15, 2016 4:35 pm

I've been on the lookout for a 79g for some time now and thought a friend had one that he was selling, I somehow giot my wires crossed as it's a Crosman 1600 powermatic .177 BB gun that he's selling!!
The Crosman is the same as this one (Pic 'borrowed' off the net!)

Image

I'm hoping to hear back this evening then go tomorrow with a view to buying it :dance:

The gun does need a seal to go between the cart and block though so I won't be able to try it out!


Cheers, john :P

Post Reply